1. The appellant, Shri Prashant Kumar Baheti submitted RTI application before the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO), University Grants Commission (UGC), New Delhi by giving reference of letter No. F-6-3(Centre)/2003 (CPP-I) and sought to know name of various courses run under distance education mode by JRN Rajasthan Vidyapeeth University which were accorded one time ex-post facto approval (2001- 2005) by Distance Education Council.
2. The CPIO informed the appellant that during the period of institutional recognition, the University was required to offer programmes approved by the statutory bodies of the University after seeking approval of the regulatory bodies concerned, wherever required. Further, in case of technical/professional programmes offered by the university, the approval from the AICTE was required to be obtained by the university in accordance with the Gazette Notification No. 44 dated 1.3.1995 issued by MHRD. Seeking approval from the respective apex bodies was the responsibility of the university. However, no university was authorized to offer technical and professional programmes including M. Phil and Ph. D through distance mode. Dissatisfied with the decision of the CPIO, the appellant filed an appeal before the first appellate authority (FAA). The FAA does not seem to have adjudicated on the appeal.
3. Aggrieved, the appellant filed the instant appeal before the Commission on the grounds of incomplete and unsatisfactory information having been provided by the respondent authority.
4. The matter was heard by the Commission. The appellant was not present in spite of a notice of hearing having been sent to him. The respondent CPIO stated that the JRN Rajasthan Vidyapeeth was a Deemed University. The erstwhile Distance Education council (DEC) had granted ex-post facto approval to JRN Rajasthan Vidyapeeth for the programmes offered by it through distance mode till 2005. The institutional recognition was accorded to it from the academic year 2007-08 to 2011-12. The programme-wise recognition was accorded to it for one year i.e. 2012-13 only. No further recognition had been granted to it either by DEC or UGC to offer any programme through distance mode. The respondent further added that during the period of institutional recognition, the University was required to offer programmes approved by the statutory bodies of the University and after seeking approval of the regulatory bodies concerned. However, no university was authorized to offer technical and professional programmes including M. Phil and Ph. D through distance mode. The UGC, Distance Education Bureau vide letter dated 30.04.2014 informed the VC, JRN Rajasthan Vidyapeeth, Udaipur that UGC had not allowed continuation of recognition to conduct programmes in distance mode for academic session 2013-14 onwards.
5. Having considered the submissions of the respondents the Commission observes that the CPIO had appropriately responded to the appellant in the matter and upholds the decision of the CPIO. The Commission advises the FAA to ensure timely adjudication of first appeals in future. The appeal is disposed of.