CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu State Information Commission (TNSIC), led by State Chief Information Commissioner Md Shakeel Akther, has ordered disciplinary proceedings against a Public Information Officer (PIO) for providing incorrect information to an appellant.

The order was passed during a hearing on a Non-Compliance petition filed by an appellant S Zahir Hussain.

The Commission had originally heard the case on April 22, 2024, and issued an order directing the concerned Public Information Officer - a sub registrar - to supply information under clause 3 to the appellant via registered post with acknowledgment. However, the appellant filed a non-compliance petition on July 30, 2025, stating that no information had been received from the PIO.

Hearings were scheduled for November 25, 2025. The appellant was present. On behalf of the public authority, P. Kannan, the Public Information Officer/Sub-Registrar, Sub-Registrar Office, Kayalpattinam, appeared before the Commission.

During the proceedings, the PIO submitted copies of a letter dated May 3, 2024, claiming the information had been sent to the appellant. The PIO also presented a copy of the postal acknowledgment as proof of delivery.

The Commission noted this evidence and informed the appellant that the ground of non-receipt cited in his petition could not be accepted, as proof of delivery was furnished.

Subsequently, the appellant contended that the information provided in the May 3, 2024, letter was itself incorrect. The Commission examined this claim.

It found that in response to the appellant's query regarding "Register of documents registered without patta," the PIO had informed the appellant that "no such register is maintained."

The Commission held this information to be false. It pointed out that maintaining the relevant register concerning the information sought is the duty of the PIO/Sub-Registrar.

Taking a serious view of the matter, the Commission has directed the Deputy Inspector General of Registration, Tirunelveli, to initiate departmental action against the concerned PIO, P. Kannan, Sub-Registrar, Kayalpattinam, for supplying false information.

The department has been ordered to submit an action-taken report to the Commission on or before January 31, 2026, either in person or through a representative.

Further, the Commission directed its office to forward relevant documents, including the appellant's original application and the PIO's May 3, 2024, reply, to the Deputy Inspector General of Registration, Tirunelveli, for necessary action.