Rajasthan High Court Ruling on RTI Processing Fees Impacts RUHS
The Rajasthan High Court has issued a significant ruling that prohibits universities, including the Rajasthan University of Health Sciences (RUHS), from imposing additional processing charges for providing certified copies of answer sheets under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. This decision aims to enhance transparency and accessibility for students seeking their evaluated answer sheets.
The Court found that the ₹1000 processing fee per application demanded by RUHS was illegal and contrary to the provisions of the RTI Act. The petitioner, Vipika, a B.Sc. Nursing student, had sought certified copies of her evaluated answer books but was faced with a total demand of ₹1225, which included the ₹1000 processing fee.
In its ruling, the Court emphasized that public authorities must adhere to the fee structure prescribed under the RTI Act. It quashed the University’s guidelines that imposed the ₹1000 processing fee, reinforcing that the fees for information sought under the RTI Act should only reflect those specified in the RTI Rules.
The Court’s decision was influenced by several Supreme Court judgments that recognize the right of examinees to access their evaluated answer sheets under the RTI Act. The ruling noted that imposing such a high processing fee could discourage students from exercising their right to information, which contradicts the objectives of the RTI Act.
The case was decided by a Division Bench comprising Justice Dr. Pushpendra Singh Bhati and Justice Sandeep Shah, with the order issued on March 6, 2026. The case number is D.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 13783/2021.
According to the Court, the fee payable for seeking information under the Act is already specified by statutory rules, and public authorities cannot impose additional charges that are inconsistent with those rules. This ruling is expected to set a precedent for how universities handle RTI requests in the future.
Moreover, the Court highlighted that the application fee prescribed under the RTI Act is only ₹10, while the cost for copies of documents is ₹2 per page, with an average answer book containing about 40 pages. This means that the total photocopy charges should amount to ₹80, in addition to the application fee, making the total ₹90, significantly lower than the amount previously demanded by RUHS.
The ruling also addressed the postal charges, which RUHS had set at ₹145, further inflating the total cost for students. The University manages approximately 6.5 lakh answer sheets, and this decision will impact many students seeking access to their evaluated work.
As this ruling unfolds, it remains to be seen how RUHS and other universities will adjust their policies in compliance with the Court’s directives. Details remain unconfirmed regarding any immediate changes to the fee structures or processes at RUHS following this landmark decision.
