The High Court · 2025

ORDER Heard Sri R.Chandrashekar Reddy, learned courrsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner, learned Government Pleader for General Administration appearing on behalf of the respondent Nos.1 to 3 and the tearned Government Pleader for Information and 1: ,] 2 SN,J W.P. t ,.39547 of 2025 Technology appearing on behalf of the espondent Nos.4 and 5.

2.7 he etitioner a oroached the -Co,r rt seeki nq Draver as under: " ....to issue an order or orders more p. ticularly one in the nature of writ of mandamus, decl ring the action of the respondent state in not uplo:1ing the Government Orders (G.O.), Notifications, R rles and Circulars in official websites to keep them a z rrlable in the public domain is illegal, arbitrary ac i inst the principles of natural justice and also ac; inst the provisions of the Information Technology Act 005 and Consequently direct the respondents (a) To publish all the Government Orde-: (G.O.), Notifications, Rules and Circulars in the orf cial web Portals and updating the G.O.'s passec by the government to the public domain in Respond€r ts official website. b) To appoint a senior officer who shall be rr sponsible for promptly updating the government we ) ;ites and also ensure proper flow of content to the offrci rl sites of the respondent state besides updating ;r G.O.,s, Notifications, Rules and Circulars from time :, time as ) SN,' W.P.No.39547 of 2O25 and when issued by the respondent state and its departments and to pass such other order or orders as this Hon'ble Court may deem fit and proper in the interest of justice" 3 h ade in led b s etitio in suo ort of the o sent writ Detition is as under: i) The limited relieF as sought for by the petitioner in the present writ petition is a direction to the respondent State to upload and regularly update all Government Orders, notifications, rules, and circulars on official Government websites and to appoint responsible officers for the same. ii) Several important G.O.s are not available in the public domain and, as revealed under the RTI Act, out of 19,064 G.O.s issued during the relevant period, only 3,290 are available online. This non-disclosure violates the principles of transparency, good governance, and the mandate of the RTI ACt. :r 7 l i I I I l l I 4 SN,J W.P. 10.39547 ot 2025 iii) Despite G.O.Ms.No.4 dated 10.04.201 / and earlier directions of the Division Bench of this lourt dated 70.03.2022 passed in W.p.(pIL) No.121 (,t 2019, the respondents have failed to upload all G.(.s, thereby infringing the public,s right to know. Agqri, ,ved by the same, the petitioner approached this Court ry filing the present writ petition. 4, PERUSED THE RECORD A) T s t f tad i su 1 quidelines for uoloadinq all the Gov rdr rs on the official website based uDon the q idelln€ : issued trv h G ern en of ( An G.O. extracted hereunder: "GOVERNMENT OF TELANGANA ABS CT ITE&C Dept. - Digital Media _ Guidelines f: Indian Government websites (GIGW) - Compliance : I all the State Government entities in RFps, Lol:; Scope Statements, Requirements Specifications anrj all such documents while developing web_sites, portals, applications, MIS, Digital Dashboards and I ler such 5 SN,J W.P.No.39547 of 2025 online publications - Designating Digital Media wing, ITE&C Dept., as the Nodal Agency for GIGW - Orders - Issued. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, ELECTRONICS & COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT (Digital Media) G.O Ms. No.4 Dated :10 04.2017 Read th efo llowinq : -

1. Guidelines for Indian Government Websites (GIGW) formulated by National Informatics Centre (NIC) and adopted by Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pension, Government of India - web.guidelines.gov in 2. Central Secretariat Manual of Orficer Procedure ( 14th edition). 3. Interim orders dated W.P.No.29214 of 2015 of Judicature at Madras.

09. 12.2016 High Court IN ORDER: Realising the importance of World Wide Web as the most widely used medium for implementation of e-governance initiatives, Telangana Government and its entities were one of the first in the country to have come up with large number of web/online applications to ensure maximum reach of government information and services to the citizens. However, very soon a I I 6 SN.J W.P t 0.39547 of 2025 set of sa b ility, need was fell for an overarching commc I standards from technical editorial accessibility and administrative standpoints. 2. In February, 2009, National InFormatic; Centre (NIC) has formulated Guidelines for Indian Government Websites (GIGWI in accordan: : to the internationally accepted standards to ensurC that the websites belonging to any constituent of the government of any level are user friendly, s: :ure and easy to maintain. 3. Compliance to GIGW will en; I te the departments to enhance the quality of onlin: tlelivery of information and services and also en; rre high degree of consistency and uniformity In the management of government presence in he web space. 4. The said Guidelines were adop:ed by Department of Administrative Reforms a-r j public Grievances (DARPG), Ministry of personne , public Grievances & Pension. Government of Inc,i,t and the same have been included in the Central S( cretariat Manual of Office procedures (CSMOP). pz r I 63 of CSMOP on Maintenance of Websites, reads a:; .ollows: 'All Central N4 in istries/Depa rtments/Offices/pSU s should have a Website containing uprt rted da talinformation in compliance witl- lhe Guidelines of Government of I rdia Websites (GIGW) available on the wel), ites of Department of Electronics & Inforrr; :ron Technology (www.deitv. nic_ in) and of the Department of Administrative Reforrr; & Public Grievances ( www.da rOO.nic.ir nodal officer should be appointed fo. the purpose and the Website uc,l rted regularly." Govern r- ent 7 SN,J W.P.No.39547 of 2025

5. The Union Government from time to time have been writing to the State Governments to ensure that all the websites under their purview also conform to GIGW. Hon'ble High Court of Judicature at l'ladras also directed the Union Government to ensure all the Government websites to get GIGW-compliant. In pursuant to the interim orders of Hon'ble 6. High Court of Judicature at Madras in the reference 3 read above and advisories from Union Government, the IT,E&C Department has undertaken GIGW Compliance Project (GCP) to make all the existing websites GIGW-comPliant. 7. Government, after careful examination, hereby order that all on-going and future websites/porta ls of Departments, HoDs and other State Government entities shall comply to GIGW. In this regard, the constituent of State Government developing website or portal shall mandatorily include GlGW-Compliance as part of its RFPS, Lols, scope statements, Requirements Specifications and all such documents Glcw-compliance shall run through entire life cycle of project management and this shall apply to later improvements, extensions, modifications to the website/portal, if anY. 8. All the Departments, HoDs and other State Government entities shall appoint a senior officer as Web Information Manager whose role would be to ensure that there is a proper flow of content to the site and that content quality and user satisfaction issues are taken care of. 9. The Digital Medla Wing of IT,E&C Department will act as the Nodal Agency to all the requests for assistance with regard to the Glcw-compliance and other website/portal related issues The IT,E&C Department shall also conduct sesslons for capacity I 8 SN.J W.P I 0.39547 of 2025 building/ knowledge transfer and for the init t I phases of pro]ect management shall hand-hold t1e Web Information Managers in making their webs t t/ portal compliant to GIGW. 10. Though the term website or portal rs used in this document for the convenience. of wrlj ,ng, the same applies to all the Web Applications. Ma.1 rgement Information Systems, Digital Dashboards or ny such online publication on the web space. 11. This G.O. is applicable to all t. I State Government Departments/Organisations/ Societies/ PSUs/ Corporations/ Companies and other entities using websites/portals. 12. A copy of this order is available on Int( -net and can be accessed at address,' oir.telan ana.c ( v. in ". (BY ORDER AND IN THE NAME OF"]'I IE GOVERNOR OF TELANGANA) JAYESH RANJAN PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO GOVE {MENT" B) The relevant portaon of the Davision E ench order this Cou 1().03 ,2 22 ,asse IN W.P.(PIL).N .12 1 of 2O19 is xtracte her E under: "ln the light of the aforesaid, as there rr already a Government Order for uploading of Gc\:rnment Orders in the official websites of different dei) ftments 9 SN,J w.P.No.39547 of 2025 of the State of Telangana, the State Government is directed to follow its own Government Order i.e., G.O.Ms.No.4, dated 10.04.2017 and in case some of the Government Orders have not been uploaded, the same be uploaded positively within a period of eight weeks from today, " DISCUSSION AND CONC LUSION:

5. It is represented by the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner that the issue in the present writ petition is squarely covered by the Division Bench order of this Court dated 10.03.2022 passed in W.P.(Public Interest Litigation) No.121 of 2079 and hence, the present writ petition may be disposed of in terms of the aforesaid order.

6. Learned Government Pleader for General Administration appearing on behalf of the respondent Nos.1 to 3 does not dispute the saici submission made by the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner.

7. A bare perusal of G.O.Ms.No.4 dated 01.O4'2017 indicates that the Government has taken a decision by issuing the aforesaid Government Order to upload all the ,-.n' I 10 SN,J W.P,l 0.39547 ol 2025 Government Orders on the official website an( to appoint a nodal ofFicer for this matter in each and every (l )partment. A. TAK G INTO CONSIDERATION: IN a) The aforesaid facts and circumsta r :es of the case, b) The submissions made by the learr 3d counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner and . he learned Government Pleader for General Adr rinistration appearing on behalf of the respondents, c) The contents of the G.O.Ms.Nc ,4, dated LO.O4.2OI7 (referred to and extracted abov e), d) The relevant portion of the Division 3 ench order of this Court dated LO.O3.2O22 passed irl w.P.(PrL) No.121 of 2019 (referred to and extracted ; bove), e) The discussion and conclusion as arrived at paragraph Nos.s to 7 of the saad order, The writ Detition is disDo dofint, :'ms of the Division Bench order of this C urt dated ..o.()3.2022 11 SN,J W,P.No.39547 of 2O25 d in W.P.(PIL) .No.121 of 2O19. As therets ru lo n t e n td el, art ents of the State o Tela noana o Government o ers in the offacia I websit sof State Governm nt is directed to follow its own Governme nt Order !.e 10.o4.2OL7 and ln case some of he Government Orders had not been uoload ed. the same be uoload ed Dositivelv within a Deriod of eiqht(8) weeks from G. O.Ms.No.4. todav. However, there shall be o order as to costs. Miscellaneous petitions, if any, pending in this Writ Petition, shall stand closed. //TRUE COPY'/ sD/- A.SREENIVASA REDDY / -- ASSISTANT REGISTRAR / (t- SECTION OFFICER To, State of Telangana'

1. The Chief Secretary, Dr. B.R.Ambedkar Secretariat Building' Hyderabad' 2. fhe Principal Secretary' General' Administration Department' Dr. B. R.Ambed rt" s""'"tl'i'i'euitoin j' Hyae rabad' State of Telan gana' 3 The Princip,l S"t'"t"ty' e*-Officio Secreta'y^' I &^!R General Administration (s er. A) Department, c/"' il;Jil;b"d rai Secretariat B uild ing' -:::-11" 4 rhe P ri nci p,r I "9Pqv' c?o:r'sl"3l "ll^Tffi:':lJ" #"?1131; F' ff'l|ffi . TlleJauli: ,nrormation officer and Assistant.secretary to Government' lrE&c Department, C/o' Dr' B 'dliffi;i;; secretariat Buildins' Hvderabad' 6 One CC to SRI nnrt'rnVnnnVr CHANDRASHEKAR REDDY' Advocate ,. ltJJ;l' to GP FoR GENERAL ADMlNlsrRArloN' High court for the state ' and Communications' at HYderabad TOUTI "if"6tsr"a,

8. Two CCs to GP FOR INFORMATION & TECHNOLOC' , High Court for the State of Telangana at Hyderabad [OUT]

9. Two CD Copies / (Along with the copy of order dated 10.03.2022, in W.P.(t lL).No.l21 of 2019) BSR TKS Yv HIGH COURT DATED: 2311212025 \ \ CC TODAY ORDER WP.No.39547 ot 2025 b, g I"t oo { \ * t $ t APfl $fl * c q DISPOSING OF THE WRIT PETITION, WITHOUT COSTS \3 .rf,4 S$" y'; THE HON'BLE TTIE CHIEF JUSTICE SATISH CHAI{DRA SHAR!'IA AND THE HON 'BLE SRI JUSTICE AEHINAND KUMAR SHAVILI WRIT PETITION IPILI No.121 of 2Ol9 ORDER: Per the Ho^'bte the Chief Justice Sotish chandrc Shoma) The present public interest litigation has been filed by the petitioner, who is a social activist, stating that the State of Telangana is not uploading the Government Orders on the oflicial website of the State Government. He has stated that the State itself has issued G.O.Ms.No.4, dated lO.O4.2Ol7 providing guidelines for uploading all the Government Orders on the oflicial website based upon the guidelines issued by the Government of India. G.O.Ms.No.4, dated 10.04.20 17 reads as under: "GOVERITMENT OF TEL,IINGANA ABSTR^ET ITE&C Dept. Digrtal Media Guidelines for Indian Government wcbsites (GIGWI - Complialce by all the State Government entities in RFPS, Lols, ScoPe Statements, Requirements Specifrcations and all such documents while developing web-srtes, portals, applications, MIS, Digital Dashboards and other such online publications - Designating Digitat Media wing, ITE&C Dept., as the Nodal Agency for GIGW - Orders - Issued. TIIFORXATIOi AECHIIOI'GY, ELRCTROIIICS & COIII I'NICITIOIf DEPARI (Digital Medial "EII| C.O.Ms.Na1! Dated:1O.O4.2017 Read the following:- 2 Guidehnes for Indian Covernment ,\ -'bsites L (GIGW) formulated by National Informatics Cent I {NIC) and adopted by Departmcnt of Administrative I :Iorms and Public Grievances (DARPG), Ministry of P, r ronnel, Public Grievances & Pension, Government ol ildia web.guidelines gov.in

2. (14'h edition). Central Secretariat Manual o[ Offrcer Fr cedure lnterim orders dated 09.12,2C I r 3. W.P.No.29214 of 2Ol5 of High Court of Jr.rdi, r .ure at Madras. ORDER Realising the importance of World Wide Web as t widely used medium for implementatron oI e-g< r rnitiatives, Telangana Government and its entities \r,€ r the flrst in the country to have come up with large rL web/onllne applications to ensure maximum government information and services to the cltizens. I very soon a need was fell for an overarching comm: standards from technical editorial usabilitl,, accessi ) administrative standpoints. rri most 'rnance one of nber of rr:h of L Set of ity and kr February, 2009, National Informatics Cer,t e (NIC) 2. has formulated Guidelines for lndian Covernmen t /cbsites (GIGWI in accordance to the intemationally accepte(l ir rndards to ensure that the websites belonging to any constitu_- t o[ the government of any level are user friendly, secure a.C easy to maintain. 3- Compliance to GIGW will enable the depar r ents to enhance the quality of online delivery of informirl on and services and also ensure high degree of consisti cy and uniformity in the management of government preser( ' in the web space.

4. The said Guidelines were adopted by Del)ar nent of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievancc-" )ARpc), Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & )ension, Government of lndia and the same have been inclu,l, i in the Central Secretariat Manual of Ofhce Procedures (CSI\lr t'), para 63 of CSMOP on Marntenance of Websites' reads as ,b I ws: Central 'All Govern r :nt Ministries/ Departments/Oflices/ pSUs should t rve a Website containing updated data/informati( )r n compliance with the Guidelines of Governnrco of India Websites (GIGW) availabte on the website of t. !:+, is' TI l.lt;r; i 4' 3 Department of Electronics Technolory Department of Administrative Grievances (www.darpg.nic.in) should be appointed for the Website updated regularty." & Information and of Reforms & Public A nodal officer purpose and the The Union Government from time to time have been 5. writing to the State Governments to ensure that all the websites under their purview also conform to GICw. Hon'ble Hi8h Court ofJudicature at Madras also dlrected the Union Government to ensure all the Government websites to get Glcw-comPliant.

6. In pursuant to thc rnterim orders of Hon'ble High Court of Judicature at Madras in the reference 3 read above and advisories from Union Govemment, the IT,E-&C Department has undertaken GIGIV Compliance Project {GCP) to make all the existinB websites GIGW-compliant.

7. Govemment, after careful examination, hereby order that alt on-golng and future websites / portals o[ Departments, HoDs and other State Government entities shall comPly to GIOW. In this regard, the constituent of State Government developing website or portal shatt mandatorily include GIGW- Compliance as part of its RFPS, tols, Scope Statements, Requirements Speciltcations and all such documents GIGW- compliance shall run through entire life cycte of Project mana8ement and this shall apply to later improvements, extensions, modifications to the wcbsite/portal, if any.

8. Alt the Departments, HoDs and other State Government entities shall appoint a senior ofllcer as Web lnformation Manager whose role would be to ensure that there is a proper flow of content to the slte and that content quality and user satlsfaction issues are taken care of.

9. The Digital Media wing of IT,E&C Department will act as thc Nodal Agency to all the requests for assistance with regard to the Glcw-comphance and other website/portal related issues- The lT,E&C Department shall also conduct sessions for capacity building/ knowledge transfer and for the initial Phases of project management shall harld-hold the Web Information Managers in maling their website/ Portal compliant to GIGW. 10. Though the term website or portal is used in this document for the convenrence of writin8, the salne applies to all the Web Applications, Management Information Systems, Digital Dashboards or any such online Publication on the web sPace. 1l. This G.O, is applicable to all the State Government Departments/Organisations/ Societies/ PSUs/ Corporations/ Companies and other entlties usirtg websites / portals. I i { t- i B 4 12 A copy of this order is available on [nternet arc can be accessed at address goir. telanRana.qov. in". IBY ORDER AI{D II{ THE IIAIIE OF THE COVERIIOR OF TELA I ANA) JAYESH RAT{JAN PRINCIPAL SECR"ETARY TO GOVEIII MENT" The aforesaid Government Order makes it ve l clear that the Government has taken a decision by issuing rl e aforesaid Government Order to upload all the Government C r lers on the official website and a nodal officer has to be appo rted in the matter in each and every department. In the light of the aforesaid, as there rs already a Government Order for uploading of Government () ders in the official websites of different departments of rl I State of Telangana, the State Government is directed to fo. ow its own Government Order i.e., G.O.Ms.No.4, dated 1O.O4 1Ol7 and in case some of the Government Orders have not bee r uploaded, the same be uploaded positively within a period ot :ight weeks from today. With the aforesaid, the pubtic interest litillr tron stands disposed of. I i E F E r I t ! ,lf*i, fT il'+i i: , 'li i' :: l {. .' 'J 5 Miscellaneous applications pending, if any, shall stand closed. There shall be no order as to costs. SATISH CHAITDRA STIAR}IA, C.' ABHINAITD KUMAR SIIAVILI, J to.o3.2022 ES t t r t' I t i I : I I j ;} r i 1 !'1'l .{ l r