Club Building (Near Post Office), Old JNU Campus, New Delhi - 110067. Tel: +91-11-26161796 Decision No. CIC/SG/A/2009/001195/3955 Appeal No. CIC/SG/A/2009/001195 Relevant Facts emerging from the Appeal: Appellant : Mr.Subhash Chandra Agrawal 1775 Kucha Lattushah, Dariba, Delhi-110006. Respondent : Ms. Abha Joshi Asstt. Director of Education (ACT) & PIO Govt. of N.C.T. of Delhi Directorate of Education (Act Branch) Room No. 212, A, Old Secretariat, Delhi-110054. RTI application filed on : 23/02/2009 PIO replied : 25/03/2009 First appeal filed on : 30/03/2009 First Appellate Authority order : 30/04/2009 Second Appeal received on : 14/05/2009 Information sought: -
1. Has Directorate of Education noted media-reports like (NT 21.2.2009) wherein irregularities like over-charging of school-fees in violation of circular number F.DE/15(56)/Act/2009/778 dt. 11.02.2009 issued by Directorate of Education have been highlighted?
2. If yes, steps taken by Directorate of Education to check malpractices in respect of school-fees overcharged by schools at a time when parents are being threatened by school-managements for victimization of their children if complaints are made with Directorate of Education.
3. Has Directorate of Education summoned schools to submit copies of their demand-letters in respect of increase in school-fees as sent to students/parents to scrutinize violation of the circular number F.DE/15(56)/Act/2009/778 dt. 11.02.2009 issued by Directorate of Education?
4. Is Directorate of Education aware that many schools have either rounded-up tuition-fees to next hundred for getting higher slab of school-fees or have taken net fees payable (inclusive of other additives in tuition-fees) for getting higher-slab of increased tuition-fees?
5. If yes to query (3) and/or (4) above, steps taken by the Directorate of Education for making schools to refund excess-charged school-fees.
6. How many complaints are received by the Directorate of Education against schools for over-charging in respect of school-fees?
7. Were any of these complaints found true?
8. If yes, names of schools found guilty and action taken against those schools by the Directorate of Education.
9. Any other related information
10. File-notings on movement of this RTI petition as well. Reply of PIO: Sr. No. Information sought PIOs reply
1. Has Directorate of Education noted media-reports like (NT 21.2.2009) wherein irregularities like over- charging of school-fees in violation of circular number F.DE/15(56)/Act/2009/778 dt. 11.02.2009 issued by Directorate of Education have been highlighted? Any report/individual complaint regarding overcharging of school fee in violation of order dt. 11.02.09 are enquired by concerned Distt and necessary action is taken as per provision of DSER-73
2. If yes, steps taken by Directorate of Education to check malpractices in respect of school-fees overcharged by schools at a time when parents are being threatened by school- managements for victimization of their children if complaints are made with Directorate of Education. As above
3. Has Directorate of Education summoned schools to submit copies of their demand-letters in respect of increase in school-fees as sent to students/parents to scrutinize violation of the circular number F.DE/15(56)/Act/2009/778 dt. 11.02.2009 issued by Directorate of Education? As above
4. Is Directorate of Education aware that many schools have either rounded-up tuition-fees to next hundred for getting higher slab of school-fees or have taken net fees payable (inclusive of other additives in tuition-fees) for getting higher- slab of increased tuition-fees? As above
5. If yes to query (3) and/or (4) above, steps taken by the Directorate of Education for making schools to refund excess-charged school-fees. As above
9. Any other related information Question is not clear.
10. File-notings on movement of this RTI petition as well. There is no file noting on this RTI Application. Grounds for First Appeal: The Appellant had received a totally evasive and irrelevant reply dt.25.03.2009. Now he had made first appeal requesting to respond to each of his queries with due care. Order of the First Appellate Authority: The information so provided is complete, therefore, no further action is required. Grounds for Second Appeal Authorities of Directorate of Education (Delhi Government) may kindly be directed to provide proper replies to the Appellants various queries after at least going through the RTI petition with desired attention together with file-notings. Relevant Facts emerging during Hearing: The following were present Appellant: Mr.Subhash Chandra Agrawal Respondent: Ms. Abha Joshi PIO The PIO has taken the plea that she did not give any information since there was no record of action being taken consequent to media reports. The PIO is directed to provide all the information on the action taken by the Department, even if it is not consequent to a media report, since this was obviously the intention of the appellant. Decision: The appeal is allowed. The PIO will give the complete information to the appellant before 16 July 2009. This decision is announced in open chamber. Notice of this decision be given free of cost to the parties. Any information in compliance with this order will be provided free cost as per Section 7(6) of RTI Act. Shailesh Gandhi Information Commissioner
1 July 2009 (In any correspondence on this decision, mentioned the complete decision number.)