Parking issue: Fergusson College ‘evades’ RTI query, fails to furnish details

RTI activists, however, say the college is wrong in denying information. Frustrated by the behaviour of the college authorities, students are contemplating filing a PIL about the parking issue in the Bombay High Court.

The college also dodged questions on the amount of money it received for sports activities from the university. The college, which hopes to become a deemed college, does not even have proper drinking water facilities or proper washrooms for boys, complain students.

“The first RTI was filed by a student last year on February 17. The college did not reply then saying that it did not come under the purview of RTI. Some months ago, another RTI was filed and again the college citingjudgements of the Karnataka High Court said they did not have to furnish information,” said Mohammad Saif, a student of the college.

The students again filed an RTI application on February 21 this year asking about four issues — the copy of contract signed between the college and parking contractor, revenue generated and spent through parking contract, details of availability of drinking water facility in college campus, funds received for cultural activities, funds received by sports department and utilisation certificates of sports funds for the years 2012, 2013 and 2014.

The reply to the RTI, however, was evasive, alleged the students. While one answer said the college did not receive any funds for cultural activities, the other reply pertaining to parking issue said “in view of section 8 (1) (d), (e) and (j) of the RTI Act, the information sought since relates to third party, it cannot be furnished without express consent of each third party.”

The college, however, did not give any details of the drinking water facility or on the question about sports funds received and the utilisation certificates of the sports funds for the three consecutive years.

Saif said that both drinking water facility and toilet facility for boys were abysmal in the college. “There are only two proper drinking water coolers in the senior college campus, one near the library and the other in Chemistry department. In both, water gets over before noon. Then we have to rely on tap water or get water from outside. The washrooms are not cleaned properly and the number of washrooms is also very less when compared to the number of students. There are three functional blocks but even those are not enough and not well maintained,” said Saif.

Deepak Mane, director, Board of Sports, Savitribai Phule Pune University, said, “The college uses the fee by students for sports activities. As far as funds go, if a college organises a tournament in any college, then the varsity pays the college. Secondly, under Quality Improvement Programme, a college can apply for funds for non-consumable sports equipment every alternate year and they can get Rs 1 lakh, if approved.”

RTI activist Vijay Kumbhar said, “First of all, college is a public authority and it cannot deny information on any ground. Secondly, the sections mentioned are wrong. Thirdly, even if consent was required, they should have got it and given the reply. Any contract by a public authority should be in the public domain and if a college denies information, then it means the college is on the wrong and they do not understand even the basics of the Act.”

Despite repeated attempts, the college principal was unavailable for calls.