HC: ALUMNI HAVE RIGHT TO PRIVACY TOO
The row over Union Minister Smriti Irani’s educational qualifications came into the fore as Delhi High Court passed an observation to the CBSE on Thursday stating that the right of privacy of educational qualifications was applicable to all students, past and present.
Justice Vibhu Bakhru said, “Are all the CBSE marks of students available in the public domain today? If it is possible today, then you cannot say there is a right of privacy for results of earlier students.”
The observation was made during the hearing of a plea on permission to view the minister’s Class X and XII records after an applicant had filed for them under the Right to Information Act. Information commissioner M. Sridhar Acharyulu had asked CBSE to allow the inspection of the minister’s records. However, CBSE had argued that the educational records were personal information and could not be disclosed.
Acharyulu said, “The remark was said as part of a conversation with counsel. Unless it is reflected in the order, it cannot stand. But yes, if present students cannot enjoy the same right of privacy, then yesteryear students cannot enjoy the same.”
Students attending the boards and those had taken the exams for the last few years could get their marksheets online by entering roll number and DOB.