S.Ramachandran v. The Information Commissioner

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 29-08-2025

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MRS.JUSTICE N. MALA

1. S.Ramachandran S/o. Late R. Sivanesab Pillai, No.8/23, Anjugam Nagar Main Road, Kolathur, Chennai-600 090 Petitioner(s) Vs

1. The Information Commissioner Tamilnadu Information Commission, No.19, Nandanam, Chennai, 600 035 2.The First Appellate Authority, O/o Thiruvarur Taluk, Thiruvarur District, 610004 3.The Public Information Officer, O/o. Thiruvarur Taluk, Thiruvarur District, 610004 Respondent(s) PRAYER Writ petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of a writ of mandamus directing the first respondent to dispose off petitioner's second appeal dated 05.05.2025 U/s. 19(3) of RTI Act 2005 within

the time frame to be fixed by this Honble Court with consequential direction to the 2nd and 3rd Respondents to furnish the appropriate information as requested by the petitioner For Petitioner:

For Respondent:

Mr.J.Paulson Jebakumar Mr.CVigneshwaran, Standing counsel for R1 Mrs.P.Vijayadevi, GA for RR 2 & 3

ORDER

(1)Mr.C.Vigneshwaran, learned Standing counsel accepts notice on behalf of the 1st respondent and Mrs.P.Vijayadevi, learned Government Advocate accepts notice on behalf of the respondents 2 and 3. With the consent of the learned counsels on either side, the main writ petition itself is taken up for final disposal at the admission stage.

(2)The writ petition is filed for a mandamus directing the 1st respondent to dispose off the petitioner's second appeal dated 05.05.2025, preferred under section. 19 (3) of Right To Information Act, 2005, within the time frame to be fixed by this Court with a consequential direction to the 2nd and 3rd respondents to furnish the appropriate information as requested by the petitioner.

(3)The petitioner filed an application under Section 19 of the Right to Information Act, 2005, seeking certain information. As the petitioner was not satisfied with the information furnished by the 3rd respondent, he preferred a First Appeal to the First Appellate Authority, namely the 2nd respondent herein, on 07.05.2025. The First Appellate Authority, on 02.05.2025, passed an order in the First Appeal, aggrieved over which, the petitioner preferred a Second Appeal, before the 1st respondent on 05.05.2025. As no orders were passed in the Second Appeal, the petitioner filed the above writ petition for the aforesaid relief.

(4)The learned Standing counsel appearing for the 1st respondent submitted that the petitioner's Second Appeal was numbered as SA.No.10399/B/2025 and reasonable time may be granted for disposing the same. (5)Heard the learned counsels on either side and perused the materials placed on record.

(6)In view of the facts and circumstances of the case and in view of the fact that the Second Appeal is pending for some time, a direction is issued to the 1st respondent to dispose of the petitioner's Second Appeal on merits and in

accordance with law, within a period of twelve weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

(7)The writ petition is disposed of with the above direction. No costs. 29-08-2025 AP Index:Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Internet:Yes

To 1.The Information Commissioner Tamilnadu Information Commission, No.19, Nandanam, Chennai, 600 035 2.The First Appellate Authority, O/o Thiruvarur Taluk, Thiruvarur District, 610004 3.The Public Information Officer, O/o. Thiruvarur Taluk, Thiruvarur District, 610004

N.MALA J.

AP 29-08-2025