M VELAYUTHAM Vs. REGISTRAR TAMIL NADU INFORMATION COMMISSION

JUDGEMENT

(1.) BOTH the writ petitions are filed against the order passed by the State Information Commission, dated 17.3.2008. By the impugned order, the Information Commission held that the first writ petitioner, who was the Secretary of Rasipuram Teachers and Government Servants Co-operative Housing Society, Rasipuram, was to be placed under suspension and he should be relieved of his duties. Further, disciplinary action should be initiated against the other petitioner, who was working as Deputy Registrar of Cooperative Societies (Housing), Salem for disobedience of the order of the Commission. BOTH petitioners were also directed to be levied with a maximum penalty of Rs.25,000/- for their conduct.

(2.) PURSUANT to this order, the Deputy Registrar, Salem informed the two petitioners that the amount has to be recovered from their salary. In both the writ petitions, notice of motion was ordered on 22.9.2008. Pending notice of motion, an interim stay was granted. Subsequently, the matter came to be listed for final disposal.

(3.) IN the second writ petition, the stand taken by the petitioner was that the penalty has been imposed without due notice to him and that he was not directly connected with the issue on hand. There was non compliance under Section 18(3) read with Section 20 of the Act.