In yet another blow to transparency in Tamil Nadu’s higher education system, the University of Madras (UoM) has failed to respond to a series of RTI applications and First Appeals filed regarding four prominent aided colleges in Chennai — Loyola College, Stella Maris College, Women’s Christian College, and Madras Christian College.
RTI activist and Loyola alumnus R. Joseph D’ Kennedy had sought crucial documents from the University of Madras pertaining to statutory approvals for foreign collaborations, twinning programmes, and international partnerships undertaken by these institutions.
Despite the RTI Act mandating a response within 30 days, the University of Madras did not reply to any of the four RTIs, nor did it act on the First Appeals filed under Section 19(1) of the Act.
This non-response qualifies as a “deemed refusal” under Section 7(2) of the RTI Act, 2005, a serious violation that can attract penalties under Section 20.
A Pattern Of Deliberate Silence?
According to Kennedy, the University’s silence is not an administrative lapse but a deliberate attempt to shield violations committed by elite aided colleges that operate with political influence and zero accountability despite receiving government funds.
“Four RTIs, four First Appeals — and not a single response. This is not incompetence. This is a cover-up,” he said.
He also alleged that the foreign collaborations in question — including Loyola College’s controversial partnership with Pondicherry University and multiple unapproved international tie-ups — have been operating without mandatory UGC and University approvals, in potential violation of the UGC (Promotion and Maintenance of Standards of Academic Collaboration) Regulations.
Complaint Filed Before Tamil Nadu Information Commission
After receiving no response for more than a month, Kennedy has officially filed a complaint with the Tamil Nadu Information Commission (TNIC) under Section 18 of the RTI Act.
His petition requests the Commission to:
– Initiate an inquiry against the University of Madras
– Direct immediate disclosure of all pending information
– Impose penalties on the Public Information Officer (PIO) for willful defiance of the Act
– Issue strict directions to prevent recurrence of such violations
Why Loyola Is At The Centre Of The Storm?
Loyola College has been under intense scrutiny for over a year, with allegations involving:
– Unapproved international academic tie-ups
– Questionable twinning arrangement with Pondicherry University
– Lack of transparency in autonomous decisions
– Political interference in administrative and academic functioning
The RTI documents Kennedy seeks are expected to reveal how these programmes were run without mandatory approvals, in violation of:
– UGC Regulations
– University of Madras statutes
– Tamil Nadu government guidelines for aided colleges
Other Colleges Mentioned Only To Show Pattern
Although Kennedy filed similar RTIs regarding:
– Stella Maris College
– Women’s Christian College
– Madras Christian College
“The Loyola RTI is the most explosive of the four. That is why the University is desperate to keep it buried,” Kennedy stated.
Legal experts say that denial of information across four separate RTIs, especially involving aided colleges, could attract strong action from the Commission.
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