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2025 Supreme(Online)(CIC) 4331
CENTRAL INFORMATION COMMISSION
Vinod Kumar Tiwari, IC
Praveen Kumar – Appellant
Versus
CPIO, Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute – Respondent
CIC/SRLTI/A/2025/602924 | CIC/SRLTI/A/2025/603240 | CIC/SRLTI/A/2025/604414 | CIC/SRLTI/A/2025/604620
For the Appellants/Petitioners:
For the Respondents: Shri Shantanu Pal, Ms. Sanjukta Ray Pahari
The appointment of academic staff as CPIOs under RTI raises concerns about access and student rights, necessitating structural adjustments within the Public Authority.
Headnote:The Commission analyzed provisions under the RTI Act regarding timely responses to information requests. Facts indicate the Appellant's repeated RTI applications faced delays, with no responses from the CPIO. The Court found the Respondent's failure to comply with RTI regulations indicative of a broader disregard for the Act. Main issues revolved around the adequacy of CPIO responses and the structure of the Public Authority regarding RTI applications. The Court reasoned that appointments from academic staff hinder student access to information. Consequently, the decision remanded cases back to the FAA for timely adjudication, with an emphasis on staff structure improvement to ensure compliance with RTI principles. The Commission directs expeditious resolution of the appeals following fair hearings.
| Table of Content |
|---|
| 1. details on rti applications and lack of response. (Para 1 , 2 , 3 , 4) |
| 2. hearing details and concerns about cpio service. (Para 9 , 10 , 11 , 12) |
| 3. court observations regarding cpio structure and transparency. (Para 14 , 15 , 16 , 18) |
| 4. ruling on remanding appeals for proper adjudication. (Para 17) |
| 5. advisory for staffing changes in cpio. (Para 20) |
Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka नई िद(cid:24)ी, New Delhi – 110067 File No: Total 4 cases (1) CIC/SRLTI/A/2025/602924 (2) CIC/SRLTI/A/2025/603240 (3) CIC/SRLTI/A/2025/604414 (4) CIC/SRLTI/A/2025/604620 Praveen Kumar .….अपीलकता(cid:18)/Appellant VERSUS बनाम CPIO, Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, EM Bye Pass Road, PO - Panchasayar, Kolkata – 700094 ….(cid:29)ितवादीगण /Respondent Date of Hearing : 29.10.2025 Date of Decision : 31.10.2025 INFORMATION COMMISSIONER : Vinod Kumar Tiwari The above-mentioned Second Appeals are clubbed together as the parties are common, and subject-matter is similar in nature and hence, are being disposed of through a common order.
(1) CIC/SRLTI/A/2025/602924 Relevant facts emerging from appeal:
RTI application filed on : 23.08.2024 CPIO replied on : Not on record First appeal filed on : 29.09.2024 First Appellate Authority’s : Not on record order
2nd Appeal/Complaint dated : 16.01.2025 Information sought:
1. The Appellant filed an RTI application dated 23.08.2024 (offline) seeking the following information:
“1. Please advise the date of holding of Academic Council meetings held in the institute after 01.04.2024, if any.
2. The name of all the members who attended the meetings on various dates of holding such meetings as mentioned in para 1 above.
3. Whether the minutes of the meeting as mentioned in para 1 above was drawn ? if yes, please advise the dates of approval of the same by the competent authority.”
2. Not having received any response from the CPIO, the Appellant filed a First Appeal dated 29.09.2024. The FAA order is not on record.
(2) CIC/SRLTI/A/2025/603240 Relevant facts emerging from appeal:
RTI application filed on : 08.07.2024 CPIO replied on : Not on record First appeal filed on : 29.09.2024 First Appellate Authority’s order : Not on record
2nd Appeal/Complaint dated : 18.01.2025 Information sought:
3. The Appellant filed an RTI application dated 08.07.2024 (online) seeking the following information:
“1. Please arrange the following.
A. The schedule of practicals for Group D of 20th batch students from 20.052024 to 31.05.2024 for various days as advised by the administration.
B. The name and designation of the professor who was scheduled to take such classes as referred in para A above on various days separately.
C. Whether the practical classes, as referred in Para A above were discontinued/disrupted for any reason, on various dates ?”
4. Not having received any response from the CPIO, the Appellant filed a First Appeal dated 29.09.2024. The FAA order is not on record.
(3) CIC/SRLTI/A/2025/604414 Relevant facts emerging from appeal:
RTI application filed on : 06.07.2024 CPIO replied on : Not on record First appeal filed on : 29.09.2024 First Appellate Authority’s order : Not on record
2nd Appeal/Complaint dated : 24.01.2025 Information sought:
5. The Appellant filed an RTI application dated 06.07.2024 (online) seeking the following information:
“1. Please arrange to advise the attendence (a copy of the attendence sheet or the total number of students attended classes which ever is readily available) in lectures held from 10.00-11.00, 11.00-13.00 hrs, and practical classes held from 14.00 hrs -17.00 hrs for various groups I.e Group A, B, C, D, E & F separately for 20th batch students held from 20th May - 24th May, 2024 separately for various days.”
6. Not having received any response from the CPIO, the Appellant filed a First Appeal dated 29.09.2024. The FAA order is not on record.
(4) CIC/SRLTI/A/2025/604620 Relevant facts emerging from appeal:
RTI application filed on : 06.07.2024 CPIO replied on : Not on record First appeal filed on : 29.
