How central funds for SCs spent by flying clubs: CIC asks DGCA

Expressing concern over operations of flying clubs in the country, the CIC has ordered Director General of Civil Aviation to furnish records of funds received by Bombay Flying Club for Scheduled Caste students and their disbursement among other details.
The Bombay Flying Club had refused to part with the information about scholarship funds received from the Centre for SC students saying this does not come under the RTI Act.
It said that the club is governed by the rules and regulations under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 and it was complying with the relevant provisions of the Societies Act.
The case relates to information sought by a man named Jai Bhagwan Jatav about total funds received by the club from Centre for SC students who got admission there and who were found eligible to get financial support as scholarship for covering various expenses.

Jatav had also sought to know how many SC students were given financial support/scholarship, details of SC students who were on roll in commercial pilot licence training final class and have passed out and left, whether they were charged full fee or whether they were not given any benefit of this scholarship among other queries.
Information Commissioner Bimal Julka said after detailed study of the activities undertaken by such flying clubs and the regulations governing them, it is seen that all these clubs perform certain critical functions in the larger public interest.

Julka said DGCA grants flying clubs licences to impart

training and they have to seek 'No Objection Certificate' from it at the initial stages subject to its satisfaction with respect to infrastructure, manpower and compliance.
He said though the information sought relates to only SC/ST category, it is of vital national importance as it involves technical competence, security of the airfield, life risk posed to the flyer and also public in general.
"Flying clubs have been in operation for several years now, Bombay Flying Club, established in 1928, being the oldest. Keeping in view the expertise, the inherent risks in flying exercises and all unfortunate incidents resulting in loss of life during flying training in the past, the Commission is sensitised towards the operation, management and monitoring of such flying schools.

"The Commission is indeed deeply concerned about the role performed by all such flying clubs in the county and is of the view that certain public disclosures are essential for the general public," he said.
The Commissioner directed DGCA, which is the controlling body for the operations of flying clubs, to gather information from Bombay Flying Club and provide to the applicant as directly the club could not be held answerable.
"As a proactive step towards greater public interest, the Commission, therefore, directs DGCA, being the licensing authority, to coordinate and provide information within 30 days from the date of receipt of this order as requested in the RTI application under consideration, which can be accessed from Bombay Flying Club under...The RTI Act," he said.