Page No.# 1/3 GAHC010086522024 2025:GAU-AS:2415 THE GAUHATI HIGH COURT (HIGH COURT OF ASSAM, NAGALAND, MIZORAM AND ARUNACHAL PRADESH) Case No. : PIL/30/2024 REETAM SINGH S/O- BALWANT SINGH AND VIJAYA LAXMI SINGH, R/O- 3-B, PROKASH ENCLAVE, 9 HARABALA ROAD, ULUBARI, GUWAHATI, ASSAM, PIN- 781007. VERSUS 1: THE STATE OF ASSAM AND 4 ORS REPRESENTED BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY, GOVERNMENT OF ASSAM, ASSAM SACHIVALAYA DISPUR, GUWAHATI, PIN- 781006. 2:THE CHIEF INFORMATION COMMISSIONER STATE INFORMATION COMMISSION ASSAM GODAPANI PATH JURIPAR PANJABARI BEHIND P AND RD OFFICE GUWAHATI PIN- 781037. 3:COMMISSIONER AND SECRETARY ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS AND TRAINING DEPARTMENT BLOCK-C 2ND FLOOR ASSAM SECRETARIAT DISPUR GUWAHATI PIN- 781006. 4:THE SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF ASSAM JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT E BLOCK 2ND FLOOR ASSAM SECRETARIAT DISPUR GUWAHATI PIN- 781006. 5:THE GAUHATI HIGH COURT REPRESENTED BY THE REGISTRAR GENERAL MAHATMA GANDHI ROAD GUWAHATI ASSAM PIN- 781001 For the Petitioner(s) : Mr. R. Singh, Petitioner-in-Person. For the Respondent(s) : Mr. D.K. Sarmah, Additional Senior Government Advocate, Assam for respondent Nos.1, 3 & 4. : Mr. D. Deka, Advocate for respondent No.2. : Mr. G. Baishya, Standing Counsel, Gauhati High Court, for respondent No.5. Page No.# 2/3 – B E F O R E – HON’BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE MR. VIJAY BISHNOI HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE N. UNNI KRISHNAN NAIR 07.03.2025 (Vijay Bishnoi, CJ) This PIL petition is filed by the petitioner raising a concern that the respondents have not complied with the order dated 20.03.2023 passed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in WP(C) No.1040/2019. The petitioner has further sought a direction to the Gauahti High Court to form an e-Committee to introduce online portal system in subordinate judiciary in the State of Assam. It is further prayed that the respondents be directed to introduce online portal system in the State of Assam and be also directed to implement the mandate and obligation of Section 4 of the Right to Information Act, 2005. The State has filed its responses to the writ petition from time to time. However, on the last occasion, the petitioner-in-person submitted that though some progress is being made on the issues raised in this PIL, but certain issues are liable to be addressed. This Court then allowed the petitioner-in- person to highlight those issues before the respondents. Today, the petitioner-in-person has submitted that so far as the 3(three) issues, which he has raised, the issue related to the payment gateway has already been resolved. It is further submitted that certain Public Information Officers and Departments have not enrolled for online portal till date. However, the State has informed that around 85% of the Public Information Officers and Departments have already enrolled and rests are under the process of enrolment. Page No.# 3/3 The learned counsel for the State has assured this Court that the remaining Public Information Officers and Departments would soon be enrolled on the online portal and any other issues raised in this PIL petition, which are yet to be redressed, would be taken care of. The petitioner-in-person has further submitted that so far as the necessity of uploading the supporting documents is concerned, the respondents have assured that the condition of uploading of supporting documents would be made as directory and not mandatory. In view of the fact that the issues highlighted by the petitioner-in- person have more or less been resolved by the respondents, we are of the view that no further direction is required to be passed in this PIL petition. However, the State is directed to complete the process of enrolling the Public Information Officers and the other Departments, who have not enrolled till date, and also to make a provision expeditiously for uploading the supporting documents, as directory instead of mandatory. The State shall also make every endeavour to implement the mandate of Section 4 of the Right to Information Act, 2005. With these observations, the PIL petition stands disposed of. JUDGE CHIEF JUSTICE Comparing Assistant