Ruhs: Rajasthan High Court Ruling on Processing Fees
Rajasthan High Court Ruling on RUHS Processing Fees
The Rajasthan High Court has made a significant ruling regarding the processing fees imposed by the Rajasthan University of Health Sciences (RUHS) for applications under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. The Court determined that universities cannot impose additional charges for providing certified copies of answer sheets, a decision that directly impacts students seeking transparency in their academic evaluations.
The case was brought forth by Vipika, a B.Sc. Nursing student, who sought certified copies of her evaluated answer books. RUHS 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.
The Court’s ruling was based on the statutory framework of the RTI Act and the Rules of 2012, which specify that the application fee is ₹10 and the cost for copies of documents is ₹2 per page. With an average answer book containing approximately 40 pages, the total photocopy charges would amount to ₹80, in addition to ₹145 for postal charges, bringing the total to a reasonable amount compared to the ₹1225 initially demanded by RUHS.
In its decision, the Court highlighted that imposing a processing fee of ₹1000 could discourage students from seeking their evaluated answer sheets, a right recognized by several Supreme Court decisions. The Court stated, “The fee payable for seeking information under the Act is already specified by the statutory rules and public authorities cannot prescribe additional charges that are inconsistent with those rules.”
This ruling underscores the importance of transparency in educational institutions and affirms the rights of students to access their academic records without facing exorbitant fees. The Court allowed the writ petition and quashed the University’s guidelines imposing the processing fee, reinforcing the principle that the RTI Act takes precedence over any other law or regulation.
As a result of this ruling, RUHS is now required to charge only the fees prescribed under the RTI Rules for information requests. The Court’s decision is expected to set a precedent for other universities in Rajasthan and across India regarding the handling of RTI applications.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding how RUHS will implement this ruling moving forward and whether other universities will follow suit. The case number for this ruling is D.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 13783/2021.
