Central Information Commission
Pradip Pradhan vs University Grants Commission on 29 September, 2025
के ीय सूचना आयोग
Central Information Commission
बाबा गं गनाथ माग,मुिनरका
Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka
नई िद ी, New Delhi - 110067
िशकायत सं ा / Complaint No. CIC/UGCOM/C/2024/121415
Pradip Pradhan ...िशकायतकता/Complainant
VERSUS
बनाम
CPIO: University Grants
Commission, New Delhi ... ितवादीगण /Respondents
Relevant dates emerging from the complaint:
RTI : 03.06.2019 FA : 16.08.2019 Complaint : 13.12.2021
CPIO : No Reply FAO : 20.09.2019 Hearing : 24.09.2025
Date of Decision: 26.09.2025
CORAM:
Hon'ble Commissioner
_ANANDI RAMALINGAM
ORDER
1. The Complainant filed an RTI application dated 03.06.2019 seeking information on the following points:
C. True attested photocopy of the approval of Minister, HRD for granting Deemed to be University Status to Kalinga Institute of Social Science, Bhubaneswar along with copy of Ministry letter No. 9-14/2011-U3(A) dated 19.7.2017. D. Provide copy of the documentary proof in respect of de-linking of proposed Deemed to be University from the school being run by KISS, Bhubaneswar. E. Provide copy of the list of faculties provided for the seven proposed Department as per UGC Norm which was required by the Ministry in context of granting Page 1 of 4 Deemed to be University Status to Kalinga Institute of Social Science, Bhubaneswar.
F. Photocopy of details of total 32 acres of land (20 acres of land earmarked for academic and other activities and 12 acres of land exclusively for sports activities) allotted in the name of proposed KISS Deemed to be University which was submitted by KISS and following which UGC got convinced to recommend to the Ministry for granting Deemed to be University Status to Kalinga Institute of Social Science, Bhubaneswar.
G. Provide copy of UGC letter vide No. 35-1/2011(CPP-1/DU) dt.2.8.17 sent to the Ministry, HRD. Etc.
2. Having not received any response from the CPIO, the Complainant filed a First Appeal dated 16.08.2019. The FAA vide order dated 20.09.2019 stated as under: -
"With reference to your first appeal dated 16.8.2019 received on 22.8.2019, I am to inform you that information has been sent to you vide this office letter of even number dated 30.7.2019. For point No. c, d, f, g, h, you were requested to submit required fee for providing the photocopy of the documents. But the amount is still awaited. Further, information at point no. j is related to the Deemed to be University and your application is again transferred for providing information.
In regard to your appeal, please note that as per para 4 of RTI Act, 2005 provides that the public authority under the RTI ACT is not supposed to create information, give clarification or to solve the problems raised by the applicants or to furnish replies to hypothetical questions. Only such information can be had under the Act which already exists with the Public Authority. As such you may please note that we have no more information on the subject matter to share with you in this regard.
In exercise of the powers conferred under Section 19(6) of the Right of Information Act, 2005, the appeal made by the applicant stand disposed of the aforesaid observations."Page 2 of 4
3. Aggrieved with the FAA's order, the Complainant approached the Commission with the instant Complaint dated 13.12.2021.
4. The Complainant remained absent during the hearing despite notice and on behalf of the respondent Ms. Ranjana Verma, S.O and Ms. Kanchan Sharma, C.A, attended the hearing in-person.
5. The respondent while defending their case inter alia submitted that the complainant had sought information regarding Kalinga Institute of Social Science (KISS), Bhubaneswar, Odisha, thus, the RTI application was transferred to KISS on 20.07.2021. She stated that the reply dated 14.08.2021 received from KISS had been furnished to the complainant on 15.04.2024 and the same is reproduced as under:-
With reference to CIC order No. CIC/UGCOM/A/2019/149787 dated 21.06.2021, 1 am to bring the following information to your notice. UGC vide letter No. F.5-
2/2018 (CPP-I/DU) dated 20.07.2021 requested Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (Deemed to be University), Bhubaneswar, Odisha to comply with the order passed by the CIC and to provide the required information.
The reply received from Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (Deemed to be University) is enclosed. The information sought in para (J) of the RTI application was addressed to the Ministry of Education not the UGC.
Additionally, the KISS in its letter claimed it is not covered under the RTI Act, hence, they are unable to provide any information to the complainant.
6. 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 a reply received from KISS to the complainant vide letter dated 15.04.2024. It is not the case that the respondent has not given any reply to the Complainant and no mala fide could be attributed to the decision taken by them. Further, in the absence of the complainant or any additional objections thereof, the averments made by the respondent are taken on record. That being so and the reply having been given to the complainant, there appears to be no merit in the complaint. Accordingly, the complaint is closed.
Page 3 of 4Copy of the decision be provided free of cost to the parties.
Sd/-
(Anandi Ramalingam) (आनंदी रामिलंगम) Information Commissioner (सूचना आयु ) िदनांक/Date: 26.09.2025 Authenticated true copy O. P. Pokhriyal (ओ. पी. पोख रयाल) Dy. Registrar (उप पंजीयक) 011-26180514 Addresses of the parties:
1. The CPIO University Grants Commission, CPIO, RTI Cell, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi
-110002
2. Pradip Pradhan Page 4 of 4 Recomendation(s) to PA under section 25(5) of the RTI Act, 2005:-
Nil Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)