← Library
High Court of Punjab and HaryanaCWP/10752/2020dismissed

Ashok Kumar Watts v. Punjab State Information Commission And Others

2020-10-06Mr. Justice Harnaresh Singh Gill3 pages

-1In the High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh Civil Writ Petition No. 10752 of 2020 Date of Decision: 06.10.2020 Ashok Kumar Watts ......Petitioner

Versus

The Punjab State Information Commission and others ......Respondents CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE HARNARESH SINGH GILL

Present:

Mr. Peeush Gagneja, Advocate for the petitioner.

**** HARNARESH SINGH GILL , J. (ORAL) Case is taken up for hearing through video conferencing. This petition has been filed under Article 226/227 of the Constitution of India for issuance of a writ in the nature of certiorari for quashing of the order dated 01.6.2020 (Annexure P-20) passed by State Information Commission.

Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner was retired as Fire Officer from Municipal Corporation, Abohar in 2013. He moved an application dated 27.7.2015 under the Right to Information Act, 2005 seeking information with regard to the terms and conditions of auction of plots, conducted on 18.6.2010 and 20.8.2010 and when no information was supplied, he preferred an appeal but when no action was taken on the said appeal, the petitioner approached Punjab State Information Commission whereby the said appeal was disposed of vide order dated

-230.6.2016 with the direction to the Director, Local Government, Punjab to conduct an enquiry. He further submits that despite issuance of directions, no action was taken by respondent No. 3-Director, Department of Local Bodies. Learned counsel for the petitioner further submits that vide letter dated 08.4.2019, the petitioner had brought to the notice of Chief Information Commission, Punjab that the order passed by the Commission has not been complied with. He further submits that vide letter dated 30.8.2019, the PIO-cum-Executive Officer, Municipal Corporation, Abohar informed the petitioner that the record pertaining to the auctions dated 18.6.2010 and 20.8.2010 is not available and is missing. Learned counsel further submits that vide letter dated 9.9.

2019, the Deputy Director, Local Government, Ferozepur requested the Director, Local Government to take action against the officials responsible for missing of record. He further submits that vide letter dated 12.9.2019, the Director Local Government was directed to comply with the directions issued by the Commission. Learned counsel also submits that vide letter dated 7.10.2019, the petitioner requested respondent No. 1-Information Commissioner that the direction dated 12.9.2019 have not been complied with. Thereafter on 01.6.2020, the Punjab Information Officer, Punjab State Information Commission passed the following order:- "Compliance report of the order was sought from the concerned department but no reply has been received from them. The case already stands disposed off on 30.6.2016."

The petitioner was retired as Fire Officer from the Municipal Corporation, Abohar in 2013. The information sought pertains to the auction of plots, conducted on 18.6.2010 and 20.8.2010. The Punjab State Information Commission had passed the final order on 30.6.2016.

-3No ground for interference is made out.

The petition is dismissed.

(HARNARESH SINGH GILL) JUDGE October 06, 2020 Gurpreet Whether speaking/reasoned :

Yes/No Whether reportable :

Yes/No