Thiru S. MUTHURAJ, B.A.,B.L., STATE INFORMATION COMMISSIONER. —In these circumstances, It is hereby directed that all educational Institutions / Schools within the State of Tamil Nadu shall in their respective websites disclose all information pertaining to criminal cases pending against person or persons who is a part of the Management Board, Advisory Committee, the Chairman, the Trustees, the Principal, the Correspondent, Teaching Staff, non-Teaching Staff including Drivers and attendant of the vehicles used by the Schools or any other person involved

TAMILNADU INFORMATION COMMISSION
No.2,Thiyagaraya Road, Teynampet, Chennai – 600018. Telephone: 044 – 24347590

Date of Enquiry : 17.05.2018-A.N.

PRESENT:

Thiru S. MUTHURAJ, B.A.,B.L., STATE INFORMATION COMMISSIONER.

Case No. SA 8831/D/2017

J. Mohammed Ali Siddiq ….. PETITIONER / APPELLANT

– Vs –

The Public Information Officer / ….. PUBLIC AUTHORITY
Inspector of Matriculation School,
O/o. the Inspector of Matriculation
School,
Tiruvannamalai,
Tiruvannamalai District.
ORDER
Petition filed under Sec.6(1) of RTI Act 01.06.2017
First Appeal filed under Sec.19(1) of RTI Act 11.07.2017
Second Appeal filed under Sec.19(3) of RTI Act 14.11.2017

The Petitioner Thiru J. Mohammed Ali Siddiq and the Public Information Officer, Thiru P.Rajendran, Inspector of Matriculation School, Tiruvannamalai District are present for today enquiry.
2. The petitioner has filed an application under Section 6(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005 to the Public Information Officer and the Chief Educational Officer, Vellore. The petitioner has sought information regarding the safety precaution taken to ensure the security of the students of St. Joseph Matric Hr. Secondary School and the inspection report pertaining to inspection of School campus, school environment and school bus. The petitioner has also sought information regarding compliance of guidelines as stated in G.O.Ms. No. 270 dated 22.10.2102 by the School. The petitioner has also sought permission to inspect the files and records in the school on specified date and time. The information sought were directed to be given by the Inspector of Matriculation School, Tiruvannamalai vide Proceedings dated 07.06.2017 under section 6(3) of RTI Act. Despite this, the petitioner having not received the information, he had preferred a first appeal under Section 19(1) of RTI Act and subsequently had preferred this Second Appeal under Section 19(3) of RTI Act. This Second Appeal has been taken up for enquiry.
3. The Public Information Officer / Inspector of Matriculation School,
Tiruvannamalai is hereby directed to give the details sought by the petitioner with regard to the St. Joseph Matric Hr. Sec. School, Vellore within 15 days from the receipt of this order.
4. It is the duty of the State Government to maintain the Public Order in the State. The maintenance of Public Order is under the purview of the State Entry as per Schedule VII List II of the Constitution of India. It is the duty of the State Government to ensure that safety measures are taken to secure the well being of the students in all Schools across Tamil Nadu. The School across Tamil Nadu are receiving grants from the Government under the Right to Education Act. All schools registered under the Trust Act and are receiving various financial benefits
as contemplated by the Act. All the Schools are exempted from Income Tax under Sec.12AA by the Trust Act. As per Trust Act, the charitable institutions are getting exemption/concession at the time of registration of property. All the schools are getting subsidy for the electricity consumption and also getting subsidy from the Corporation/Municipality for water consumption. All vehicles registered in the name of the school are given considerable amount of concession and benefits at the time of registration and at the time of annual renewal of permit. All the Schools in the State are monitored by the Government of Tamil Nadu. Government schools,
Government aided schools, private schools recognised by the State Government or
Central Government and International schools are governed and monitored by the Government by way of giving recognized permission to the schools. Thereby all schools that receive the above mentioned grants, finance and benefits from the Government either directly or indirectly are construed as Public Authority as per Section 2(h) of the Right to Information Act. The Public Authorities are bound to disclose all information that are of public importance under Section 4 of the Right to Information Act.
5. In the present scenario the child abuse is on the rise. Crime against children has taken place in some of the institutions. In the interest of Public at large and the parents, have a legitimate right to know about the credentials of persons who manage the institutions. This commission is bound to issue a direction to the schools to furnish the steps/measures taken by the Management for the safety and security of the children and further to inform the parents about the steps taken to protect the welfare of the children and ensure conducive atmosphere under the Right to Information Act. The parents have rights to know about the Management, correspondents and all other teaching and non-teaching staffs of the school including driver of the vehicle, attenders of the school in which their children are being admitted for getting education.
6. In these circumstances, It is hereby directed that all educational Institutions / Schools within the State of Tamil Nadu shall in their respective websites disclose all information pertaining to criminal cases pending against person or persons who is a part of the Management Board, Advisory Committee, the Chairman, the Trustees, the Principal, the Correspondent, Teaching Staff, non-Teaching Staff including Drivers and attendant of the vehicles used by the Schools or any other person involved in discharging the functions of the School. The Director of School Education shall send communication to all Chief Educational Officers to ensure that all information pertaining to criminal cases is disclosed in their respective websites. The Director, State Crime Records Bureau shall co-ordinate and also instruct all the District Crime Records Bureau to provide necessary information to all Chief Educational officers of all Districts for its compliance.
7. The Public Information Officer, Directorate of School Education and the Public Information Officer, State Crime Records Bureau should submit the action taken report on 16-07-2018 A.N. to this Commission.
Sd./- (S.MUTHURAJ),
STATE INFORMATION COMMISSIONER.

(By Order of the Commission)

ASSISTANT REGISTRAR

Case No. SA 8831/D/2017

To

The Public Information Officer /
Inspector of Matriculation School,
O/o. the Inspector of Matriculation School,
Tiruvannamalai,
Tiruvannamalai District.

Thiru J. Mohammed Ali Siddiq,
No.30, Ameer Salai, Kondaapuram,
Kaveripakkam – 632 508,
Vellore District.

The Director of School Education,
DPI Complex, College Road,
Chennai – 600 006. (For Action on para 4)

The Public Information Officer,
O/o. the Director of School Education,
DPI Complex, College Road,
Chennai – 600 006. (For Action on para 4)

The Director,
State Crime Records Bureau,
95, Santhome High Road,
RA Puram, Chennai – 28, (For Action on para 4)

The Public Information Officer,
State Crime Records Bureau,
95, Santhome High Road,
RA Puram, Chennai – 28, (For Action on para 4)

Case No. SA 8831/D/2017
The Regional Officer, (For Information)
Central Board of Secondary Education
New No-3, Old No. 1630 A, “J” Block, 16th Main Road
Anna Nagar West, Chennai-600040

The Chairman, (For Information)
Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations
Pragati House, 3rd Floor, 47-48, Nehru Place, New Delhi – 110019

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