Can names of students belonging to SC/ ST category be disclosed under RTI?
11 Apr, 2013Background
The appellant filed an application under the Right to Information (RTI) Act with the IIM seeking copies of various documents. The Public Information Officer (PIO) provided some information.
Proceedings
During the hearing the before Central Information Commission (CIC), the appellant submitted that he has not been provided names of students who have studied in the IIM for the past five years. The respondent submitted that they had provided the statistical data relating to Schedule Caste /Schedule Tribe students but the names of the students was denied under section 8(1)(e) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, there shall be no obligation to give any citizen, information available to a person in his fiduciary relationship, unless the competent authority is satisfied that the larger public interest warrants the disclosure of such information; of the RTI Act, as this information is in confidentiality clause of the Institute.
View of CIC
The Commission concurred with the decision of the PIO/FAA and rejected the appeal.
Comments
It has been held by other benches that such information is liable to be disclosed under RTI Act.
Citation: Mr. P.K. Dabhi v. IIM, Ahmedabad in File No. CIC/DS/A/2012/000493/RM
RTI Citation : RTIFI/2013/CIC/1191
Click here to view original RTI order of Court / Information Commission