GreaterKashmir.com: Thursday , August 25 , 2011.
New Delhi, Aug 24: Central Information Commission today declared that one of the schools of prestigious Delhi Public School comes under the ambit of RTI Act as it received substantial funding from the government in the form of subsidised land.
The transparency panel said that Delhi Public School, Rohini is a public authority within the ambit of the RTI Act as it is controlled by different agencies under the Delhi administration like DDA and Directorate of Education.
The case relates to an RTI applicant Mohit Goel who sought information from DPS, Rohini on admission procedures and admissions made under the policy framework specified by the Department of Education for 2010-11 for pre-school.
The school refused to give any information saying that the RTI Act is not applicable on it as it is a private unaided organisation and also cited clause of exemption of personal and private information.
Before the Commission, Goel challenged the reasons put forth by the school saying that over 10,000 sq m of land has been allotted to the school by the DDA at a nominal rent of Rs 10 per annum while another 6,000 sq m has been allotted at the concessional rate of Rs 65 lakh per acre.
He said the school is under indirect government control in as much as the regulating, governing and controlling of the school is as per provisions of Delhi School Education Act and Rules, 1973. Goel said two nominees from the Delhi Administration(Directorate of Education) hold important positions of control in the management committee and the Directorate of Education is also custodian of all information related to the school.
Information Commissioner Annpurna Dixit pointed out that the letter of grant of land says that "DDA reserves the right to alter any terms and conditions on its discretion thereby establishing its control over the way school uses this land given free to the school by the DDA in a prime area of the capital which at today's rate, is valued at several crores of rupees".
She directed the school to make arrangement for the processing of the RTI applications and pro-active disclosure as mandated under the section four of the transparency law.
"India is facing the difficult task of ensuring social justice and equity to all people and the model chosen by the government spreading welfare and its benefits through private schools, which are tasked and assisted for this purpose is commendable. The crucial role that information plays in achieving this objective cannot be understated," she said.
Dixit added that it is in this context that section 2(h) recognises that non-state actors may have responsibilities of disclosing information which would be "useful and necessary for the people they serve".
The transparency panel said that Delhi Public School, Rohini is a public authority within the ambit of the RTI Act as it is controlled by different agencies under the Delhi administration like DDA and Directorate of Education.
The case relates to an RTI applicant Mohit Goel who sought information from DPS, Rohini on admission procedures and admissions made under the policy framework specified by the Department of Education for 2010-11 for pre-school.
The school refused to give any information saying that the RTI Act is not applicable on it as it is a private unaided organisation and also cited clause of exemption of personal and private information.
Before the Commission, Goel challenged the reasons put forth by the school saying that over 10,000 sq m of land has been allotted to the school by the DDA at a nominal rent of Rs 10 per annum while another 6,000 sq m has been allotted at the concessional rate of Rs 65 lakh per acre.
He said the school is under indirect government control in as much as the regulating, governing and controlling of the school is as per provisions of Delhi School Education Act and Rules, 1973. Goel said two nominees from the Delhi Administration(Directorate of Education) hold important positions of control in the management committee and the Directorate of Education is also custodian of all information related to the school.
Information Commissioner Annpurna Dixit pointed out that the letter of grant of land says that "DDA reserves the right to alter any terms and conditions on its discretion thereby establishing its control over the way school uses this land given free to the school by the DDA in a prime area of the capital which at today's rate, is valued at several crores of rupees".
She directed the school to make arrangement for the processing of the RTI applications and pro-active disclosure as mandated under the section four of the transparency law.
"India is facing the difficult task of ensuring social justice and equity to all people and the model chosen by the government spreading welfare and its benefits through private schools, which are tasked and assisted for this purpose is commendable. The crucial role that information plays in achieving this objective cannot be understated," she said.
Dixit added that it is in this context that section 2(h) recognises that non-state actors may have responsibilities of disclosing information which would be "useful and necessary for the people they serve".
.JPG)
.JPG)
