<div align="justify">
-The Indian Express
</div>
<p align="justify">
<br />
On January 12 last year, RTI applicant Dinesh Suryavanshi had sought information related to class XI admissions under Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005. Even after two appeals and a showcause notice issued to education department officials, he is still waiting for a response from them.
</p>
<p align="justify">
&quot;I wanted to know about the total number of seats reserved for SC, ST candidates, the stipulated seats in management courses and the seats filled in these categories. I also sought details of total number of admissions done in August and September in colleges across Pune,&quot; said Suryavanshi.
</p>
<p align="justify">
He said till date he has not received any information from the department. &quot;There are a lot of discrepancies in class XI admissions and the authorities are trying to cover up. This is the reason why they are not providing me information,&quot; said Suryavanshi, a teacher at a Mumbai college.
</p>
<p align="justify">
When he did not get any information under RTI, Suryavanshi filed an appeal. His first appeal was taken up for hearing on February 13, where he was given March 5 as the next date of hearing, which was later postponed to April 4. As the first appellate authority was not present on the date of hearing, it was further postponed to May 3 where it was ruled that the applicant should be provided all the information without any fee.
</p>
<p align="justify">
Failing to receive any information despite the ruling, Suryavanshi again filed an appeal on August 21. On the date of hearing, the public information officer was not present and the assistant public information officer declared that he was yet to receive information from the deputy director of education. A decision to provide information in eight days was taken in the second appeal.
</p>
<p align="justify">
&quot;I again wrote to Sridhar Salunke, the then director of state primary and secondary education department asking him to take action. But untill now, nothing has happened,&quot; said Suryavanshi.
</p>
<p align="justify">
Salunke had issued a showcause notice on November 2 to deputy director of education asking him to provide details in 10 days. But nothing happened on that front too, he added. Salunke, who retired from the post last year, said he did not remember the case.
</p>
<p align="justify">
Suman Shinde, deputy director of education, Pune division said, &quot;Suryavanshi has appealed a lot of times. Without reading the appeal, it is hard to comment on the issue. I am in Mumbai and will be able to comment only after I go through the appeal.&quot;<br />
				
</p>
<div align="justify">
<br />
</div>