Times
of India: Rajkot: Monday, 15 February 2016.
Despite the
Central Information Commission (CIC) directing universities to charge only Rs 2
per page for copies of evaluated answer sheets, the Saurashtra University (SU)
continues to ask for exorbitant fees from the students.
Vismay
Manseta, a BSc student of city-based Virani Science College, had sought copies
of his three answer sheets. However, Manseta was told to pay Rs 1,000 per answer
sheet.
"I had
sought evaluated answer sheet copies of chemistry, physics and English. First,
I was told to pay Rs 1,000 per evaluated copy, and last week I received a
letter asking for Rs 500 per answer sheet besides Rs 50 per form," said
Manseta, who has been fighting to get his evaluated answer sheet copy at
reasonable rates.
"The
fees charged by SU is very high and I have filed an appeal with the Gujarat
Information Commission (GIC)," Manseta said. "Despite CIC's clear
order to charge only Rs 2 per page, SU still charges high fees. This is
violation of the CIC order," Manseta added.
Earlier, on
January 15, CIC had directed that universities cannot charge more than Rs 2 per
page for copies of the answer sheet. The CIC passed the order while deciding on
an appeal filed by a Delhi University student Abne Ingty, who had challenged
the cost of Rs 750 per question paper imposed for accessing answer sheets under
the RTI Act.
CIC had
directed the University Grant Commission (UGC) and Association of Indian
Universities to circulate, publicize and insist on implementation of this order
in all academic and examining bodies. It has also directed the Union HRD
ministry to make it mandatory for universities to bring uniformity in rules and
regulations by fixing cost at not more than Rs 2 per page for the answer sheet.
"It is
very unfortunate that universities are not acting in the interests of students
and are not following CIC order," said RTI activist Shailendrasinh Jadeja.
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