The Rajasthan High Court has made a significant ruling impacting students at the Rajasthan University of Health Sciences (RUHS). The Court determined that universities cannot impose additional processing charges for providing certified copies of answer sheets under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

This decision arose from a case involving Vipika, a B.Sc. Nursing student who sought certified copies of her evaluated answer books. RUHS had demanded a total of ₹1225 for each answer book, which included an illegal ₹1000 processing fee.

The Court found this fee structure to be contrary to the RTI Act, emphasizing that the fee payable for seeking information is already specified by statutory rules. The Court quashed the University’s guidelines that imposed the ₹1000 processing fee, reinforcing that public authorities must adhere to the fee structure prescribed under the RTI Rules.

In its ruling, the Court referred to several Supreme Court decisions that recognize the right of examinees to access evaluated answer sheets under the RTI Act. The ruling is seen as a crucial step towards promoting transparency and accountability in educational institutions.

The Court highlighted that imposing a processing fee of ₹1000 appeared to be an attempt to discourage students from seeking certified copies of their answer books. Instead, the Court directed RUHS to charge only the application fee of ₹10, along with photocopy charges calculated at ₹2 per page for the 40 pages typically found in an answer book, totaling ₹80, plus ₹145 for postal charges.

This ruling aligns with the broader objectives of the RTI Act, which was enacted in 2005 to enhance transparency in public authorities. The decision is expected to empower students and ensure their right to access information regarding their academic evaluations.

As the implications of this ruling unfold, 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 at RUHS or other institutions.

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