Central Information Commission
Dr.Bidhu Bhusan Das vs Ut Of Pondicherry on 28 September, 2011
Central Information Commission
Room No. 305, 2nd Floor, 'B' Wing, August Kranti Bhavan,
Bhikaji Cama Place, New Delhi110066
Web: www.cic.gov.in Tel No: 26167931
Case No. CIC/SS/A/2011/000560
Name of Appellant : Dr. Bidhu Bhusan Das
Name of Respondent : Pondicherry University
Puducherry
Date of Hearing : 08.09.2011
ORDER
Dr. Bidhu Bhusan Das, the appellant has filed this appeal dated 18.2.2011 before the Commission against the Pondicherry University, Puducherry for not providing information to his RTI-request dated 11.11.2010. The matter came up for hearing on 08.09.2011 at Puducherry. The appellant was absent, whereas the respondents were represented by Shri P. Subramanian, Deputy Registrar, Shri V. Jothimurugaian, S.O. , Shri N. Subramanian, Sr. Assistant and Shri A. Balasubramanian, Law Officer.
2. The appellant filed RTI-request dated 11.11.2010 seeking information on two queries - (1) Documentary evidence of assessment of performance during the initial period of one year probation of the following six faculty members based on which the probation period was extended for a further period of one year (i) Dr. M. Balamurguan, Reader, School of Education, probation period extended w.e.f. 24.6.2010, (ii) Mr. S. Sudalai, Asstt. Prof, Centre for Pollution Control & Environmental Engg, probation period extended w.e.f. 8.5.2010, (iii) Dr. D. Purushothaman, Asstt. Prof, Centre for South Asian Studies, probation period extended w.e.f. 10.6.2010, (iv) Ms. V. Santhi Siri, Asstt. Prof, Centre for Electronic Media, probation period extended w.e.f. 25.6.2010, (v) Dr. R. Amutha, Asstt. Prof, Bioinformatics, probation period extended w.e.f. 28.4.2010, (vi) Mr. S.I. Humayum, Asstt. Prof., South Asian Studies, probation period extended w.e.f. 28.4.2010; and (2) The UGC, New Delhi guidelines for extension probation period of a faculty member in a Central University. The PIO vide letter No. PU/Estt(T)/ET- 4/2010-11/576 dated 25.11.2010 informed the appellant on Point No. (1) that documentary 2 Case No. CIC/SS/A/2011/000560 evidence of assessment of performance of the six faculty members cannot be provided as per Section 8(1)(e) & (j) of the RTI Act and on Point No. 2, the PIO provided copy of UGC guidelines.
3. Aggrieved by reply from PIO, the appellant preferred first-appeal on 8.12.2010 before FAA. The FAA vide order PU/REGR/2010/23 dated 31.12.2010 upheld the reply of PIO with the observation that Assessment of Performance of faculty members is confidential and covered under the fiduciary relationship and, therefore is non-disclosable u/s 8(1)(e) & (j) of the RTI Act.
4. After hearing the respondent, the Commission is of the view that the provision of Section 8(1) (j) applies in this case and no larger public interest is involved in the disclosure of this information. Therefore, no interference is called for on the part of the Commission.
The matter is accordingly disposed of at Commission's end.
(Sushma Singh) Information Commissioner 28.09.2011 Authenticated true copy:
(K.K. Sharma) OSD & Deputy Registrar Address of the parties:
Dr. Bidhu Bhusan Das, Department of Chemistry, Pondicherry University, R. Venkataraman Nagar, Puducherry-605014.
The PIO, Pondicherry University, R. Venkataraman Nagar, Puducherry-605014.
The First Appellate Authority, Pondicherry University, R. Venkataraman Nagar, 3 Case No. CIC/SS/A/2011/000560 Puducherry-605014.