Rajasthan High Court Ruling on RUHS Processing Fee
The Rajasthan High Court has made a significant ruling regarding the processing fees imposed by universities under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. The Court determined that universities, including the Rajasthan University of Health Sciences (RUHS), cannot charge additional fees for providing certified copies of answer sheets.
This decision stemmed from a case involving Vipika, a B.Sc. Nursing student, who sought access to her evaluated answer books. RUHS had demanded a total of ₹1225 for each answer book, which included a ₹1000 processing fee. The Court ruled that such charges are contrary to the provisions of the RTI Act.
The Court emphasized that the fee structure outlined in the RTI Act must be strictly adhered to by public authorities. It quashed the university’s guidelines that imposed the ₹1000 processing fee, stating, “The fee payable for seeking information under the Act is already specified by the statutory rules and public authorities cannot prescribe additional charges that are inconsistent with those rules.”
According to the RTI Act, the application fee is set at ₹10, with a cost of ₹2 per page for copies of documents. Given that each answer book typically consists of around 40 pages, the total photocopy charges would amount to ₹80, along with ₹145 for postal charges, bringing the total to ₹235, significantly lower than the amount demanded by RUHS.
The Court also referred to several Supreme Court decisions that recognize the right of examinees to access their evaluated answer sheets under the RTI Act. This ruling is seen as a critical step in ensuring transparency and accountability in educational institutions.
Moreover, the Court noted that imposing a processing fee of ₹1000 seemed to be an attempt to discourage students from seeking certified copies of their answer books. This ruling is expected to have a far-reaching impact on how universities handle RTI requests in the future.
As of now, the implications of this ruling are being closely monitored, particularly regarding how RUHS and other universities will adjust their policies in compliance with the Court’s directives. Further developments in this matter are anticipated as universities respond to the ruling.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding any immediate changes to RUHS’s fee structure following this landmark decision.
