Ce n t r al I n f o r m at io n Co m m issio n

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No.CIC/OK/A/2006/00701

Dated: 27 April 2007

Name of the Appellant : Dr. H.R. Verma,

1415, Sector 21,
Panchkula – 134 109.

Name of the Public Authority : Jamia Millia Islamia

Background:

Dr. H.R. Verma of Panchkula filed an application with the PIO, Jamia
Millia Islamia, on 7 July 2006 for seeking information on eight counts relating to
the Ph.D registration of Smt. Punita Verma in the Department of Physics, the
Action Taken Report on the letter written by the Appellant to the Dean, Faculty
of Natural Sciences on 11 May 2004 for investigation into the case of illegal
registration of Smt. Punita Verma, and other related issues.

2. Not getting any reply within the stipulated period of 30 days, the
Appellant filed an appeal before the first Appellate Authority on 8 August 2006.
The PIO vide his letter dated 14 September 2006 supplied a copy of the report
of Prof. S.K. Wasan relating to the Ph.D registration of Ms. Punita Verma in the
department of Physics. Vide his letter dated 27 October 2006, he also
intimated the Appellant that action was being initiated on the basis of the
Inquiry Report. The PIO again on 9 November 2006 supplied a copy of the
Resolution passed by the Board of Studies, Department of Physics, on 21 August
2006 to the Appellant. Thereafter, the Appellant filed a second appeal with
the Central Information Commission on 6 December 2006.

3. The bench of Dr. O.P. Kejariwal, Information Commissioner, heard the

matter on 16 April 2007.

4. Shri S.M. Afzal, Registrar & Appellate, and Shri Rocket Ibrahim, PIO,
represented the Respondents.

5. The Appellant, Dr. H.R. Verma, was present in person.

Decision:

6. The Commission heard both the sides. The first thing that the
Commission noticed was that in response to the Appellant’s RTI request made
on 17 July 2006, the Respondents replied only on 14 September 2006, that is,
after a delay of nearly three months beyond the period prescribed in the Act
for the reply. The Commission, therefore, decided to issue a show cause notice
as to why penalty should not be imposed on the Respondents for this delay.

7. As for the contents of the RTI-application, the Appellant brought to the

notice of the Commission that the reply was very casual and almost dismissive
of his application. To this, the Respondents maintained that they had sent a
copy of Prof. Wasan’s report to the Appellant and that the report contained
information on most of the items asked for by the Appellant. The Commission
now directs the Respondents to give point-wise answers to all the 8 issues
raised by the Appellant in his original RTI-application of 7 July 2006. This
should be done by 10 May 2007.

8. The Appellant is free to approach the Commission in case he finds the

replies incorrect or inaccurate.

9. The Commission ordered accordingly.

Sd/-
(O.P. Kejariwal)
Information Commissioner
Authenticated true copy:

Sd/-
(Pankaj K.P. Shreyaskar)
Assistant Registrar

Cc:

1. Dr. H.R. Verma, 1415, Sector-21, Panchkula-134109

2. Prof. Rocket Ibrahim, Public Information Officer, Office of the
Registrar, Room No.112, Jamia Millia Islamia University, Jamia Nagar,
New Delhi-110025
3. Shri S.M. Afzal, Registrar & Appellate Authority, Jamia Millia Islamia
University, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi-110025
4. Officer Incharge, NIC
5. Press E Group, CIC