RAGHUBIR SINGH Vs. DIRECTORATE OF EDUCATION (HEADQUARTERS)

JUDGEMENT

(1.) INFORMATION Commissioner 1. The Complainant has requested for audio conference on telephone No.23363510. The Public Authority is represented by Mrs. Archana Vishwadeep, DEO, Ms. Neha Shankar, OS(RTI), Ms. Jagdish Prasad, Principal, Mrs. Kamlesh Chauhan, DDE, Smt. Vidya Devi, Mr. Manoj Kumar, OS(RTI) along with 7 other officers from the Directorate of Education, GNCTD, Delhi. FACTS:

(2.) THE Complainant through his RTI application dated 25.09.2013 had sought for information on 2 Points Viz i) Which of the Government Secondary Schools in Delhi under the Directorate of Education, have introduced Punjabi teaching as a third language for the first time afresh in class VI in the academic year 2010 -2014; ii) the number of such students enrolled in Class VI, School -wise. The RTI application of the Complainant was returned to him stating that the IPO was not in Order. Claiming non -furnishing of the information sought, the Complainant has approached the Commission of RTI Act. DECISION

(3.) BOTH the parties made their submissions. The Complainant, Shri Raghubir Singh is a senior citizen of 75 -years old and a law teacher who is associated with the making of the RTI Act before its enactment by the Government. The Commission heard him on the telephone as desired by him. He complained that the Directorate of Education has harassed him by raising meaningless technical issues. They returned the Indian Postal Order of Rs. 10/ - saying that it is not properly drawn, when he claims to have rightly drawn in favour of the Accounts Officer. The Complainant objected to the returning of the Postal Order by PIO by speed post, for which he had to spend more than Rs. 25/ -. He complained that the Directorate has not updated its web -site and appropriate address against whom the Postal Order should be drawn or fee to be paid was not given.