How central funds for Scheduled Caste students spent by flying clubs: CIC asks DGCA

NEW DELHI: Expressing concern over operations of flying clubs in the country, the CIC has ordered Director General of Civil Aviation to furnish records of funds received by Bombay Flying Club for Scheduled Caste students and their disbursement among other details.
The Bombay Flying Club had refused to part with the information about scholarship funds received from the Centre for SC students saying this does not come under the RTI Act.

It said that the club is governed by the rules and regulations under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 and it was complying with the relevant provisions of the Societies Act.

The case relates to information sought by a man named Jai Bhagwan Jatav about total funds received by the club from Centre for SC students who got admission there and who were found eligible to get financial support as scholarship for covering various expenses.

Jatav had also sought to know how many SC students were given financial support/scholarship, details of SC students who were on roll in commercial pilot licence training final class and have passed out and left, whether they were charged full fee or whether they were not given any benefit of this scholarship among other queries.

Information Commissioner Bimal Julka said after detailed study of the activities undertaken by such flying clubs and the regulations governing them, it is seen that all these clubs perform certain critical functions in the larger public interest.

"On perusal of the Civil Aviation Requirements, Section 7 Series 'D' Part I have laid down the procedure and the minimum requirements relating to infrastructure, manpower and procedure for grant of approval for undertaking flying training activities," he said.