Manash Pratim Gohain,TNN | Nov 1, 2011, 05.24 AM IST

NEW DELHI: Fourteen Delhi government schools on Monday refused to abide by the Central Information Commission's (CIC) July, 2011 order of allowing inspection of school records under the RTI Act on the last working day of the month. Around 65 people, along with Delhi Right to Education Forum (DREF) activists, visited schools in different areas, right from Shastri Park to Chirag Dilli, for inspection, but were denied entry citing a circular by the Directorate of Education (DoE). It stated that no such inspection has been ordered by any authority.

Following a complaint filed by NGO Josh under the RTI Act, the CIC passed an order on July 29, 2011, in which it allowed inspection of school records, including documents on admission, attendance, budget allocations and disbursement of scholarships, from the last working day of September 2011 by the public.

But the DREF activists and community members who approached the schools on Monday were denied access to records, and in many cases, even entry to the schools.

"The schools cited a circular (a copy of which is with TOI) issued by additional director of education (schools), DoE, Sunita Kaushik on October 28, 2011, which stated that the heads of all government schools are directed to ensure discipline and security on the school premises and that no outsider be allowed entry without permission of the principal to enter the school

. It also clarified that no inspection of the infrastructural facilities has been ordered by any authority. and any NGO or any person is not to be allowed to carry out any inspection or interaction without prior authorization of the department.

But the CIC order specifically stated that all schools of the department will have the stated documents/ registers available for inspection by citizens on the last working day of each month – from 8am to 10am and 2pm to 4pm for the first and second shift schools respectively," said Saurabh Sharma, a DREF activist.

Ironically, the public information officer of DoE, Prabhjot Singh, on September 15 wrote to the CIC stating that all the principals and heads of schools have been directed to make available the documents/ registers and that all deputy directors of education of the districts

have been asked to ensure compliance with the circular and collection compliance reports from their schools. It further said the compliance reports from all districts have been received and made available for inspection by citizens as directed by the CIC

and information regarding inspection timing has been put up on the notice boards of the schools.

The schools visited by the group included Rajkiya Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya in Vijay Inclave, Najafgarh, Shastri Park, Kalyanpuri, East Vinod Nagar, Block 27, Trilokpuri, Pocket 2, Mayur Vihar, Phase I, Jorbagh, Bella Road, Jama Masjid, Sarai Kale Khan, and Rajkiya Sarvodaya Bal Vidyalaya in Jama Masjid, Chirag Dilli and Lal Kuan. Despite repeated calls the education minister, Arvinder Singh Lovely could not be contacted.

Defying the Central Information Commission's July, 2011 order of allowing inspection of school records on the last working day of the month under the Right to Information Act, as many as 14 Delhi Government schools refused to abide by the ruling on Monday.

Around 65 common citizens accompanied by activists of Delhi Right to Education Forum (DREF) who visited schools in different regions of Delhi right from Shastri Park to Chirag Dilli for inspections were denied entry citing a circular by the Directorate of Education (DoE) which stated that no inspection of the infrastructure facilities has been ordered by any authority.

Following an order passed by the CIC on July 29, 2011 based on a complaint filed under the RTI Act by an NGO, Josh, the information commissioner Shailesh Gandhi in his order allowed inspection of school records such as documents on admission, attendance, budget allocations, disbursement of scholarships and circulars among others from the last working day of September 2011 by the general public.

"The schools cited a circular (a copy of which is with The Times of India) issued by additional director of education (schools), DoE, Sunita Kaushik on October 28, 2011, which stated that heads of all the government schools are directed to ensure proper discipline and security on the school premises and that no outsider be allowed without the permission of the principal to enter the school. It also clarified that no inspection of the infrastructure facilities has been ordered by any authority and any NGO or any person is not to be allowed to carry out any inspection or interaction without prior authorization of the department. But the CIC order specifically stated that all schools of the department will have the stated documents/ registers available for inspection by citizens on last working day of each month, from 8 am to 10 am and 2 pm to 4 pm for the first and second shift schools respectively," said Saurabh Sharma, a DREF activist.

nterestingly, the public information officer of DoE, Prabhjot Singh, on September 15 wrote to the CIC stating that all the principals and heads of schools has been directed to make available the documents/ registers as mentioned in the decision and that all deputy directors of education of the districts have been asked to ensure the compliance of the circular and collect compliance reports from their schools. It further said that the compliance reports from all districts have been received and has been made available for inspection by citizens as directed by the CIC and the information regarding inspection timing has been put up on the notice boards of the schools.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/14-Delhi-govt-schools-fail-to-comply-with-CIC-order/articleshow/10562746.cms