Activist urges for Monday access to Pune university records, ETEducation
Pune: A city activist has said Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) should make its data more accessible and transparent, even as the varsity skirted the matter over access to public records.
President of Sajag Nagrik Manch Vivek Velankar filed an RTI seeking implementation of a general administration department (GAD)’s 2018 circular that requires public authorities to open records for citizen inspection between 3pm and 5pm every Monday. The system is already followed by authorities like Pune Municipal Corporation.
Velankar demanded that SPPU records — including admissions, budgets, expenses and funds data — be open to public frequently.
In its response, the university said it operates under the higher and technical education department, which has not issued any separate directive enforcing the GAD circular. It said records were available for inspection according to “prescribed procedures” and the convenience of the concerned department and applicant.
Velankar challenged the position and said a clear govt circular makes additional directives unnecessary. He also flagged ambiguous terms like “prescribed procedure” and “departmental convenience,” arguing they undercut transparency.
“The government has clearly fixed a specific day and time so that citizens can access documents without disrupting routine administrative work, yet the university response avoids committing to this simple system and creates confusion instead,” the activist said. “The ambiguity raises doubts about whether there is a genuine intent to implement the spirit of the RTI Act.”
SPPU vice-chancellor Suresh Gosavi cited an older 2012 govt circular which said that records are already available for inspection as per prescribed procedures and convenience, without committing to the Monday inspection schedule.
Students have echoed concerns about unclear procedures. A postgraduate arts student said, “We often need access to records as students, but are sent from one office to another. A fixed weekly time would make the process transparent and fair for everyone.” A science faculty student said, “When rules are unclear, officials decide access on a case-by-case basis. It discourages students from even asking for information.”
Velankar has formally urged the vice-chancellor and registrar to clarify SPPU’s stance on implementing the 3pm to 5pm inspection window on Mondays and requested removal of what he describes as “deliberate ambiguity” in the university’s policy.
Source link
