Ruhs: Rajasthan High Court Ruling on Processing Fees
Rajasthan High Court Ruling on RUHS Processing Fees
The Rajasthan High Court has ruled that universities, including the Rajasthan University of Health Sciences (RUHS), cannot impose additional processing charges for providing certified copies of answer sheets under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. This decision, issued on March 6, 2026, emphasizes the importance of transparency and accountability in public authorities.
The case, identified as D.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 13783/2021, was brought forth by petitioner Vipika, a B.Sc. Nursing student who sought certified copies of her evaluated answer books. RUHS had demanded a total of ₹1225 for each answer book, which included a ₹1000 processing fee and other charges.
The Court quashed the ₹1000 processing fee imposed by RUHS, stating that such additional charges are inconsistent with the statutory framework of the RTI Act. The Court highlighted that the fee structure prescribed under the RTI Act must be adhered to by all public authorities.
In its ruling, the Court referred to several Supreme Court decisions that recognize the right of examinees to access evaluated answer sheets under the RTI Act. It directed that the University must charge only the fee prescribed under the RTI Rules for information requests, which includes a nominal application fee of ₹10 and a cost of ₹2 per page for copies of documents.
The Court observed that imposing a processing fee of ₹1000 appeared to be an attempt to discourage students from seeking certified copies of their answer books, which contradicts the objectives of the RTI Act. The ruling aims to promote a culture of transparency within educational institutions.
RUHS had also included additional costs, such as ₹80 for photocopying charges calculated at ₹2 per page for 40 pages and ₹145 for postal charges, further inflating the total amount demanded from students.
The Court’s decision quashed the University’s guidelines dated September 6, 2012, and the Board of Management’s decision dated December 20, 2014, regarding the processing fee. This ruling is expected to have a significant impact on how universities handle RTI requests in the future.
Currently, RUHS manages approximately 6.5 lakh answer sheets, and the Court’s ruling is likely to influence the processing of RTI applications across various educational institutions in Rajasthan.
As the implications of this ruling unfold, it remains to be seen how RUHS and other universities will adjust their policies in compliance with the Court’s directives. Details remain unconfirmed.
