CIC fines FMS for not giving information

Central Information Commission (CIC) imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on Delhi University’s (DU) Faculty of Management Studies (FMS) for not providing the information sought by an RTI applicant.

Needless to say that FMS — among the top rated management institutes in the country — was served a showcause notice by the CIC last month for withholding data even a year after the application was filed (April 9, 2008).

Nitesh Duhan, a student who stood first in the FMS written test last year but could not secure admission — asked for information on the written test, group discussion, extempore and personal interview marks of all those admitted to the MBA programme.

The decision of CIC to impose penalty is likely to have bandwagon effect for other business schools as aspirants may start filing RTIs on institutes covered under the RTI Act.

The commission translated its words into action by levying a fine of Rs 25,000 — the maximum penalty allowed under the RTI Act — on the institute’s Public Information Officer and Dean Prof J K Mitra.

FMS has now taken the decision to disclose break up of marks of all admission seekers in future.