Rajasthan High Court Ruling on RUHS Processing Fee
The Rajasthan High Court has made a significant ruling that impacts students seeking access to their evaluated answer sheets. The Court determined that the Rajasthan University of Health Sciences (RUHS) cannot impose additional processing charges for providing certified copies of answer sheets under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
This decision came in response to a case filed by Vipika, a B.Sc. Nursing student, who sought certified copies of her evaluated answer books. The University 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 prescribed under the RTI Act must be adhered to by public authorities.
In its ruling, the Court referenced D.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 13783/2021, Vipika vs Rajasthan University of Health Sciences & Anr., highlighting that additional processing charges are inconsistent with the statutory framework of the RTI Act. The Court pointed out that imposing such a high fee discourages students from seeking certified copies of their answer books, which is essential for transparency and accountability in educational institutions.
The Court also quashed the University’s guidelines dated September 6, 2012, and the Board of Management’s decision dated December 20, 2014, which had allowed for these additional charges. It reiterated that the fee payable for seeking information under the Act is already specified by the statutory rules, and public authorities cannot prescribe additional charges that contradict those rules.
According to the RTI Act, the application fee is set at ₹10, with a cost of ₹2 per page for copies of documents. Given that an answer book typically contains around 40 pages, the total cost for obtaining a certified copy should not exceed ₹90, excluding postal charges. The University had also demanded ₹145 for postal expenses, further inflating the total cost.
The Court’s ruling aligns with several Supreme Court decisions that recognize the right of examinees to access their evaluated answer sheets under the RTI Act. This landmark decision is expected to promote greater transparency in public authorities and ensure that students can exercise their rights without facing financial barriers.
As the implications of this ruling unfold, it remains to be seen how RUHS and other educational institutions will adjust their policies in compliance with the Court’s directives. Details remain unconfirmed regarding any immediate changes to the University’s fee structure following this ruling.
