Can students’ assessment of a Professor be disclosed to a RTI applicant?
6 May, 2013Background
The appellant filed an application under the Right to Information (RTI) Act with the Pondicherry University seeking information regarding selection of lecturers in the Department of Performing Arts, Pondicherry University through an interview. The Public Information Officer (PIO) provided some information.
Proceedings
During the hearing the before Central Information Commission (CIC), the appellant contented that the PIO wrongly informed him that two persons (who qualified the selection) are Ph.D qualified whereas they were not Ph.D qualified at the time of the selection. The appellant also submitted that his query whether the candidates have completed Ph.D in English medium has not been replied to by the PIO. The respondent informed that these two candidates were NET qualified candidates and were yet to be awarded Ph.D degree. The PIO stated in their biodata it was mentioned that they have submitted their Ph.D thesis and are awaiting award of degree. The respondent further submitted that copy of the students’ assessment of a particular Professor, School of Performing Arts was denied as it was the personal information of third party and covered under the provisions of section 8(i)(j) of the RTI Act.
View of CIC
The Commission directed the PIO to provide the full clarification to the appellant on the subject of Ph.D degrees of the two aforesaid candidates and also to inform whether the candidates have completed Ph.D in English medium or through any other medium.
Citation: Mr. R. Ramalingam v. Pondicherry University in File No. CIC/SS/A/2011/001701
RTI Citation : RTIFI/2013/CIC/1253
Click here to view original RTI order of Court / Information Commission