The woes of the University Grants Commission, headed by Sukhdeo Thorat are increasing with each passing day. Raju Sharma, who was removed from the secretary’s position and whose complaints spurred the CVC into action, has now filed eight RTI applications asking for details on why he was dismissed. A worried Thorat has either not bothered to give the replies or has given the IAS officer inadequate replies. Anxious that Sharma would approach the Central Information Commission for help, Thorat invited the panel’s Information Commissioner O P Kejriwal, who handles education matters, this week to give a talk on RTI to the UGC staff. Thorat and his officials used the occasion to cosy up to Kejriwal. Known for his pro-people approach, the Commissioner, however, politely told the UGC’s brass that he would go by the book. The buzz is they are not exactly pleased with the response they have got despite the chai-paani they offered at the hour-long lecture session.
