MAIBAM SURANJOY SINGH Vs. CHIEF INFORMATION COMMISSIONER

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This writ petition has been filed by the petitioner to quash the impugned order dtd. 5/5/2017 passed by the first respondent in Appeal No.52 of 2017 imposing penalty of Rs.22,250.00 against the petitioner in contravention of Sec. 20 of the R.T.I. Act, 2005.

(2.) Heard Mr.Th. Ibohal, learned senior counsel for the petitioner; Mr.M.Devananda, learned counsel for the first respondent; Mr.P.Tomcha, learned counsel for the second respondent and Mr.Lenin Hijam, learned Addl. Advocate General for the third respondent.

(3.) The case of the petitioner is that he was working as Sub Deputy Collector, Sagolmang under the Deputy Commissioner, Imphal East District, Porompat since 12/9/2016 and soon after joining the said post, he was fully engaged to Manipur State Legislative Assembly Election, 2017 as he worked as Assistant Returning Officer of Khundrakpam Assembly Constituency and he could not take up the other matters of the office, including the revenue matters except urgent routine mattes. While so, on 17/4/2017, for first time, the Branch Office of the Deputy Commissioner, informed that one appeal case is pending in the office of the Information Commissioner, wherein the petitioner is a party and summons issued by the Deputy Registrar (Judicial-II), Manipur Information Commission to the Commissioner (Revenue); the State Public Information Officer (SPIO) and the Sub Divisional Commissioner, Sagolmang were handed over to the petitioner.