INFORMATION COMMISSION Post Box No.6405 Kamadhenu Super Market First Floor, Old No.273, New No.378, Anna Salai, Teynampet, Chennai – 600 018. Tel : 24357580

Case No.19637/Enquiry / 2009

Date of Enquiry : 18/11/2009

Present Thiru.S.RAMAKRISHNAN, I.A.S.,(Retd) STATE CHIEF INFORMATION COMMISSIONER

Thiru.G.RAMAKRISHNAN, I.A.S.,(Retd) STATE INFORMATION COMMISSIONER

Petitioner Thiru V.Velaiya, Advocate 116, Salaipudur, Mavadi (via) Taluk - 627 107.

Public Authority (1) The Public Information Officer Village Administrative Officer Salaipudur, Nanguneri Taluk .

(2) The Public Information Officer O/o the Tahsildar, Taluk Office Nanguneri Taluk Tirunelveli District. * * * * * 1. The petitioner had asked for information about the supply of colour televisions, the criteria for eligibility for the same, the number of persons to whom it has been given, how many are eligible, how many are still to be given the T.V.s, who all, whether T.V. has been given to two particular persons and the reasons for the same and the criteria for distribution of the televisions, from the Village Administrative Officer and the Public Information Officer on 07.08.2008 and produced the acknowledgement for the same. On 12.09.2008, he appealed to the Tahsildar that he has not received the information and which has been acknowledged by the Headquarters Deputy Tahsildar on 13.09.2008 and the acknowledgement was produced before the Commission. Finding that he has not get the information, he appealed to the Commission on 05.11.2008 and the Commission sent the same in case No.35892/P/08 to the Tahsildar, Nanguneri on 24.06.2009 asking him to treat it as the first appeal and dispose it off. Finding that he is not getting anywhere, the petitioner approached, according to him, the Taluk Office in person and he was told that they are busy and the idle people are only to be found in the Information Commission and he may get the information from there and the Information Commission has no authority to give any orders or directions and even if they do, it will not affect them. On this, he complained to the Commission again on 06.08.2009 received in the Commission on 10.08.2009 resulting in today's enquiry.

2. At the enquiry, he averred the above facts. The petitioner was willing to give a sworn affidavit on his averment, and he was directed to do so.

3. The Public Authority denied having made any such comments but have absolutely no explanation to offer why they have not acted either on the original R.T.I. petition or on the appeals or on the directions sent by this Commission. Since none of them have been acted upon, it is clear that the Public Authority is at fault as per the Right To Information Act.

4. The District Collector, Tirunelveli, is therefore directed to (a) obtain the personal explanation of the Public Authority as to why the penalty as per the Act should not be levied upon him as per Section 20 (1) & (2) of the R.T.I. Act and file it before the Commission within four weeks of this order. (b) ensure that the Public Authority supplies the information in full on all the points asked for within two weeks of this order free of cost under Section 7 (6) of the Act, obtain the acknowledgement of the petitioner and file it before the Commission

( c ) the petitioner will be paid a compensation of Rs.1,000/- under Section 19 (8) of the Act for being forced to attend a needless enquiry by the non-supply of information and it should be recovered as an avoidable loss caused to Government from the Public Information Officer and remitted to the Government Treasury after payment of compensation is made to the petitioner.

TAMIL NADU INFORMATION COMMISSION Orders approved on this the 23rd day of November. 2009

Under the orders of the Commission [S,Mohanadhas] Assistant Registrar

Case No. 19637/2009 Thiru V.Velaiya, Advocate 116, Salaipudur, Mavadi (via) Nanguneri Taluk Tirunelveli - 627 107.

Case No. 19637/2009 The District Collector Tirunelveli.

Case No. 19637/2009 (1) The Public Information Officer Village Administrative Officer Salaipudur, Nanguneri Taluk Tirunelveli District.

(2) The Public Information Officer O/o the Tahsildar, Taluk Office Nanguneri Taluk Tirunelveli District.