Has the Takshila Public School, Shajahanpur got affiliation from CBSE, New Delhi? - PIO: A concrete reply can be provided only if the affiliation number is provided - CIC directed the PIO to provide a suitable revised reply as per the RTI Act
26 Oct, 2020Information Sought:
The appellant has sought the following information in respect of Takshila Public School, Shajahanpur – 242 001:
1. Whether the said school has got affiliation from CBSE, New Delhi.
2. Date of appointment and the post on which Sunil Dutta, S/o Late Sh. Parimal Dutta has been working in the school.
3. Present salary drawn by Sunil Dutta and details of PF deduction.
4. Various details available in the service book of Sunil Dutta.
Grounds for Second Appeal
The CPIO has not provided the desired information.
Submissions made by Appellant and Respondent during Hearing:
The appellant was not present at the VC venue despite duly served notice on 22.08.2020 vide speed post acknowledgment no. ED596679988IN. The appellant had submitted his written submissions dated 24.08.2020 and stated that due to his ill health he is unable to be present at the VC venue and his written submissions may be taken on record. He stated that the CPIO’s denial is incorrect as the concerned school is taking admission on the basis of affiliation by CBSE. He further mentioned that the CPIO should have made efforts to contact the school and get the information in this regard.
The CPIO vide reply dated 10.10.2018 stated that due to no affiliation to this particular school no information is available in this regard. However, in case affiliation number. is given the information can be given. On a query, she clarified during the hearing that on the basis of affiliation number only they can search the records. Moreover, there are various schools of the same name or similar name therefore, affiliation number is very crucial for tracing records. However, the particular school mentioned is not affiliated as per their records.
Observations:
Based on a perusal of the record, it was noted that the appellant had not specified the affiliation number. However, from the averments during the hearing it appears that the CPIO would be in a position to give a concrete reply only if the affiliation number is provided. On the other hand, it is clear from the records that the appellant needs information as to whether the school is affiliated or not and that shows that he is not aware of the affiliation number.
Decision:
In view of the fact that the first appeal was also not disposed of and the CPIO also has provided a vague reply, the Commission finds it appropriate to direct the CPIO to provide a suitable revised reply on point 1 as per the RTI Act to the appellant within 7 days from the date of issue of this order. As far as the rest of the points are concerned, they are personal information of third parties and otherwise exempt from disclosure under Sec. 8(1)(j) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, there shall be no obligation to give any citizen, information which relates to personal information the disclosure of which has no relationship to any public activity or interest, or which would cause unwarranted invasion of the privacy of the individual unless the Central Public Information Officer or the State Public Information Officer or the appellate authority, as the case may be, is satisfied that the larger public interest justifies the disclosure of such information: Provided that the information which cannot be denied to the Parliament or a State Legislature shall not be denied to any person. of the RTI Act.
The CPIO before providing the reply on point no. 1 shall contact the appellant through SMS/watsapp message or e-mail and obtain the proper address and name of the school and then provide a reply.
The appeal is disposed of accordingly.
Vanaja N. Sarna
Information Commissioner
Citation: Suprabhat Banerji v. Central Board of Secondary Education in File no.: CIC/CBSED/A/2019/100615, Date of Decision: 08/09/2020