RTI Application to Ministry of HRD regarding Student Union in JAMIA MILLIA ISLAMIA

To,                                                                                                                            Dated: 22.10.2011

    Public Information Officer

    Ministry of HRD,

    Dept. Of Higher Education,

    Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi-110001

    

Subject- Application to obtain information under RTI act, 2005.

Sir,

Please refer to the letter addressed to Dr. T.R.Kem, Secretary, U.G.C vide D.O No.F.9-6/2005-U-6 and dated 16.11.06 and written by Anupama Bhatnagar, Director, Higher Education at the Dept of Higher Education, Ministry of HRD, Govt of India with regard to the implementation of the Lyngdoh Committee recommendation at the Colleges and Universities across India as the Supreme Court order dated September 22, 2006. Please also refer to the Section 6.1.1 and 6.4.2 of the Lyngdoh Committee recommendation. Under section 6(1) read with section 7(1) I may be informed on the following:

You can see the letter on this Link: http://www.ugc.ac.in/notices/mhrd2712.pdf    

1. Furnish details of the steps taken by the Ministry of HRD to ensure compliance of the Hon’ble Supreme Court’s direction on this regard.
2. Furnish the certified copies of the Notification(s) issued by the Ministry of HRD to ensure compliance of the Hon’ble Supreme Court’s explicit directions on this regard.
3. Furnish detailed information on whether Ministry of HRD has prepared any Report (Action Taken Report) to document the total compliance of the Supreme Court’s order by the Colleges & Universities in India.
4. Furnish the certified copies of the letters or communication made by the Ministry of HRD with the Jamia Milia Islamia, New Delhi to ensure compliance of the Hon’ble Supreme Court’s directions on this regard.
5. Furnish the facts and reasons for not sending reminders/ issuing notifications to the Universities and Colleges to comply with the Section 6.1.1 and Section 6.4.2 of the Lyngdoh Committee recommendation.
6. Does Ministry of HRD has report on how many colleges and universities are conducting union election, practicing nomination model and how many are not conducting any of election of nomination. Please provide names of such colleges and universities.
7. What actions have been taken by Ministry of HRD to ensure students elections/nomination in all colleges and universities?
8. Please provide me certified copy/copies of communication between Ministry of HRD and colleges and universities about student union elections.
9. What is the official policy of Ministry of HRD with regard to students union in the Colleges and Universities in India?
10. How many universities/colleges have Grievances Redressal Cell?
11. What actions have been taken against institutions which do not have Grievances Redressal Cell? Please provide copy of communication between Ministry of HRD and institutions if any?
12. How many grievances have been redressed by these cells from 2007-2010. Please provide statistics of grievances in all colleges.
13. Does Ministry of HRD has any guidelines about students organizations (like SFI,AISA, AISF, ABVP etc...) Do students of colleges and universities have right to form a forum, join a student’s forum, join a student organization? If there is any college/university where student organizations, forums are not allowed to work?
14. Do students have right to assemble and speak for their rights in their campuses?
15. Is Ministry of HRD aware that Jamia Millia Islamia has not allowed formation of students union from 2006? Did Ministry of HRD receive any letter from Jamia in this regard?
16. Is Ministry of HRD aware that Jamia collects students’ union fee? Did Jamia submit any report about spending of students union funds in their financial reports to Ministry of HRD?

I am depositing the application fee (Rs.10/-) through INDIAN POSTAL ORDER (No. 92E 432299) Please put the name of the payee to whom to this postal order be made payable to.

NOTE:- a. If you do not directly deal with this application or a part there of, kindly forward it to the right PIO u/s 6(3) of RTI act with intimate to me. You are required to do so within 5 days of receipt of this application as per sec 6(3) of the act.

b. If the information sought by me is bulky or voluminous or it would disproportionately divert the resources of the public authority or would be detrimental to the safety or preservation of the record in question, then kindly inform me of the same. In that case I am willing to visit your office to inspect the records, files etc. (u/s Sec. 2 (j) of RTI Act 2005) at a mutually convenient time as per Sec 7 (9) if the RTI Act 2005.

c. If you want to deny any of the information sought by me then please quote the exemption clause of Section 8 (1) and a brief reason as to how it applies. This is a requirement of the RTI Act, as per Section 7 (8) (i) read along with Section 19 (5).

Thanking you...

AFROZ ALAM SAHIL

(Convenor, FSD)

F-56/23, Sir Syed Road,

Batla House, Okhla, New Delhi-25

RTI Application to JAMIA MILLIA ISLAMIA regarding Funds

To,                                                                                                         Dated: 22.10.2011

    Public Information Officer

    JAMIA MILLIA ISLAMIA

    Jamia Nagar, Okhla, New Delhi—110025.

    

Subject- Application to obtain information under RTI act, 2005.

Please refer to all the Department of Studies under various Faculties in university from the academic session 2005-06 to till date. Under 6(1) read with section 7(1) of the RTI act. I may be informed on the following information:

1.      Furnish certified papers regarding the suo motu disclosure made by it on all the 17 points listed under Section 4 of RTI Act, 2005 which is deemed compulsory. In what form this information is available to the public?

2.      Furnish the break-up of funds it received from all the sources. Provide the item wise expenditure details of every fund mentioned.

3.      Total number of books, journals, magazine & all other publications available on today at the Seminar library and the number of the same added in each academic session in it.

4.      Total amount it received to arrange for the tour programme of the students along with the numbers and details of the tours arranged in each academic session. Mention the unused amount/balance and the item wise expenditure details of the amount used.

5.      Name, class, basis of selection and address of the students who had been sent to foreign countries by the Department. Mention the programme and selection process of these students.

6.      Total amount collected from the entire students of your university as “Games Fee” in each academic session, item wise expenditure details of the same amount, and the unused balance as on today. Furnish certified report on it.

7.      Furnish all the information including certified relevant papers about the break up allocation of grant by the University Grants Commission to each club under it. Furnish certified documents to state the rules and regulations at place to spend all these grants allocated.

8. Amount it received and item wise expenditure details of the “Development Charges”.

9. Amount it received and item wise expenditure details of the “Contingency” fund.

10. Amount and name of all the head of accounts under which this department received fund from the higher authorities. Please furnish the item wise expenditure details of all these accounts.

11. Fund spent on the “Seminar Library” and for what.

12. Total number of books, journals, magazine etc along with their names added in the Seminar Library in each session.

13. Total amount it received to arrange tour for the students in each session. Mention how this amount was spent.

14. Total no. of teaching, non-teaching, technical, 4^th grade post available in the department.

15. Name of all non-teaching, technical, 4^th grade staff employed in the department along with their nature of post i.e Permanent/ Temporary/ Daily Wager and emoluments, qualification details of them.

16. Name of all teachers of the department along with their year wise qualification with percentage of marks, topic of Phd, list of published paper, books etc.

I am depositing the application fee (Rs.10/-) through INDIAN POSTAL ORDER (No. ) Please put the name of the payee to whom to this postal order be made payable to.

NOTE:- a. If you do not directly deal with this application or a part there of, kindly forward it to the right PIO u/s 6(3) of RTI act with intimate to me. You are required to do so within 5 days of receipt of this application as per sec 6(3) of the act.

b. If the information sought by me is bulky or voluminous or it would disproportionately divert the resources of the public authority or would be detrimental to the safety or preservation of the record in question, then kindly inform me of the same. In that case I am willing to visit your office to inspect the records, files etc. (u/s Sec. 2 (j) of RTI Act 2005) at a mutually convenient time as per Sec 7 (9) if the RTI Act 2005.

c. If you want to deny any of the information sought by me then please quote the exemption clause of Section 8 (1) and a brief reason as to how it applies. This is a requirement of the RTI Act, as per Section 7 (8) (i) read along with Section 19 (5).

Thanking you...

AFROZ ALAM SAHIL

(Convenor, FSD)

F-56/23, Sir Syed Road,

Batla House, Okhla, New Delhi-25

RTI Application to JAMIA MILLIA ISLAMIA regarding Attendence of Vice-Chancellor

To,                                                                                                       Date: 22/10/2011

      The Public Information Officer

       Jamia Millia Islamia,

       Jamia Nagar, Okhla,

       New Delhi-25.

       

Sub : Application for obtaining information under the RTI Act 2005.

Sir,

 Please provide following information under the RTI Act-2005.

1.      Please provide details about the students who could not complete their respective degrees due to termination/discontinuation/Black Listed/Campus ban at Jamia Millia Islmia since 1995 to till date. Please provide their Name, Category, Degree, Year of termination/discontinuation.

2.      Please provide all details why are students terminated when they have fundamental right to education as per the Constitution of India.

3.      How the vacant seats after termination of the students are being utilized?

4.      Please provide all details/reports about brutal police action against Jamia Students in SRK hostel in 2000 when hundreds of students were beaten up by Delhi police.

5.      How much expenses in last five years on different Legal action of Jamia Millia Islamia.

6.      How many days has the Vice-Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia Mr. Najeeb Jung attend his office in New Delhi during his tenure? (Please provide date wise details)

7.      How many times has the Vice-Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia Mr. Najeeb Jung attended the meetings of the Academic Council and Executive Council during his tenure? (Please provide date wise details)

8.      How many times the Vice-Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia Mr. Najeeb Jung travelled between New Delhi and other cities of India by air? (Please provide trip-wise details along with the name of the airline and the expenses incurred on the fare)

9.      How many times the Vice-Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia Mr. Najeeb Jung travelled out of India, during his tenure and what expenses on this travel or trip.

10. How many Newspapers and Magazines comes in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor. Please provide name list of this Newspapers and Magazines and also provide expenditure on this in last five years.

11. How much expenses in last five years on tea and snacks in the office of the Vice-Chancellor.

12. Provide details all audit objections raised in connection with Jamia expenditure.

13. How many CCTV Camera installed in Jamia Millia Islmia Campus. Please provide all expenditure details on this purpose.

14.  How much expense in last five years on security in Jamia Millia Islamia.

15. How much expense in last five years on electricity in Jamia Millia Islamia.

16. How much budget and expenses in last five years on different program and work by Jamia Millia Islamia Administration.

17. How many letters written by UGC, Ministry of HRD, President Office, Prime minister office, Central Vigilance Commission, Anti-Corruption Bureau (all state), CBI, C.M. Office (Govt. of all state), and Governor office (all state) to Vice-Chancellor Office in last three years. Please provide all letters.

 

I am depositing the application fee (Rs.10/-) through INDIAN POSTAL ORDER (No. ) Please put the name of the payee to whom to this postal order be made payable to.

NOTE:- a. If you do not directly deal with this application or a part there of, kindly forward it to the right PIO u/s 6(3) of RTI act with intimate to me. You are required to do so within 5 days of receipt of this application as per sec 6(3) of the act.

b. If the information sought by me is bulky or voluminous or it would disproportionately divert the resources of the public authority or would be detrimental to the safety or preservation of the record in question, then kindly inform me of the same. In that case I am willing to visit your office to inspect the records, files etc. (u/s Sec. 2 (j) of RTI Act 2005) at a mutually convenient time as per Sec 7 (9) if the RTI Act 2005.

c. If you want to deny any of the information sought by me then please quote the exemption clause of Section 8 (1) and a brief reason as to how it applies. This is a requirement of the RTI Act, as per Section 7 (8) (i) read along with Section 19 (5).

Thanking you...

AFROZ ALAM SAHIL

(Covenor, FSD)

F-56/23, Sir Syed Road,

Batla House, Okhla, New Delhi-25

RTI Application to JAMIA MILLIA ISLAMIA regarding status of RTI.

To,                                                                                                  Date: 22/10/2011

      The Public Information Officer

       Jamia Millia Islamia,

       Jamia Nagar, Okhla,

       New Delhi-25.

       

Sub : Application for obtaining information under the RTI Act 2005.

Sir,

Please provide me following information with respect to the applications received by your office under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005 :-

1.     How many applications under the RTI Act, 2005 were received to PIO in Jamia Millia Islamia each financial year i.e. FY 2005-06 to till date?

2.     How many first appeal were received under the RTI Act, 2005 to  Appellate Authority in JMI  each financial year i.e. FY 2005-06 to till date?

3.     As per your records, how many applicants out of the above have gone to Information Commission in form of second appeal/complaint? (i.e. number of cases in which Information Commission have called the PIO or any other official for hearing or explanation or have ordered the department to provide the information.)

4.     In how many of the above cases (at point no 3), the Information Commission has imposed penalty or ordered any other disciplinary action against the PIO or any other official? Has the penalty amount been realized? Please inform the number of cases in which the penalty has been realized.

5.     In how many of the above cases (at point No. 3), the Information Commission has granted compensation to the applicant? Has the applicant been paid the compensation amount? Please inform me the cases in which the compensation has been paid and whether the compensation amount has been collected from the personal account of the PIO or it has been paid from the government account.

6.     With reference to the reply to the point no. 3, please indicate the number of cases, which has been challenged by the PIO/First Appellate Authority in the High Court or in any other court of Law. Based on your records, please also inform the number of cases, which has been challenged by the applicant in the High Court or in any other court of law.

7.     Under Section 25(2) of the RTI Act, 2005, your office is bound to furnish the detailed report collected from the PIOs in your office to the Information Commission for preparation of the annual report by the Information Commission. Has your office submitted such report to IC in last five years (i.e. in FY 2005-06 to till date)?

a.     If yes, please provide copies of all such reports submitted to Information Commission.

b.     If no, please indicate the reasons for not furnishing the same.

8.     In your reply to this application, please also inform:

a.     The mode of payment of the fee for filing the application under RTI Act/obtaining the copies of the documents under the Act.

b.     The details of the payee in whose name the payment instrument is drawn.

c.      Name and address of the First Appellate Authority to whom the first appeal, if any, for this application lies.

I am depositing the application fee (Rs.10/-) through INDIAN POSTAL ORDER (No. ) Please put the name of the payee to whom to this postal order be made payable to.

NOTE:- a. If you do not directly deal with this application or a part there of, kindly forward it to the right PIO u/s 6(3) of RTI act with intimate to me. You are required to do so within 5 days of receipt of this application as per sec 6(3) of the act.

b. If the information sought by me is bulky or voluminous or it would disproportionately divert the resources of the public authority or would be detrimental to the safety or preservation of the record in question, then kindly inform me of the same. In that case I am willing to visit your office to inspect the records, files etc. (u/s Sec. 2 (j) of RTI Act 2005) at a mutually convenient time as per Sec 7 (9) if the RTI Act 2005.

c. If you want to deny any of the information sought by me then please quote the exemption clause of Section 8 (1) and a brief reason as to how it applies. This is a requirement of the RTI Act, as per Section 7 (8) (i) read along with Section 19 (5).

Thanking you...

AFROZ ALAM SAHIL

(Convenor, Forum for Student Democracy)

F-56/23, Sir Syed Road,

Batla House, Okhla, New Delhi-25

Appeal to Professors and Teaching Staff of Jamia Millia Islamia

By committee of Forum for Students’ Democracy

Sir,

Restoring students unions in all over India is a key demand which has been regularly kept by all progressive, secular and democratic forces of the country. This is because students unions are very fundamental tools in order to engage our youths in the political process, avoid their alienation from political system and integrate them within the process. Rampant corruption, assaults on basic human rights and fundamental rights like freedom of expression, freedom of press, ensured in our constitution, have become routine of our governments and administrations in the country. This has encouraged fake encounters, corruption, attacks on minorities and securitizations of human life.

Education campuses without freedom to speak, freedom to engage in intellectual and rational deliberations are no more than prisons. This is what students’ life without elected unions in campuses has become these days. Students in Jamia or elsewhere unions are not allowed are deprived to raise their genuine demands for fellowships, hostel, better mess facilities, quality and hygiene, transparency in expenses of students welfare funds and secrecy in entire monetary transactions has become regular show.

May I ask why students of Jamia, majority of them are from financially poor background, are not given 100% hostel facility, why they are asked to vacate their hostels in each and every small long vacation despite their studentship continues? Do you know an average student of Jamia is spending 61000 rupees per year just because Jamia administration does not want them to given them their due rights. On the other side, an average student of BA-MA in JNU does not spend except what he or she does as pocket money which is not included in case of Jamia’s students average expense of 61000. What is state of health service for Jamia students despite the fact that Jamia students are more vulnerable to diseases because of their pathetic living in absence of better hostel and mess facilities? This is just one issue.

As a common students’ aspiration to achieve, what are the employability of Jamia students. Apart from Mass Com, MBA, Engineering and other professional courses, unemployment or underemployment is a common feature of Jamia graduates. Who is responsible for this situation? What about security of students? You must be aware that Jamia students are more prone to intelligence services’ harassment whose men freely move in the campus to interrogate and harass, summon and sometime pick them without informing Jamia administration. I do not wish to mention brutal police action against Jamia Students in SRK hostel in 2000 when hundreds of students were beaten up by Delhi police and action taken against nobody except students. I have filed an RTI to Jamia in this regard also.

What is your opinion whether a students’ life is just for his family, his own life? Should a student as a young citizen not think, better think about his society, people, issues of national and international concerns, policy debates and as well as contribute in the national policy making with his her fresh thinking and ideas? Why Jamia Millia Islamia administration is afraid of battle of ideas, free intellectual discussions, and truly free academic environment? That is why I am forced to challenge very idea of Jamia administration which is controlled by IAS and Military personnel rather than qualified academicians. In JNU, BHU, Hyderabad University and most of the top ranked universities, only academicians are allowed to become vice chancellors? Why our government tends to impose on Jamia students a man who never used to be an academician and dictate academic community on his will and academic community is forced to be dictated by his terms. I consider it as insult to academic community that their ability to administer their own affairs is underestimated and governments’ handpicked administrators are imposed on us.

Sir, Demand to install Students Union in Jamia Millia Islamia is by no way is politically motivated. It is simply motivated by true and genuine aspirations to become an ideal academic community at par with other academic communities in the other Indian universities with national importance. Life of Jamia students and their teachers is as dignified and respected as of any other university. I strongly believe that without students union their dignity is seriously attacked.

There are excuses against students unions. Intervention of local elements, Jamia minority status and law and order are among most floated ones. Intervention by local elements in absence of students union is very much there, issues of students’ security, is nowhere talked. Students do not have any space to discuss whatever they read in their books. Only union can ensure that students discuss their each and everything in union and within campus because union will be the agency to redress their concerns. Jamia minority status is once again been raised. This is unfortunate that union’s role in restoring Jamia’s minority status role is easily neglected. Let the student’s community and academic community know how Jamia’s Students Union has fought for its due status and every student must of proud of the role played by our union. Also law and order situation is being presented as another excuse of withholding student union. This is simply rejected as nowhere parliamentary democracy is being asked to be stayed until maintenance of law and order. Also union once in 10 years, as in case of Jamia, is not going to help us. Students union is a democratic institution elected and administered and relied upon by students’ community. Let the institution continue for some years at least so students’ confidence increase on it.

Sir, I am concluding my appeal with open heart and mind to take your blessings, guidance and supervision to restore the students union. As a student of Jamia, I am very much proud of you and your affiliation with this historic university. Our identity as a truly academic institution and as an ideal education campus where ideas and ideologies, human dignity and academic integrity rule our life rather than fear of police actions, encounters, expulsions, fear of proctor office and authoritarian leadership.

Our request to you is

·      Press the administration to allow students union

·      To not issue warning to students talking about their rights

·      To allow students express their opinions in favour or against the demand

·      To allow students organizations to be part of our debate and discussions and our campus life

·      To allow students organizations and any concerned group of students, individual student to suggest his or her model of union and its details

·      To end the rule of fear and warnings.

Our commitments:

As struggle committee, we are also committed to high standards and values required for students democracy.

·      We will not allow, encourage or support any form of violence, immoral or unconstitutional ways of struggle

·      We will not allow, encourage or support any form of insult to our respected teachers, academic and non-academic staff

·      We will not allow, encourage or support any form of hatred, feud or conflict 

·      Our ultimate goal is dignity for academic community which is incomplete without freedom to administer their life in their campuses, be it the teachers association, staff association, workers association or the students union.

Students union is for better future of our campus, our community, our society and this nation and your support for our future is integral for our struggle.

Thanking you

AFROZ ALAM SAHIL (Jamia Millia Islamia)

ADIL AHMAD (Aligarh Muslim University)

OMAIR ANAS (Jawaharlal Nehru University)

SHARIB ZIA (Delhi University)

KAMALA KANTA DASH (Monash University, Australia)

The Administration is harassing the students involved with FSD movement.

20 Oct, 2011. New Delhi. Jamia Millia Islamia Administration has resorted to wrongful tactics to suppress the Forum for Student's Democracy's movement to restore Students Union in the University.

The Administration is harassing the students involved with FSD movement. So much so, the FSD convener Afroz Alam Sahil is targeted personally and guards are appointed to monitor his movements in the campus.

Meanwhile FSD wrote a letter to all teachers of JMI to seek their support in the cause. In the letter the forum requested teachers to join the movement and guide the students in establishing democracy in JMI.

It should be noted that FSD spearheaded its campaign for students union Elections in Central University Jamia Millia Islamia on Wednesday with launching of online petition for the cause.

The online petition will be sent to University Grant Commission, Ministry of HRD and JMI administration. Those who wish to support the movement can file the petition online at http://www.petitiononline.com/jmsu/petition.html.

FSD has already launched an RTI campaign to support the movement. Several RTIs questioning policy and stand of JMI have been filed. RTI's have also questioned collection and expenditure of student union funds in JMI.

Soon this movement for restoration of student unions in colleges and universities will take a national platform and RTI's will be filed in universities and colleges all across India.

Letter to all Teachers, Jamia Millia Islamia

To,                                                                                                                       Date: 20.10.2011

All Teachers

Jamia Millia Islamia

Dear Revered Teachers,

I am writing on behalf of Forum for Students Democracy (FSD) to solicit your guidance and support in our struggle to restore student unions in Jamia and as well as in other universities of the country. We strongly believe that campus elections prepare young students for a larger political life and inculcate the spirit of democracy and tolerance which helps in the acceptance of different and opposing view points and other socio-political differences at large. In this sense university eduction prepares a better citizen for the country.  

Forum for Students Democracy has recently written a letter to the Vice Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia requesting him to restore students' democracy and citing the fact that students have been deprived of their democratic space in their own universities be it Jamia or other universities in the country.  Students’ in all these universities without a students’ union have been left behind in the political process and hence a systematic de-politicization is engineered by our very own administration and governments. The forum has come out to question and challenge the status quo and to ensure restoring students' democracy through students’ union in all over the country staring from Jamia Millia Islamia, an internationally renowned center of learning.

In this process we at FSD earnestly appeals to our teaching community to support us and guide us in the process. Without your guidance we will not be able to move further neither will be able to succeed in convincing the university administration. As always our teachers at Jamia have been our inspiration in leading a dignified life with freedom. FSD needs your expertise and support in our struggle to ensure political participation of students.

Thanks and Regard

Sincerely Yours

(Afroz Alam Sahil)

Convenor, Forum for Student Democracy.

E-mail: forumforstudentdemocracy@gmail.com  

Blog: http://forumforstudentdemocracy.blogspot.com