Newspunjab
18 August,2026
The Punjab State Information Commission has given a major verdict to bring all 18 private universities of the state under the ambit of the RTI Act, 2005. The Commission has clarified that private universities established by acts of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha will be considered as ‘public authorities’ under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act. After this verdict, these universities will now have to make formal arrangements to accept RTI applications and respond to them within the stipulated time. Also, the universities have been directed to appoint PIO and First Appellate Authority and make public the information mandatory under the RTI Act on their official websites. The verdict came in a case related to Akal University, Talwandi Sabo, where a former assistant professor had sought information related to his salary slips and other financial records. The university had argued that it is not a ‘public authority’ under the RTI Act, but the Information Commission rejected this argument. The Commission said that when an institution is established by a law made by the State Legislative Assembly, it can come under the relevant section of the RTI Act. The decision also gave importance to transparency, accountability and the right of the people to information. The Commission has also ordered the university to produce certain financial records and warned of strict action against the responsible officials in case of non-compliance of the orders. This decision is expected to increase transparency in the functioning of private universities in Punjab and make the path of information access clearer for students, employees and the general public.
