MHRD must ratify CIC order on fees

Times of India: Aurangabad: Thursday, 11 February 2016.

The Central Information Commission (CIC) recently put a ceiling on the fees charged by universities towards issuing photocopies of answer sheets to students, but the decision may be ignored by state universities unless the ministry of human resource development and the University Grants Commission (UGC) ratify the directives.

The CIC has directed that universities cannot charge more than Rs 2 per page of the answer sheet. The CIC passed the order on January 15 while deciding on an appeal filed by a Delhi University student, who had challenged the cost of Rs 750 per question paper imposed for accessing answer sheets under the RTI Act. The CIC has directed the UGC to circulate, publicize and insist on implementation of this order in all academic and examining bodies. It has also directed the MHRD 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.

Experts have expressed apprehension that state universities might ignore the CIC directives arguing that they do not come under its purview. "The regulatory bodies such as the MHRD and the UGC should step in immediately and ratify the CIC directives regarding ceiling on fees for photocopies of answer sheets. In its absence, state varsities are not legally bound to reduce their fees," said RTI activist and education counsellor Vivek Velankar.

Pralhad Lulekar, officiating controller of examination at Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, said the revision of fees for photocopies of answer sheets would be considered only if directives come either from the state or the central regulatory bodies. "We are not willing to lower our fees without the order of the MHRD or the UGC. Our charges are lower compared with other state universities," he said.

Lulekar said the process of giving access to photocopies of answer sheets was different from other procedures involving dissemination of information under the RTI Act.

Echoing similar views, Ravi Sarode, controller of examination with Swami Ramanand Teerth Marathwada University, Nanded, said the cost and manpower involved in handling answer sheets was a consideration while deciding the fees. "Each university decides its fees in their own powers. The fees will be revised if any specific instructions come from the top," he said.

Activist Tukaram Saraf, said the CIC directive should be implemented immediately for the benefit of students. "State universities are bound to show aversion to lowering their fees as it produces handsome revenue for them. The apex regulatory bodies should prevail upon state universities to toe the line and comply with CIC orders," he said.