Srinivasan.V v. The Public Information Officer

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 25.07.2023

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE B.PUGALENDHI V.Srinivasan ... Petitioner Vs 1.The Public Information Officer, The Chairman, TANGEDCO, No.144, Anna Salai, Chennai - 600 002.

2.The First Appellate Authority, The Chairman, TANGEDCO, No.144, Anna Salai, Chennai - 600 002.

3.The Second Appellate Authority, 1/6

4.The Assistant Registrar,

...Respondents

PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents herein to furnish the informations and documents sought for in the statutory representation dated 16.05.2022 within a reasonable time as may be fixed by this Court and consequently direct payment of penalty on the respondents and initiation of disciplinary proceedings for continuous violation of statutory duty attracting penal provisions.

For Petitioner :Mr.K.Appadurai For R1 & R2 :Mr.S.Deenadayalan Standing Counsel For R3 & R4 :Mr.Raguvaran Gopalan Standing Counsel

O R D E R

The petitioner, a practising Advocate has filed an application and sought for certain information from the second respondent under Right To Information Act, 2005 and has filed an 2/6

appeal before the Tamil Nadu Information Commission. The Information Commission by order dated 13.12.2022 has directed the respondents to furnish the necessary information as claimed by the petitioner. The petitioner with a grievance that even after the orders of the Information Commission, the first respondent has not provided the information and hence he has filed this writ petition for a Mandamus directing the respondents to furnish the information sought for in his representation, dated 16.05.2022. 2.Mr.Raguvaran Gopalan, learned Standing Counsel, who takes notice for the respondents 3 & 4 by referring the communication of the Information Commission, dated 13.02.2022 submits that the Commission has already passed an order directing the first respondent to furnish the details. If the information was not furnished within the stipulated time, the petitioner is having an appeal remedy. However, he has to file necessary application before the fourth respondent herein, referring his contact number and other particulars as required.

3/6

3.In view of the submission of the learned Standing Counsel for the respondents 3 & 4, this writ petition is disposed of with a liberty to the petitioner to approach the Assistant Registrar, Tamil Nadu State Information Commission/the fourth respondent herein and submit a fresh representation along with a copy of this order within a period of two weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. If any such representation is made, the same shall be considered by the fourth respondent as expeditiously as possible. No costs.

25.07.2023 NCC : Yes / No.

Index : Yes / No.

Internet:Yes vrn 4/6

To 1.The Public Information Officer, The Chairman, TANGEDCO, No.144, Anna Salai, Chennai - 600 002.

2.The First Appellate Authority, The Chairman, TANGEDCO, No.144, Anna Salai, Chennai - 600 002.

3.The Second Appellate Authority, 4.The Assistant Registrar, 5/6

B.PUGALENDHI, J.

vrn Order made in 25.07.2023 6/6