Rajasthan High Court Ruling on RUHS Processing Fees
The Rajasthan High Court has made a significant ruling regarding the processing fees imposed by the Rajasthan University of Health Sciences (RUHS) for Right to Information (RTI) requests. The Court determined that universities cannot charge additional fees beyond what is prescribed under the RTI Act, thereby ensuring greater access to information for students.
This ruling came in response to a petition filed by Vipika, a B.Sc. Nursing student who sought certified copies of her evaluated answer books. RUHS had demanded a total of ₹1225 for each answer book, which included a ₹1000 processing fee. The Court quashed this fee, emphasizing that the fee structure outlined in the RTI Act must be adhered to by public authorities.
The Court 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.” This decision highlights the importance of transparency and accessibility in educational institutions.
According to the Court, imposing a processing fee of ₹1000 appeared to be an attempt to discourage students from seeking certified copies of their answer books. The ruling reinforces the principle that students have the right to access their evaluated answer sheets without facing prohibitive costs.
The RTI Act, enacted in 2005, allows individuals to request information from public authorities, thereby promoting transparency and accountability. The Court referred to several Supreme Court decisions that recognize the right of examinees to access their evaluated answer sheets under this Act.
In the case of RUHS, the Court directed that the University must provide information under the RTI Act while charging only the fee prescribed under the RTI Rules. This includes a nominal application fee of ₹10 and a cost of ₹2 per page for copies of documents, with an average answer book containing around 40 pages.
Furthermore, the ruling impacts the management of approximately 6.5 lakh answer sheets handled by the University, ensuring that students can obtain their evaluated papers without incurring excessive fees.
As this ruling is implemented, it is expected to encourage more students to exercise their right to information and seek clarity on their academic evaluations. However, details remain unconfirmed regarding any potential changes in the University’s administrative processes following this decision.
