JUDGMENT :

The petitioner was working as Village Officer, Avidanalloor Village Office. The 2nd respondent submitted Ext.P1 to the petitioner on 03.07.2020 for getting certain information as per Right to Information Act, 2005 (“the Act” for short). The petitioner received Ext.P1 on 08.07.2010. Thereafter the petitioner sent a letter on 31.07.2010 requesting the 2nd respondent to pay the required fee and produce the challan receipt. The challan submitted by the 2nd respondent was received in the Village Office on 12.08.2010. Thereafter the petitioner sent the 2nd letter on 19.08.2010, in which it is stated that the 2nd respondent has either to collect the information sought personally from the Village Office or to provide a stamped envelope for sending the details. Aggrieved by the same, the 2nd respondent submitted Ext.P3 before the 1st respondent. The main grievance of the 2nd respondent in Ext.P3 are the following:

1) The stamped cover need not be submitted by the petitioner.

2) It is a deliberate attempt to delay.

The 1st respondent after hearing the petitioner passed Ext.P4 order. Relevant portion of the order is extracted hereunder:

5. The Commission observed that the petitioner req