Prof. I.Elangovan, v. The Public Information Officer

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

Dated: 02.01.2023

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE DR. JUSTICE ANITA SUMANTH Prof.I.Elangovan ... Petitioner Vs 1.The Public Information Officer and Principal, Voorhees College, Vellore 632 006.

2.J.Balaji ... Respondents Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying to issue a writ of Mandamus, forbearing the 1st respondent from furnishing any information relating to the petitioner falling under the exemption provisions of Section 8(1)(j) of the Right to Information Act 2005 that may be sought for by the 2nd respondent, without affording an opportunity to the petitioner under Section 11 of the Right to Information Act 2005. For Petitioner : Mr.A.Arun for Mr.S.Sathia Chandran For Respondents : No appearance - R1 Ms.M.Hemalatha for Mr. S.Gunaseelan - R2

O R D E R

Mr.A.Arun, learned counsel appearing on behalf of Mr.S.Sathia Chandran, learned counsel for the petitioner states that nothing survives in this writ petition as on date. The petitioner has sought a mandamus forbearing the 1st respondent being the Public Information Officer and the Principal of Voorhees College, Vellore, from furnishing any information relating to him under the provisions of the Right to Information Act, 2005 that may be sought for by the 2nd respondent, who is represented by Ms.M.Hemalatha, learned counsel representing on behalf of Mr.S.Gunaseelan.

2.This very petitioner has filed W.P.No.15529 of 2016 arraying R2 as R4 in that writ petition. In that writ petition, family members of R2 has also been arrayed as respondents. The prayer therein is for a mandamus forbearing the official respondents that is the Public Information Officer and officials of the Department of Collegiate Education from providing information to the private respondents.

3.That writ petition has come to be closed on 05.07.2022 recording the undertaking of the learned counsel who appeared for the private respondents, Mr.T.Sundararajan, to the effect that the private respondents are no longer

interested in obtaining the information since the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu has already taken action against the petitioner on the basis of a complaint filed by another party.

4.It would thus suffice that the present writ petition also be closed recording the narration as captured in W.P.No.15529 of 2016 by order dated 05.07.2022. Para 3 of that order is extracted herein for completion. "3.However, Mr.T.Sundararajan appearing for Mr.S.Gunaseelan, learned counsel for the respondents 4 to 7 would submit that the private respondents 4 to 7 , who had sought for information are no longer interested in obtaining the information, since the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu had already taken action against the petitioner on the basis of some other complaint."

5.Recording this, this writ petition is closed. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed.

kbs 02.01.2023 Index : Yes / No Speaking Order/Non-Speaking Order To 1.The Public Information Officer and Principal, Voorhees College, Vellore 632 006.

Dr.ANITA SUMANTH, J.

kbs 02.01.2023