DEO asked to appear before State Information Commission for not providing information sought under RTI

The Hindu: Madurai: Friday, 5^th June 2026.
The State Information Commission has directed a District Educational Officer to appear before it for furnishing acceptable reasons for not providing the information sought by a petitioner under the Right to Information Act.

When P. G. Pitchaiah of Ilanji in the district submitted a petition under Right to Information Act on April 21, 2023 with the then District Educational Officer Arulanandam, the information officer, seeking copy of the documents detailing the movable properties under the custody of the Committee administering Ilanji Ramasamy Pillai Higher Secondary School between the academic years from 2017 to 2021, it was not provided.
Subsequently, Mr. Pitchaiah filed an appeal with the Chief Educational Officer Muthaiah on May 26, 2023, who too did not give any reply.
Aggrieved, the petitioner preferred the second appeal with the State Information Commission on June 27, 2023. As this petition was taken-up for inquiry on April 15 last, the State Information Commission observed as to why the fine of ₹25,000 should not be imposed on the Mr. Arulanandam, the information officer, for not providing the information sought by the petitioner. The Commission directed the DEO to appear before the Commission on June 12 to submit his explanation in black and white.
The Commission also has awarded the compensation of ₹10,000 to Mr. Pitchaiah.