U.K. JOSHI Vs. CHIEF INFORMATION COMMISSIONER

JUDGEMENT

(1.) UNDISPUTEDLY , applications were moved by respondent No. 2, herein, before the District Magistrate/Collector, Udham Singh Nagar on 18.12.2007 seeking two informations. Since, information sought were pertaining to the office of District Industries Centre, Rudrapur, therefore, applications were forwarded by the District Magistrate/Collector to the petitioner under Section 6(3) of the Act; Having received the applications from the office of the District Magistrate, petitioner issued one letter to respondent No. 2 on 24.12.2007 requesting respondent No. 2 to come to the office of the petitioner to collect the information sought; However, admittedly, informations sought were supplied to respondent No. 2 on 28.01.2008; learned Chief Information Commissioner, in the impugned order dated 6.8.2008, has held that informations ought to have been supplied prior to 22.1.2008, however, were supplied on 28.01.2008 with the delay of six days, therefore, fine of Rs. 5,000/ - should be imposed against the petitioner, and imposed the fine of Rs. 5000/ - and recommended for disciplinary proceeding against the petitioner. Feeling aggrieved, the petitioner has preferred the present writ petition.

(2.) SECTION 20 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 reads as under: -

(3.) IN Section 20, the words used are -"without any reasonable cause". It demonstrates that if for reasonable cause information could not be furnished within thirty days, then, there is no question of imposition of any fine.