Dark Era of RTI: KP Commission Restrains UET Mardan from Sharing VC’s Salary and Benefits
Islamabad: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Information Commission has issued an order restraining the Information Officer of the University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Mardan, from disclosing detailed information regarding the salary, allowances, and benefits granted to the incumbent Vice Chancellor of the university. This decision comes after a citizen’s complaint, highlighting a lack of response to an official information request under the Right to Information Act, 2013.
On October 14, 2024, Mr. Muhammad Naeem, a citizen of Mardan, filed a request with the Vice Chancellor of UET Mardan seeking various pieces of information. Among his queries, he requested a breakdown of the total strength of university staff, including permanent, contract, and daily wage employees, along with details on vacant positions.
He also asked for the university’s budgets for 2023 and 2024, and specific month-wise details regarding the salary, integrated, medical, and conveyance allowances, as well as other benefits granted to the Vice Chancellor.
Furthermore, Naeem inquired about the rules allowing the extension of contract employees beyond the three-year service limit, as outlined in Section 11(5)(e) of the University Act 2016.
Despite submitting the request, Naeem did not receive any response, prompting him to file a formal complaint with the KP Information Commission. The Commission, in response to the complaint, issued a notice to UET Mardan’s Information Officer, directing a reply on all points except for the salary and allowances details within seven working days.
Even without passing any judgment from the members of the Commission, the Deputy Registrar of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Commission has restrained the Information Officer of the University of Engineering and Technology, Mardan, from sharing the information mentioned in paragraph 3 of the information request, i.e., details of salary, integrated, medical, conveyance allowances, and other benefits legally granted to the incumbent Vice Chancellor.
It is worth mentioning that a similar order was passed in another complaint filed by the same citizen against the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education Mardan.
According to Section 5 (1) (c) of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Right to Information Act, 2013 the public bodies are bound to share information on their website.
Section 5 (1) The following categories of information shall be duly published by public bodies in an up-to-date fashion and in a manner which best ensures that they are accessible to those for whom they may be relevant, including over the Internet, subject to reasonable restrictions based on limited resources: (c) a directory of its officers and employees, including a description of their powers and functions and their respective remunerations, perks and privileges; Section 5 (c) of the KP RTI Act, 2013
The Commission’s order contradicts Section 5 of the Right to Information Act, which mandates such details to be made available to the public on official websites.
