39 appeals of the appellant were heard together - In view of the position of the appellant withdrawing her appeals & also the university had taken proactive steps to provide her the information sought, the CIC sees no reason to intervene in the matter
22 Jul, 2017ORDER
1. The Commission heard 39 appeals of the appellant, Ms Meenakshi Chaurasia, wife of Shri Kumar Pankaj Anand, who was working as Executive Engineer on probation in the Central University Jharkhand (CUJ). Through her RTI applications and subsequent appeals, the appellant had been asking information on various matters, e.g. the LTC availed and sanction order for LTC and copy of LTC bills in respect of Prof A.N. Mishra of Centre for Life Sciences; copy of order/ notification for constitution of first building committee of CUJ which was mandatory to be submitted to UGC; copy of pay fixation, personal file, and noting and enclosures of the personal file of Prof S.K. Tiwari, Professor, CUJ; copies of all bills submitted by the employees of CUJ who went on foreign travels sanctioned by the VC/Finance Officer at CUJ; copy of attendance sheet of finance committee of CUJ held at New Delhi on 30.6.2014 along with expenditure on it along with copies of bills; copies of medical bills submitted by Shri Nafis A. Khan, Section Officer, CUJ along with the enclosures for reimbursement and complete files/documents relating to energising the Brambe Campus buildings through panel from sub-station I located at Brambe, etc. among others.
2. The CPIO (CUJ) responded only in 18 cases. The appellant also made appeals only 22 The provisions of this Act shall have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith contained in the Official Secrets Act, 1923 (19 of 1923), and any other law for the time being in force or in any instrument having effect by virtue of any law other than this Act. cases out of 39 cases in which she had sent RTI applications. The FAA had adjudicated only in one case.
3. The Commission provided an opportunity to the appellant to be heard but the appellant vide her e-mail dated 17.4.2017, intimated the commission that as her husband has rejoined his duties, she did not have any complaint against the Central University of Jharkhand, University Grants Commission and Department of Higher Education. She had added that the University had taken proactive steps to provide her the information that she had sought and requested for withdrawal of all her cases listed on 20.4.2017, i.e. the date of hearing. The respondents from CUJ also did not attend the hearing and had intimated the Dy Registrar about the withdrawal of the appeals while stating that the appellant had a grievance about termination of her husband’s services and had therefore made over 400 RTI applications to the University, UGC and MHRD, but she was now satisfied, therefore, she wanted to withdraw the appeals. They added that they had tried their best to ensure that RTI applications of the appellant were processed and replied to as far as possible.
4. In view of the position of the appellant withdrawing her appeals and also adding that the university had taken proactive steps to provide her the information sought, the Commission sees no reason to intervene in the matter and allows the appellant to withdraw her appeals.
The Commission, however, cautions the respondents for not attending the hearing.
(Manjula Prasher)
Information Commissioner
Citation: Ms. Meenakshi Chaurasia, Ranchi v. Central University of Jharkhand, Ranchi CIC/CC/A/2014/900447 CIC/RM/A/2014/902172 CIC/CC/A/2014/900448 CIC/RM/A/2014/902173 CIC/CC/A/2014/900449 CIC/RM/A/2014/902183 CIC/CC/A/2014/900450 CIC/RM/A/2014/903477 CIC/CC/A/2014/900451 CIC/RM/A/2014/903478 CIC/CC/A/2014/900452 CIC/RM/A/2014/903479 CIC/CC/A/2014/900453 CIC/RM/A/2014/903480 CIC/CC/A/2014/900454 CIC/RM/A/2014/903482 CIC/CC/A/2014/900472 CIC/RM/A/2014/903483 CIC/CC/A/2014/900473 CIC/RM/A/2014/903487 CIC/CC/A/2014/900474 CIC/RM/A/2014/903489 CIC/CC/A/2014/900475 CIC/RM/A/2014/903517 CIC/CC/A/2014/900730 CIC/RM/A/2014/903518 CIC/CC/A/2014/900731 CIC/RM/A/2014/903519 CIC/CC/A/2014/900732 CIC/RM/A/2014/903520 CIC/CC/A/2014/900733 CIC/RM/A/2014/9035 22 The provisions of this Act shall have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith contained in the Official Secrets Act, 1923 (19 of 1923), and any other law for the time being in force or in any instrument having effect by virtue of any law other than this Act. CIC/CC/A/2014/900734 CIC/RM/A/2014/903523 CIC/CC/A/2014/900735 CIC/RM/A/2014/904104 CIC/CC/A/2014/900736 CIC/RM/A/2014/004138 CIC/RM/A/2014/900660
Date of Decision : July 10, 2017