Central Information Commission
Mudit Lamba vs Indira Gandhi National Open University ... on 14 December, 2021
Author: Saroj Punhani
Bench: Saroj Punhani
के ीय सूचना आयोग
Central Information Commission
बाबागंगनाथमाग , मुिनरका
Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka
नई द ली, New Delhi - 110067
File No : CIC/IGNOU/A/2020/684497
Mudit Lamba ......अपीलकता /Appellant
VERSUS
बनाम
CPIO,
Indira Gandhi National Open
University, RTI Cell, Regional Centre,
Karnal, 06, Subhash Colony, Karnal - 132001,
Haryana. .... ितवादीगण /Respondent
Date of Hearing : 06/12/2021
Date of Decision : 06/12/2021
INFORMATION COMMISSIONER : Saroj Punhani
Relevant facts emerging from appeal:
RTI application filed on : 09/03/2020
CPIO replied on : 20/03/2020
First appeal filed on : 27/05/2020
First Appellate Authority order : 02/06/2020
2nd Appeal/Complaint dated : 05/09/2020
1
Information sought:
The Appellant filed an online RTI application dated 09.03.2020 seeking the following information;
"Please provide the duplicate copy of evaluated assignments of following subjects:-
MPA 15 MPA 16 MPA 17 MPA 18 MPS 003 The details of candidate is as follows:-
Name- MuditLamba Enrollment No. - 173829350 Programme - MPA Session - 2017-19 Regional Office - Karnal The assignments were submitted in IGNOU Study Centre at Hindu College, Sonepat (Haryana).
The CPIO forwarded the RTI Application to the Coordinator, Hindu College, Sonepat on 20.03.2020 for providing the relevant information to the Appellant.
Being dissatisfied, the appellant filed a First Appeal dated 27.05.2020. FAA's order dated 02.06.2020 directed the CPIO as follows;-
"........this Study Centre comes under the control of RC Karnal and being a PIO of this RC, it is directed to intervene and resolve the matter by ensuring that the desired information should get by the appellant in time and also report the action taken to RSD for information."
Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied with the non-compliance of FAA's order, theappellant approached the Commission with the instant Second Appeal. Relevant Facts emerging during Hearing: 2
The following were present:-
Appellant: Present through audio-conference.
Respondent: Poonam Singh, Regional Director/CPIO along with Dr.Vivek Saini, Coordinator, IGNOU Study Centre present through audio-conference.
The Appellant stated that he is aggrieved by the fact that copies of all evaluation assignments except for the subject MPS 003 have not been received by him.
The CPIO reiterated the contents of his written submission dated 01.12.2021 as under -
"...3. Through online RTI application dated 09.03.2020, ShMuditLamba requested for providing the Duplicate copy of the evaluated assignments. This RTI application was forwarded to the concerned Study centre vide RC letter no. IG/RCK/RTI/20L9/96263 dated 20.03.2020, and the same was informed to the applicant.
4.Due to non-availability of the approved Academic counsellors at Study Centre 1002 Sonepat, his Assignments of the above mentioned courses except MPSO3.were forwarded to Study Centre 1009 at Govt. PG College, Hissar for evaluation. The same information was provided to the applicant by LSC 1002 through email and over phone also.
5. Assignment of MPA15, MPA 16, MPA 17, MPA 18 courses were evaluated at Study Centre 1009 Hissar and assignment of course MPS OO3 was evaluated at Study Centre 1002 Sonepat.
6. Assignment awards of MPS03 and MPA15, MPA 16, MPA 17, MPA 18 courses were transmitted to IGNOU HQ New Delhi for updation in the Grade Card of the applicant for June TEE 2019, and assignment awards of all 05 courses were updated in his Grade card.
7. Regional centre requested to the coordinator of study centres i.e. 1002 sonepat and 1009 Hisar to provide the evaluated copy of the assignments MPA 15, MPA 16, MPA 17, MPA 18 and MPS 003 courses to the applicant.
8.The copy of evaluated assignment of MPS03 was provided to the learner by study centre 1002 through email on 18th October 2020 during covid 19 pandemic. But study centre 1009 Hissar was not able to provide the copy of evaluated assignments to the concerned learner stating that ,,study centre 1009 Hissar has received huge assignments (More than 32000 assignments) for evaluation for June TEE 2019. Few students have taken back their evaluated 3 assignments before/after the June TEE 2019. The assignments of Mr. MuditLamba may have been taken by some other student by mistake. so his assignment is not traceable"
9. Study centre 1009 Hissar informed to the Regional centre and also through email dated 30th December 2019 regarding the same.
10. ShMuditLamba (Enroll No. 173829350) has been awarded 33510) during the 33 rd Convocation ceremony organized by on 17th February 2O2O. This is submitted for your kind information please. With kind regards, responded to the learner his MPA Degree (IG33- Regional Centre Karnal) in 33rd Convocation Ceremony on 17.2.2020."
Decision:
The Commission based on a perusal of the facts on record and considering the factual submission of the CPIO finds no scope of relief to be ordered in the matter.
However, in view of cumbersome procedure of evaluation as explained by CPIO during hearing which led to inordinate delay, he is hereby advised to explore the viability of easing out the process of issuing assignments to the intended candidates in a time bound manner in order to avoid unwarranted obstruction in the flow of such information under RTI Act.
The appeal is disposed of accordingly.
Saroj Punhani (सरोजपुनहािन) हािन) Information Commissioner (सूचनाआयु ) Authenticated true copy (अिभ मािणत स#यािपत ित) (C.A. Joseph) Dy. Registrar 011-26179548/ [email protected] सी. ए. जोसेफ, उप-पंजीयक दनांक / 4