M.Selvakumar v. Union Of India
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 08.07.2025
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE S.M.SUBRAMANIAM AND THE HONOURABLE DR.JUSTICE A.D.MARIA CLETE and W.M.P.(MD)No.5377 of 2021 M.Selvakumar ... Petitioner Vs.
1.Union of India, Rep., by its Home Secretary, New Delhi-110001.
2.Union of India, Rep., by its Principal Secretary, Ministry & Department of Parliament Paffairs, Parliament House, Sansad Marg, New Delhi-110001.
3.Union of India, Rep., by its Principal Secretary, Ministry & Department of Law and Justice, Sastri Bhavan, New Delhi-110001.
4.The Central Chief Information Commissioner, Central Information Commission, Block-IV, 1/5
5th Floor, Old JNU Campus, New Delhi-110067.
5.State of Tamil Nadu, Rep., by its Chief Secretary, St.George Fort, Chennai-600 009.
6.State of Tamil Nadu, Rep., by its Principal Secretary, Legislative Assembly, George Fort, Chennai-600 009.
7.State of Tamil Nadu, Rep., by its Principal Secretary, Law Department, St.George Fort, Chennai-600 009.
8.The Chief Information Commissioner, Hon'ble Tamil Nadu State Information Commission, Anna Salai, Teynampet, Chennai-600018.
...Respondents
PRAYER: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Mandamus, I.directing the respondents 4 and 8 to dispose of all Second Appeals speedily filed under the Right to Information Act before the Central Information Commission, New Delhi and State Information Commission at Chennai, as expeditiously as possible within the stipulated time frame and further, directing the respondents 1 to 3 and respondents 5 to 7 to fix time limit for earlier disposals of appeals should be fixed.
II.consequently may make an order of direction to respondents 1,2 and 5 and to all other competent authorities to increase the Strength of Commissioners of Central Information Commission at Delhi and State Information Commission at 2/5
Chennai, with a further direction to constitute a branch of Learned State Information Commission at Madurai for the conveniences of public. For Petitioner : Mr.M.Selva Kumar (Party-in-Person) For R1 to R4 : Mr.C.Nandagopal, Central Government Senior Panel Counsel For R5 to R7 : Mr.P.Thilak Kumar, Government Pleader For R8 : Mr.K.K.Senthil
ORDER
(Order of the Court was made by S.M.SUBRAMANIAM, J.) The relief as such sought for to direct the Central Information Commission, New Delhi and State Information Commission, Chennai to dispose of the appeals by fixing time limit, cannot be granted. The Commissions are created statutorily and the work load on board is to be regulated by the Commission itself. High Court in exercise of powers of judicial review cannot direct the Commission to dispose of the appeals by fixing time limit, which is impractical and more so, would result in futile exercise. The cases, which are all to be decided on priority basis or seniority wise, are to be regulated by the 3/5
Commission and if any specific grievance exists, the petitioner is at liberty to approach the Commission for speedy disposal of the case. 2.With the above observation, this Writ Petition stands disposed of. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed. (S.M.S., J.) & (A.D.M.C., J.) 08.07.2025 NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No Yuva To 1.The Chief Secretary, State of Tamil Nadu, St.George Fort, Chennai-600 009.
2.The Principal Secretary, State of Tamil Nadu, Legislative Assembly, George Fort, Chennai-600 009.
3.The Principal Secretary, State of Tamil Nadu, Law Department, St.George Fort, Chennai-600 009.
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S.M.SUBRAMANIAM, J.
AND DR.A.D.MARIA CLETE, J.
Yuva 08.07.2025 5/5