Dismissed¶49

The Public Information Officer Cum v. R Maheswaran

Madras HC22 Jun 2026WP/27633/2024

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

RTI Act 2005 penalties upheld: Section 19(8)(b) compensation of Rs.10,000/- and Section 20(1) fine of Rs.10,000/-; Tamil Nadu State Information Commission second appeal Case No.NC 1159/C/2023(SA/11284/C/2022) order dated 09.01.2024; PIO/Assistant Commissioner of Labour (Conciliation) Krishnagiri writ of certiorari dismissed; TVS Motor Company Limited Hosur / TVS Suzuki Employees Union settlement records with conciliation officer; non-furnishing of information; R.Maheswaran v. Registrar TN State Information Commission; Justice M. Dhandapani; decision dated 22.06.2026; W.M.P.No.30150 of 2024 closed.

What did the court decide?

The settlement arrived at between the Management and the Employees Union is very much available with the petitioner, since the petitioner, as conciliation officer, maintains the records. ¶48

The Public Information Officer Cum Vs R Maheswaran — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Dismissed

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Issue for consideration

Whether the impugned order dated 09.01.2024 passed by the second respondent (Tamil Nadu State Information Commission) — directing the petitioner to pay Rs.10,000/- compensation under Section 19(8)(b) and imposing a fine of Rs.10,000/- under Section 20(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005 — warrants interference and should be quashed by a Writ of Certiorari.

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Court's answer

The settlement arrived at between the Management and the Employees Union is very much available with the petitioner, since the petitioner, as conciliation officer, maintains the records.

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Ratio / Principle

For the inaction on the part of the petitioner in furnishing the information, the impugned order — directing payment of Rs.10,000/- compensation to the first respondent under Section 19(8)(b) and imposing a fine of Rs.10,000/- under Section 20(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005 on the then Assistant Commissioner of Labour, Madeswaran — warrants no interference.

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Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

High Court of Judicature at Madras (M. Dhandapani, J.), 22.06.2026 — W.P.No.27633 of 2024: Certiorari petition by the Public Information Officer–cum–Assistant Commissioner of Labour (Conciliation), Krishnagiri, against the Tamil Nadu State Information Commission's order dated 09.01.2024 in Case No.NC 1159/C/2023(SA/11284/C/2022), which directed the petitioner to pay R.Maheswaran Rs.10,000/- as compensation towards mental agony and travel expenses under Section 19(8)(b) of the Right to Information Act, 2005, and imposed a fine of Rs.10,000/- under Section 20(1) on the then Assistant Commissioner of Labour, Madeswaran, for non-furnishing of information sought on settlements between the Management of TVS Motor Company Limited, Hosur and TVS Suzuki Employees Union. Holding that the settlement records are very much available with the petitioner, who as conciliation officer maintains them, the Court found that for the petitioner's inaction the penalties warranted no interference, dismissed the writ petition with no costs, and closed the connected W.M.P.No.30150 of 2024.

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W.P.No.27633 of 2024

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

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DATED : 22.06.2026

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CORAM

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THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI

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W.P.No.27633 of 2024 And

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W.M.P.No.30150 of 2024

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The Public Information Officer – cum - Assistant Commissioner of Labour (Conciliation), Department of Labour Welfare and Skill Development, Government of Tamil Nadu, No.18, Sevatha Gounder Street, Kolumbu Store backside, Bengaluru Road, Krishnagiri – 635 001. ... Petitioner

... Petitioner

Vs.

1.R.Maheswaran

2.The Registrar, Tamil Nadu State Information Commission, Block No.19, Government Farm Village, Panepet, Nandanam, Chennai – 600 035. ... Respondents

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Prayer:

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Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a Writ of Certiorari to call for the records relating to the impugned order in Case No.NC 1159/C/2023(SA/11284/C/2022) dated 09.01.2024 passed by the second respondent herein and to quash the same.

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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W.P.No.27633 of 2024

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For Petitioner : Mr.M.Sivavarthanan Government Counsel

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For Respondents : Mr.V.Subramani for R1 Mr.C.Vigneswaran for R2

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O R D E R

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The petitioner has filed this writ petition seeking issuance of Writ of Certiorari to call for the records relating to the order in Case No.NC 1159/C/2023(SA/11284/C/2022) dated 09.01.2024 passed by the second respondent and to quash the same.

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2.The learned Government Counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that the first respondent claiming to be an exemployee of TVS Motor Company Limited, Hosur, made an application dated 04.12.2021 under the Right to Information Act, 2005, to the Public Information Officer/ Assistant Commissioner of Labour (Conciliation), Krishnagiri, seeking the information regarding the settlements arrived at between the Management of TVS Motor Company Limited, Hosur and TVS Suzuki Employees Union during the years 1998 to 2019; the settlements arrived at between the Management of TVS Motor Company Limited, Hosur and TVS Suzuki Employees Union for granting annual bonus to employees and Personal

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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W.P.No.27633 of 2024

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Performance Incentive (PPI) from the year 1997 to 2019; bye-laws of TVS Suzuki Employees Union (Regn.No.135/DRP) of the year 1998 and amended up-to-date, however, the petitioner was not able to furnish the information sought for by the first respondent.

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3.The learned Government Counsel appearing for the petitioner further submitted that the first respondent made another application dated 26.05.2022 and the reply dated 23.06.2022 given to the first respondent for the application dated 26.05.2022 was considered as the reply given by the first appellate authority and aggrieved by the same, the first respondent filed second appeal before the Tamil Nadu State Information Commission on 23.06.2022 and the second respondent passed the impugned order directing the petitioner to pay a sum of Rs.10,000/- to the first respondent as compensation towards the mental agony and travel expenses incurred by him under Section 19(8)(b) of the Right to Information Act, 2005 and the second respondent also imposed a fine of Rs.10,000/- under Section 20(1), to the then Assistant Commissioner of Labour namely Madeswaran, the said fine to be paid to the credit of the Government head of accounts.

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4.The learned Government Counsel appearing for the

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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W.P.No.27633 of 2024

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petitioner further submitted that the petitioner, immediately after receipt of the application from the first respondent, forwarded the same to TVS Suzuki Limited, Hosur as the documents sought to be furnished pertains to the said company, however, there was no response from the said company and hence the information was not furnished to the first respondent, however, without considering the efforts taken by the petitioner, the second respondent passed the impugned order, which is not sustainable one.

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5.The learned counsel appearing for the first respondent submitted that the settlement arrived between the Management and Employees Union will be very much available with the petitioner since the petitioner is conciliation officer and he is maintaining the records and for the inaction on the part of the petitioner, fine was imposed, which warrants no interference.

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6.The learned counsel appearing for the second respondent submitted that the petitioner gave vague reply to the application made by the first respondent and despite notice, did not appear before the second respondent, thereby, the punishment was awarded, which warrants no interference.

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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W.P.No.27633 of 2024

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7.Heard both sides and perused the materials available on

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record.

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8.The first respondent made application dated 04.12.2021 under the Right to Information Act, 2005, to the Public Information Officer/ Assistant Commissioner of Labour (Conciliation), Krishnagiri, seeking the information regarding the settlements arrived at between

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the Management of TVS Motor Company Limited, Hosur and TVS Suzuki Employees Union during the years 1998 to 2019; the settlements arrived at between the Management of TVS Motor Company Limited, Hosur and TVS Suzuki Employees Union for granting annual bonus to employees and Personal Performance Incentive (PPI) from the year 1997 to 2019; bye-laws of TVS Suzuki Employees Union (Regn.No.135/DRP) of the year 1998 and amended up-to-date and the said information was not furnished to the first respondent.

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9.The first respondent made another application dated

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26.05.2022 and the reply dated 23.06.2022 given to the first respondent for the application dated 26.05.2022 was considered as the reply given by the first appellate authority and aggrieved by the

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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W.P.No.27633 of 2024

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same, the first respondent filed second appeal before the Tamil Nadu State Information Commission on 23.06.2022 and the second respondent passed the impugned order.

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10.The settlement arrived between the Management and Employees Union will be very much available with the petitioner since the petitioner is conciliation officer and is maintaining the records. For the inaction on the part of the petitioner, impugned order directing the petitioner to pay a sum of Rs.10,000/- to the first respondent as compensation towards the mental agony and travel expenses incurred by him under Section 19(8)(b) of the Right to Information Act, 2005 and the second respondent also imposed a fine of Rs.10,000/- under Section 20(1), to the then Assistant Commissioner of Labour namely Madeswaran, the said fine to be paid to the credit of the Government head of accounts was issued, which warrants no interference.

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11.The writ petition is dismissed. No costs. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petition is closed.

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22.06.2026

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pri

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Index: Yes/ No Speaking Order: Yes/ No NCC: Yes/ No

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis