IN THE HIGH COURT OF BOMBAY AT GOA
(VAMIKI MENEZES J.)
WRIT PETITION NO. 113 OF 2026
SHRI. NARAYAN SURESH PAI, … PETITIONER
VERSUS
MS. VINITA V. KAMBLI, PIO AND ANR. … RESPONDENTS
A) RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT, 2005 – Section 4 – Mandatory – This provision specifies the object of the legislation i.e. to ensure that the public has minimum resort to the RTI Act, and the public can access information without having to pay for the same through the medium of the internet. Obviously, there is a failure on the part of the Inspector of Survey and Land Record, Pernem, which is the public authority who is required to maintain all its information in the digitized form and accessible to the public over the internet. (Para 6)
B) Public Information Officer requesting the Petitioner to attend the office of the PIO and inspect the record available at the office and obtain a certified copy of the documents on the payment of the fees is not a decision under Sub Section 1 of Section 7 of the Act, 2005. there was no compliance with the mandate of Section 7 on the part of the PIO. PIO has in fact, informed the Petitioner of the decision to give the information after the mandate of thirty days, which would entitle the Petitioner to receive this information under Sub Section 6, Section 7, free of charge. (9 and 10)
Held: Considering that there was no compliance by the PIO with the provision of Sub Section 1 of Section 7, on the decision to be communicated within thirty days, the Petitioner shall now be entitled to get the information sought by him free of charge. (Para 8,9 and 10)
FACTS
The Petitioner has applied for certain information from the Inspector of Survey and Land Records (ISLR), Pernem, through an application dated 01.09.2023. The application is very clear and specific – No information furnished by PIO – but has requested the Petitioner to attend the office of the PIO and inspect the record available at the office and obtain a certified copy of the documents on the payment of the fees – direction was issued to the PIO by the First Appellate Authority on 09.11.2023 to collect the information on payment of charges – the State Information Commission dismissed the Petitioner’s Appeal under the Right to Information Act, 2005.