IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH 105 CWP-24640-2025 Date of Decision : August 25, 2025 OM PARKASH -PETITIONER V/S STATE INFORMATION COMMISSION, HARYANA AND ORS. -RESPONDENTS CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE KULDEEP TIWARI Present: Mr. Arjun Dhingra, Advocate for the petitioner. Mr. Bhupender Singh, Addl. A.G., Haryana. *** KULDEEP TIWARI, J. (ORAL) 1. Through the instant writ petition, the petitioner has challenged the order dated 28.11.2018 (Annexure P-10), whereby respondent No. 1- State Information Commission directed the dropping of penal proceedings against the respondents No. 2 and 3. 2. The petitioner had earlier also approached this Court by filing CWP-634-2020, thereby claiming a relief alike to the one sketched in this writ petition. However, vide order dated 14.07.2022, the said writ petition was dismissed as withdrawn, with liberty to file fresh one if the occasion so arises. 3. The learned counsel for the petitioner has submitted that the respondents No.2 and 3 not only caused delay in providing information to the petitioner, but also failed to supply the complete information. This aspect has not been considered by the respondent No.1 while recording satisfaction regarding the conduct of the respondents No.2 and 3. DEVINDER YADAV 2025.08.25 17:26 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/judgment CWP-24640-2025 2 4. The learned counsel for the petitioner has made submissions at length to convince this Court that, owing to the lapse on the part of the respondents No.2 and 3, they ought to have been awarded appropriate punishment, and the petitioner should also have been compensated for the hardship caused to him. 5. This Court has heard the submissions made by the learned counsel for the petitioner, and has also made a studied survey of the impugned order. However, this Court does not find any merit in the instant writ petition. 6. Consequent upon the petitioner making an application seeking supply of information with regard to MB Book, Abadi Map of Pata Register, and Field Book within the Lal Dora, the respondents No.2 and 3, who are custodians of the M.B. Book, supplied a copy thereof to the petitioner vide letter dated 10.10.2018. Insofar as the remaining information regarding the Abadi Map of Pata Register and the Field Book within the Lal Dora is concerned, the same is available only with the concerned revenue officials. Therefore, it could not have been provided by respondents No. 2 and 3, as it does not fall within their domain, nor can they, under any provision of law, be regarded as custodians thereof. The information actually available with them was supplied to the petitioner. Consequently, respondent No. 1 has rightly dropped the penal proceedings against them. 7. This Court finds no ground to take a view different from that taken by the respondent No. 1. There was no deliberate lapse or error on the part of the respondents No. 2 and 3 warranting punishment under Sections 21 and 22 of the Right to Information Act, 2005. DEVINDER YADAV 2025.08.25 17:26 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/judgment CWP-24640-2025 3 8. In summa, the instant writ petition, being devoid of merit, is dismissed. (KULDEEP TIWARI) August 25, 2025 JUDGE devinder Whether speaking/reasoned : Yes/No Whether Reportable : Yes/No DEVINDER YADAV 2025.08.25 17:26 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/judgment