JIPMER told to give answer key of entrance test

PUDUCHERRY: The Central Information Commission (CIC) has directed Jawaharlal Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) to provide question papers along with answer key of an entrance test conducted by it for admission to various courses, if sought under the Right to Information Act.This is a landmark order passed on January 13, as it applies to all entrance exams conducted by institutions in India.This is the response to an RTI application filed  by  Dr K Sudhakar, general secretary of Puducherry government medical officers’ association, seeking  question papers and answer key of entrance test to MCh (Urology) for 2011-2012 . The public information officer (PIO)  and registrar (Academic), James Sekar, refused to give information claiming that it was not the practice of the institution. As per the practice, only model question papers were sold along with prospectus.Dissatisfied with the reply, Dr Sudhakar made an appeal to the first appellate authority (FFA), but FAA stated that it was satisfied with the reply of PIO. Following this, Dr Sudhakar moved the CIC. Central information commissioner Shailesh Gandhi, after hearing the case through video conference, ordered the public information officer to furnish a copy of the question paper with answer key by February 10. Gandhi, in his January 23 order, pointed out that the right to information was a fundamental right and denial of information could only be based on the provisions of exemptions under Section 8(1) of the RTI Act. He observed that PIO cannot deny information based on arbitrary whims or policies of various institutionsWhen the  public information officersaid there was a possibility that the information sought may have been destroyed, the commissioner warned that destruction of information sought under the RTI Act would have serious repercussions.