CIC Directs CBSE To Allow Inspection Of Smriti Irani’s Class X, XII Records [Read Order]

When a public representative declares his educational qualifications, the voter has a right to check up that declaration, the commission observed.

The Central Information Commission has directed the CBSE to allow inspection of Class 10^th and 12^th school records of Union Minister Smriti Irani within 60 days.

Central Information Commissioner Sridhar Acharyulu also directed Minister for Textiles Smriti Irani and the Holy Child Auxilium School, Delhi, where she studied, to provide the roll number or reference number of Smriti Irani to the CBSE so that they could search from the huge records that is yet to be digitised.

Mohd Naushaduddin had approached the Central Information Commission aggrieved by denial of information pertaining to Class 10^th and 12^th school records of the Union Minister.

Academic qualifications not personal information

The commission observed that disclosure of the details of a particular candidate contained in the degree or certificate register cannot cause any unwarranted invasion of privacy of the certificate holder. “It is not correct to say that once a student passes an examination and qualifies to secure a certificate or degree, information about result will be his personal information,” the commission said.

‘Practical difficulty’ excuse rejected

The commission also rejected a plea by CPIO of the practical difficulty in searching from huge volume of records for the years 1991 and 1993 to furnish the information sought. The PIO cannot make RTI applicant to wait until the digitisation of 1991 records. They have to adhere to 30-day timeline as per RTI Act to provide information sought, Acharyulu said.

Only answersheets, personal info in admit card/marksheet need not be given

The commission also held that except the answersheet given in response to question paper in examination, no other information is given by the student to the public authority in fiduciary capacity and no such information can be withheld from disclosure. Public authority has a statutory function to process answersheets and declare the result. Through declaration of results, the institution is not disclosing any private information or information of ‘third party’, the commission observed.

However, the commission clarified that, if admit card or marksheet contains personal information like address, contact number and email id, it is the personal information of the candidate and need not be given.

Read the order here.

This article has been made possible because of financial support from Independent and Public-Spirited Media Foundation.