Can the response sheet filled by the Interview Panel be sought under RTI?

Background

The appellant sought information relating to National Talent Search Examination (NTSE) Interview conducted by National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), such as copy of response sheet filled by the Interview Panel for his son and for those students who scored more than 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. 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. marks in the interview. The Public Information Officer (PIO) suggested the appellant to refer the NTSE results on the website and denied to provide the copy of the score sheet in respect of his son in order to maintain the confidentiality of the Board members.

View of CIC

The appellant submitted that his son had secured 11 marks in the interview while others had got marks as high as 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. 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. and hence he wanted to seek the copies. The respondent explained that as there are multiple boards across the country, through a system of standardization, the raw scores are converted into standardized scores. The respondent also referred to an earlier CIC decision (CIC/DS/C/2011/000239) wherein third party information was denied but on the appellant’s request, interview scores awarded to his son were disclosed. The Central Information Commission (CIC) directed the PIO to provide the (pre-standardized) interview score awarded to the appellant’s son. 

Citation: Mr. H.M. Gupta v. National Council of Educational Research and Training in File No. CIC/DS/A/2011/001358/RM