RIGHT TO INFORMATION

INTRODUCTION

The Right to Information Act, 2005 sets out the practical regime of Right to Information for citizens to enable them to access the information under the control of public authority in order to promote transparency and accountability in the working of such authority.
Section 2(h) of the Act defines "public authority" as any authority or body or institution of self-governance established or constituted by or under the constitution or by law made by the Parliament or any state legislature or by notification issued by the appropriate government:. It includes body owned, controlled or substantially financed by the government.
In accordance with the provisions contained in section 2(j) of the Act, Right to Information means right to information accessible under this Act which is held by or under control of a public authority.
This Information Handbook will enable the citizens to obtain information as to the provisions contained in various rules and regulations governing the University of Delhi and Maharaja Agrasen College.
This Information Handbook is divided into 17 manuals.


MANUAL 1: PARTICULARS OF THE ORGANISATION

Aims and Objectives

The aim of the College is to provide access to quality higher education.

Vision

Our vision is not just to impart textual pedagogy to the students but to ensure their fullest development as a student and more as a vibrant and sensitive citizen of the country. The objective is not to closet them in the confines of syllabus but to expose them to variety of things which enable them to excel and adjust with the new challenges of today and future. Academics of course occupy the top priority of this institution but the institution lays equal emphasis on co curricular and extracurricular activities. The extracurricular front of the college is an especially vibrant and creative territory, organizing events like the Fresher's Day, Independence Day, Annual Cultural Festival - 'Plexus', Annual Day and the Farewell. The college has surged ahead in the other important areas of co-curricular activities as well. Activities like seminars, debates, quizzes and lectures by eminent academicians, tours, excursions, poetry recitation and creative writing competitions are regular feature.

To conjugate the healthy mind with a healthy body, due emphasis is laid on sports as well, by organizing the Annual Sports Day on the lush grounds of the College new site at Vasundhara Enclave. Throughout the year, students participate in Inter-college sports activities. The NCC Cadets of our college play their own vital part in bringing laurels to the college by participating in camps and other invigorating activities.

The institution believes in continuous intellectual refinement not only for the students but also for the teachers. It extends maximum co-operation towards enhancing professional prospects of teachers who regularly participate in refresher and orientation courses, seminars, conferences etc. Every year the college brings out its annual magazine 'Agranika' which carries a variety of articles, features, poems, and illustrations on many thought-provoking issues pertaining to the contemporary mind. The college also has started a quarterly research journal ‘Indian Journal of Social Enquiry’ which provides an academic forum for the intellectual community to interact and communicate on different issues of contemporary concern.

The University has affected major revisions and restructuring for enhancing the profile of various courses. The college is in tune with the process of academic make-over in the University, arranging for the necessary infrastructure and human resource. The college has successfully touched the lives of many ambitious and industrious students.

Mission

a) To develop creative and critical thinking among the students.
b) To prepare a democratic citizen tolerant to multiple ideas and opinions.
c) To contribute to the existing knowledge pool.
d) To enable the students to assume leadership role in future.
e) To impart professionalism and a sense of humanism.

Brief History

Maharaja Agrasen College has been serving the cause of education for last one and half decades. Established in 1994 with the objective of catering to the educational requirements of the densely populated East Delhi area, it is today attracting serious and intelligent students from all over country. The college has indeed made East Delhi educationally self reliant as students today prefer to join this college rather than go all the way to distant campus colleges in search for quality education.

The college is fully funded by the Govt. of NCT of Delhi. Though the college is housed in a temporary school building, it has valuable infrastructural assets like a computer centre, fully computerized Library, well equipped laboratories, state - of - the - art conference hall etc. The college has a 10 acre plot in Vasundhara Enclave where the construction is going on war foot and very likely the college will shift to its new building before the new academic session 2010-2011 begins. The Govt. of NCT of Delhi is taking a keen interest in getting the new permanent building completed.

In the academic session 2009-2010, 1027 students were admitted to the 09 job oriented courses of this college. At present, a committed teaching faculty of 67 members is engaged in the task of providing meaningful classroom education. It is supported by an administrative staff of 34 persons industriously working in various departments of the college. The institution has been providing university toppers consistently for the last five years.

Note : The details of the teaching staff are available on our Website www.mac.du.ac.in .

Duties to be Performed to Achieve the Mission

Teaching, research, and conduct of co-curricular and extra-curricular activities.

Details of Services Rendered

The details of services rendered may be viewed on our http//mac.du.ac.in website. These are briefly enumerated below :

(a) Teaching of courses at the UG level.
(b) Conduct of in house and university examinations.
(c) Conduct of seminars, meetings, lectures, cultural events etc.
(d) Provision of sports facilities.
(e) Add-on courses.
(f) College Academic Journal ( Indian Journal of Social Enquiry) .

Citizens Interaction

This is encouraged and formally conducted during the Alumna Day and Annual Day functions. Parents and members of the civil society are also free to meet the Principal/other college authorities by prior appointment any working day. The support, suggestions and cooperation of the common citizen is always welcome.

Postal Address

The postal address of the college is :
Maharaja Agrasen College, Vasundhara Enclave, Delhi 110096.

Map of Location

A location map is available on the website : www.mac.du.ac.in

Working Hours

9.00 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. Monday to Saturday (except on public holidays.).
The Library is open from 9.00 a.m. up to 5 p.m.

Public Interaction

Same as Citizen Interaction.

Grievance Redressal

A three level system is followed viz. Departmental, Staff Council and Governing Body, as follows :

(a) Departmental. Matters pertaining to allocation of workload among the teachers and staff, pattern of assignments, in house exam question papers etc. are resolved in Departmental meetings. The decisions of the meetings are maintained by the concerned teacher-in-charge/departmental head. Grievances if any are addressed at these meetings.

(b) Staff Council. Matters pertaining to college as a whole viz. introduction/deletion of courses, short term courses, organization of cultural/extra curricular activities etc. The Staff Council comprises of the Principal and teaching faculty.

(c) Governing Body (GB). Matters pertaining to academic, administrative and financial decisions are taken by the Governing Body in consultation with the Principal who is the Member Secretary. Academic decisions relate to introduction/deletion of Courses, recommendations received from Staff Council etc. Administrative decisions may relate to creation of new posts, approval of selection committees/DPC recommendations, grant of study/extraordinary leave, promotions etc. Financial decisions relate to approval of budgets, revision of fees, management of Provident Funds, audit of accounts etc. Grievances may be referred to the GB for redressal as the final arbiter.

MANUAL 2: POWERS AND DUTIES OF OFFICERS AND STAFF

FufunctionaryPowersDuties
1. PrincipalPrincipal Academic and Executive OfficerThe Principal is the Academic and Executive Officer of the College. The Principal is responsible for the proper administration of the College, imparting of instructions and the maintenance of discipline. The Principal has the power to incur expenditure in accordance with the rules/procedure prescribed by the Governing Body/UGC, University of Delhi. The Principal is on the Selection Committee for recommending recruitment/ promotion of teaching and non-teaching staff.
2. BursarIn charge of Accounts DepartmentSupervise the maintenance of various college financial and property accounts and their audit. Responsible for assigning work and proper functioning of the staff in accounts department and their discipline. Any other duties assigned by the Principal.
3. Section Officer (Accounts)To report to the Bursar on all Accounts mattersResponsible for supervision of the day to day functioning of the Accounts Section.
4. Section Officer (Administration )In charge of Administration DepartmentDay to day running of the Admin Office. Discipline and functioning of non-teaching and class IV staff, maintenance of administrative records and any other duties assigned by the Principal.

MANUAL 3: RULES, REGULATIONS, INSTRUCTIONS, MANUALS AND RECORDS FOR DISCHARGING FUNCTIONS

Rules and Regulations

1. Delhi University Calendar.
2. Annual Bulletin of Information for Admission published by Delhi University.
3. Decisions of the Governing Body.
4. Conduct Rules of Delhi University for non-teaching staff.
5. College Prospectus.
6. Students Handbook

Records

1. Admission registers.
2. Syllabus Handbooks kept in Library.

MANUAL 4 : PUBLIC REPRESENTATION

Prominent members of the public are invited to be on the Governing Body.
Members of the public may meet the College functionaries by prior appointment during normal working hours: Monday to Friday from 3.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m.
Members of public, parents and relatives are invited to attend the College Day function.
Members of the Alumni Association may interact with Principal, teachers and students during the Nostalgia function held annually in February.

MANUAL 5 : CATEGORIES OF DOCUMENTS

Sl No.CategoryDocumentProcedure for Obtaining
1.Admissions InformationCollege ProspectusOn payment from Administrative Office
2.Admissions InformationDelhi University Bulletin of AdmissionsMay be obtained from Delhi University
3.Staff InformationCollege Telephone DirectoryWill be shortly prepared
4.Functioning of the CollegeAnnual ReportsDistributed free on Annual Day

MANUAL 6: STATEMENT OF BOARDS, COUNCIL, COMMITTEES & OTHER BODIES

Sl No.Name of Board/ Council/CommitteMembersAddressFrequency of Meeting
1.Governing BodyHead: Chairman
Member Secretary: Principal
Maharaja Agrasen CollegeNormally five/six times a year
2.Staff CouncilHead: Principal
Members: All Faculty Members
Maharaja Agrasen CollegeOnce a term and as required

MANUAL 7: NAME OF PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER

NameDr. Sangit Kumar Ragi Public Information Officer
AddressVasundhara Enclave, Delhi
Telephone+91-11-22610565, 22610552
NOTE : The Public Information Officer/ Dy. Public Information Officer will be available for consultation by the public on all working days (Monday to Friday) between 1.00 p.m. and 2.00 p.m. only, with prior appointment.

MANUAL 8 : PROCEDURE FOLLOWED IN DECISION MAKING

1. The College is bound by the Regulations issued by the University of Delhi (DU) in the form of Annual University Bulletin.
2. The University Grants Commission (UGC) also lays down Regulations to be followed by Colleges affiliated to Delhi University.
3. The Governing Body is the next higher authority for decision making for this College
4. The Staff Council is the decision making body for day to day functioning of the College.
5. Thus the procedure followed in decision making is for matters to be deliberated by the Staff Council and referred to the Governing Body for a decision, who in turn may refer them to the DU or the UGC for a final decision.

MANUAL 9: DIRECTORY OF OFFICERS & EMPLOYEES

Available on College Website

MANUAL 10 : MONTHLY REMUNERATION RECEIVED BY OFFICERS & EMPLOYEES

The pay scales of teaching and non-teaching staff and others are as prescribed by the UGC, Delhi University.

MANUAL 11 : BUDGET ALLOCATED

The budget and the financial estimates are as approved by the Governing Body.

MANUAL 12 : MANNER OF EXECUTION OF SUBSIDIARY PROGRAMMES

The college runs several add-on courses in collaboration with outside expert agencies within the stipulated rules of Delhi University. For details visit the college Website.

MANUAL 13 : CONCESSIONS, PERMITS & AUTHORISATIONS

As granted and approved by the University of Delhi.

MANUAL 14 : NORMS SET FOR DISCHARGE OF FUNCTIONS

The teaching norms are set by the University of Delhi and broadly cover the following :

1. Working Hours: 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.
2. Working Days: Monday to Saturday except holidays.
3. Duration of Periods: 55 mins.
4. Teaching Load of Faculty: 18 periods per week.

MANUAL 15 : INFORMATION AVAILABLE IN ELECTRONIC FORM

1. Faculty, Staff and Student Lists.
2. Website : www.mac.du.ac.in

MANUAL 16: FACILITIES AVAILABLE TO CITIZENS FOR OBTAINING INFORMATION

1. Unrestricted Access to Website.
2. Citizens may submit a written application for information to the Public Information Officer.
3. Citizens are free to meet the authorities with the prior appointment on all working days.

MANUAL 17: OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION

The person seeking information may apply on a plain paper giving particulars of information being sought and his correct address for communication. Separate application for seeking information on different subjects is required. The application has to be accompanied with the prescribed fee. (At present a fee of Rs. 10/-). The fee is payable with each application which is towards the cost of processing the request; Schedule of fees can be had from the Public Information Officer of the University of Delhi. For the time being the rates are as under : -

(a) Rs. 2/- per page of A-4 or A-5 size.
(b) Actual cost for sizes bigger than A-4 or A-5.
(c) In case of printed material, the printed copies could be had from the University sales counter/authorized sales agents on payment.
(d) In case of photo copies, the rate would be Rs. 2/- per page.
(e) If information is needed on a disk or floppy subject to availability of information in soft form, the fee will be Rs. 50/- per disk/floppy.

Major portion of information will be available from the University Calendars Volume I & II and other rules as applicable to the University from time to time and printed syllabi for various courses. Some of these are available on the website of the University.(Refer to : du.ac.in)