Vidya Vikas Vidyalay, Pune And ORS v. State Of Maharashtra Through Gp And ORS

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION WRIT PETITION NO.6488 OF 2021 Vidya Vikas Vidyalay, Pune and Ors.

.. Petitioners Vs.

State of Maharashtra and Ors.

.. Respondents Ms. Madhavi Tavanandi, i/by Mr. Harshad Garud, for the Petitioners. Mr. N.C. Walimbe, Addl. G.P., with Mr. S.P. Shetye, Asst. G.P., for Respondent No.1-State of Maharashtra.

Mr. Mohamedali M. Chunawala, with Mr. Rui Rodrigues, for Respondent No.5-UOI.

CORAM : A.S. CHANDURKAR & JITENDRA JAIN, JJ DATE : 12TH APRIL, 2024.

P.C. :

1.

The petitioners have approached this Court with the following prayer :- "B. This Hon'ble Court be pleased to issue any appropriate writ, order or direction in the like nature of Article 226 of the Constitution of India against the respondent nos.3 and 4 from filing vague, general and unwarranted applications under RTI Act which doesn' t contain any public interest and respondent nos.1 and 2 are also be restrained from entertaining any frivolous appeals filed by respondent nos.3 and 4 unless it is involved public interest or any useful information related to the legal dispute of respondent no.3 with petitioners."

1/2 14-WP-6488-2021-Corrected Order Pursuant to Speaking to Minutes Order dt. 15-04-2024.doc Dixit

2.

According to the learned counsel for the petitioners, respondent nos.3 and 4 are not directly concerned with the affairs of the petitioners and only with a view to harass the petitioners, applications are being filed under the provisions of the Right to Information Act, 2005 seeking information with which said respondents are not concerned. 3.

We find that under the Right to Information Act, 2005, there are sufficient safeguards in Chapter II on the basis of which the petitioners can exercise their rights while considering any request for furnishing such information. A blanket order as prayed for by the petitioners cannot be granted. Any application seeking information would have to be considered in accordance with the provisions of the said Act. 4.

Accordingly, by observing that the petitioners are free to take recourse to the provisions of the said Act while dealing with applications made by respondent nos.3 and 4, the writ petition is disposed of. No costs. [ JITENDRA JAIN, J. ] [ A.S. CHANDURKAR, J. ] 2/2 Digitally signed by SNEHA ABHAY DIXIT Date:

2024.04.17 11:08:52 +0530 14-WP-6488-2021-Corrected Order Pursuant to Speaking to Minutes Order dt. 15-04-2024.doc Dixit SNEHA ABHAY DIXIT