D.Govintharajan v. The Registrar

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED : 10.04.2018

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE T.RAJA W.P.No.21360 of 2017 D.Govintharajan ..

Petitioner -vs1.The Registrar, Anna University, Sardar Patel Road, Guindy, Chennai-25.

2. The Public Information Officer, Anna University, Sardar Patel Road, Guindy, Chennai-25.

.. Respondents Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying for the issuance of a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents to furnish the information and copies of the documents sought for by the petitioner vide his Communication dated 25.07.2017 sent to the respondents under RTI Act. For Petitioner :: Mr.A.Lawrence For Respondents:: Mr.M.Vijayakumar, Standing Counsel

ORDER

The Writ Petition has been filed seeking to issue a Writ of Mandamus, after getting the first Writ Petition filed under PIL dismissed on 21.07.2017 by the First Bench of this Court, directing the respondents to furnish the information and copies of the documents sought for by the petitioner vide his Communication dated 25.07.2017 sent to the respondents under RTI Act.

2. Learned Counsel for the petitioner submitted that an application dated 25.7.2017 has been made to the 2nd respondent, namely, the Public Information Officer, Annua University, Chennai-25, by the petitioner asking for various informations, namely, the details of the notice of deficiencies given to all the affiliated colleges for the academic year 2016-2017 by Anna

University etc. But there is no response for the same. Hence the present Writ Petition.

3. Heard Mr.M.Vijayakumar, learned Standing Counsel for the respondents.

4. On the face of the records, this Court is, indeed, unable to find as to how the petitioner can ask for the details of the notice of deficiencies given to all the affiliated colleges for the academic year 2016-2017 by Anna University etc. First of all, the petitioner should make out a case that when deficiencies were found against a particular college affiliated to the Anna University, how the deficiencies have been rectified.

Without making a request to furnish the clear information, making a vague request like one made in 4(i), 4(ii) and 4(iii), namely, to furnish the details of the notice of deficiencies given to all the affiliated colleges for the academic year 2016-2017 by Anna University, the details of the compliances as such provided by such colleges for the academic year 2016-2017 to Anna University and the copies of the Inspection Report of Anna University with respect to all the colleges inspected by Anna University for the academic year 2017-18, clearly show that the petitioner has not moved any application for the purpose of getting any relevant and useful information. He wants to get all the aforementioned information only for some oblique purpose.

5.

While dealing with the same issue, the Hon'ble First Bench in its order dated 21.07.2017 passed in W.P.No.18248/2017 has held as follows :

''5. In the notice purported to be issued by the petitioner, no specific information appears to have been sought. There can be no question of any relief in a totally vague writ petition devoid of any particulars.

6.

It is not for the writ court to go into a fishing and roving enquiry into the affairs of educational institutions in the absence of any specific allegations.

If the petitioner needs information, his remedy lies under the Right to Information Act, 2005.

7.

The writ petition cannot be entertained and the same is dismissed. However, in the event the petitioner is able to give any specific instance of deficiency, he may make a representation to respondents 1 to 3, who shall consider the same in accordance with law. No costs. Consequently, W.M.P.No.19830 of 2017 is closed.''

Therefore, as rightly held by the Hon'ble First Bench of this Court, this Court finds no merit in the present Writ Petition. 6.

In the result, the Writ Petition fails and the same is accordingly dismissed. No costs.

Sd/- Asst.Registrar (CS V ) /true copy/ Sub Asst. Registrar tsi To 1.The Registrar, Anna University, Sardar Patel Road, Guindy, Chennai-25.

2. The Public Information Officer, Anna University, Sardar Patel Road, Guindy, Chennai-25.

+ 1 cc to Mr.A.Lawrence Advocate,SR.26486 + 1 cc to Mr.M.Vijayakumar, Advocate,SR.26868 W.P.No.21360 of 2017 skv(co) nr 03/05/2018