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2025 Supreme(Online)(CIC) 4164
CENTRAL INFORMATION COMMISSION
Anandi Ramalingam, IC
Gyarasi Devi – Appellant
Versus
CPIO: Inter University Centre for Teacher Education (IUCTE), Varanasi, UP – Respondent
Second Appeal No. CIC/UGCOM/A/2024/655511
For the Appellants/Petitioners:
For the Respondents: M R Ramasubramaniam
The RTI Act allows for inspection of records as a means of accessing voluminous information, provided privacy concerns are managed.
Headnote:The Appellant sought information under the RTI Act, 2005 regarding shortlisting committees and recruitment processes. The CPIO provided options for record inspection due to voluminous nature of the request. The Court found this action permissible under the Act, directing specific information disclosures while safeguarding privacy. The CPIO is ordered to respond accordingly within 15 days.
| Table of Content |
|---|
| 1. rti application details and response from cpio (Para 1 , 2 , 3) |
| 2. dissatisfaction with the cpio's response (Para 4) |
| 3. hearing proceedings (Para 5) |
| 4. reiteration of cpio's response and legal provisions (Para 6) |
| 5. cic's observations and directives (Para 7) |
| 6. conclusion of the appeal (Para 8) |
Hon’ble Commissioner _ANANDI RAMALINGAM O R D E R
1. The Appellant filed an RTI application dated 09.10.2024 seeking information on the following points:
1. “Certified Copies of Minutes of Shortlisting Committee that has shortlisted the candidates for Written Test / Skill Test for the post of Assistant (Post Code
2004) in terms of IUCTE BHU Varanasi Advertisement No. 01/2022.
2. Certified Copies of Minutes of Shortlisting Committee that has shortlisted the candidates for Written Test / Skill Test for the post of Section Officer Administration (Post Code 2001) in terms of IUCTE BHU Varanasi Advertisement No. 01/2022.
3. Certified Copies of Order/ Notification/ Document constituting the Shortlisting Committee for shortlisting of applications for the post of Assistant (Post Code 2004) and Section Officer Administration (Post Code 2001) in terms of IUCTE BHU Varanasi Advertisement No. 01/2022.
4. Certified Copies of Note-sheet approving the constitution of Shortlisting Committee for shortlisting of applications of Group B & Group C post in terms of IUCTE BHU Varanasi Advertisement No. 01/2022.
5. Date-wise the details of Shortlisting Committee Meetings held for shortlisting of applications for Group B & Group C post in terms of IUCTE BHU Varanasi Advertisement No. 01/2022….” etc.
2. The CPIO replied vide letter dated 04.11.2024 and the same is reproduced as under :-
“This has reference to your RTI Registration No. UGCOM/R/E/24/07364 dated
09.10.2024 seeking information under RTI Act, 2005 which has been transferred from the Deputy Secretary (IUC) & CPIO, University Grants Commission (Ministry of Education, Government of India), Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi vide their letter No.F.15-5/2024(IUC/RTI) dated 18.10.2024 for providing the requisite information directly to the applicant within the stipulated time under intimation to him which has been received through e-mail dated October 18, 2024.
In this connection, I am to inform you that since the information sought by you are voluminous nature, therefore, you are requested to visit to the Office of the Administrative Officer (Administration), IUCTE, BHU, Varanasi within office hours (except holidays) with a valid identity proof and Inspect the related records under Section 2(j) of RTI Act, 2005 , so that the available Information during the inspection period could be provided on payment of required fee i.e. no fee for the first hour, but a fee of rupees five (Rs. 5/-) for each subsequent hour (or fraction thereof) shall be charged as per rules of RTI Act, 2005 .”
3. Dissatisfied with the response received from the CPIO, the Appellant filed a First Appeal dated 30.11.2024. The FAA vide order dated 06.12.2024 upheld the reply given by the CPIO.
4. Aggrieved with the FAA’s order, the Appellant approached the Commission with the instant Second Appeal dated Nil stating inter alia as under:
“On perusal on CPIO letter dated 04.11.2024, received through FFA Order dated
06.12.2024, I have noticed that CPIO has not provided me the information instead stated that information sought by me is voluminous in nature and CPIO has asked me to visit the IUCTE BHU Varanasi for inspection of records whereas I have sought for information not inspection.
It is felt that CPIO has not provided me the sought information and FAA has erred in concluding that CPIO has provided me the information. Thus, preferred Second Appeal to CIC.
Now, therefore, I request CIC to kindly examine the RTI r/w CPIO response r/w FAA Order and direct the CPIO/ FAA to provide me the information as information, being voluminous is no ground for denial under RTI Act 2005.
The information is sought in public interest, related to public recrui
