Central Information Commission
Borse Vishvnath Yuvrajbhai vs University Grants Commission on 19 September, 2022
CIC/UGCOM/A/2022/633280
के ीय सूचना आयोग
Central Information Commission
बाबा गंगनाथ माग,मुिनरका
Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka
नई द ली, New Delhi - 110067
ि तीय अपील सं या/ Second Appeal No. CIC/UGCOM/A/2022/633280
In the matter of:
Borse Vishvnath Yuvrajbhai ... अपीलकता/Appellant
VERSUS
बनाम
CPIO, ... ितवादीगण /Respondent
University Grants Commission
Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg,
New Delhi- 110002
Relevant dates emerging from the appeal:
RTI Application filed on : 10.04.2022
CPIO replied on : 09.06.2022
First Appeal filed on : 13.05.2022
First Appellate Authority order : 19.05.2022
Second Appeal received on : 17.06.2022
Date of Hearing : 02.09.2022
The following were present:
Appellant: Shri. Borse Vishvnath Yuvrajbhai, participated in the hearing
through video conference from NIC Surat
Respondent: Dr.Diksha Rajput, CPIO & Deputy Secretary, University
Grants Commission, participated in the hearing in person & Shri. Krishna
Kant Dave, Vice Chancellor, PAHER University, participated in the hearing
through audio mode
Page 1 of 9
CIC/UGCOM/A/2022/633280
ORDER
Information sought:
The Appellant filed an online RTI Application dated 10.04.2022 seeking information as under:
"RTI on my online Grievance (GRIEVANCE-STU-2020-61742-1) registered on https://grievance.ugc.ac.in/ against PAHER University, Udaipur, Rajasthan.
Here I want get information that what step has been taken by UGC to solve my online grievance registered on https://grievance.ugc.ac.in against Pacific Academy of Higher Education and Research University (PAHER University) dated 19 November 2020 and my Grievance ID is GRIEVANCE-STU-2020-61742-1. Today More than 16 months completed but still my grievance is not solved either by UGC or by PAHER University. So, trough RTI act 2005 1 want to know that what step has been taken by UGC to solve my grievance and within how much time my grievance will be solved. Can UGC helped me provide PhD notification and Certificate in the Subject of Accounting and Business Statistics (shortly known as ABST) under the faculty of Commerce from PAHER University? "
The CPIO vide online reply dated 09.06.2022, informed to the Appellant as under:
Page 2 of 9CIC/UGCOM/A/2022/633280 Being dissatisfied, the Appellant filed a First Appeal dated 13.05.2022. The First Appellate Authority vide online reply dated 19.05.2022, informed as under:
Grounds for Second Appeal:
The Appellant filed a Second Appeal u/s 19 of the Act on the ground of unsatisfactory reply furnished by the Respondent. Appellant requested the Commission to direct the CPIO to provide complete information sought for.
Submissions made by Appellant and Respondent during Hearing:
The Appellant stated that vide instant RTI application he wants to know the action taken / status of his grievance that he has filed with the UGC regarding issuance of PhD certificate from the Department of Accounting and Business Statistics (shortly known as ABST) under the faculty of Commerce. However, the same has not yet been done.
The Respondent submitted that vide initial reply dated 09.06.2022, the Appellant has been informed as to what action has been taken with respect to his grievance. The Respondent further submitted that University Grants Commission has no locus to intervene on such issues as it is an Academic issue which can only be dealt by the concerned university. Therefore, Page 3 of 9 CIC/UGCOM/A/2022/633280 correspondence has been done with the university so as to expedite the process of grievance redressal of the Appellant.
The Commission queried the Respondent regarding the current status of Appellant's grievance to which the Respondent submitted that a communication has taken place with the Vice Chancellor of the concerned University and he has expressed his willingness to redress the same as soon as possible.
The Vice Chancellor Shri. Krishna Kant Dave, participated in the hearing through audio mode, wherein he submitted that PhD certificate which has been issued to the Appellant is done as per the mandate only, no change in the format can be made for an individual, however, in order to redress Appellant's grievance they are willing to issue a letter to the Appellant stating that the Appellant has obtained his certificate from Accounting and Business Statistics Department (shortly known as ABST) under the faculty of Commerce from PAHER University. He submitted that the said letter which will be issued by the University will serve Appellant's purpose with respect to his career progressions and the Appellant also concurred with the same.
The Commission remarked that issuance of such PhD certificates without mentioning their department makes it difficult for the candidate to explain his/ her discipline or area of expertise during their career advancements, therefore such practice needs to be reformed, to which Shri. Krishna Kant Dave concurred with the same and further agreed to take up the instant issue with the higher authorities.Page 4 of 9
CIC/UGCOM/A/2022/633280 The Commission further queried the Respondent if UGC can pursue the matter further to ensure that the said letter gets issued to the Appellant by the concerned university as early as possible, to which the Respondent affirmatively agreed.
A written submission has been received by the Commission from the Appellant vide letter dated 17.06.2022 wherein the Commission has been apprised as under:Page 5 of 9
CIC/UGCOM/A/2022/633280 Page 6 of 9 CIC/UGCOM/A/2022/633280 A written submission has been received by the Commission from Website Bureau, University Grants Commission wherein the Commission has been apprised as under:Page 7 of 9
CIC/UGCOM/A/2022/633280 Decision:
Upon perusal of the facts on record as well as on the basis of the proceedings during the hearing, the Commission observes that the Respondent has adequately dealt with the instant RTI Application by taking appropriate steps with respect to the grievance redressal of the Appellant. Further, the Vice Chancellor of the concerned university has agreed to issue a letter to the Appellant in order to redress Appellant's grievance and the Appellant has expressed his satisfaction with the same.
In the light of the submissions made during hearing the Commission deems it fit to direct the Respondent to ensure that the concerned university issues the averred letter to the Appellant within a weeks' time from the date of receipt of this order.
With the above observations, the instant Second Appeal is disposed of. Copy of the decision be provided free of cost to the parties.
The Appeal, hereby, stands disposed of.
Amita Pandove (अिमता पांडव) Information Commissioner (सूचना आयु ) दनांक / Date: 19.09.2022 Authenticated true copy (अिभ मािणत स यािपत ित) B. S. Kasana (बी. एस. कसाना) Dy. Registrar (उप-पंजीयक) 011-26105027 Page 8 of 9 CIC/UGCOM/A/2022/633280 Addresses of the parties:
1. The First Appellate Authority (FAA) University Grants Commission Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi110002
2. The Central Public Information Officer University Grants Commission Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi- 110002
3. Mr. Borse Vishvnath Yuvrajbhai Page 9 of 9