Central Information Commission
Mr. Bhavesh Motiani vs U.G.C on 31 December, 2010
In the Central Information Commission
at
New Delhi
File No: CIC/WB/A/2010/000787AD
Date of Hearing : December 31, 2010
Date of Decision : December 31, 2010
Parties:
Applicant
Shri Bhavesh Motiani
Assistant Director
Ministry of MSME
#704, Nirman Bhawan
Maulana Azad Road
New Delhi 110 108
The Applicant was not present for the hearing
Respondent
University Grants Commission
#35 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg
New Delhi
Represented by : Dr.K.P.Singh, Joint Secretary and Mrs.N.Venugopal
Information Commissioner : Mrs. Annapurna Dixit
___________________________________________________________________
Decision Notice
The Commission holds that information as available on records with UGC has been provided by the PIO . As
for the information about equivalence, it is clear from the AIU's letter that AIU will decide the equivalence .
Since the matter regarding whether AIU is covered under RTI Act or not is at present subjudice, the Appellant
is advised to write directly to the Information Officer of AIU and obtain the information.
In the Central Information Commission
at
New Delhi
File No: CIC/WB/A/2010/000787AD
ORDER
Background
1. The Applicant filed an RTI application dt.21.8.09 with the PIO, UGC seeking information against 9 points including whether B.Sc(Tech) in Ceramic Technology of Calcutta University is equivalent to B.E/B.Tech (Ceramics). Mrs.Shakuntla Kashyap, PIO replied on 8.9.09 furnishing point wise information. She also enclosed a copy of UGC Minimum Standards of instruction for the grant of Master's degree Regulations while stating that UGC has not specified stream wise subject and that eligibility is decided by the concerned university. She also stated that Association of Indian Universities is the nodal agency for deciding equivalence of degree and any specified degree of UGC awarded by any statutory University is valid for higher education purposes and employment. Not satisfied with the reply, the Applicant filed an appeal dt.11.9.09 with the Appellate Authority commenting on the reply provided. Dr.Dev Swarup, Appellate Authority replied on 28.10.09 providing further clarification. Being aggrieved with the reply, the Applicant filed a second appeal dt.8.7.10 before CIC stating that he had passed B.Sc(Tech) course and that it is neither B.Sc nor B.Tech and hence many times his applications for recruitment had been rejected bcause of this. Decision
2. During the hearing, the Respondents referred to a letter dt.24.2.10 written in a different context by the Information Officer of Association of Indian Universities stating that AIU is not covered under RTI Act and that matter is being decided by the Delhi High Court . In the same letter, the PIO also mentioned that AIU accords equivalence to the degree level programmes pursued on the campus of the University of its origin. The Respondents further submitted that the information sought is hence not available in their records .
3. The Commission after hearing both sides, holds that information as available on records with UGC has been provided by the PIO UGC . As for the information about equivalence, it is clear from the AIU's letter that AIU will decide the equivalence . Since the matter regarding whether AIU is covered under RTI or not is at present subjudice, the Appellant is advised to write directly to the Information Officer of AIU and obtain the information.
4, The appeal is accordingly disposed off.
(Annapurna Dixit)
Information Commissioner
Authenticated true copy
(G.Subramanian)
Deputy Registrar
Cc:
1. Shri Bhavesh Motiani
Assistant Director
Ministry of MSME
#704, Nirman Bhawan
Maulana Azad Road
New Delhi 110 108
2. The Public Information Officer
University Grants Commission
#35 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg
New Delhi
3. The Appellate Authority
University Grants Commission
#35 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg
New Delhi
4. Officer Incharge, NIC