F.No.CIC/AT/A/2008/01340 Dated, the 20th February, 2009 Appellant : Shri Deepak Batra Respondents : Veterinary Council of India This matter was heard on 17.02.2009 in the presence of both parties.
2. Appellant stated that presently his requirement for information is limited to only item 5 of his RTI-application dated 01.04.2008, which he further limited to the latest report prepared by the Veterinary Council of India (VCI) in respect of each of the Veterinary Colleges in their jurisdiction.
3. Respondents stated that according to the Indian Veterinary Council Act- 1984, this information was meant to be confidential and not to be shared in public.
4. This is an untenable argument. There seems to be no reason why an inspection report about the infrastructure and the facilities at a Veterinary College should at-all be held confidential, especially when these infrastructure and facilities have a public-interest aspect to it insofar as these have a direct bearing on the quality of education and the standards of teaching. RTI Act supersedes provisions of any other law to the extent those provisions are inconsistent with the provisions of the RTI Act. (Section 22 of the RTI Act).
5. In view of the above, it is directed that the disclosure of information to the appellant be made through inspection of records. CPIO, within four weeks of the receipt of this order, on a day and time to be notified to the appellant, allow him to inspect the reports as spelt-out in paragraph 2 above. He shall be allowed to take such copies from the inspected documents as he may choose on payment of requisite fee.
6. Appeal allowed.
7. Copy of this decision be sent to the parties. ( A.N. TIWARI ) INFORMATION COMMISSIONER