Delhi HC Issues Notice On Students' Plea For Directing GGSIP University To Provide Certified Copies Of Answer Scripts As Per Prescribed Fee Under RTI Rules

The Delhi High Court has issued notice on a public interest litigation filed by two final year law students seeking directions on Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University for providing certified copies of answer-scripts to students as per the fee prescribed under the RTI Rules, 2012 at candidate's request.

Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh sought response of the University and directed it to file a counter affidavit while posting the matter for further hearing on December 23.

Filed by Akriti Agarwal and Lakshya Purohit through Advocate Paras Jain, the plea seeks direction in compliance of the Supreme Court judgment in the case titled ICSI v. Paras Jain wherein it was held that if a candidate seeks information under the RTI Act, then payment has to be sought under the rules made therein.

The petitioners are aggrieved by a circular issued by the University dated 11.06.2020 wherein it has prescribed the procedure to be followed by the students while applying for obtaining certified copies of evaluated answer sheets under the RTI Act, 2005.

"Under this circular, if a candidate applies for obtaining certified copies of answer-script under the RTI Act, then the fee prescribed by the Respondent is Rs. 1,500/- as per its internal rules/regulations," the plea reads.

Furthermore, the plea adds that a representation was sent by the petitioners to the Vice-Chancellor, Registrar and Public Information Officer of the University in order to follow the rule by charging fee for obtaining certified copies of the answer-script as per the RTI Rules, 2012.

In view of this, the plea reads:

"In response to above representation, Respondent via letter dated 29.09.2020 has responded to the Petitioners that it will only provide information of answer sheets as per its internal rules/regulation mandating fee of Rs. 1,500/- even if application is made under the RTI Act,2005."

According to the petitioners, it has been stated that the University being an educational institution and a public authority is clearly denying to follow the rule of law and is depriving more than 60,000 Students from accessing information under the RTI Act, 2005.

The matter will now be considered on December 23.

Title: Akriti Agarwal & Anr v. GGSIPU