S. M. A. PON GANDHIMATHI NATHAN Vs. STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The Writ Petition has been filed in the nature of Mandamus, to direct the first respondent/ State Information Commissioner, Tamil Nadu Information, Government of Chennai to take appropriate action against the third respondent/Public Information Officer / Personal Assistant to SubCollector, District Collectorate Campus, Thoothukudi District, who had been shown as a respondent in her personal name, under Sec. 20 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 (hereinafter referred to as 'the Act'), by considering the representation, dtd. 2/7/2021.

(2.) The petitioner, had originally sought information under Sec. 6 of the Act from the District Collector, Thoothukudi to furnish the information about the disciplinary proceedings. An order had been passed under Rule 17(b) of Tamil Nadu Civil Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules by the District Collector in letter No.Na.Ka.D2.2236.2014, dtd. 3/12/2014 against one Justin Chelladurai, who was working as Tahsildhar, Thoothukudi. The third respondent/ Personal Assistant to Sub-Collector, District Collectorate Campus, Thoothukudi District had denied to furnish the information by letter, dtd. 15/10/2020, stating that the information sought by the petitioner was personal information.

(3.) Then the petitioner had filed a first appeal before the second respondent/District Collector, Thoothukudi District on 29/10/2010. The second respondent had again refused to furnish the details.