Central Information Commission
Laxmi Kant Tiwari vs Department Of Higher Education on 6 September, 2017
Central Information Commission
Room No.307, II Floor, B Wing, August Kranti Bhawan, Bhikaji Cama Place, New
Delhi-110066
website-cic.gov.in
Case No. CIC/DHEDU/A/2017/320121/MP
Appellant : Shri Laxmi Kant Tiwari, Mirzapur.
Public Authority : Association of Indian University, New Delhi.
Date of Hearing : 04th September, 2017
Date of Decision : 05th September, 2017
Present
Appellant. : Not present.
Respondent : Shri Shivam Dixit, Software Engineer/CPIO
& Shri Sambhar Srivastava, SO at CIC.
RTI application : 04.06.2016
CPIO's reply : 06.07.2016
First Appeal : 11.08.2016
FAA's order : 19.08.2016
Second Appeal : 18.11.2016
Information Commissioner : Manjula Prasher
ORDER
1. The appellant, Shri Laxmi Kant Tiwari submitted online RTI application before the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO), Association of Indian Universities (AIU), New Delhi giving reference to brochure posted on the website regarding procedure for equivalence of qualifications/degrees (updated on 30.06.2015) and sought to find out the day, month and year up to which past practice of according equivalence was effective as per para 18-21 (pages 8 and 9 of the Brochure); whether his M. Sc degree 1 provided by University of Twente on 11th March, 2011 was equivalent to M. Sc degree provided by the Indian Universities or not up to 11th day of March, 2011; the day, month and year from which the present policy of AIU was effective. He enclosed copies of MOU on cooperation in education and research signed between AIU and VSNU through three points.
2. The CPIO informed the appellant that the latest policy adopted by AIU for according equivalence as on 30.06.2015 was given in the brochure containing the information as required. The MOU mentioned in letter was general in nature and did not mention about the level of equivalence to the degrees awarded by both the countries. The MOU was valid till 15.07.2011. The appellant being dissatisfied with the reply of the CPIO, filed an appeal before the first appellate authority (FAA). The FAA further clarified the position to the appellant.
3. Not quite satisfied, the appellant filed the instant appeal before the Commission on the grounds of having been provided unsatisfactory information by the respondent authority.
4 The matter was heard by the Commission. The appellant was not present in spite of a notice of hearing having been sent to him. The respondents stated that as per Information Brochure of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), the AIU accords equivalence to such foreign degrees which: (a) are awarded by the foreign universities which are approved/recognized/ accredited in its own country; (b) are pursued by a student as a full time regular student on the campus of the university of its Origin; (c) the minimum prescribed duration of the programme of the studies is at least the same as 2 applicable in case of Indian universities; and (d) the minimum eligibility requirements for admission in the programme of studies is at least the same as applicable in case of Indian Universities. They stated that the FAA had further clarified the position in the matter to the appellant. The appellant was not present to indicate shortcoming, if any, in the information provided by the respondents.
5. Having considered the submissions of the respondents, the Commission holds that the FAA had responded adequately to the appellant in the matter. The Commission upholds the decision of the FAA. The appeal is disposed of.
(Manjula Prasher) Information Commissioner Authenticated true copy:
Deputy Registrar Address of the parties:
Shri Laxmi Kant Tiwari, The Central Public Information Officer, RoomNo.G-12, Association of Indian University, Remote Sensing and GIS Lab), House No. 16, Comrade Indrajit Administrative Building, Gupta Marg, Barkachha, RGSC-BHU, New Delhi-110002. Mirzapur-231001.
The First Appellate Authority, Association of Indian University, House No. 16, Comrade Indrajit Gupta Marg, New Delhi-110002.3