NIPER made Sh. Srikant Jena, MOS, Ministry of C&F liable to Privilege motion in Parliament

Denying information asked under RTI act is routine affare at NIPER. Information is denied to both insider and outsider RTI applicants. In response to RTI of an Indian Express journalist The National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Mohali, a Central government undertaking, has denied information sought under the Right To Information Act (RTI) regarding the details of faculty members, scientists and non-teaching staff who have left NIPER in the last 10 years without completing their contract. According to the letter issued by NIPER, “no public interest is going to be served in disclosing this information”. 

Recently in reply to Lok Sabha question  No 4335. asked by SHRI J.M. AARON RASHID: SHRI AVTAR SINGH BHADANA: Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:

(a) whether it is true that the Minutes Books of various committees are not open to Public and information provided under Right to Information Act by National Institute of Pharmaceuticals Education & Research (NIPER) Mohali, Punjab;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

NIPER replied "Any member of the public can seek information from NIPER under Right to Information act" 

However the ground reality is on the contrary. NIPER not only denied to disclose BOG minutes to it's own faculty member Dr. Neeraj Kumar after RTI application and subsequent appeal. In response to his email after the answer tabled in Lok Sabha 

"Through RTI dated 30.05.12; PIO answer wide F.235/RTI-52/2012/7923 dated 21.06; my RTI appeal dated 22.06.12 and appellate authority response wide Appeal No. 7 of 2012 (All are attached for your ready reference), 

*It is very clear that NIPER administration collectively decided not to provide the copy of the minutes to a member of public which is a breach of trust to public while answering to the parliament question no. 4335 through Hon’ble Shri SK Jena to the Parliament.*  

Acting Director Dr. Saranjeet Singh replied 

"However, in my personal capacity as an Acting Director today, I do not see any merit in your plea for being provided with copies of BOG minutes, as suitable reply has already been given to you against your RTI enquiry and even the appeal. You can still avail the benefit of further appeal to CIC."

Putting NIPER reply to Lok Sabha "Any member of the public can seek information from NIPER under Right to Information act" in jeopardy. Adamant nature of GANG OF FOUR not only detrimental to the institute of national importance but it also made Sh. Srikant Jena, MOS, Ministry of chemical and fertilizer liable to Privilege motion in Parliament  

From: Dr. Neeraj Kumar <kumarnk31@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Sep 11, 2012 at 11:14 AM
Subject: Request to provide the minutes of BOG NIPER ............
To: director@niper.ac.in, kkbhutani@niper.ac.in, registrar@niper.ac.in, rmoza@niper.ac.in
Cc: vishwamohan_katoch@yahoo.co.in, dg@icmr.org.in, secydhr@icmr.org.in


XXXXXXXXXX

Dear Sir,
As member of public, I want to have your kind attention on facts that NIPER administration has answered through Hon’ble Minister Shri SK Jena to Lok Sabha unstarred question no. 4335 tabled on 6th Sep. 2012 where any minutes of statutory body is associable to any member of public under RTI ACT-2005.

Through RTI dated 30.05.12; PIO answer wide F.235/RTI-52/2012/7923 dated 21.06; my RTI appeal dated 22.06.12 and appellate authority response wide Appeal No. 7 of 2012 (All are attached for your ready reference), *It is very clear that NIPER administration collectively decided not to provide the copy of the minutes to a member of public which is a breach of trust to public while answering to the parliament question no. 4335 through Hon’ble Shri SK Jena to the Parliament.*

XXXXXXXX

From: <ssingh@niper.ac.in>
Date: Sep 11, 2012 12:03 PM
Subject: Re: Request to provide the minutes of BOG NIPER ...........
To: "Dr. Neeraj Kumar" <kumarnk31@gmail.com>
Cc: <Director@niper.ac.in>, <registrar@niper.ac.in>

Dear Dr Neeraj,

This is to inform you that both Officiating Director and Registrar are on
leave today.

However, in my personal capacity as an Acting Director today, I do not see any merit in your plea for being provided with copies of BOG minutes, as suitable reply has already been given to you against your RTI enquiry and even the appeal. You can still avail the benefit of further appeal to CIC.
In that manner, the action of the institute is in perfect alignment to its answer to the Lok Sabha Question.

Still, this mail is being copied to Officiating Director and also to Registrar for any further action, if they so desire.

Best wishes.
Dr Saranjit Singh