Information about the HRM quota admission in the KV - CIC: Provide the total number the students who were admitted under HRM quota for the academic year; CIC directed the PIO to hyperlink of the website where the sought for information is available
15 Jan, 2021Information Sought:
The appellant has sought the following information :
1. How many students under HRM quota have been admitted for the academic year 2018-19 in KVs. Provide list of the students admitted under HRM quota for the year 2018-19.
2. Why HRM quota is not mentioned under the admission guidelines under special provisions.
3. How many students (maximum) can be admitted under this quota and the limit for the same.
4. Why is the HRM quota list not available in KVs official website.
Grounds for Second Appeal
The CPIO did not provide the desired information.
Submissions made by Appellant and Respondent during Hearing:
The appellant submitted that he is not satisfied with the reply of the CPIO as it was stated that the RTI is not a platform for questions and answers and if such is the case then how will ordinary citizens know if admissions in KVS are done as per guidelines and no frauds have occurred.
The CPIO reiterated the contents of his reply dated 10.12.2018 and submitted that the same reply was also upheld by the FAA. She further informed after the Board of Governors meeting, the information regarding the number of the students who were admitted under HRM quota for the academic year 2018-19 was placed on their website on 28.02.2019.
Observations:
From a perusal of the relevant case records, it is noted that the CPIO had given a point-wise reply to the appellant which is as per the provisions of the RTI Act. The appellant is aggrieved as submitted by her that if RTI is not a platform for raising questions and seeking their answers then how will ordinary citizens know if admissions in KVS are done as per the guidelines and no frauds have occurred. It is brought to the notice of the appellant that under the RTI Act, a CPIO is obliged to provide information which is held by and under the control of a public authority. He cannot provide something which is not available in a material form. The definition of the word 'information' under section 2 (f) is quite clear and it only means an 'information' which is available in a material form and is held by or exists under the control of a public authority. The Commission therefore, does not find any flaw in the reply of the CPIO and hence no further relief can be given in the case.
With regard to point no. 1, since the CPIO informed that all the related information was placed on their website, she is directed to give the total number of the students who were admitted under HRM quota for the academic year 2018-19 to the appellant.
Decision:
In view of the above, the CPIO is directed to provide the total number the students who were admitted under HRM quota for the academic year 2018-19 to the appellant as per the discussions held during the hearing within a period of 07 days from the date of issue of this order under intimation to the Commission. She may also direct the appellant to hyperlink of the website where the sought for information is available now.
The appeal is disposed of accordingly.
Vanaja N. Sarna
Information Commissioner
Citation: S Malarvizhi v. Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan in File no.: - CIC/KVSAN/A/2019/601602, Date of Decision : 08/10/2020