T.R.GOPI Vs. STATE INFORMATION COMMISSION KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner has been granted dealership of a gas agency by the Indian Oil Corporation and the petitioner is running the said agency in the name and style as T R Gas Agency at Mattannur in Kannur District.

(2.) The fourth respondent submitted Ext.P3 application under Right to Information Act, 2005(RTI Act) before the District Supply Officer, Kannur (DSO), the Public Information Officer seeking information regarding the distribution of LPG cylinders from the Gas agency of the petitioner. It appears that the said application was made over by the DSO to the Taluk Supply Officer (TSO), the 2nd respondent and the TSO by Ext.P2 letter transferred the application to the petitioner for furnishing the information sought for in Ext.P3. Meanwhile, the 3rd respondent submitted Ext.P5 application under the RTI Act before the TSO, seeking information regarding refilled cooking gas cylinders distributed from the Gas agency of the petitioner. The TSO by Ext.P4 letter transferred the application to the petitioner for furnishing the information sought for in Ext.P5. The petitioner submitted Ext.P6 letter to the second respondent stating that he is not liable to furnish the information sought for in Exts.P3 and P5.

(3.) Exts.P3 and P5 relate to the year 2011. While so, the petitioner received Ext.P7 communication from the TSO enclosing a copy of Ext.P8 order issued by the State Information Commissioner, Kerala (SIC) and directing the petitioner to furnish the information sought for in Ext.P5 within seven days. The petitioner is challenging Ext.P8 order issued by the SIC as one passed in violation of principles of natural justice and breach of provisions of the RTI Act.