IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA CWJC No.7604 of 2009 MANOJ KUMAR SHAHI, SON OF LATE RATNESHWAR SHAHI, RESIDENT OF SARYAKALI ASTHAN ROAD, GOPALGNAJ, P.S. AND DISTRICT GOPALGANJ------PETITIONER. Versus 1. THE STATE INFORMATION COMMISSION, 4TH FLOOR, SOOCHNA BHAWAN, BAILEY ROAD, BIHAR, PATNA, THROUGH ITS SECRETARY. 2. THE INFORMATION COMMISSIONER, 4TH FLOOR, SOOCHNA BHAWAN, BAILEY ROAD, BIHAR, PATNA. 3. THE ASSISTANT REGISTRAR, STATE INFORMATION COMMISISON, 4TH FLOOR, SOOCHNA BHAWAN, BAILEY ROAD, BIHAR, PATNA. 4. THE LEGAL OFFICER-CUM-REGISTRAR(JUDICIAL), STATE INFORMATION COMMISSION, 4TH FLOOR, SOOCHNA BHAWAN, BAILEY ROAD, BIHAR, PATNA. 5. THE STATE OF BIHAR THROUGH THE DISTRICT MAGISTRATE, BHAGALPUR. 6. SHRI RAJENDRA PRASAD SHAH, SON OF LATE RAM PRASAD SAH, R/V LALAPUR BHADER, KAHALGAON, DISTRICT BHAGALPUR-----RESPONDENTS. ----------- 02. 08.07.2009. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and the State. 2. Petitioner is aggrieved by the order bearing Memo No. 582 dated 29.4.2009, Annexure-8 passed by the Information Commissioner, Government of Bihar, Patna, Respondent No.2 whereunder petitioner has been directed to pay fine of Rs. 8,750/- @ Rs. 250/- per day for 35 days with effect from 13.10.2008 till 16.11.2008 for his failure to furnish the information sought for by Shri Rajendra Prasad Shah. 3. It is submitted on behalf of the petitioner that in compliance of the instructions of the Assistant Registrar, Information Commission, Respondent No.3 as contained in Letter No. 12541 dated 22.10.2008, Annexure-4, information sought for by Shri Rajendra Prasad Shah was furnished within the time granted in the instructions dated 22.10.2008 and in such view of the matter fine imposed under the impugned order ought not to have been imposed. It is also submitted that the petitioner having furnished the necessary - 2 - information, there is hardly any occasion for the Commission to impose fine on him. Such submission has been noticed only to be rejected as in terms of the provisions contained in Sub-Section(i) of Section 7 of the Right to Information Act, 2005(hereinafter referred to as “the Act”) when a request for information is received by the Information Officer, the same has to be furnished by him to the person who has made the request within thirty days from the date of receipt of the request, failing which penalty in terms of Section 20 of the Act has to be imposed. In the instant case, required information was provided to Sri Rajendra Prasad Sah much beyond the period of thirty days that too after the intervention of the Information Commissioner. In the circumstances, Commission has rightly imposed the fine for the period of delay beyond thirty days. 4. In such view of the matter, I am not inclined to interfere with the order of the Information Commissioner dated 29.4.2009, Annexure-8 and this writ application is dismissed. Rajesh/ (V.N.Sinha, J.)