Rajasthan High Court Ruling on RUHS Processing Fee
The Rajasthan High Court has ruled that universities cannot impose additional processing charges for providing certified copies of answer sheets under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. This decision directly impacts the Rajasthan University of Health Sciences (RUHS), which had previously demanded a ₹1000 processing fee from students seeking such information.
The case arose when Vipika, a B.Sc. Nursing student, sought certified copies of her evaluated answer books under the RTI Act. RUHS initially demanded a total of ₹1225 for each answer book, which included the ₹1000 processing fee, along with other charges for photocopying and postal services.
The Court emphasized that the fee structure prescribed under the RTI Act must be strictly adhered to by public authorities. Justice Dr. Pushpendra Singh Bhati stated, “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.”
In its ruling, the Court quashed the ₹1000 processing fee imposed by RUHS, highlighting that such additional charges are inconsistent with the statutory framework of the RTI Act. The Court also referenced several Supreme Court decisions that recognize the right of examinees to access their evaluated answer sheets.
Justice Sandeep Shah remarked that imposing a processing fee of ₹1000 appeared to be an attempt to discourage students from seeking certified copies of their answer books. This ruling is a significant step towards promoting transparency and accountability in educational institutions.
The Right to Information Act, enacted in 2005, aims to enhance transparency in public authorities, allowing citizens to request information and hold institutions accountable. The Court’s decision reinforces this principle by ensuring that students can access their academic evaluations without facing prohibitive costs.
As a result of this ruling, RUHS and other universities will need to align their fee structures with the provisions of the RTI Act. This may lead to a broader reassessment of how public authorities handle information requests and the associated costs.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding any immediate changes RUHS will implement in response to the ruling. However, further developments are expected as the university assesses its compliance with the Court’s decision.
