MSU registrar fined 5,000 for denying info under RTI

Times of India‎‎: Vadodara: Monday, October 31, 2016.

Gujarat Information Commission has imposed a penalty of Rs 5,000 on M S University's registrar and public information officer (PIO) for not furnishing information to a former temporary lecturer of Faculty of Performing Arts (FPA) under Right to Information Act.

It was almost nine years ago that based on an application submitted by a girl student alleging sexual harassment, the university had constituted an inquiry against the lecturer who was working with Department of Music (vocal).

Later, while the lecturer never got a fresh appointment, the university had dropped the inquiry into the matter and it does not even have the committee's report with it.

It was in 2007 that MSU had discontinued services of Ashish Sant, who was appointed as ad hoc lecturer at FPA in 2001, based on a complaint filed by a first year girl student who had alleged that Sant had shown her an obscene MMS on mobile phone on the pretext of showing a picture clipping of 'Radha-Kishan'.

"I had sought information regarding the committee that was constituted against me. Since 2003, I am qualified for SEBC post. So far, 10 interviews for temporary positions and three for permanent positions have been held on the campus. But because there was a committee formed against me, my career was damaged," said Sant.

The commission's order states that MSU registrar was given notice for hearing on July 15 and September 6. In the commission's order dated June 17, the PIO was asked to remain present with relevant records. "It appears that PIO and registrar has not given explanation as to why complete information sought by the complainant could not be furnished to him within the time limit," the order states.

Under section 20 (1), the penalty of Rs5,000 will have to be paid by the PIO and registrar from personal resources, failing which the amount should be recovered from salary.

"It is a very old case. We will go through the documents," said MSU's present officer on special duty (registrar) Dr Neerja Jaiswal.