The Madras High Court was hearing a petition for directing the Joint Secretary of Department of Personnel and Training and the Secretary of Department of Post to pass appropriate orders giving effect to the recommendations made by the Central Information Commission in 2013. One of the recommendations made by the commission was to affix postal stamps on the RTI applications in the place of Indian Postal Order or Demand Draft.
Observation of the Court
The Court found no merits in the petition and dismissed the same. The Court stated that the Commission has made only recommendations which cannot by any stretch be taken as a statue so as to give effect. It also stated that only after certain modifications that the recommendations can be challenged.
The Court was also disappointed with the fact that the Petitioner was ignorant on these recommendations for almost nine years and filed the petition at this point of time. The Court also highlighted that the fact that the Petitioner had not tried to find out as to what action was taken by the appropriate authority with regard to these recommendations.
“In other words, by way of public interest litigation, the petitioner wants the Court to conduct a roving and fishing enquiry as to what steps were taken by the respondents based on the recommendation of the Central Information Commission. The High Court cannot act as a post office to collect and exchange information”, the Court added.
Case Details
Before: Madras HC
Case Title: S.P. Madhu Raman v. The Joint Secretary & Anr
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