The Print: New Delhi: Thursday, 16 July 2026.
The Central Information Commission has flagged the non-maintenance of records relating to foreign students admitted through OCI cards as a matter of concern for all international students and recommended that the University of Delhi proactively disclose such information to promote transparency.
Information Commissioner
Sudha Rani Relangi made the observation while deciding an RTI appeal seeking
data on foreign student admissions over the last five years, including the
number of admitted students holding Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards and
whether they had applied as foreign nationals or as Indian citizens using OCI
benefits.
During the hearing, Delhi University informed the Central Information Commission (CIC) that while it maintains statistics on foreign student admissions, it does not maintain separate records of students admitted using OCI or Person of Indian Origin (PIO) cards.
The university said foreign applicants had been admitted on the basis of their foreign passports and, therefore, no separate data was maintained for OCI/PIO card holders.
The Commission accepted the university’s submission, observing that under the RTI Act, a public authority can only provide information available on its records and is not required to create or compile information that does not exist.
It also referred to a Delhi High Court judgement holding that public authorities are under no obligation to create information in response to RTI applications.
However, the CIC observed that the “non-maintenance of records of foreign students admitted through OCI cards despite being a part of records of Delhi University is a matter of concern for all the foreign students” and warranted action in the larger public interest. The Commission, invoking Section 25(5) of the RTI Act, recommended that Delhi University maintain information on foreign students admitted through OCI cards and place it in the public domain through proactive disclosure under Section 4 of the Act.
It said making such information available on the university’s website would improve transparency and reduce the need for citizens to seek it through RTI applications. PTI MHS PRK
(This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.)
The Central Information Commission has flagged the non-maintenance of records relating to foreign students admitted through OCI cards as a matter of concern for all international students and recommended that the University of Delhi proactively disclose such information to promote transparency.
During the hearing, Delhi University informed the Central Information Commission (CIC) that while it maintains statistics on foreign student admissions, it does not maintain separate records of students admitted using OCI or Person of Indian Origin (PIO) cards.
The university said foreign applicants had been admitted on the basis of their foreign passports and, therefore, no separate data was maintained for OCI/PIO card holders.
The Commission accepted the university’s submission, observing that under the RTI Act, a public authority can only provide information available on its records and is not required to create or compile information that does not exist.
It also referred to a Delhi High Court judgement holding that public authorities are under no obligation to create information in response to RTI applications.
However, the CIC observed that the “non-maintenance of records of foreign students admitted through OCI cards despite being a part of records of Delhi University is a matter of concern for all the foreign students” and warranted action in the larger public interest. The Commission, invoking Section 25(5) of the RTI Act, recommended that Delhi University maintain information on foreign students admitted through OCI cards and place it in the public domain through proactive disclosure under Section 4 of the Act.
It said making such information available on the university’s website would improve transparency and reduce the need for citizens to seek it through RTI applications. PTI MHS PRK
(This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.)
.JPG)
.JPG)
