The Central Information Commission (CIC) has criticized Delhi University’s Venkateswara College for providing a “baseless” denial of information regarding recruitment favoritism allegations. The college faces scrutiny for its response to a Right to Information (RTI) request concerning alleged unfair hiring practices.
CIC Orders College to Revisit RTI Reply
Information Commissioner Sudha Rani Relangi ruled that the Public Information Officer’s (PIO) reply did not align with the RTI Act’s intent. The appellant, Jawahar Singh, accused the college of corruption. He claimed ineligible candidates were hired for positions like Upper Division Clerk. Singh also alleged a “pick and choose policy” for staff removals and favoritism towards candidates from a specific state.
Venkateswara College’s PIO denied the allegations. The college stated all recruitments followed Delhi University rules. The PIO asserted “no corruption angle” was involved. An apology was also offered for a delayed RTI response, attributed to unintentional reasons.
Specific Queries Criticized
The CIC found the college’s one-line denial, stating “Question not defined under Section 2(f)” without citing exemptions, to be without foundation. This response was given to critical queries.
Regarding a request for a list of newly recruited staff, the CIC noted this information should be publicly available under Section 4(1) of the RTI Act. The figures provided were deemed insufficient to answer the appellant’s question. Section 4(1) requires public authorities to proactively disclose information.
The commission also highlighted the PIO’s failure to direct the appellant to relevant recruitment rules or provide a direct link. This oversight was considered a lapse in the reply.
Revised Reply Mandated
The CIC upheld the appeal. It has directed the PIO to review the relevant queries. The college must provide a revised, updated reply within one week. This revised response must include copies of pertinent information and specific web links to recruitment rules.