The RTI Act 2005 mandates that Public Information Officers must respond within 30 days. Failure to do so without reasonable cause can result in penalties of up to ₹25,000.
🔴 This is Not Just Delay - It's Dereliction of Duty
When government officials ignore RTI requests, they're not just breaking the law - they're:

Undermining transparency
Denying citizens their fundamental right to information
Showing contempt for democratic accountability

Setting a dangerous precedent for other civic bodies

📢 First Appeal Filed:
The appellant, C. Murugaiyan, has now filed a First Appeal before the Appellate Authority/Commissioner of TCMC. The ball is now in the Commissioner's court to:

Direct the PIO to furnish the requested information
Consider penalty proceedings against the negligent officer
Restore public faith in the RTI system

💭 Questions We Must Ask:

Why is TCMC's PIO avoiding this RTI request?

What information is being withheld?
Is this a one-off case or a pattern of non-compliance?
Will the Appellate Authority hold the PIO accountable?

🎯 What Citizens Can Do:

File appeals when PIOs don't respond
Document all correspondence
Escalate to State Information Commission if appeals fail
Demand accountability from elected representatives

Transparency is not a favor - it's our right. Silence is not an option - it's a violation.