A Dent Made in The Right to Information Act, 2005!

But his application has created a furor in the university and it seemed that the vested interests in the Punjab University had been offended by the application preferred by the student. Responding to the application preferred by the student, they have sent a reply, demanding from him a huge sum of Rs 12, 00,200/- for providing Xerox copies of the information he has sought for.

It is the contention of the student that he has preferred only a few simple questions in his application that require only simple answers from the University authorities; whereas the university authorities have contended that the information sought for by the student runs into more than 6,00,000 pages and so he has to necessarily make a payment of the amount of Rs 12, 00,200/- so as to get the relevant information that he has sought for.

Even though there are alternatives for providing voluminous information in the form of a floppy or a CD, or in the alternative, the applicant may even be permitted to have a look at the relevant records by paying fees on hourly basis, the Punjab University authorities have chosen a circuitous route of making him a heavy payment for the alleged reason of providing Xerox copies running into as many as 6,00,000 pages.It was nothing but their bid to scuttle the attempt of the student who has preferred the application. How can a student pay as much as Rs 12,00.200/- for a simple application seeking information on simple accounts of what had happened in the Punjab University hostel during a particular period ? Adding fuel to the raging fire, the Punjab University authorities even exert pressure on the student to pay the huge amount stating that they had already begun taking Xerox copies of the information sought for by the student.

In the appendix D, rule 4 of the Punjab Right to information Rules, 2005 as to deposit of fees, for providing copies of information, specifically and clearly states that the applicant who has sought for the information should deposit the amount within 15 days from the date of the order and on the applicant’s failure to make payment within the stipulated period, his application will be filed considering as if the applicant was no longer interested in pursuing his application. In the case of the applicant, it is a highly debatable question why the relevant provisions of rule 4, permitting the student 15 days time to deposit the amount was not followed; how did they proceed to embark upon such a huge venture without getting the requisite deposit from the petitioner ? How could they pressurize him to pay such a heavy sum without following the relevant rules for deposit? It was a clear case of harassment of the student by the Punjab University authorities, just because he has preferred an application under the Right to Information Act, 2005.

There is something fishy about the Punjab University on the information sought for by the student.That is why the vested interests have started harassing the student who has legitimately preferred an application under the RTI Act. However, all this mudslinging has clearly make a dent on the Right to Information Act, driving the people to lose their confidence in the effectiveness of the Act.