CIC asks Allahabad Univ V-C to take action against Registrar

Observing that officials of Allahabad University were "deliberately delaying" information, the Central Information Commission today directed the Vice-Chancellor to take appropriate action against them.
Noting that the Registrar, who was also the Apellate Authority, did not respond to appeals put up before him, the CIC also directed the V-C to take action against him.
"The Commission finds that various officials of the University are deliberately acting in a manner which is against the spirit of the RTI Act," Information Commissioner Rajiv Mathur said in his order.
The Commission also issued show-cause notice to deemed Public Information Officers - the then Dean of Students Welfare, and Dy Registrar (Accounts) - through CPIO, R L Vishwakarma, as to why action be not initiated against them for the unwarranted delay in providing information.

The case related to RTI application filed by one Avinash Dubey who had sought information on three points relating to purchase of utensils and chairs for 2010-11 for the hostels of Allahabad University.
But despite nearly one-and-a-half years of filing the RTI application, Dubey was not furnished the information.

"A copy of this order be marked to the Vice Chancellor, Allahabad University, A K Singh, with directions to ensure that the officials tasked with the responsibility of providing information under the RTI Act discharge their duties in accordance with the provisions of the Act," Mathur said.
"The Commission also observed during various hearings that the Registrar of the University who is designated as an AA, does not respond to any of the appeals put up before him. In the light of his continued intransigence, the VC may like to initiate appropriate action against the Registrar," he said.

Mathur said the Vice-Chancellor will file a report before the Commission on the measures taken in this regard within thirty days from the date of receipt of the order.