The recent serious lapses on the part of CBSE and NTA officials have shaken public trust in examinations and dented the image of the Government, despite 12 years of hard work. This ultimately led to the resignation of the Education Minister to avoid a national crisis. However, the crisis could have been averted at the very outset by changing the portfolio of the Minister and by transferring both Secretaries of Education along with all concerned heads of CBSE and NTA.
Basically, the lapses occurred due to internal intelligence failure in the respective organizations and poor monitoring by Ministry officials, which could have been detected well in time.
To address Gen Z concerns and to prevent leftist and other political parties from occupying this space, the time has come for the Government and the Party to have an academically heavyweight Education Minister supported by a highly educated and respected Education Advisor to the Minister to deal with the Department, students, and the public on a regular basis.
Such an arrangement was in place when both Congress and BJP were in power, with heavyweight and successful Ministers like Mr. Arjun Singh and Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi, who had Mr. M.J. Akbar and Mr. R.K. Sinha as advisors.
Crisis struck both Congress and BJP when "lightweight" or merely "politically strong" persons were made Education Ministers without the support of an equally strong and ideological Education Advisor.
The government and party may consider reviving the post of Education Advisor to the Minister. We have competent educationists and proven administrators like Dr. Amogh Gupta, former Chairman SPA DELHI and presently chairman SPA Vijayawada also a former student leader with excellent PR skills and administrative Experience, and Dr. D.P. Singh, former Chairman UGC with long university experience.
Regular engagement with Gen Z and addressing their concerns is the only solution for any Government to stay focused on the country’s development in present global conditions.

A Visitor

Can a wife file an RTI application on behalf of her husband?

The respondent informed that the RTI Application was filed by Ms. Saroj Gupta and as the information was sought regarding report of auditing pertaining to grant of said 3rd MACP of Sh. Mangat Goyal, the same was denied under Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act. It was counter argued by Sh. Mangat Goyal that the Appellant is his wife who had filed the RTI Application on his behalf seeking internal audit report related to him and denial of the information u/s 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act is wrong. The respondent further stated that the report is a 10 years old record and is not traceable in their official records. Considering the fact that Shri Mangat Goyal represented the Appellant during the hearing, the CIC ruled that the plea of exemption under Section 8(1)(j) does not survive. The CIC directed to examine the instant RTI Application and furnish a revised reply within four weeks. In the event, no records on such points are available in their office, the fact should be categorically reflected in the revised reply of the PIO.

Comments

It is preferable to file an application directly under the RTI Act instead of asking a friend or a relative to seek information on one’s behalf.

Citation: Saroj Gupta v. Sports Authority of India, Second Appeal No. CIC/SAOIN/A/2024/643474; Date of Decision: 22.01.2026

Dr. Anuradha Verma (dranuradhaverma@yahoo.co.in) is an expert on RTI matters and has co-authored the books RIGHT TO INFORMATION - LAW AND PRACTICE and PIO’s guide to RTI.