Central Information Commission
Debajyoti Roy vs Assam University on 25 August, 2021
Author: Saroj Punhani
Bench: Saroj Punhani
के ीयसूचनाआयोग
Central Information Commission
बाबागंगनाथमाग , मुिनरका
Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka
नई द ली, New Delhi - 110067
File No :CIC/ASUVR/C/2020/667512
Debajyoti Roy ....िशकायतकता /Complainant
VERSUS
बनाम
CPIO,
Assam University, RTI Cell,
Silchar, Assam 788011. .... ितवादीगण/Respondent
Date of Hearing : 23/08/2021
Date of Decision : 23/08/2021
INFORMATION COMMISSIONER : Saroj Punhani
Relevant facts emerging from complaint:
RTI application filed on : 25/12/2019
CPIO replied on : Not on record
First appeal filed on : 07/02/2020
First Appellate Authority order : Not on record
2nd Appeal/Complaint dated : Not on record
Information sought:
The Complainant filed an online RTI application on 25.12.2019 seeking following information :-
1. "Kindly state the minimum academic score as decided by Screening Committee for the Post of Assistant Professor (UR) and Assistant Professor (SC) in Department of Business Administration, Assam University wrt Employment Notification No. 4/2019 dated 8.8.2019.1
2. Kindly Provide the details of academic score, academic qualification, NET/SLET qualification and other useful details of ALL the shortlisted candidates for the below mentioned Posts, which were considered in shortlisting the candidates for personal interview (Notification No 102/5/2019-RECT/781 and 102/5/2019-RECT/782, dated 19 December 2019).
Name of the Posts:
A. Assistant Professor (UR) in Department of Business Administration B. Assistant Professor (SC) in Department of Business Administration
3. Kindly state with relevant data that whether any candidate with higher academic score was available than those who are shortlisted, if yes, kindly state the ground of rejection for the following Posts:
A. Assistant Professor (UR) in Department of Business Administration B. Assistant Professor (SC) in Department of Business Administration."
Having not received any response from the CPIO, the Complainant filed a First Appeal dated 07.02.2020. FAA's order, if any, is not available on record.
Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied with the non-receipt of information, Complainant approached the Commission with the instant Complaint.
Relevant Facts emerging during Hearing:
The following were present:-
Complainant: Present through audio conference.
Respondent: Anindya Syam Choudhary, Associate Professor & CPIO present through audio conference.
The CPIO submitted that a reply incorporating the detailed information was provided to the Complainant through the online portal on 22.11.2020 and prior to that, an interim reply was also provided to him on 07.02.2020 indicating that provision of information may be delayed due to administrative constraints.
The Commission also noted that the CPIO had tendered his written explanation for the delay caused in providing the final reply/information to the Complainant, relevant extract of which is reproduced hereunder:
"Towards the end of 2019, the Registrar of Assam University, Dr. Sanjib Bhattacharjee, was suspended. The Registrar's room was locked and the matter 2 was in Gauhati High Court, which asked Assam University to maintain status quo with regard to the Registrar's room, which had many files inside it including the one containing information regarding Mr. Roy's query.
The matter remained unresolved, and towards the end of March 2020, a complete lockdown was declared, as we all know..."
The Complainant stated that he did not receive any reply of the CPIO till date and at the behest of the Commission requested for the averred replies to be sent to him via email.
Decision The Commission based on a perusal of the facts on record finds no scope of intervention with respect to the information provided by the CPIO and condones the delay caused in providing the final reply to the Complainant for want of malafides.
In view of the hearing proceedings, the Commission directs the CPIO to send the replies of 07.02.2020 and 22.11.2020 to the Complainant via email within 2 days from the date of receipt of this order. A compliance report to this effect shall be duly sent to the Commission by the CPIO.
The complaint is disposed of accordingly.
Saroj Punhani((सरोजपुनहािन)
हािन)
(सूचनाआय
Information Commissioner(सू ना ु त)
Authenticated true copy
(अिभ मािणतस!यािपत ित)
(C.A. Joseph)
Dy. Registrar
011-26179548/ [email protected]
सी. ए. जोसेफ,उप-पंजीयक
दनांक / Date
3