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Decision No.CIC/SG/A/2009/002852/6070 Appeal No. CIC/SG/A/2009/002852 Appellant : Mr. Gaurav Jain, WZ-603 A, Palam Village, New Delhi-110045 Ms. Kundla Mahajan Public Information Officer & Section Officer University Grants Commission, Bahadurshah Zafar Marg, New Delhi-110002 13/07/2009 (Not clear) 07/09/2009 30/09/2009 26/10/2009 24/11/2009 24/12/2009 PIO's Reply Amity University Uttar Pradesh at Gautam Buddha Naar, (UP) has been established by an Act of State Legislature of Uttar Pradesh as a Private University specified under Section 22 of the UGC Act at their main campus i.e Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh with the approval of Statutory Councils, wherever required. Inspection by UGC as per he requirement of UC Act, 1956 and UC(Establishment of and Maintenance of standards in Private Universities Regulations, 2003 for ascertaining academic and physical infrastructure of a University is yet to be carried out in the case of Amity University, Uttar Pradesh Gautam Buddha Nagar Amity University, Uttar Pradesh at Gautam Buddha Nagar, is not authorized to open study centre/off campus centre beyond the territorial jurisdiction of the State as per the decision of Supreme Court of India in case of Prof. Yashpal Page no. 1 of 3

Respondent

RTI application filed on PIO replied First Appeal filed on First Appellate Authority order Second Appeal Received on Notice of Hearing Sent on Hearing Held on

: : : : : : :

S.No Information Sought 1. Why is it that although Amity claims to be UGC recognized, it does not feature on website of UGC. What is the truth? Is Amity really UGC recognized? 11. If UGC gets information that there is high level of lack of transparency in checking & marking of answer sheets and appointment of new faculty in a university recognized by UGC, what steps does UGC takes. Attach a copy which gives this information.

Vs Government of Chattisgarh. The University can not open its centre without he approval of UGC even within the State as per the provision of UGC Regulations, 2003 For distance education program Approval letters for course under distance mode should clearly state that the courts had been approved by the Joint Committee UGC, AICTE and Director, DEC as per the provision laid down under clause 9 of the MOU signed by UGC-AICTE-DE. There were following questions (2 through 10) transferred to Amity University, Uttar Pradesh at Gautam Buddha Nagar (UP) for reply. 2. If they are recognized, what is the protocol to recognize a university by UGC? How often is this process repeated or is it a one time process. 3. Amity says that its a non profit university, (when they cant even reduce the fee of a student, i.e, Appellant, who they accidentally placed in self-massive difference of 2.5 Lacs). Can UGC explain on what grounds this for-profit university can boast of baring non-profit university? 4. What benefits does as student get in lieu of the high fees he pays in self-sponsored category? 5. Does Amity uses different GD and Interview standards for Self-sponsored and nonsponsored categories? 6. if Amity does not use different standards, under what conditions of a student, who has been cleared by the GD & Interview panel for admissions in the non-sponsored category, is shifted to self-sponsored category. Provide the list of those conditions and also tell under which condition odes may case come. 7. Can UGC provide the following information of Appellants and the last student admitted in the non-sponsored category in MBA (general) batch of 2010 in ABS, Amity University, Noida. a. GD score b. Interview Score c. Cumulative Score d. Rank among the 720 odd students. 8. Is there a cap on the no. of students a university can enroll in a professional course like MBA? Provide a copy of rules and guidelines and conditions a university should meet before increasing the intake of students.(How can anyone take 1500 students in course like MBA?) 9. The standard way teaching in MBA is through CASE STUDIES. Why this is sparingly used in ABS (Amity Business School), hardly 1-2 case studies per semester, and that too given as assignments. If ABS has any arguments against the Casestudy method, provide them. 10. Provide a copy of guidelines that Amity follows while appointing a new faculty. How do they follow up that the quality of knowledge that the teachers is imparting is not bellow par? Grounds for First Appeal: Not enclosed.

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Order of the First Appellate Authority: FAA informed the Appellant that reply given by the PIO was correct. Appellant was informed that the Amity University is also covered under RTI Act, 2005, so approach the University directly. Grounds for Second Appeal: Incomplete and not precise information in respect of two questions (1 and 11) were replied by UGC other remained was forwarded to Amity University, was not replied. Relevant Facts emerging during Hearing: The following were present: Appellant: Mr. Gaurav Jain; Respondent: Ms. Kundla Mahajan, Public Information Officer & Section Officer; The PIO has provided information and the appellants queries largely do not seek information as defined under Section 2(f) of the RTI Act. The Appellant is now framing his queries in about focused manner and the PIO is directed to provide the information on these: 1Whether AMITY University is recognized by the UGC.

Decision: The appeal is allowed.

The PIO will give the information mentioned above to the Appellant before 05 January 2010.
This decision is announced in open chamber. Notice of this decision be given free of cost to the parties. Any information in compliance with this Order will be provided free of cost as per Section 7(6) of RTI Act.

(In any correspondence on this decision, mention the complete decision number.)Rnj

Shailesh Gandhi Information Commissioner 24 December 2009

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