के (cid:574)ीयसूचनाआयोग Central Information Commission बाबागंगनाथमाग(cid:330), मुिनरका

Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka नईिद(cid:671)ी, New Delhi – 110067 File No: CIC/CBSED/A/2025/101065 BALWINDER SINGH .….अपीलकता(cid:330)/Appellant VERSUS बनाम THE CPIO CENTRAL BOARD OF SECONDARY EDUCATION, RTI Cell, INTEGRATED OFFICE COMPLEX, SECTOR - 23, PHASE-I, DWARKA, NEW DELHI – 110077 ….(cid:366)ितवादीगण /Respondent Date of Hearing : 23.02.2026 Date of Decision : 23.02.2026 INFORMATION COMMISSIONER : Sudha Rani Relangi Relevant facts emerging from appeal:

RTI application filed on : 19.09.2024 CPIO replied on : 17.10.2024 First appeal filed on : 18.10.2024 First Appellate Authority’s order : 29.11.2024 2nd Appeal/Complaint dated : 04.01.2025 Information sought:

1. The Appellant filed an RTI application dated 19.09.2024 seeking the following information:

“1. Circular to grant affiliation or issue affiliation to a School without No objection certificate from Education Department of State concerned. Please provide the copy

2. Rule as per Affiliation Bye-Law to grant affiliation without No objection certificate from Education department of state concerned Please provide the Copy.”

2. The CPIO furnished a reply to the Appellant on 17.10.2024 stating as under:

“Reply: Point 1 and 2:- As per extant norms of the Board, the norms and supporting documents prescribed for schools applying for affiliation from the Board have been laid down in the Affiliation Bye-laws, Affiliation Manual and various circulars/amendments issued from time to time (available on https://saras.cbse.gov.in/saras/).

The applicant may refer to the CBSE Affiliation Manual and obtain information on the essential documents prescribed by the Board with regard to the above.

As per presently applicable norms of the Board, the desired information is not available in this office.”

3. Aggrieved by the decision of the CPIO, the Appellant filed a First Appeal dated 18.10.2024. The FAA vide its order dated 29.11.2024, is stated as under:-

“Reply: The information sought the appellant under First Appeal is being collated and the same shall be Issued to the appellant shortly in due course of time in accordance with norms and provisions of the RTI Act, 2005”

4. Challenging the FAA’s order, Appellant is before the Commission with the instant Second Appeal.

Relevant Facts emerged during Hearing:

The following were present:-

Appellant: Not present.

Respondent: Shri Pankaj Kshettry, US/CPIO present in person.

5. The Appellant remained absent during the hearing despite service.

6. A written statement filed by the CPIO is taken on record. CPIO while arguing on this matter reiterated the contents of his written statement wherein he inter alia pleaded as under -

“…1. WRITTEN SUBMISSION ON BEHALF OF THE RESPONDENT

1. In reply to the RTI request received on 19.09.2024, the Appellant was informed by the CPIO to refer the information pertaining to the norms of affiliation as laid down in the Affiliation Bye-laws 2018, Affiliation Manual and various Circulars/Amendments issued by the Board from time to time; already available in the public domain, 2. The Appellant was provided the concerned CBSE website link https://saras.cbse.gov.in/saras/> for obtaining the available information with regard to the applicable affiliation norms as well as essential documents prescribed by the Board.

II. In view of the Second Appeal filed by the appellant, for more clarity, the following elaborate information is being provided to the Appellant drawn from the same above cited website link

1. Chapter 2 Clause 2.3.5 of CBSE Affiliation Bye-Laws, 2018 explicitly states that the Schools mentioned under Clauses 2.1.5, 2.1.6, 2.1.7 and 2.1.8, seeking affiliation with the Board shall submit formal prior "No Objection Certificate" to the effect that State Government has no objection to the affiliation of the School with CBSE.

2. Rest of the Schools under the remaining Clauses 2.1.1 to 2.1.4 are Government category Schools, hence need not require a separate