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Judgment
Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy, J
The petitioner seeks information about one S.Palaniyammal, who is an employee of the fourth respondent.
The petitioner states that she had filed a RTI application requesting for information in relation to the aforesaid public servant. By letter dated 20.09.2019, she was informed that the requested information would be provided after obtaining the employment register. Therefore, the petitioner filed a first appeal before the District Collector, Karur. Thereafter, the appellate authority by order dated 31.10.2019 directed the Block Development Officer to provide the information. In such c i r c u m s t a n c e s , t h e p e t i t i o n e r f i l e d a s e c o n d a p p e a l b e f o r e t h e f i r s t respondent. By order dated 6. 10.2020, the first respondent directed that the information requested for be provided on or before 08.11.2020 and, in the event of default, the petitioner was permitted to re-approach the first respondent. Once again, such information was not provided. Therefore, after submitting a representation dated 02.11.2020 and reminder dated 07.05.2021, the present writ petition is filed.
Mr.K.K.Senthil, learned counsel, accepts notice on behalf of the first respondent and Mr.P.Subbaraj, learned counsel for the State, accepts notice on behalf of respondents 2 to 4.
Mr.K.K.Senthil submits that the first respondent may be directed to consider and dispose of the pending appeal expeditiously. However, in view of the enormous workload, he submits that it may be difficult to dispose of such appeal in a short time.
In the aforesaid facts and circumstances, the petitioner has made out a case for the expeditious disposal of the appeal filed before the first respondent. Although learned counsel for the first respondent makes a request that no time frame be fixed in such connection, no useful purpose would be served unless a specific time frame is fixed.
Accordingly, W.P.(MD)No.15436 of 2021 is disposed of by directing the first respondent herein to consider the petitioner's appeal and pass a reasoned order thereon within a period of four (4) months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. Such reasoned order shall be issued after providing a reasonable opportunity to the petitioner and any other persons who would be affected by such decision. There will be no order as to costs.