Nagpur University: Just one college penalized in 5 years!

NAGPUR: Seeking information from Nagpur University is like searching a needle in the haystack. Though in the last one year itself the Nagpur University (NU) has imposed hefty fines on at least four erring colleges, it has disclosed that only one Wardha College was penalized between January 2012 and December 2018 in an RTI query.
This is the second time the NU has supplied inconsistent and incomplete data under the RTI Act. Last month, the NU had failed to provide data regarding inquiry committees set up by it since 2007.

On February 18, TOI had reported how the NU authorities not only failed to provide complete information, but it was also confusing and incorrect. Activist Abhay Kolarkar had sought information pertaining to inquiry panels constituted by NU and its statutory bodies from January 1, 2008, to November 30, 2017.

Now, activist Ankita Shah was appalled when the NU replied that just Jai Mahalaxmi Arts, Commerce and Science College Karanja (Lad), Wardha, was imposed a cost of Rs25,000 over its failure to seek continuation of affiliation for 2016-17.

Shah had sought information regarding number of colleges/institutions affiliated to NU that have been penalized in the last five years, types of violations, total fine recovered, defaulters and utilization of the fine amount.

A miffed Shah told TOI that the RTI Act was implemented nearly 12 years ago and still the university officials are lax about it.

TOI learns that the query was referred to college section which has imposed penalty on only one college during this period. Shah had not addressed her RTI application to any section but posted in the name of Nagpur University.

An official said the applicant should have specified the section in her query. Besides college section, the exam section has powers to levy penalties on colleges in case of violations.

Shah countered the official’s claim, “RTI service of NU is pathetic. The official appointed at such sensitive post are not aware of the provisions of the Act. Action should be taken against such officers,” she said.

Citing section 5(4) of the Act, Shah said it mandates that the information officer can seek the assistance of any other officer as he or she considers it necessary for the proper discharge of his duties. “The college section could have referred the query to exam officials too to provide comprehensive information,” she said.

Registrar Puran Meshra said the applicant is free to move the first appellant if she was not happy with the response.