Fergusson College Principal Pardeshi Fined Rs 25,000 For Not Giving Information Under RTI
Sumit Singh
Pune, October 6, 2019: The State Information Commission (SIC) Pune bench has imposed a penalty of Rs 25,000 on RG Pardeshi, Principal of Fergusson College (FC), for not giving information under the transparency law Right to Information (RTI) Act.
The deputy director (education), Pune, who is also the first appellate authority, has to submit an action taken report in this regard on December 16, 2019.
Fergusson College, now Fergusson University is an autonomous public educational institution offering courses in the streams of arts and science in the city of Pune. It was founded in 1885 by the Deccan Education Society.
Dinesh Suryawanshi, a resident of Anand Nagar, Sinhgad road, had filed the application seeking information about students and teachers including alleged illegal admissions, sections, professors recruitment, for the period 2007-2017. However, he was not given the required information as per law, following which Suryawanshi had filed an appeal before the SIC, Pune bench.
During hearing before the state information commissioner Sambhaji Sarkunde, the public information officer of the college ie principal submitted that they were ready to furnish the requested information but the appellant (Suryawanshi) did not pay Rs 140 fees. Suryawanshi submitted that there was a delay on part of the college to inform him about Rs 140 payment, hence he could not pay. He had appeared before the deputy director (education) who ordered the college to provide the information after accepting the fees.
The SIC order states that Suryawanshi has not been provided with the required information within 30 days as per law. Hence, the deputy director education has been ordered to provide an action taken report that the information has been given to Suryawanshi and that FC principal Pardeshi has paid Rs 25,000 fine.
Pardeshi could not be reached for his comments even after repeated attempts. His phone was switched off.
This news report will be updated as and when his statement is received.
