In a decision that would benefit students, parents and the public, the Madras High Court has directed Tiruvalluvar University in Vellore district to dispose of within a month a representation that information about the functioning of the university be published in its website.
Disposing of a PIL, the First Bench comprising the Chief Justice S.K. Kaul and Justice M.M. Sundresh said that the university should look into the mandate contained in section 4 of the RTI Act (Obligations of public authorities) in this context.
The petitioner submitted that the university was established in 2002.
Since then, the university had been using computers for all its administrative purposes. The university sends its communications to its affiliated colleges, State and Central governments and academic bodies through internet.
No information on website
This being so, the university had not provided any information on its website about its functioning. The university was a public authority that should comply with the RTI Act.
Courses and teachers
Primarily, student aspirants and their parents had every right to know about the courses offered by the affiliated and approved colleges, list of qualified teachers, decisions taken by the finance, establishment and sports committees, syndicate and academic council. It was unfortunate that the information was not available in the website.
Being a public authority, the university was mandated to furnish all information on its website so that access to such records was facilitated as per the RTI Act, the petitioner said.
He submitted a representation dated January 29 this year to the university containing the request. No action was taken. Hence, the present petition.
The University was required to furnish information regarding courses, colleges and list of teachers on its website
