LAXMAN Vs. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Rule. Rule made returnable forthwith. Heard learned Counsel for petitioner and learned AGP appearing for the respondents. The grievance of the petitioner, in nutshell, can be crystallized as under, - On 31/3/2015 The petitioner preferred an application to the Government Information Officer, Joint Sub Registrar, Ahmedangar-3 (PIO), whereby he sought information pertaining to registration of all sale-deeds within the jurisdiction of the authority pertaining to vacant land, agricultural land, constructed houses, for the period commencing from, 2006 to 31/3/2015. The details as to why that information was sought need not be given since it is not necessary to know for what purpose the information is sought.

(2.) The PIO (Respondent No.4) communicated to the petitioner, vide his communication dtd. 10/4/2015, with reference to his application, that the compilation from 2006 to 2015 is contained in 52 proceedings Book and each Register comprises of 100 pages, which would mean that the information is compiled in 5200 pages and by paying fees of Rs.2.00 per page, he was directed to deposit an amount of Rs.10400.00. He was also informed that he can have inspection of the said documents as per his convenience and inform the date and time of inspection of the record so that record can be made available for inspection. Liberty is also granted to him to approach the appellate authority in case he was not satisfied with the information.

(3.) It is this communication, which is the bone of contention between the parties. As per the petitioner, this communication dtd. 10/4/2015 was received by him on 19/5/2015 and since it was received beyond the time prescribed, he is entitled to avail benefit of sub-sec. (6) of Sec. 7 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 (hereinafter referred to as the said Act). Counsel for the petitioner has also placed on record Outward Register from the office of Respondent No.4, which clearly manifest that the communication dtd. 10/4/2015 is shown to have been dispatched in the Dispatch Register on dtd. 23/4/2015 by ordinary post.