KUMBI COLLEGE Vs. MANIPUR INFORMATION COMMISSION

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard Mr. Sh. Athoi, learned counsel for the petitioners.

(2.) The petitioners who are the principal of 3(three) colleges namely, (i) the Kumbi College, Kumbi, (ii) the Mangolnganbi College, Ningthoukhong and (iii) the Pravabati College, Mayang Imphal and they are aggrieved by the impugned orders all dtd. 9/12/2025 passed by Manipur Information Commission in appeal cases no. 21, 22 and 24 of 2025 imposing penalty of Rs.25,000.00 each and with a direction to deposit the same for failure to furnish information with respect to query nos. 2, 3, 4 and 6 in RTI application filed by respondent no. 4 herein. In pursuance to the order of the State Information Commission, the Joint Secretary, Higher and Technical Education, Govt. of Manipur issued a letter dtd. 29/12/2025 to the Director, University and Higher Education, Govt. of Manipur for initiating disciplinary proceeding against the principal of 3(three) colleges.

(3.) The learned counsel for the petitioners submits that some of the information sought by the applicant are personal information of the students and employees of college and the same cannot be revealed without getting permission from the affected persons and the impugned order dtd. 29/12/2025 for initiating disciplinary proceeding against the principal is not contemplated in the RTI Act as well as service rules. It is submitted that the impugned order dtd. 9/12/2025 passed by the Manipur State Information as well as letter dtd. 29/12/2025 for initiating disciplinary proceeding be set aside and during the pendency of the present petition the same may be stayed.