How safe is your child’s school?: Information not received even after asking, Information Commission’s notice to DIOS Moradabad

Symbolic picture: Strict stance of Uttar Pradesh State Information Commission regarding providing information related to school security under RTI.

Lucknow, Read. Amidst the incidents of fire, building accidents and other security lapses in schools, colleges and coaching institutes, a big question is how do parents get information about the security arrangements of their children’s educational institutions? Taking a strict stance on this issue, Uttar Pradesh State Information Commission has issued a notice to the District Inspector of Schools (DIOS) of Moradabad.
The matter pertains to information related to safety standards in about 40 coaching institutes and a dozen schools and colleges of Moradabad district. Under the Right to Information (RTI), information related to fire safety, building safety and other important security arrangements in these institutions was sought, but the information was not provided within the stipulated time.

It is the responsibility of the department to provide information on time.

During the hearing, State Information Commissioner Mohammad Nadeem said that the security of schools, colleges and coaching institutes is the primary concern of every parent today. If any citizen asks for such information through RTI, then it is the responsibility of the concerned department to provide the information to him on time. This gives parents the right to know whether the required safety standards are being followed in the institution where their child is studying or not.

Reply sought from DIOS Moradabad

The Information Commission acknowledged that information related to the security of educational institutions is a matter of public interest. Delay in providing such information or withholding it is not in accordance with the spirit of the RTI Act. On this basis, reply has been sought from DIOS Moradabad.
This decision of the State Information Commissioner is considered to have far-reaching effects. This order is important for lakhs of parents of the state, because under the Right to Information, they can also ask for information about safety standards, fire fighting system, building security and other important arrangements in schools, colleges and coaching institutes of their district. With this stand of the Information Commission, it is expected that transparency and accountability will increase in educational institutions.