UPSC lands in controversy on charges of curtailing RTI process

Times of India: Aurangabad: Friday, 01 January 2016.

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has been at the centre of a controversy for disposing off an application filed under the Right To Information (RTI) Act without holding hearing at the level of appellate authorities.

Santoshsing Rajput, a candidate from Paithan taluka of Aurangabad district, has been at the receiving end of alleged lax attitude and high-handedness exhibited by the Commission.

The RTI community too has strongly reacted to the UPSC for allegedly bypassing the laid down procedure and violating the principle of natural justice.

Rajput had on October 15, filed an RTI application with the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO), seeking details about the category-wise cut-off marks and selection criteria among a few other details for the post of drug inspector being recruited in the Ministry of Health.

"In response to my application, the CPIO from UPSC told me in writing that information sought is not available as the recruitment process was underway. I was not satisfied with reply and decided to approach the appellate authorities. As per UPSC notification, details of final result are expected to convey with candidates concerned within 15-days of the process is over. I was already eliminated from the process and simply curious to know performance of me and many excluded candidates like me," he said on Wednesday.

Rajput, on November 25, filed application for first appeal and kept waiting for further communication from UPSC, sharing date and venue for hearing.

However, contrary to his expectations, UPSC did not bother to conduct first appeal. I got postal reply from the UPSC, stating that verdict given by CIPO is being upheld. I was all prepared to put my stand during hearing, but was in state of shock to see such one-sided communication, Rajput rued.

The said reply from appellate authorities of UPSC reads, I have gone through the contents of appeal and records of the case I would like to inform the appellant that the interviews are yet to be conducted and thereafter final result will be declared in this recruitment case. Admissible information sought by the appellant can be provided only after the declaration of final result.

The UPSC stand regarding not holding proper hearing under first-appeal has been the topic of discussion on different platforms dedicated to RTI Act.

Speaking with ToI, senior RTI activist Vijay Kumbhar said it was completely wrong on the part of UPSC to bypass laid down process under the RTI Act, and concerned authorities have definitely misused their powers.

It is immaterial whether information sought under the RTI is deliverable or not, but the UPSC should have invited the applicant for first hearing as the transparency law itself has such provisions. No one has right to tamper with the laid down process and thereby damage the spirit of RTI Act, he said.

The RTI community has also sought action against UPSC authorities concerned for curtailing the laid down process. The UPSC authorities could not be reached for comment .