The Times of India: Nashik: Tuesday, March 20, 2012.
Two officials are facing punitive action for not providing information under the right to information (RTI) Act to parents of kids studying at the New Era School.
The Nashik bench of the state information commission has ordered the deputy director of education (Nashik) TN Supe and first appellate officer SR Pathak to provide information asked by parents through an RTI application in the New Era School case. The order said in case of failure to do so, they could be slapped with a fine of Rs 25,000 for violating the law.
Parents have claimed that the school misled them into believing that it offered CBSE curriculum. School authorities confessed two years ago that they did not have any permission for the same. After the parents knocked on several doors, the charity commissioner submitted in writing last year that the school had misguided the parents and that it should continue with the state board curriculum.
Vijay Mundaware, who filed the RTI application, wanted information about the details of a school fee hike and what action had been taken against the school. In the written order on Saturday, the information commission said that in response to Mundaware's written complaint on February 25, 2010 deputy director Supe should have provided him with the information and should have taken necessary action against the school. Supe's representative said during the hearing that first appellate officer Pathak should have provided the information.
The state information commission said that by not providing the information, Supe and Pathak had violated section 7 (1) of the RTI Act, therefore they should present a clarification within 30 days as to why a fine of Rs 25,000 should not be slapped on them according to section 20 (1) of the Act. It also said that in response to the second appeal of the applicant, the officials should provide the information through post to the applicant within eight days. It added that Supe had violated RTI Act section 19 (1) by not conducting a hearing of the first appeal and asked the state director of education, secondary and higher secondary education, Pune, to take necessary action on the deputy director.
It said the fine could also be slapped on the grounds that the concerned officials said the issue does not come under their jurisdiction. While Pathak said that it was Supe's duty to provide the information, the latter said that it came under the primary and secondary education department, which in turn said that it came under the NMC's education department. Administrative officer of the education department, Nitin Upasani wrote that it came under the deputy director.
The Nashik bench of the state information commission has ordered the deputy director of education (Nashik) TN Supe and first appellate officer SR Pathak to provide information asked by parents through an RTI application in the New Era School case. The order said in case of failure to do so, they could be slapped with a fine of Rs 25,000 for violating the law.
Parents have claimed that the school misled them into believing that it offered CBSE curriculum. School authorities confessed two years ago that they did not have any permission for the same. After the parents knocked on several doors, the charity commissioner submitted in writing last year that the school had misguided the parents and that it should continue with the state board curriculum.
Vijay Mundaware, who filed the RTI application, wanted information about the details of a school fee hike and what action had been taken against the school. In the written order on Saturday, the information commission said that in response to Mundaware's written complaint on February 25, 2010 deputy director Supe should have provided him with the information and should have taken necessary action against the school. Supe's representative said during the hearing that first appellate officer Pathak should have provided the information.
The state information commission said that by not providing the information, Supe and Pathak had violated section 7 (1) of the RTI Act, therefore they should present a clarification within 30 days as to why a fine of Rs 25,000 should not be slapped on them according to section 20 (1) of the Act. It also said that in response to the second appeal of the applicant, the officials should provide the information through post to the applicant within eight days. It added that Supe had violated RTI Act section 19 (1) by not conducting a hearing of the first appeal and asked the state director of education, secondary and higher secondary education, Pune, to take necessary action on the deputy director.
It said the fine could also be slapped on the grounds that the concerned officials said the issue does not come under their jurisdiction. While Pathak said that it was Supe's duty to provide the information, the latter said that it came under the primary and secondary education department, which in turn said that it came under the NMC's education department. Administrative officer of the education department, Nitin Upasani wrote that it came under the deputy director.
.JPG)
.JPG)
