The Division Bench of the Madras High Court, comprising Chief Justice Munishwar Nath Bhandari and Justice D. BHaratha Chakravarthy in the case of S.P.Muthu Raman v. The Joint Secretary, Department of Personnel & Training & Ors. has dismissed the petition which was filed for directing the Joint Secretary of Department of Personnel and Training and the Secretary of Department of Post to pass appropriate orders by giving effect to the recommendations made by the Central Information Commission in 2013.
Background of the Case
The petitioner has filed Petition before the Court to pass appropriate orders giving effect to the recommendation made by the Central Information Commission with regard to the modality of payment of fee by introducing the RTI stamps of Rs.10/- by the Department of Post as expeditiously as possible within the time stipulation as prescribed by this Court.
Reasoning and Decision of the Court
The Court considered the facts of the case and material records available before it. The Court looked into the one of the recommendation which Petitioner also mentioned is to affix postal stamp on the RTI application in the place of Indian Postal Order or Demand Draft.
The Court was vexed by the representation made by the Petitioner and expounded that by way of this 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 Court also pointed out that “It is more so when even according to the petitioner, the Central Information Commission has only made recommendations, which cannot by any stretch of imagination be taken as a statute so as to give effect. It is for the authorities concerned to decide what action should be taken based on the recommendation of the Central Information Commission.”
Therefore, the Court dismissed the petition without imposing any cost on it and held that the High Court cannot act as a post office to collect and exchange information.
Case Details
Case: - W.P.(MD) No.2549 of 2022
Petitioner: - S.P.Muthu Raman
Respondent: - The Joint Secretary, Department of Personnel & Training & Ors
Judge: Chief Justice Munishwar Nath Bhandari and Justice D. BHaratha Chakravarthy
Picture Source : https://akm-img-a-in.tosshub.com/indiatoday/images/story/202009/cover_pic_6_1200x768.jpeg?1vJXVlbHWXYU4wxJOML_a7L1IMWk3.vm&size=770:433
