: Pulling up the Department of Higher Education of the Human Resource Development Ministry, the Central Information Commission (CIC) has directed it to provide a copy of inquiry report to Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) V-C M. Aslam in connection with alleged mismanagement of the varsity.
Information Commissioner M. Sridhar Acharyulu said the “deliberate inaction” of the Public Information Officer (PIO) and MHRD in submitting the report of the inquiry conducted on the allegations against Mr. Aslam was illegal and unethical.
The CIC asked the PIO to show-cause why the maximum penalty should not be imposed against him for not providing the inquiry report to Mr. Aslam, because of which he could not defend his case effectively in the Delhi High Court and was losing his term as Vice-Chancellor.
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The Commission also issued a notice to the MHRD asking why it should not be directed to pay compensation to Mr. Aslam. The compliance report and responses should reach the Commission by April 26, said the CIC while disposing of Mr. Aslam’s appeal against denial of information.
The MHRD had initiated an inquiry against Mr. Aslam on allegations of shortfalls, irregularities and excessive action committed by IGNOU between October 2011 and November 2014. He filed an RTI application in 2014 seeking a copy of allegations on the functioning of IGNOU, and a second RTI application in November 2015 seeking a copy of the inquiry report sent to the President in his capacity as the university’s visitor.