Dated 7-09-2007

Name of the Complainant:
Ms. Julekha W Ahmed
House No.1, 4th Bye Lane (South)
South Sarania, P.O. Ulubari Guwahati - 7

Name of the Public Authority/SPIO:
Education (Secondary) Department

The Commission examined the reports of compliance from the Commissioner & Secretary, Education, the Public Information Officer of Education Department, the Director of Secondary Education and the Public Information Officer of the office of the Directorate of Secondary Education and of the State Selection Board.

Brief of the case
The Commission in its proceeding dated 7.8.07 in the complaint case (Ms. Julekha W. Ahmed –vs- Education Secondary Department) decided as follows:

1. The Deputy Secretary, Education Department would locate the file and furnish the information as stated in the Observation by the Commission to the complainant within a month. In case the PIO could not locate it, the Commissioner & Secretary , Education (S) Department would cause an enquiry and fix responsibility on the officers / officials for the same and report to the Commission within a month from the date of this orders.

2. The Director of Secondary Education, Assam should hand over the available information to the complainant in presence of the Commission.

3. The Member-Secretary, State Selection Board, who did a good job in furnishing the information should certify the copies of the documents furnished to the complainant with her signature and seal.

4. The PIO of the Education Department and the PIO of the Director of Secondary Education’s office should also certify the copies of the documents to be furnished to the complainant with their signatures and seals.

5. The three public authorities i.e. Commissioner & Secretary, Education, the Director of Secondary Education and the Chairman of State Selection Board should put up signboards at prominent places in front of their offices displaying the names, designations and the telephone nos. of the PIOs and the First Appellate Authority as well as the name of the authorized person who can receive the RTI applications in the absence of the PIOs.

The Commission fixed 7.9.07 for the reports of compliance. Hence this sitting.

Observation of the Commission
The Commission observed that the Government in the Education Secondary Department searched for the relevant file to ascertain the reasons for not appointing any person from the relevant select list. They are continuing their search for the file. Also the Government informed that they have submitted a FIR to the O.C. Dispur Police Station for the missing of the file No. B(3)S.515/1993.

In pursuance to the order of the Commission the Director of Secondary Education, Assam confirmed in writing that the available information was already handed over after duly authenticating the same to the complainant by hand. The Commission also found that the Government did not approve the select list submitted by the State Selection Board regarding appointment of Subject Teacher in Zoology and nobody from the select list was appointed by the Director of Secondary Education. The Government also reported that the validity of any select list is normally for one year unless it is extended and the Government vide notification dated 3.12.03 cancelled all such select lists published prior to 1.4.2001. The Government as well as, the Director of Secondary Education confirmed that they have taken steps for putting up signboard, notice board etc. relating to RTI.

As ordered by the Commission the Secretary, State Selection Board, Assam also complied with the order by putting up a notice in her office giving the names of the SPIO and the First Appellate Authority and the contact person for receiving RTI applications in her office. She is also taking steps to put up a signboard. She confirmed that she had endorsed the true copies of the documents with signature & seal.

Decision of the Commission
In view of the above the Commission decided to close the case.

Sd/- (R.S. Mooshahary)
Chief Information Commissioner, Assam
Janata Bhawan, Dispur.


Sd/ (Dr. B K Gohain)
State Information Commissioner, Assam
Janata Bhawan, Dispur.


Authenticated true copy

(Jiauddin Ahmed)
Secretary, State Information Commission, Assam
Janata Bhawan, Dispur.

CC:
1. The Commissioner & Secretary, Education Department, Dispur.
2. Prof. Poresh Chandra Borah, Chairman of State Selection Board, Assam
3. Md. Mohsin Ali, Director of Secondary Education, Assam
4. Mrs. Ajanta Kataky Gogoi, Member Secretary, State Selection Board, Assam
5. Md Mozibur Rahman, Dy. Secretary, Education Department, Assam
6. Shri Brajen Talukdar, Dy Director, Secondary Education, Guwahati
7. Smt Julekha Wahida Ahmed , South Sarania, House No 1, Ulubari, Guwahati.
8. The DIPR, Dispur, Guwahati.
9. M. D, AMTRON, Bamunimaidan
10. Office file.


Secretary
State Information Commission, Assam