Special cost for compiling records may be recovered, but an excessive information demand was reduced substantially.

Where requested information was not readily available in the form sought and had to be compiled from nearly 1,600 case files, the Registry could recover some special cost for the labour and administrative effort involved in collection and tabulation. The demand of additional cost of Rs. 6,83,340 was, however, found excessive on the facts and was not sustained in full. It was reduced to Rs. 5,000, in addition to the usual fee of Rs. 2 per page, because the special work undertaken justified only a limited recovery. The appellant therefore succeeded partly.

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Issues: Whether the demand of additional cost of Rs. 6,83,340 for supplying the requested information was justified, and what amount, if any, could be recovered towards the cost of collection and tabulation of the information.

Analysis: The requested information was not readily available in the form sought and had to be compiled by examining nearly 1600 case files. Two officials were deployed for about 15 days to collect and tabulate the data, and the exercise involved actual labour and administrative effort. At the same time, the amount demanded was found to be excessive in the circumstances, though some part of the cost was recoverable because the Registry had to undertake special work for furnishing the information within time.

Conclusion: The demand of Rs. 6,83,340 was not sustained in full and was reduced to Rs. 5,000, in addition to the usual fee of Rs. 2 per page. The appellant succeeded partly.

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