The Central Information Commission recommended Delhi University to maintain public record of foreign students who get admission in the varsity based on their Overseas Citizenship of India card, as a step towards ensuring transparency in larger interest under the RTI Act.

Information Commissioner Sudha Rani Relangi in her order said that the issue of non-maintenance of records of foreign students admitted through OCI cards despite being a part of Delhi University's record is a "matter of concern" for all foreign students.

The Commission said that maintenance of transparency calls for action to be taken by the University hereafter, in "larger interest". The Commissioner said:

"The Commission, deems it expedient, as per Section 25(5) of the RTI Act, 2005, to recommend directing the Respondent Public Authority to give effect to the provisions of Section 4 of the RTI Act on the subject issue from now onwards by facilitating the requisite information regarding number of foreign students getting admission through OCI cards and its related information to be kept in Public domain as a step towards proactive disclosure under the RTI Act, 2005 through its website. This step will also relieve the Public Authority of the burden of RTI Applications been filed on this issue"

The appellant, had filed an RTI application on 11.03.2025 seeking information from CPIO Delhi University, about the number applications by foreign students seeking admission in the varsity between 2020-2024.

The appellant had also asked the number of foreign students who had an OCI (Overseas Citizenship of India) card. He had also asked that out of these OCI cardholders, how many opted to apply as foreigners and how many opted to apply as Indian Citizens (using their OCI card benefit).

The CPIO responded that the information sought was endorsed to the Dean (Foreign Students Registry) of the University, who is the deemed PIO under RTI Act.

However relevant inputs were yet to be received from the Dean and the matter was being pursued further with the authority. The CPIO asked the appellant to contact the authority over the matter.

Aggrieved the appellant filed first appeal, wherein the First Appellate Authority directed the Dean (Foreign Student's Registry) to comply within two weeks with the CPIO's order and provide necessary inputs. As this was not complied with the appellant moved before the CIC.

Appellant argued that he is satisfied with the information provided against point No. 1 of the RTI application. It was however argued that the while applying for admission in DU, there is an option in the form for foreign students to get admission under OCI category where they can either submit their foreign passport or by giving the OCI card. It was argued that this itself indicated that the information must exist, however CPIO expressed its inability to disclose the information.

CPIO stated that Appellant has sought information about the statistics of foreign students' admission in Delhi University, regarding which the inputs so received from the Deputy Dean, Foreign Student Registry had been intimated.

While the CPIO provided the data on number of applications by foreign students and number of admissions granted, it however said that in the past since foreign applicants were admitted on the basis of the foreign passport only, no separate data was maintained by the varsity for applications made by students based on OCI/PIO card.

The commission directed that its order be placed before the Vice Chancellor of Delhi University, for considering the recommendations and also said that a compliance report of the recommendations be filed within six weeks.

Case title: Vicky v/s The CPIO, UNIVERSITY OF DELHI

CIC/UODEL/A/2025/625408

Appearance for Appellant: Advocate Sanjukta Basu

Appearance for Respondent: Shri Inder Mohan Gupta, CPIO along with Shri Rakesh Hasija, AR (FMS) and Shri Piyush B. Chaudhary, Depuy Dean, FSR, DU present in person

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