Padmanapan v. The Chief Information Commissioner

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED : 27.10.2022 CORAM :

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE R.SURESH KUMAR Writ Petition No.28412 of 2022 Padmanapan ....

Petitioner -VsThe Chief Information Commissioner Tamil Nadu Information Commission No.19, Government Farm Village Pernpet, Nandanam, Chennai-600 035.

....

Respondents Prayer : Writ Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for the issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondent to dispose of the petitioner's representation dated 24.11.2021 for imposing fine on public information officers.

For Petitioner : Mr.M.Ravi For Respondents : Mr.C.Vigneswaran, Standing Counsel

O R D E R

The prayer sought for herein is for a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondent to dispose of the petitioner's representation dated 24.11.2021 for imposing fine on public information officers. 1 / 4

2. The petitioner had filed about 25 Second Appeals before the respondent Commission ie., Tamil Nadu Information Commission and with regard to the status of those Second Appeals, the petitioner wanted to know whether the same have been disposed of or still pending and how long it will take to dispose of those second appeals. Hence, he has given a representation dated 24.11.2021. In order to dispose of the said representation, the petitioner has moved the present writ petition seeking a writ of mandamus as prayed for herein above.

3. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Standing Counsel appearing for the respondents.

4. Learned Standing Counsel for the respondents would submit that the petitioner admittedly had filed 25 second appeals and in one stroke the petitioner cannot expect all the second appeals to be disposed of on merits, as number of such second appeals are pending before the respondents, which will take reasonable time to dispose of the same in chronological order. Hence, the prayer sought for in this writ petition cannot be granted, he contended.

5. However, this Court feels that the petitioner in his representation dated 24.11.2021 has only sought for as to the status of those second appeals and as 2 / 4

to how much time normally it will take to dispose of those second appeals. A mere reply to the same if given by the respondent, that would be suffice to meet the ends of justice. Therefore, this Court is inclined to dispose of this writ petition with a direction to the respondent to consider the representation of the petitioner dated 24.11.2021 and to give a reply to the same within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

6. With the above directions, this writ petition is disposed of. No costs. 27.10.2022 Index : Yes/No Internet : Yes/No KST To The Chief Information Commissioner Tamil Nadu Information Commission No.19, Government Farm Village Pernpet, Nandanam, Chennai-600 035.

3 / 4

R. SURESH KUMAR, J.

KST 27.10.2022 4 / 4