Chandigarh Newsline:Thusday,08 September, 2011.
A college that follows the instructions laid down by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) is covered under the RTI Act. This ruling was given by the Punjab CIC while deciding the case of one Sardavinder Goyal from Panchkula, who had he approached the Punjab State Information Commission when he was denied information by G G S College of Engineering and Technology, Talwandi Sabo.
Gurlabh Singh, vice-chairman of the college, said it was a private educational institution fully owned and run by a private trust Bala Ji Educational Trust registered under the Society Registration Act. He added that the respondent was neither owned nor controlled by the government. The trust was also not financed directly or indirectly by funds provided by the state, said Singh.
However, the complainant said that instructions issued by the AICTE regarding constitution of the governing body of technical institutions provide for nomination of one member each of AICTE, the affiliating university and member of the state government. It was further submitted that AICTE regulates admissions and fees structure of the college.
The respondent admitted that the college was recognised by the AICTE, but contested that such a recognition amounts to government “control”.
The CIC said the nominee members participate in the management of the institution and AICTE has powers of inspection over the institute and also determine the tuition fees through state-level committee. The numbers of seats, course contents and syllabus are also determined by the AICTE, the CIC said. The state bodies, through a large number of their nominee members, actually participate in the management of the affairs of the institution, he added.
“I have no hesitation in holding that the respondent is a public authority under the RTI Act,” he said and asked the college to appoint a PIO within 15 days and thereafter deal with the request of the information-seeker in accordance with the provisions of the Act.
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