RTI Success Story: Party-in-Person Wins Against MGR Medical University in Madras High Court
Madras High Court Upholds RTI Transparency in MGR University Senate Records
As part of my public interest initiatives under the Right to Information Act, 2005, I sought certified information from The Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University regarding the statutory duties of a Senate Member, copies of Senate meeting agenda and minutes attended by Prof. Dr. P. Selvakumar during the previous three academic years, and copies of his official representations relating to examinations, faculty, curriculum and academic matters. While the University furnished only the statutory powers of the Senate, it denied the remaining information by invoking Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, treating it as "personal information."
Aggrieved by the denial, I challenged the decision through the appellate
mechanism under the RTI Act. In my appeal, I contended that the Supreme
Court has clearly distinguished "personal information" from information
relating to the discharge of public duties, and that public activity is
not protected as personal information. I further argued that the
agenda, proceedings and minutes of Senate meetings are official
institutional records, not private information, and ought to be
proactively disclosed under Section 4(1)(b) of the RTI Act, 2005. The
arbitrary invocation of Section 8(1)(j), without following the procedure
under Section 11, was challenged as a deliberate and mala fide denial
of information. Accepting these contentions, the Tamil Nadu State
Information Commission, in Second Appeal No. SA 19994/E/2023 dated
30.09.2024, directed disclosure of the requested records.
Aggrieved by the denial, I pursued the matter before the Tamil Nadu State Information Commission. After hearing all parties, the Commission held that the information sought related to the discharge of public functions by a Senate Member of a public university and directed disclosure of the requested records in Second Appeal No. SA 19994/E/2023 dated 30.09.2024. Challenging this order, the Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University filed W.P. No. 36413 of 2024 before the Madras High Court.
Appearing as Party-in-Person, I defended the Commission's order before the Hon'ble Madras High Court. During the proceedings, the Hon'ble Court directed the University to furnish the information sought under Queries 2 and 3. The University subsequently produced certified copies of the records before the Court, which I acknowledged having received. Recording full compliance, the Hon'ble Court dismissed the University's writ petition on 16.09.2025, thereby bringing the litigation to a close and reaffirming the principle that records relating to the discharge of public duties in a statutory university are subject to transparency under the RTI Act.
Copy of Judgement