Delhi University has refused to share the attendance details of its administrative officials, including the Vice Chancellor, saying the information was not in “public interest” and would amount to “invasion of privacy”. About a year ago an RTI was filed by a person who wish to remain anonymous, seeking the attendance details of the non-teaching staff of the Delhi University, which includes the Vice Chancellor, Pro Vice Chancellor, Registrar, Deputy Registrar, Assistant Registrar and others
The university’s Public Information Officer (PIO) said while quoting section 8(1)(j) of the(RTI) Act, “It appears that the information sought by the applicant is personal in nature as far as the particular official is concerned and it would cause unwarranted invasion into the privacy of an individual. It does not appear that any larger public interest would be served by disclosure of this information in the public domain”.
The university’s First Appellate Authority, which heard the case in September, agreed with the decision.
It said that section 8 allows the PIO to withhold information in case he or she deems it as causing “unwarranted invasion of the privacy” of the individual. The section quoted says information may be denied “which relates to personal information, the disclosure of which has not relationship to any public activity or interest, or which would cause unwarranted invasion of the privacy of the individual.”
The refusal to divulge information is significant because recently JNU varsity and its teacher have been warned that their leave would not be approved if they do not mark their attendance.
“If teachers stand to lose their leave for not conforming to rules, the administrative staff — at least in the DU — enjoys relative opacity when it comes to accountability on their absence from office”, the RTI applicant asserted.
Attendance of students is usually given out by universities to shame them into coming for classes.