Central Information Commission
M Senthil Kumar vs Registrar Of Newspapers Of India on 5 January, 2021
CIC/RNIND/A/2019/104054
के ीयसूचनाआयोग
Central Information Commission
बाबागंगनाथमाग,मुिनरका
Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka
नई द ली, New Delhi - 110067
ि तीय अपील सं या/ Second Appeal No. CIC/RNIND/A/2019/104054
In the matter of:
M Senthil Kumar ... अपीलकता/Appellant
VERSUS
बनाम
CPIO, ... ितवादीगण /Respondent
Assistant Press Registrar NPCS
PQRC, Office Of Registrar Of
Newspapers For India,
Ministry Of Information And
Broadcasting, 9th Floor,
Soochna Bhawan, CGO Complex,
Lodhi Road, New Delhi - 110 003
Relevant dates emerging from the appeal:
RTI : 29.09.2018 FA : 01.11.2018 SA : 28.01.2019
CPIO : 15.10.2018 FAO : 28.11.2018 Hearing : 30.12.2020
The following were present:
Appellant: Shri M. Senthil Kumar participated in the hearing through video
conferencing from NIC Dindigul.
Respondent: Shri Pushpavant, CPIO/Asst. Press Registrar participated in the
hearing in person but contacted him on his telephone.
Page 1 of 7
CIC/RNIND/A/2019/104054
ORDER
Information sought:
The Appellant filed an RTI Application dated 29.09.2018 seeking information on the action taken report for the cancellation of RNI numbers of Amma Express (TNTAM/2015/65582) and Malarum Velanmai, an Agriculture Magazine (TNTAM/2014/60220) as these registered titles are being used in the Commission of cognizable offenses/job racket. He specifically sought the following information:
1) Provide the copy of action taken report by the District Collector/District Magistrate, Coimbatore U/S 8 (B) of PRB act pursuant to the communication addressed to the District Collector, Coimbatore vide Ref No: 22/121/2018-R3 dated August 13, 2018 and reminder on the same subject dated 11/9/2018 by the O/o Office of Registrar of Newspapers.
2) Provide the copy of the action taken report by the Deputy Registrar, Office of Registrar of Newspapers For India based on the report submitted by the District Collector/Magistrate, Coimbatore pursuant to the communication vide 22/121/2018-R3 dated August 13, 2018 from the Deputy Registrar, O/o the RNI, New Delhi.
3) Provide information as to whether the RNI numbers of Amma Express (TNTAM/2015/65582) and Malarum Velanmai (TNTAM/2014/60220) have been cancelled permanently in pursuant to the aforesaid proceedings in accordance with the statutory provisions as prescribed by the concerned public authorities of District Administration, Coimbatore and O/o Office of Registrar of Newspapers For India, since these registered titles are being used for wrong purpose in job racket in cheating and forgery and in commission of cognizable offenses.
4) Fake appointment orders of Government of Tamil Nadu are being printed in the offices of Amma Express and Malarum Velanmai and being distributed to the job seekers. Fake appointment order of Government of Tamil Nadu was sent from the e-mail id of Malarum Velanmai under the name of RahumanRejina ([email protected]) on 31.07.2015 to the job seeker and FIR vide Crime Number 89/2017 dated 11.11.2017 was registered at City Crime Branch, Coimbatore u/s IPC 120(b), 506(1), 406, 420, 468, 471 against owner of Amma Express and Malarum Velanmai M. Ka. Rahman (Accused 1), his first daughter Regina (Accused 2) and his wife Asma (Accused 3) for the criminal conspiracy, cheating and forgery. (Please note that IPC sections 468, 471 have been invoked for the transmission of forgery documents electronically for cheating). Provide Page 2 of 7 CIC/RNIND/A/2019/104054 information on the section of PRB act and other statutory provisions that can be invoked for the cancellation of RNI by the District Collector/District Magistrate, Coimbatore and O/o Office of Registrar of Newspapers For India for the said commission of cognizable offences.
5) FIR vide Crime Number 26/2017 dated 01.01.2017 was registered at District Crime Branch, Dindigul, Tamil Nadi for issuing fake appointment orders of Government of India u/s IPC 120(b), 506(1), 294 (b) 406, 420. Charge sheet vide No 345/2018 have been framed against owner of Amma Express and Malarum Velanmai M. Ka. Rahman (Accused1), his second daughter Sabeena (Accused2) and prosecution and trial of this criminal case is to begin shortly at the Honorable Sessions Court, Dindigul, Tamil Nadu. Provide the statutory provisions/PRB act that can be invoked for the cancellation of RNI as the registered titles are being used for cheating/forgery under the guise of journalists.
6) The registered title "Amma Express" was obtained on the name of former Honorable Chief Minister J. Jayalalitha and the same being misused for the purpose of cheating, forgery in job racket, threatening government servants for foisting false cases, money extortion and printing fake appointment orders of Government of Tamil Nadu/Government of India. Provide the information on the action to be taken by the public authority of State and Central Governments for the cancellation of RNI in accordance with the statutory provisions of PRB act/other mandatory provisions as prescribed within stipulated time limit pursuant to the lodging of said complaint from the petitioner in the Grievance Portal in this regard and provide information as to why the same being delayed for more than one year.
7) The owner of Amma Express and Malarum Velanmai M. Ka. Rahman (Accused1) has been recruiting people to be appointed as reporters all over Tamil Nadu using the registered titles of these magazines through advertisements in "Amma Express" and "Malarum Velanmai" and in the FACEBOOK PAGE under the name of RAHUMAAN RAHUMAAN. The persons thus recruited as reporters are reportedly being utilized as money collecting agents in all districts of Tamil Nadu in the job racket and they are on a looting spree again. Provide information as to how O/o Office of Registrar of Newspapers For India can help public and Government of Tamil Nadu in preventing the recurrence of this serious crime again through appropriate measures since number of families have been devastated by the accused through forgery and cheating.
8) The accused implicated in the aforesaid FIR's are suspected to have links with the banned terror outfits. Provide information as to how O/o Office of Registrar of Newspapers can invoke different sections of PRB act in the cancellation of RNI of the aforesaid magazines based on the said grounds.Page 3 of 7
CIC/RNIND/A/2019/104054 The CPIO vide letter dated 15.10.2018 provided point-wise information to the Appellant. Being dissatisfied, the Appellant filed a First Appeal dated 01.11.2018. The First Appellate Authority vide order dated 28.11.2018 upheld the CPIO's reply.
Grounds for Second Appeal:
The Appellant filed a Second Appeal u/s 19 of the Act on the ground of unsatisfactory reply furnished by the Respondent. He requested the Commission to direct the CPIO to provide complete information sought for.
Submissions made by Appellant and Respondent during Hearing:
The Appellant stated that he is not satisfied with the information provided by the Respondent public authority. He further stated that pursuant to his grievance petition dated 20.08.2018 filed before the O/o. the Registrar of Newspapers of India, M/o. Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, a communication was sent by Shri K. Barathwaj, Dy. Registrar alongwith a reminder to the District Collector, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu on 11.09.2018 to take appropriate action in accordance under Section 8(b) of the PRB Act for cancellation of declaration to be executed for further action to permanently cancel the RNI registration numbers of Amma Express (TNTAM/2015/65582-Tamil Weekly) and Malarum Velanmai (TNTAM/2014/60220-Tamil Monthly) forthwith since Editor of these journals Shri M. K. A. Rahuman and his family members under the guise of journalist have been involving in organized crime all over Tamil Nadu and Kerala. He furthermore stated that basing on his complaint addressed to the District Collector and District Revenue Officer, Coimbatore and to the Hon'ble Chief Minister Cell, Tamil Nadu dated 05.09.2018, the concerned public authorities of District Administration, Coimbatore had initiated appropriate proceedings for cancellation of declaration Page 4 of 7 CIC/RNIND/A/2019/104054 under Section 8(b) of PRB Act to effectuate permanent cancellation of RNI numbers on the aforesaid alleged magazines.
The Respondent submitted both the aforesaid titles i.e., 'Amma Express' and 'Malarum Velanmai' were verified by the RNI as Tamil Weekly on 14.01.2015 and Tamil Monthly on 09.11.2012 respectively. He further submitted that point- wise/para-wise reply/comments were provided to the Commission with a copy marked to the Appellant vide letter dated 22.12.2020. At the instance of the Commission as to whether any action has been taken by the Respondent in response to the Appellant's representation, he explained that a complaint against the owner/publisher of both 'Amma Express' and 'Malarum Velanmai', published from Coimbatore was filed before the District Collector/Magistrate, Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu on 11.09.2018.
A written submission has been received by the Commission from the Appellant vide letter dated 20.12.2020 wherein he has narrated the background for seeking the instant information from the Respondent public authority.
A written submission has been received by the Commission from Shri Harshit Narang, CPIO and Asst. Press Registrar vide letter dated 22.12.2020 wherein he has provided point-wise information to the Appellant.
Decision:
Upon perusal of the facts on record as well as on the basis of the proceedings during the hearing, the Commission observes that the Appellant is making an effort to bring it to the forefront the alleged illegal activities of Shri M.K.A. Rahuman, who is the owner/publisher/printer/editor of Amma Express' and 'Malarum Velanmai' respectively. The Commission further observes that the Respondent in Page 5 of 7 CIC/RNIND/A/2019/104054 its initial reply dated 15.10.2018 had provided a very concise reply, whereas the Respondent vide letter dated 22.12.2020 has provided detailed reply to the Commission with a copy marked to the Appellant.
Keeping in view of the said letter dated 22.12.2020, the Commission finds no further scope of intervention in the instant matter. With the above observations, the appeal is disposed of. Copy of the decision be provided free of cost to the parties.
The appeal, hereby, stands disposed of.
Amita Pandove (अिमता पांडव) Information Commissioner (सूचना आयु ) दनांक / Date: 04.01.2021 Authenticated true copy (अिभ मािणत स यािपत ित) B. S. Kasana (बी. एस. कसाना) Dy. Registrar (उप-पंजीयक) 011-26105027 Page 6 of 7 CIC/RNIND/A/2019/104054 Addresses of the parties:
1. The First Appellate Authority (FAA) Office of Registrar of Newspapers For India, Ministry of Information And Broadcasting, 9th Floor, Soochna Bhawan, CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi - 110003
2. The Central Public Information Officer Assistant Press Registrar NPCS PQRC, Office of Registrar of Newspapers For India, Ministry Of Information And Broadcasting, 9th Floor, Soochna Bhawan, CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi - 110 003
3. Mr. M Senthil Kumar Page 7 of 7