INFORMATION COMMISSION No.2 Theagaraya Road, , 600 018. Tel: 24347590

Date of Enquiry :24.02.2017

Present :

Thiru K. RAMANUJAM, I.P.S .,(Retd.) State Chief Information Commissioner.

Case No.SA-11325/SCIC/2016

Thiru J. Eden Alexander ….. APPELLANT vs

The Public Information Officer, …. PUBLIC AUTHORITY Sub Registrar Office, Purasawalkkam, Chennai. 600 007

The Public Information Officer, Sub Registrar Office, Periamet, Chennai 600 003.

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ORDER The Petitioner / Appellant Thiru J. Eden Alexander has not appeared today (24.02.2017) and has instead sent a letter intimating his inability to attend the enquiry. The Public Authority is represented by Thiru R. Vivekanandan, Public Information Officer/ Sub Registrar, Purasawalkkam, Chennai and Thiru S. Karthikeyan, Public Information Officer/ Sub Registrar Office, Periamet, Chennai.

2. The Request under RTI: The petitioner has sought a copy of his marriage certificate which was registered at the office of the Registrar of Marriages, Purasawakkam on 17.04.1967.

3. PIO’s reply: and Purasaiwakkam villages come within the jurisdiction of Sub Registrar, Purasaiwakkam. This office started functioning only on 01.06.1969. Before that, these villages were under the jurisdiction of Periamet Sub Registrar. The records pertaining to the period 1967 would be available in Periamet Sub Registrar office. 4. Background of the Petition: Stating that his marriage was registered in the office of the Sub Registrar Purasaiwakkam on 17.04.1967, the petitioner had applied on 20.04.2015 to the Sub Registrar Purasaiwakkam to give a copy of the marriage certificate. A reply was sent on 18.01.2016 that there was no information available in the O/o. the Sub Registrar, Purasaiwakkam. Subsequently, on getting to know that Purasaiwakkam was originally under the jurisdiction of Sub Registrar, Periamet, he applied to the Sub Registrar, Periamet, who sent a reply asking the petitioner to furnish the marriage certificate number. Later, the Public Information Officer, Periamet informed that the marriage was not registered in his office on 17.04.1967. 5. Decision: The Public Information Officer / Sub Registrar, Periamet, originally known as West Madras has produced the register for marriages recorded between 15.06.1966 and 18.06.1969. According to this register there is only one marriage solemnized on 17.04.1967 and it relates to another couple. It would appear from this that the information given by Sub Registrar, Periamet is in order. It is possible either the petitioner has got the date or the place wrong. The Public Information Officer confirms that he has gone through this register and found no entry relating to the petitioner. 6. When it is asserted by the department officials that the Purasaiwalkam Sub Registrar ’s office started functioning only 01.06.1969 it is not clear how the petitioner insists that the wedding took place at Purasaiwakkam. 7. It is appears that West Madras was the parent office from which subsequently Periamet and Purasaiwakkam were bifurcated. It is reported that Sembiam Sub Registrar office is an old office and is located not too far. Therefore, the Public Information Officer, Periamet is requested to send a letter to the Sub Registrar, Sembiam to ascertain whether any marriage was registered on 17.04.1967 in the name of Thiru J. Eden Alexander, if so, furnish a copy direct ly to the petitioner. This will be treated as a request for assistance under section 5(4) of the RTI Act and the Sub Registrar, Sembiam will be treated as deemed Public Information Officer under 5(5) of the RTI Act and it is incumbent on him to send the reply within 30 days of receipt of communication from Public Information Officer, Perimet, Sub Registrar Office. If no such marriage was registered, Public Information Officer, Sembiam may send a reply accordingly to the petitioner.

Sd/-(K. RAMANUJAM) STATE CHIEF INFORMATION COMMISSIONER

//By Order//

Assistant Registrar

Case No.SA-11325/SCIC/2016

Thiru J. Eden Alexander No.9, Third Street, Natarajapuram South, Medical College Road, Thanjavur 613 007.

The Public Information Officer Sub Registrar Office, Purasawalkkam, Chennai – 600 007.

The Public Information Officer Sub Registrar Office, Periamet, Chennai – 600 003.

The Public Information Officer/ Sub Registrar Office, Sembiam Registrar Office, No.5, Paper Mills Road, (Near Sembiam Church) Sembiam, Chennai – 600 011. (copy of RTI petition enclosed)

JJ/PA 02032017