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B. Deb vs University Grants Commission on 17 June, 2025

                                      के ीय सूचना आयोग
                              Central Information Commission
                                   बाबा गं गनाथ माग,मुिनरका
                               Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka
                                 नई िद   ी, New Delhi - 110067
ि तीय अपील सं        ा / Second Appeal No. CIC/UGCOM/A/2024/115784

 B. Deb                                                          ... अपीलकता/Appellant

                                         VERSUS
                                          बनाम
 CPIO:
 University Grants Commission,                              ... ितवादीगण/Respondents
 New Delhi

Relevant dates emerging from the appeal:

 RTI : 04.12.2023                FA      : 29.01.2024            SA     : 15.05.2024

 CPIO : Not on record            FAO : Not on record             Hearing : 10.06.2025


Date of Decision: 17.06.2025
                                         CORAM:
                                   Hon'ble Commissioner
                                 _ANANDI RAMALINGAM
                                        ORDER

1. The Appellant filed an RTI application dated 04.12.2023 seeking information on the following points:

1) What is the status for making payment of the legal fees bill of the undersigned pertaining to the Writ petition (C) No. 221 of 2016 titled as CMJ University vs University Grants and when it will be paid/disburse?

2) What is the status for making payment of the legal fees bill of the undersigned pertaining to the Writ Petition (Civil) No. 349 of 2020 titled as CMJ University

-Vs-State of Meghalaya and 4 Ors and when it will be paid/disburse?

3) What is the status for making payment of the legal fees bill of the undersigned pertaining to the Writ Petition (Civil) No. 44 of 2017 titled as Smti. Jollin Andrea Shylla -Vs- State of Meghalaya and Ors and when it will be paid/disburse?

4) What is the status for making payment of the legal fees bill of the undersigned pertaining to the Writ Petition (Civil) No. 311 of 2014 titled as Geetanjali Lahkar Vs- State of Meghalaya and Ors and when it will be paid/disburse?

5) What is the status for making payment of the legal fees bill of the undersigned pertaining to the Writ Appeal No. 22 of 2015 titled as North Eastern Hill University Vs. Tapan Kumar Chakrabarty and another and when it will be paid/disburse?

6) Why only the legal fees bill of the undersigned pertaining to the Writ Petition (Civil) No. 67 of 2023 titled as Shri Navin Chettri -Vs- State of Meghalaya and 10 Ors was disbursed/paid?

2. Having not received any response from the CPIO, the Appellant filed a First Appeal dated 29.01.2024. The FAA's order, if any, is not on record of the Commission.

3. Aggrieved with the non-receipt of FAA's order, the Appellant approached the Commission with the instant Second Appeal dated 15.05.2024.

4. The appellant attended the hearing through video conference and on behalf of the respondent Dr. Nand Kishor, Under Secretory, attended the hearing in-person.

5. The appellant inter alia submitted that no reply to his RTI application had been received till date from the respondent authority.

6. When queried by the Commission regarding a response to the RTI application, the respondent submitted that initially no reply had been furnished by the CPIO, Mr. Kamal Kishor. However, upon receipt of the hearing notice of the Commission, the CPIO has furnished a reply to the appellant vide letter dated 30.05.2025.

7. The Commission after adverting to the facts and circumstances of the case, hearing both parties and perusal of records, observed that the CPIO, Mr. Kamal Kishor, Under Secretary has not responded to the RTI application in spite of over 1½ years having elapsed. Moreover, the latest reply furnished on 30.05.2025 is evasive and misleading as it does not contain any relevant information, sought in the RTI application. Moreover, Dr. Nand Kishor, Under Secretory, failed to explain the cogent reasons for such inordinate delay and improper response. In view of this, the Commission issues a Show-cause notice to the CPIO, Mr. Kamal Kishor, Under Secretary, as to why action under Section 20(1) of the RTI Act should not be initiated against him for not responding to the RTI application within stipulated time and for giving misleading information. The CPIO is directed to file a written statement on the above aspects, along with the comments of the First Appellate Authority by uploading on http://dsscic.nic.in/online-link-paper-compliance/add, within 20 days from the date of the receipt of this order. Further, the Commission directs the CPIO, Mr. Kamal Kishor, Under Secretary to furnish a reply to the RTI application as per provisions of the RTI Act, within 10 days from the date of the receipt of this order, under intimation to the Commission. With this observation and direction, the appeal is disposed of.

Copy of the decision be provided free of cost to the parties.

Sd/-

(Anandi Ramalingam) (आनंदी रामिलंगम) Information Commissioner (सूचना आयु ) िदनांक/Date: 17.06.2025 Authenticated true copy O. P. Pokhriyal (ओ.पी. पोख रयाल) Dy. Registrar (उप पंजीयक) 011-26180514 Page 3 of 4 Addresses of the parties:

1. The PIO University Grants Commission, CPIO, RTI Cell, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi -110002

2. B. Deb Page 4 of 4 Recomendation(s) to PA under section 25(5) of the RTI Act, 2005:-

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