के(cid:7008)(cid:7076)ीय सूचना आयोग Central Information Commission बाबा गंगनाथ माग(cid:6981),मुिनरका

Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka नई (cid:7408)द(cid:7016)ली, New Delhi – 110067 ि(cid:554)तीय अपील संূा / Second Appeal No. CIC/UTOCH/A/2024/118344 Neelam Paul … अपीलकता१/Appellant VERSUS बनाम CPIO Panjab University, UT of Chandigarh …(cid:7079)ितवादीगण/Respondent Relevant dates emerging from the appeal:

RTI : 02.01.2024 FA : 15.02.2024 SA : 03.06.2024 CPIO : 15.01.2024 FAO : 05.03.2024 Hearing : 21.01.2026 Date of Decision: 25.02.2026 CORAM Chief Information Commissioner: RAJ KUMAR GOYAL O R D E R

1. The Appellant filed an RTI application dated 02.01.2024, before the CPIO, Panjab University, Chandigarh, seeking information as under:

“I was promoted from Associate Professor (Stage 4) to Professor (Stage-5) w.e.f

26.03.2009 vide Letter No.3149-60/Estt I dated 04.06.2020. Till date, no financial benefits granted towards my promotion due to illogical, repetitive and un-warranted objections. After having exhausted all other options, I am now constrained to seek the present status of the same using my right granted under "The Right to Information Act, 2005" with a request to provide me certified copies of information and documents as under:-

1. Disclose the name(s) of all the officers and officials with whom my case has been lying pending since the office orders issued on 04.06.2020 till date, the period (with dates) for which each of them retained this case and the action taken by the dealings and file noting by each of them.

2. Disclose the time period for which a University Officer/Official can retain the above-mentioned case files of faculty without any visible action or file noting.

3. Certified copies of all information, documents and justifications for delay on record of this University based upon which my case been delayed for such a long period.

4. Disclose the name with designation of Panjab University Officers and Officials who have levied any objection, along with certified copies of objection so raised.”

2. The CPIO & Dy. Registrar (Estt.), Panjab University, Chandigarh replied to the RTI Application on 15.01.2024, as under:

“1. The Information sought against the Sr.No.1 & 4 cannot be provided and same is exempted from the disclosure under section 8(1)(e), (g), (j) of RTI act,2005.

2. The Information does not exist, 3. The Information sought is not specific and in the absence of details, no such Information cannot be provided.”

3. Aggrieved with the reply of the CPIO in respect of points 1,3 & 4 of the RTI Application, the Appellant filed a First Appeal dated 15.02.2024, before the FAA & Registrar, Panjab University, Chandigarh. The FAA, vide order dated 05.03.2024, upheld the reply of the CPIO.

4. Aggrieved that the FAA merely endorsed the reply of the CPIO, the Appellant approached the Commission with the instant Second Appeal dated 03.06.2024, inter alia, stating as under:

“That the appellant is presently the Chairperson, Department of Music of Panjab University, Chandigarh. The appellant was promoted from the post of Associate Professor (Stage-4) to Professor (Stage-5) with effect from 26th March 2009 by Panjab University vide its letter No. 3149-60/Estt.I dated 04-06-2020. The appellant is thus occupying the Post of Professor since 2009, but availing the pay of the lower post (Associate Professor) till date, and the financial benefits accrued on account of promotion from Associate Professor to Professor have not been paid by the Panjab University for the last 15 years till date, due to illogical, repetitive, unwarranted objections. The appellant had, therefore, sought information on 4 points to find out as to why the financial benefits of 15 years have been denied to the appellant despite having been elevated to the post of Professor by the competent authority of Panjab University.

xxx Exemptions claimed under Section 8 in the instant case include fiduciary relationship u/s 8(1)(e) one which endanger the life or physical safety of any