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| DSEK says record damaged in floods, CIC seeks documentary evidence | | Info about Recognition of private school | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, Dec 8: In a significant order issued by State Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) G R Sufi , the Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) has been asked to submit documentary evidence vis-a-vis damage caused to official record particularly the files which contain information about grating of recognition to private schools across Kashmir valley. The PIO of DSEK had denied information under RTI Act to an information seeker on the ground that official record had been damaged in the 2014 floods. The CIC has castigated the officials of DSEK for not digitizing this information and making it public under section 4 (1) (b) of J&K RTI Act 2009.
Details available with Early Times reveal that one Amir Ali, a resident of village Zabgul Beerwah in district Budgam filed an RTI application before PIO, Directorate of School Education, Kashmir on 25-05-2015, seeking information regarding granting recognition to private schools in Kashmir province, with district wise details.
The information seeker sought copies of orders issued with regard to extension in the period of recognition of private schools in Kashmir province during the period 01-01-2012 to 01-01-2015 duly authenticated by the Joint Director Elementary Education.
The information seeker further sought details whether all such orders have been issued with due approval from Director of School Education.
Pertinent to mention that in past officials of DSEK have been involved in large scale bungling with regard to giving recognition to private schools. The norms for these recognitions have allegedly been violated by the officials of DSEK in lieu of huge kickbacks.
The PIO did not provide information to the appellant on the plea that most of the information sought got washed away in the devastating floods of September, 2014. However, PIO confirmed of having record of 01-11- 2014 to 01-05-2015. But for providing said information, he wanted the appellant to give the details of particular schools about which he wanted the information. During the hearing at SIC the, appellant Amir Ali first contented that to avoid disclosure of the information on this important issue of granting recognition to the private schools, PIO has used floods as an alibi because he states that even if part of the record was washed in the floods, attempts could have been made to reconstruct the record through various copies which have been made to other offices/owners or management of the private schools which got recognition and to whom copies of orders are duly made.
In its order, SIC ruled, "The Commission has found the suggestion of the appellant reasonable and he is accordingly directed to give the names of the five schools to the PIO about whom he will be provided information by the PIO. The issue is of a high public interest and the disclosure of such information is overwhelmingly in the interest of the public interest, hence said information should have been disclosed and uploaded on the official website of the Directorate of School Education, Kashmir under the provisions of Section 4 of the J&K RTI Act, 2009, which made it compulsory and mandatory for all the public authorities to disclose the same and other information as mentioned in Section 4 suo-moto within 120 days from the enactment of the Act in the State of J&K.
Order further read "The public authority of Directorate of School Education is directed to get copies of the recognition orders from different concerned corners and make suo moto disclosure of said information within 30 days from the pronouncement of this order, i.e, 23-11-2015.
It is important to mention that Director School Education Kashmir (DSEK) Dr Shah Faesal who was posted few months back in this directorate has already started uploading all the official orders on DSEK's official website plus facebook page. "The old record is in mess and yet to be digitized and the director is personally monitoring this work and officials are on the job of digitizing it as soon as possible" said a senior official of directorate (name withheld) while talking to Early Times. |
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