Gujarat Information Commission "orders" education dept to proactively take RTI pleas, reveal exam papers

Screenshot of GSHSEB site doesn't have RTI link

By Our Representative
Gujarat’s right to information (RTI) watchdog, State Information Commission, a quasi-judicial authority, has asked the state education department to “proactively disclose” within seven days the names of public authority and appellate authority of the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB).
The order follows the 10th and 12th examination results, following which many students sought copies of their answer sheets under RTI. However, to their utter dismay, a visit to the Board’s website showed that RTI link on the GSHSEB site had disappeared, and there were no details of Public Information Officer (PIO) or the Appellate Authority (AA), either.
Pankti Jog of the Mahiti Adhikar Gujarat Pahel (MAGP), an RTI campaign NGO, says, several of the students’ parents approached her on the RTI helpline (9924085000) about this, and this prompted her file complaint under section 18 of RTI Act to State Information Commission to urgently take up the matter and issue order.
In his order, which she received on Friday, Gujarat Chief Information Commissioner VS Gadhvi has directed Board to disclose the names of PIO and AA on the notice board as well as on the website “within seven days” of receiving the order.
“The order is dated May 18, which means that they should have abided by it by now. However, I have checked on the website, they have still not done it”, Jog told Counterview.
At the same time, the commission, taking serious note of the fact that there is no RTI link on the GSSHEB website, has directed the principle secretary of the Gujarat education department, being the head of the public authority under RTI, to “ensure proactive disclosures are fully operationalized within seven days on the website as well as on notice board.”
“Each of the Public Authority is supposed to prepare proactive disclosures as per Section 4 of the RTI Act and the same should be widely disseminated to larger public. The Gujarat Board is dealing with the future of lakhs of students. It is completely unacceptable that the website does not show RTI link and PIO and AA details. This is complete violation of the RTI Act” says Harinesh Pandya, an RTI expert.
Jog adds, the Board is “surprisingly showing a very negative approach to the RTI Act. Many parents complained to us that when they approached by telephone to inquire about who is the PIO, they were asked not to file RTI, lest they would not get copies of the answer sheets. They also demanded Rs 300 per answer sheet for getting recalculation done for of the marks obtained”.
Notably, Gujarat was the first state in India to raise the issue of answer sheet of students to be sought under RTI way back in 2008. At that time, the State Information Commission even passed an order that student should be given copies of answer sheets under RTI.
Thereafter, on August 9, 2011, the Supreme Court gave a judgement qualifying answer sheet as “information” which students can obtain within 48 hours under section 7(1) of the RTI Act.
“The order of the Commission is very clear. We hope the PIO and AA details as well as proactive disclosure link on the website are displayed immediately”, said Jog.

Comments

Tyre cartel's monopoly: Farmers' groups seek legal fight for better price for raw rubber

By Our Representative The All India Kisan Sabha and the Kerala Karshaka Sangham that represents the largest rubber producing state of Kerala along with rubber farmers have sought intervention against the monopoly tyre companies that have formed a cartel against the interests of consumers and farmers. Vijoo Krishnan, AIKS General Secretary, Valsan Panoli, Kerala Karshaka Sangham General Secretary, and four farmers representing different rubber growing regions of Kerala have filed an intervention application in the Supreme Court.

Modi win may force Pak to put Kashmir on backburner, resume trade ties with India

By Salman Rafi Sheikh* When Narendra Modi returned to power for a second term in India with a landslide victory in 2019, his government acted swiftly. Just months after the election, the Modi government abrogated Article 370 of the Constitution of India. In doing so, it stripped the special constitutional status conferred on Jammu and Kashmir, India’s only Muslim-majority state, and downgraded its status from a state with its own elected assembly to a union territory administered by the central government in Delhi.

'Assault on civic, academic freedom, right to dissent': TISS PhD student's suspension

By Our Representative The Mumbai-based civil rights group All India Secular Forum (AISF) has said that the suspension of Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) PhD student Ramadas Prini Sivanandan (30) for two years for allegedly indulging in activities which were "not in the interest of the nation" is meant to send out the message that students and educational institutes will be targeted if they don’t align with the agenda and ideology of the ruling regime. TISS in a notice served to Ramadas has cited that his role in screening the documentary 'Ram Ke Naam' on January 26 as a "mark of dishonour and protest" against the Ram Mandir idol consecration in Ayodhya. Another incident cited in the notice was Ramadas’ participation in the protest against unfair government policies in Delhi under the banner of the Progressive Students' Forum (PSF)-TISS. TISS alleges the institute's name was "misused", which wrongfully created an impression that

A Hindu alternative to Valentine's Day? 'Shiv-Parvati was first love marriage in Universe'

By Rajiv Shah* The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual.

Magnetic, stunning, Protima Bedi 'exposed' malice of sexual repression in society

By Harsh Thakor* Protima Bedi was born to a baniya businessman and a Bengali mother as Protima Gupta in Delhi in 1949. Her father was a small-time trader, who was thrown out of his family for marrying a dark Bengali women. The theme of her early life was to rebel against traditional bondage. It was extraordinary how Protima underwent a metamorphosis from a conventional convent-educated girl into a freak. On October 12th was her 75th birthday; earlier this year, on August 18th it was her 25th death anniversary.

Why it's only Modi ki guarantee, not BJP's, and how Varanasi has seen it up-close

"Development" along Ganga By Rosamma Thomas* I was in Varanasi in this April, days before polling began for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. There are huge billboards advertising the Member of Parliament from Varanasi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The only image on all these large hoardings is of the PM, against a saffron background. It is as if the very person of Modi is what his party wishes to showcase.

Joblessness, saffronisation, corporatisation of education: BJP 'squarely responsible'

Counterview Desk In an open appeal to youth and students across India, several student and youth organizations from across India have said that the ruling party is squarely accountable for the issues concerning the students and the youth, including expensive education and extensive joblessness.

Following the 3000-year old Pharaoh legacy? Poll-eve Surya tilak on Ram Lalla statue

By Sukla Sen Located at a site called Abu Simbel in Nubia, Upper Egypt, the eponymous rock temples were created in 1244 BCE, under the orders of Pharaoh Ramesses II (1303-1213 BC)... Ramesses II was fond of showcasing his achievements. It was this desire to brag about his victory that led to the planning and eventual construction of the temples (interestingly, historians say that the Battle of Qadesh actually ended in a draw based on the depicted story -- not quite the definitive victory Ramesses II was making it out to be).

India's "welcome" proposal to impose sin tax on aerated drinks is part of to fight growing sugar consumption

By Amit Srivastava* A proposal to tax sugar sweetened beverages like tobacco in India has been welcomed by public health advocates. The proposal to increase sin taxes on aerated drinks is part of the recommendations made by India’s Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian on the upcoming Goods and Services Tax (GST) bill in the parliament of India.

Poll promises: Political parties 'playing down' need to retrieve and restore adivasi land

By Palla Trinadha Rao* The Scheduled Tribes population of 10.43 crore constitutes 8.6% of the population in the country inhabiting 26 States and 6 Union Territories. Parliament elections along with Assembly elections in some states have been notified this year.

Counterview

Search This Blog