Central Information Commission
Shri G.V.Murali Krishna vs Bsnl, Hyderabad on 11 August, 2009
Central Information Commission
CIC/AD/A/2009/000734
Dated August 11, 2009
Name of the Applicant : Shri G.V.Murali Krishna
Name of the Public Authority : BSNL, Hyderabad
Background
1. The Applicant filed an RTI application dt.15.7.08 with the CPIO, BSNL, Kurnool. He requested for verification of his answer sheets of SDE competitive examinations held on 15.7.07. The CPIO replied on 21.8.08 denying the information u/s8(1)(g). The Applicant filed an appeal dt.18.9.08 with the Appellate Authority. The Appellate Authority replied on 13.10.08. In his reply, he stated as follows:
i) Every year BSNL conducts various departmental / direct recruitment examinations involving thousands of candidates. A common procedure is being followed for conduction of all the examinations based on the BSNL recruitment rules. It is pertinent to mention that the examination process is executed entirely within the organization. Departmental officers are nominated as paper setters as well as examiners in addition to their normal duties.
ii) Most of the examinations are descriptive in nature giving scope for variations in the allocation of marks. The disclosure of answer sheets will result in challenging of such variations in the Hon'ble Court of Law. Due to these reasons, officers are not willing to volunteer as examiners. Since it is not possible to isolate the identity of the examiner from the answer sheets, they are feeling insecure about their life or career due to apprehensions of litigations raised in the evaluation of answer sheets. Moreover, when the evaluated answer sheets are challenged in courts, the entire recruitment process comes to a halt until the decision is given by the court. This results in deficiency of man power which subsequently hampers the developmental activities of the organization. Aggrieved with this reply, the Applicant filed a second appeal dt.Nil before CIC.
2. The Bench of Mrs. Annapurna Dixit, Information Commissioner, scheduled the hearing for August 11, 2009.
3. Both the Appellant and the Respondent were not present during the hearing.
Decision
4. The Commission holds that the decision with regard to verification of answer sheets has to be taken by BSNL itself, this being an internal matter and that the issue does not fall within the purview of the RTI Act.
5. The appeal is accordingly rejected.
(Annapurna Dixit) Information Commissioner Authenticated true copy:
(G. Subramanian) Asst. Registrar Cc:
1. Shri G.V.Murali Krishna HRMS No.199701939 JTO, CSC BSNL Bhawan Kurnool 518 050
2. Shri M.Sambasiva Rao The ACPIO & AGM (Legal) Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited O/o Chief General Manager, Telecom AP Circle Hyderabad 500 001
3. The Appellate Authority & Chief General Manager Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited O/o Chief General Manager AP Circle Nampally Station Road Hyderabad 500 001
4. Officer incharge, NIC
5. Press E Group, CIC