IGNOU failed to provide NHD certificates to some students who have cleared the course offered by Edexcel International. The CIC directed the vice-chancellor of the University to probe the matter. This is the 87th in a series of important judgements given by former Central Information Commissioner Shailesh Gandhi that can be used or quoted in an RTI application

The Central Information Commission (CIC), while disposing an appeal, directed the vice-chancellor of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) to probe the matter where students were not being issued certificates despite successfully clearing the course.

While giving this judgement on 2 April 2009, Shailesh Gandhi, the then Central Information Commissioner said, “IGNOU is not able to give the certificate to the appellant's son since it says it is writing letters to Edexcel (International, UK) and has no explanation for this lapse. It is absurd that a young man is cheated and frustrated in this manner by IGNOU.”

Patna resident Aslam Ansari, on 22 September 2008, sought information about certificate of his son for higher national diploma (HND) and Bachelor of Information Technology (BIT) for 2005-06, from the Public Information Officer (PIO) of IGNOU under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. In his application, Ansari stated that while his son's friend had been taken certificate from the institute, his son did not get certificate despite passing the course.

In his reply, the PIO stated, "...the HND Certificate to the student is to be awarded by the Edexcel International, UK. (The) University is in regular touch with the authorities of Edexcel to issue certificates and efforts are being made to organize a meeting between the authorities of both the bodies' to sort out all the issues regarding issue of HND certificate to the students. A meeting is expected soon."

Not satisfied with the PIO's reply, Ansari filed his first appeal. The First Appellate Authority (FAA) did not reply. Ansari, then approached the Commission with his second appeal.

During the hearing, Mr Gandhi, the then CIC, noted that Obaidurrahman Ansari, son of Aslam Ansari (appellant) had done a course on computing and multimedia of BIT and HND with IGNOU. He cleared his course in December 2005 and was eligible to get a certificate for HND programme from UK-based Edexcel International.

To read Moneylife’s extensive coverage on the RTI, please click here.

According to the PIO, Obaidurrahman Ansari has completed the course successfully but was not given the certificate. "People who have done the course after him have also been given the certificate, but IGNOU is not able to give the certificate to the appellant's son since it says it is writing letters to Edexcel and has no explanation for this lapse," the CIC noted.

The PIO also informed the Commission that Edexcel courses continued in India and there other students who are also going through this traumatic experience.

"It is absurd that a young man is cheated and frustrated in this manner by IGNOU," Mr Gandhi said. While disposing the appeal, the CIC then directed vice-chancellor of IGNOU to enquire into the matter and send a report to the Commission before 30 April 2009.

CENTRAL INFORMATION COMMISSION

Decision No. CIC /SG/A/2009/000072/2603

https://ciconline.nic.in/cic_decisions/SG-02042009-17.pdf

Appeal No. CIC/SG/A/2009/000072

Appellant                                            : Aslam Ansari f/o Obaidurrahman Ansari,

                                                            Patna-14.

Respondent                                       : PIO,

                                                            Indira Gandhi National Open University,

                                                            Maidan Garhi, New Delhi-110068.