IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH :: AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) FRIDAY, THE SEVENTH DAY OF MARCH i TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE I PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE SUBBA REDDY SATTI WRIT PETITION NO: 5734 OF 2025 r I 3 I / %\ Between: M.Paparayudu, S/o. Nagaiah, Aged 52 years, R/o. Vantavari Colony, Near New Vegetable market. Ongole, Prakasam District. ...PETITIONER And 1. State of Andhra Pradesh, Rep by its Principal Secretary to Government Revenue (Assignment) Department, Secretariat, Velagapudi, Amaravathi, Guntur District. 2. Andhra Pradesh State Information Commission, Rep by its Commissioner, Chinakakani, Mangalagiri, Guntur District. 3. District Collector, Ongole, Prakasam District. 4. Revenue Divisional Officer, Ongole Revenue Division, Ongole, Prakasam District. 5. Tahsildar, Ongole Mandal, Ongole, Prakasam District. ...RESPONDENTS Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed therewith, the High Court may be pleased to issue a writ, order or direction more particularly one in the nature of WRIT OF MANDAMUS declaring the action of the 5^'^ respondent in not furnishing the information relating to the DK Pattas which were sought by the petitioner under the Right to Information Act, 2005, in spite of the paying requisite fee as directed by him is illegal, irregular, irrational and contrary to the law and consequently direct the respondents to furnish the information as sought by the petitioner under the said applications. lA NO: 1 OF 2025 Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumstances < -^/slslled in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be Biased to direct the respondents'to furnish the information as sought by the petitioner under the RTI applications, pending disposal of the main writ petition. Counsel for the Petitioner; SMT. PANGULURU RACHANA Counsel for the Respondent Nos.1,3,4& 5: GP FOR REVENUE Counsel for the Respondent No.2:GP FOR GENERAL ADMINISTRATION The Court made the following: ORDER APHC010112062025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) iL' [3331] r-:--TLr-, 0^^ FRIDAY, THE SEVENTH DAY OF MARCH TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE SUBBA REDDY SATTI WRIT PETITION NO: 5734/2025 Between: 1. M PAPARAYUDU, DF ...PETITIONER AND 1. THE STATE OF AP AND FOUR OTHERS ...RESPONDENT(S): Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed therewith, the High Court may be pleased to lA NO: 1 OF 2025 Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased to direct the respondents to furnish the information as sought by the petitioner under the RTI applications, pending disposal of the main writ petition and pass Counsel for the Petitioner: 1.PANGULURU RACHANA Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1.GP FOR REVENUE 2.GP FOR GENERAL ADMINISTRATION 'a SRS,J W.P.No.5734 of 2025 The Court made the following: ORDER :: The above writ petition is filed to declare the action of respondent No.5 in not furnishing the information relating to DKT pattas, sought by the petitioner under the Right to Information Act, 2005, despite paying the requisite fee, as directed by respondent No.5, as illegal and arbitrary. Heard Smt. P. Rachana, learned counsel for the petitioner and Sri Bhagat Singh, the learned Assistant Government Pleader for Revenue appeared for respondents 1, 3 and 4 and Sri M. Srinu Babu, the learned Assistant Government Pleader appeared for respondent No.2. The petitioner made an application under Section 6(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005, to furnish information regarding the issuance of DKT patta, within the jurisdiction of Tahsildar, Ongole from 1984 to 2020 vide Ex.P1. The Public Information Officer issued an endorsement vide Ex.P3 directing the petitioner to verify the files and thereafter copies will be furnished. The petitioner made another representation dated 10.07.2023 (Ex.P6) by furnishing the requisite information. Since the information was not furnished, the petitioner'filed appeal No.494/SIC-KJR/2023, before the Andhra Pradesh Information Commissioner. The said appeal was disposed of on 18.07.2023, directing the Public Information Officer, Office of the Tahsildar, Ongole Mandal to furnish information free of cost. 2. 3. In pursuance of order dated 18.07.2023, the petitioner made another refiresentation dated 14.09.2023 (Ex.P8). representation, the Deputy Tahsildar/Public Information Officer vide endorsement dated 22.09.2023 (Ex.P9), directed the petitioner to Rs.6,000/- to furnish the information. Accordingly, the petitioner paid the amount by way of a demand draft dated 14.02.2024 (Ex.PIO) and submitted 4. In response to the said pay r W.P-No.5734 of 2025 Since no information was the same to respondent No.5 vide Ex.P11 furnished, the above writ petition is filed. Sri Bhagat Singh, learned Assistant Government Pleader for Revenue of Tahsildar, Ongole Mandal vide Rc.A/269/2025, relevant portion of said instructions reads as follows: 5. submitted the instructions dated 06.03.2025. The submit that the petitioner has requested the “It is respectfully information relating to the D.K. pattas which were issued from the year, 2020 under Right to Information Act, 2005. The information 1984 to could not be given by the Public Information Officer of this office i.e Deputy Tahsildar sought by the writ petitioner in time as it is very old record due to pressure of work, petitioner which is available (which record i from 1984 to 2020 ) in this office will be issued within a The information sought by the writ available in this office IS record room period of one month after thorough search of this record. Thus, as seen from the instructions, respondent No,5 intends to furnish information within one month. 6. Given the facts and circumstances of the case, the Writ Petition is with the consent of both the learned 7. disposed of, at the stage of admission counsel, directing the learned respondent No.5 to furnish the information sought by the petitioner (01) month, from the date of receipt of a copy under the Right to Information Act, 2005, within one of the order. No order as to costs. shall stand closed. sequel, pending miscellaneous petitions, if any As a //TRUE COPY// SECTION OFFICER To, Principal Secretary to Government, Revenue (Assignment) State of Andhra Pradesh, Secretariat, Velagapudi, 1. The Department Amaravathi, Guntur District. 2. The Commissioner, Andhra Pradesh State Information Commission Chinakakani, Mangalagiri, Guntur District. District Collector, Ongole, Prakasam District. 3. The ▼ 4. The Revenue Divisional Officer, Ongole Revenue Division, Ongole, Prakasam District. The Tahsildar, Ongole Mandal, Ongole, Prakasam District. One CC to Smt. Panguluru Rachana, Advocate [OPUC] Two CCs to GP for Revenue, High Court of Andhra Pradesh. [OUT] Two CCs to GP for General Administration, High Court of Andhra Pradesh. [OUT] Three CD Copies. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. ssb HIGH COURT DATED:07/03/2025 ORDER * 0 3 ArR 2125 ^ Cwraal SMUaa WP.No.5734 of 2025 DISPOSING OF THE W.P. AT THE STAGE OF ADMISSION WITHOUT COSTS