RTI Act extends to private unaided schools: Delhi High Court
8 May, 2013The Central Information Commission (CIC) had passed an order asking the private schools in Delhi to divulge information under Right to Information (RTI) Act. A petition was filed by a federation of schools in Delhi High Court seeking to get the CIC order quashed by the court.
After the hearing of the petition, the Delhi High Court has held that the private unaided schools will be covered under the RTI Act. The court upheld the CIC order asking the schools to display information on total number of seats, total vacancies in classes, total seats under Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) quota, total applications received under the quota and other information relating to EWS quota applications. The high court has asked the schools to update the information on weekly basis.
Passing the judgment, the high court also directed the education director to ensure compliance of the court's directions. However, the court ruled that certain information is exempt from disclosure under the RTI Act like budget estimates of receipts, payments of the ensuing year, final accounts and the statement showing disbursement of salaries.