Madras High Court
The Public Information Officer/ vs The President on 4 July, 2022
W.P.(MD).Nos.12081, 12521, 14189 and 14190 of 2012
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT
DATED: 04.07.2022
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE R.VIJAYAKUMAR
W.P.(MD).Nos.12081, 12521, 14189 and 14190 of 2012
and
M.P.(MD)Nos.1, 1 , 1, 1, 2 and 2 of 2012
W.P.(MD)No.12081 of 2012:
The Public Information Officer/
Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime),
Madurai District. ... Petitioner
Vs.
1.The President,
Tuticorin District Consumer Disputes,
Redressal Forum, Tuticorin.
2.N.Somasundar ... Respondents
PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of
India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Prohibition, to prohibit the
Tuticorin District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, the 1st
respondent herein from proceeding with the C.C.No.134 of 2012 of the
2nd respondent herein.
1/8
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis
W.P.(MD).Nos.12081, 12521, 14189 and 14190 of 2012
For Petitioner : Mr.N.Muthu Vijayan
Special Government Pleader
For R1 : No appearance
For R2 : Mr.P.Pethurajesh
W.P.(MD)No.12521 of 2012:
The Public Information Officer/
Additional Director of Geology and Mines,
District Collectorate Compound, Tuticorin. ... Petitioner
Vs.
1.The Tamil Nadu State Information Commission,
Tenampet, Chennai.
2.The President,
Tuticorin District Consumer Disputes,
Redressal Forum, Tuticorin.
3.S.M.A.Ganthimathi Nathan ... Respondents
PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of
India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Prohibition, to prohibit the
Tuticorin District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, the 2nd
respondent herein from proceeding with the C.C.No.127 of 2012 of the
3rd respondent herein.
2/8
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis
W.P.(MD).Nos.12081, 12521, 14189 and 14190 of 2012
For Petitioner : Mr.N.Muthu Vijayan
Special Government Pleader
For R1 : Mr.K.K.Senthil
For R2 & R3 : No appearance
W.P.(MD)No.14189 of 2012:
The Public Information Officer/
Additional Director of Geology and Mines,
Kokkirikulam, Tirunelveli District. ... Petitioner
Vs.
1.The Tamil Nadu State Information Commission,
Tenampet, Chennai.
2.The President,
Tirunelveli District Consumer Disputes,
Redressal Forum, Tirunelveli District.
3.Bramma @ Piramanayagam ... Respondents
PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of
India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Prohibition, to prohibit the
Tirunelveli District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, the 2nd
respondent herein from proceeding with the C.C.No.168 of 2012 of the
3rd respondent herein.
For Petitioner : Mr.N.Muthu Vijayan
Special Government Pleader
For R1 : Mr.K.K.Senthil
For R2 & R3 : No appearance
3/8
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis
W.P.(MD).Nos.12081, 12521, 14189 and 14190 of 2012
W.P.(MD)No.14190 of 2012:
The Public Information Officer/
Additional Director of Geology and Mines,
Kokkirikulam, Tirunelveli District. ... Petitioner
Vs.
1.The Tamil Nadu State Information Commission,
Tenampet, Chennai.
2.The President,
Tirunelveli District Consumer Disputes,
Redressal Forum, Tirunelveli District.
3.Bramma @ Piramanayagam ... Respondents
PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of
India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Prohibition, to prohibit the
Tirunelveli District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, the 2nd
respondent herein from proceeding with the C.C.No.169 of 2012 of the
3rd respondent herein.
For Petitioner : Mr.N.Muthu Vijayan
Special Government Pleader
For R1 to R3 : No appearance
*****
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis
W.P.(MD).Nos.12081, 12521, 14189 and 14190 of 2012
COMMON ORDER
The present Writ Petition has been filed challenging the
proceedings of the District Consumer Forum, wherein, they have taken
on file a consumer complaint filed by a person who sought information
under the Right to Information Act. All the complaints have been filed
as against the concerned Public Information Officer.
2.The learned Counsel for the petitioner submitted that the
services rendered by the Public Information Officers cannot be
considered to be a service for consideration and their services are not
amenable to the jurisdiction of the Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum.
3.The learned Counsel for the petitioner brought to the notice of
the Court a judgment rendered by National Consumer Disputes Redressal
Commission reported in 2015 SCC OnLine NCDRC 2. In Paragraph No.
25 of the said judgment, the National Consumer Disputes Redressal
Forum Commission has held as follows:
“25.For the reasons stated hereinabove, we hold that (i)
the person seeking information under the provisions of RTI Act
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis
W.P.(MD).Nos.12081, 12521, 14189 and 14190 of 2012
cannot be said to be a consumer vis-a-vis the Public Authority
concerned or CPIO/PIO nominated by it and (ii) the jurisdiction
of the Consumer Fora to intervene in the matters arising out of
the provisions of the RTI Act is barred by necessary implication
as also under the provisions of Section 23 of the said Act.
Consequently no complaint by a person alleging deficiency in the
services rendered by the CPIO/PIO is maintainable before a
Consumer Forum.”
4.In view of the order of the National Consumer Disputes
Redressal Commission as aforesaid, a District Consumer Disputes
Redressal Forum has no jurisdiction whatsoever, to entertain the
complaint as against the Public Information Officer alleging deficiency
in service. That apart, there is an implied bar under Section 23 of the
Right to Information Act for entertaining such a complaint by any other
forum other than the forums contemplated under the Right to Information
Act.
5.In view of the above said discussions, all the Writ Petitions
stands allowed. The complaints filed before the concerned District
Consumer Redressal Forum stands struck off.
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis
W.P.(MD).Nos.12081, 12521, 14189 and 14190 of 2012
6.With the above said observation, the Writ Petitions are allowed.
No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed.
04.07.2022
Index : Yes / No
Internet : Yes / No
Tmg
Note :
In view of the present lock down owing to
COVID-19 pandemic, a web copy of the order may
be utilized for official purposes, but, ensuring that
the copy of the order that is presented is the correct
copy, shall be the responsibility of the advocate /
litigant concerned.
To
1.The Public Information Officer/
Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime),
Madurai District.
2.The Public Information Officer/
Additional Director of Geology and Mines,
District Collectorate Compound, Tuticorin.
3.The Public Information Officer/
Additional Director of Geology and Mines,
Kokkirikulam, Tirunelveli District.
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis
W.P.(MD).Nos.12081, 12521, 14189 and 14190 of 2012
R.VIJAYAKUMAR ,J.
Tmg
Order made in
W.P.(MD).Nos.12081, 12521, 14189
and 14190 of 2012
04.07.2022
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis
