The Hindu: Coimbatore: Saturday, 22 November 2025.
The Tamil Nadu Information
Commission has directed the Coimbatore Corporation to pay ₹10,000 as
compensation to an RTI applicant for failing to provide information within the
30-day deadline mandated under the Right to Information Act, 2005. The order was
passed during a virtual hearing held recently.
K. Deivasigamani, a retired DSP, had filed an RTI application on January 16, 2023 with the Corporation’s West Zone office seeking details on the reserve site located at Maniyam Kaliappa Street in Ward 43. He sought information on the purpose for which the land had been earmarked as per Town and Country Planning approval, the current status of the site, and documents relating to the proposed construction of a water tank, including its sanction order and cost estimate.
S.V. Lakshmanan, Administrative Officer, West Zone, appeared before the Commission as the authorised representative of the Public Information Officer (PIO).
According to the Commission, no information was provided within the statutory 30-day period. The first reply was issued only on March 28, 2023, followed by another response on October 25, 2024. The petitioner later filed an appeal on June 6, 2025 stating that the replies were delayed and incomplete.
During the hearing, the Commission sought an explanation from the then PIO, identified as M. Sekar, who was in office at the time of filing the RTI. The Corporation informed the Commission that Sekar had retired on July 31, 2023, following which further action against him was dropped.
Holding that the applicant did not receive information within the stipulated time, the Commission ordered the Corporation to pay ₹10,000 as compensation within 10 days and submit proof of payment to the Commission.
Official sources said the compensation would be paid as directed and added that Sekar had been deputed to the Corporation from the Revenue Department and that the Corporation would write to the District Collector’s office seeking recovery of the compensation amount from his retirement benefits and reimbursement to the Corporation.
K. Deivasigamani, a retired DSP, had filed an RTI application on January 16, 2023 with the Corporation’s West Zone office seeking details on the reserve site located at Maniyam Kaliappa Street in Ward 43. He sought information on the purpose for which the land had been earmarked as per Town and Country Planning approval, the current status of the site, and documents relating to the proposed construction of a water tank, including its sanction order and cost estimate.
S.V. Lakshmanan, Administrative Officer, West Zone, appeared before the Commission as the authorised representative of the Public Information Officer (PIO).
According to the Commission, no information was provided within the statutory 30-day period. The first reply was issued only on March 28, 2023, followed by another response on October 25, 2024. The petitioner later filed an appeal on June 6, 2025 stating that the replies were delayed and incomplete.
During the hearing, the Commission sought an explanation from the then PIO, identified as M. Sekar, who was in office at the time of filing the RTI. The Corporation informed the Commission that Sekar had retired on July 31, 2023, following which further action against him was dropped.
Holding that the applicant did not receive information within the stipulated time, the Commission ordered the Corporation to pay ₹10,000 as compensation within 10 days and submit proof of payment to the Commission.
Official sources said the compensation would be paid as directed and added that Sekar had been deputed to the Corporation from the Revenue Department and that the Corporation would write to the District Collector’s office seeking recovery of the compensation amount from his retirement benefits and reimbursement to the Corporation.
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