Central Information Commission
Neeraja Gupta vs Indira Gandhi National Open University ... on 14 August, 2020
Author: Vanaja N Sarna
Bench: Vanaja N Sarna
क य सच ु ना आयोग
CENTRAL INFORMATION COMMISSION
बाबा गंगनाथ माग
Baba Gangnath Marg
मु नरका, नई द ल - 110067
Munirka, New Delhi-110067
File No.: CIC/IGNOU/A/2019/644395
In the matter of:
Neeraja Gupta
... Appellant
VS
Central Public Information Officer,
IGNOU, Student Evaluation Division,
Maidan Garhi, New Delhi - 110068
...Respondent
RTI application filed on : 22/03/2019 CPIO replied on : 04/04/2019 First appeal filed on : 04/04/2019
First Appellate Authority order : Not on record Second appeal filed on : 01/07/2019 Date of Hearing : 11/08/2020 Date of Decision : 11/08/2020 The following were present: Appellant : Heard over phone Respondent: Shri Anil Kumar, Assistant Registrar & CPIO, heard over phone Information Sought:
The appellant had passed her bachelors and Master Degree in Computer application i.e. BCA-MCA integrated successfully in the term end exam of June 2001 and June 2003 with 60.67% and 67.06% marks respectively from IGNOU. Provide the details about the medium (Hindi/English) in which she has passed the above mentioned course.
Grounds for Second appeal The CPIO has provided misleading and false information.1
Submissions made by Appellant and Respondent during Hearing:
The appellant submitted that she is not satisfied with the reply of the CPIO as the CPIO in his reply had stated that the BCA and MCA programmes are offered in English medium only, however, the same respondent authority in response to her other RTI application had stated that for BCA programme, the appellant was registered with Hindi Medium. Since both the replies are contradictory, the CPIO may be directed to provide proper information to her.
The CPIO reiterated the contents of his reply dated 04.04.2019 and also went to great lengths to explain the situation to the appellant.
Observations:
From a perusal of the relevant case records, it is noted that the appellant is aggrieved as two contradictory replies were given to her by the same public authority in relation to the same subject matter bearing the same enrolment number. In the reply of the CPIO dated 04.04.2019, it was stated that the BCA and MCA programmes are offered in English medium only and in a previous reply of the CPIO dated 12.10.2018 which was given in connection with some other RTI application, it was stated that that as per the information received from the computer section of SED, the student bearing enrolment no. 983073505 BCA programme has got registered with Hindi Medium.
On a query to the CPIO as to why such contradictory replies were given, the CPIO explained that the course is offered in English medium only but for sometime, an option was given to the students to either opt for English or Hindi language while writing their exams but this flexibility was given for writing answer-scripts only. This in no way means that the course itself was offered in Hindi medium. Since the appellant was aggrieved as submitted by her that in her application form, she had opted for Hindi medium option for her course, hence in order to clarify the position, both the parties i.e. the appellant and the CPIO were given adequate time during the hearing to have a brief discussion on this issue during which the CPIO explained that the course is in English medium only and the language selected for writing the exams is immaterial. He also informed the appellant that she had not studied the prospectus properly and also informed her that the certificate given for this course shows the medium as English only even if the exam was given in Hindi.2
In view of the detailed discussions and clarifications given, the Commission holds the reply of the CPIO as satisfactory and proper.
Decision:
In view of the above, the Commission upholds the reply of the CPIO dated 04.04.2019 and does not find any scope for intervention in the matter.
The Appeal is disposed of accordingly.
Vanaja N. Sarna (वनजा एन. सरना) Information Commissioner (सच ू ना आय! ु त) Authenticated true copy (अ भ मा णत स या पत त) A.K. Assija (ऐ.के. असीजा) Dy. Registrar (उप-पंजीयक) 011- 26182594 / दनांक / Date 3