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Srikanth Sreedhar vs University Grants Commission on 6 June, 2024

                                  केन्द्रीय सूचना आयोग
                          Central Information Commission
                               बाबा गंगनाथ मागग ,मुननरका
                           Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka
                             नई निल्ली, New Delhi - 110067
नितीय अपील संख्या / Second Appeal No. CIC/UGCOM/A/2023/641231

 Srikanth Sreedhar                                             ... अपीलकताग/Appellant


                                   VERSUS
                                    बनाम

 CPIO:
 University Grants Commission                                ...प्रनतवािीगण/Respondent
 New Delhi



Relevant dates emerging from the appeal:

 RTI : 02.08.2023            FA    : 11.08.2023              SA     : Nil.

 CPIO : 11.08.2023           FAO : 18.08.2023                Hearing : 04.06.2024


Date of Decision: 06.06.2024


                                       CORAM:
                                 Hon'ble Commissioner
                               _ANANDI RAMALINGAM
                                      ORDER

1. The Appellant filed an RTI application dated 02.08.2023 seeking information on the following points:

 The ONE MAN COMMITTEE that NITK appointed on the issue of the PROMOTION of the Instructor involved in the death of Anand Pathak Dr H V Page 1 of 3 Sudhaker Nayak, who was the KREC DEAN ACADEMIC when the stalking against me took place.

The beneficiaries in the NITK Hostel Trust Fund Scam include the Instructor and HOD involved in the death of Anand Pathak. The HOD got Rs 96,000 and the instructor got Rs 7500.

Hence, I want a copy of the UGC Rules and Regulations that show that UGC is supposed to take action against the VC but refused.

2. The CPIO replied vide letter dated 11.08.2023 and the same is reproduced as under:-

"NITs are under the purview of Dept. of Higher Education, Ministry of Education. Therefore, you are requested to contact the CPIO, NIT for necessary information."

3. Dissatisfied with the response received from the CPIO, the Appellant filed a First Appeal dated 11.08.2023 alleging that the information provided was incomplete, false and misleading. The FAA vide order dated 18.08.2023 upheld the reply given by the CPIO.

4. Aggrieved with the FAA's order, the Appellant approached the Commission with the instant Second Appeal dated Nil.

5. The appellant remained absent and on behalf of the respondent Shri M.K.Meena, Under Secretary and Shri Naresh Kumar, UDC, attended the hearing in-person.

6. The respondent while defending their case inter alia submitted that the appellant had raised allegations against NITK and its Vice Chancellor and did not seek any material information. Therefore, the appellant having raised a grievance, they had replied that he could take it up with the concerned authority i.e. NITK since UGC was not the custodian of the information.

7. The Commission after adverting to the facts and circumstances of the case, hearing the respondent and perusal of records, observes that the CPIO has provided an appropriate reply to the RTI Application as per the material records available under their custody.

Further, in the absence of the Appellant to plead his case or contest the CPIO's submissions, the Commission finds no scope of intervention in the matter. Accordingly, the appeal is dismissed.

Copy of the decision be provided free of cost to the parties.

(Anandi Ramalingam) (आनंदी रामल ंगम) Information Commissioner (सूचना आयुक्त) निनां क/Date: 06.06.2024 Authenticated true copy Col S S Chhikara (Retd) (कनगल एस एस निकारा (ररटायर्ग )) Dy. Registrar (उप पंजीयक) 011-26180514 Addresses of the parties:

1. The CPIO University Grants Commission (UGC), Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi - 110002.

2. Srikanth Sreedhar Page 3 of 3 Recomendation(s) to PA under section 25(5) of the RTI Act, 2005:-

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