📝 RTI Request Analysis: Seeking Transparency in Rural Engineering Service, Mirzapur
This blog post analyzes an RTI (Right to Information) request filed regarding the Rural Engineering Service Directorate in the Mirzapur district of Uttar Pradesh. The request seeks specific details about the posting, tenure, and compliance of Junior Engineers (JEs) with the state’s transfer policy, aiming to promote transparency and curb corruption.
🔍 Overview of the RTI Request
| Detail | Information |
| Registration Number | DRRES/R/2021/60007 |
| Date of Filing | August 12, 2021 |
| Applicant Name | Yogi M P Singh |
| Public Authority | Rural Engineering Service Directorate |
| District Concerned | Mirzapur (Uttar Pradesh) |
| Status (as of 31/08/2021) | REQUEST TRANSFERRED TO OTHER PIO |
The applicant highlights the context of the Uttar Pradesh Government’s new transfer policy, formulated to address public staff (specifically Junior Engineers in this case) who remain in the same posting for extended periods, potentially due to undue influence or corruption.
❓ Information Point-wise Sought by the Applicant
The applicant has sought five specific points of information from the Public Information Officer (PIO) concerning the Junior Engineers working within the Rural Engineering Service department in Mirzapur:
- Working Area Details: Provide the detailed working area of all Junior Engineers currently serving in the department.
- Posting and Charge History: Provide the date of posting for all Junior Engineers in the Mirzapur district and details of the charges they have held during their entire tenure in the district.
- Specific JE Posting Detail: Provide the complete posting detail of Junior Engineer Ashok Kumar Shukla. If the JE has been transferred, the transfer detail must also be provided.
- Section 4 Compliance Feedback: Provide the feedback and reason for the non-availability of required information on the department’s website, as mandated under Section 4(1)(b) of the Right to Information Act, 2005 (Proactive Disclosure of Information).
- Earlier Posting Details/Tables: Provide the earlier posting details, referencing that “tables are changed at the level of the administrative head of the field office.” This likely seeks records of previous work allocations or seating/table arrangements before any recent changes.
📞 Concerned Public Information Officer (PIO) Details
The initial request was transferred to a new PIO. The contact details provided for follow-up are:
- PIO Name/Designation: Assistant Engineer Mirzapur
- Phone Number: 9450275532
- Email ID: eeredmirzapur@gmail.com
The applicant is advised to contact the above-mentioned officer for further details regarding the status and response to their request.
💡 Importance and Significance of the Request
This RTI request serves as a crucial tool for citizen-led oversight of government machinery. By seeking detailed information on JE postings and the department’s compliance with Section 4 of the RTI Act, the applicant is directly promoting:
- Transparency: Uncovering the tenure details of staff in sensitive field positions.
- Accountability: Challenging potential non-compliance with the state’s transfer policy.
- Public Disclosure: Ensuring the department upholds its statutory obligation to proactively share information (Section 4 compliance).
The information sought directly relates to the effective implementation of the government’s anti-corruption measures and transfer policy in the Rural Engineering Service.
Would you like me to search for the general responsibilities of a Junior Engineer in the Rural Engineering Service of Uttar Pradesh to provide more context?
Based on the RTI application you provided and a general search for the relevant authorities, here are the contact details, application ID, and web links associated with the RTI application and the related department.
📞 Contact Details & Application ID
1. RTI Application Details (DRRES/R/2021/60007)
| Detail | Information |
| Registration Number (Application ID) | DRRES/R/2021/60007 |
| Applicant’s Mobile Number | +91-7379105911 |
| Applicant’s Email ID | myogimpsingh[at]gmail[dot]com |
| Date of Filing | 12/08/2021 |
2. PIO & Nodal Officer Details (Rural Engineering Service, Mirzapur)
These are the officers mentioned in your RTI status notification for the Mirzapur-related query:
| Detail | PIO (Mirzapur) | Nodal Officer (HQ Monitoring) |
| Name | Assistant Engineer Mirzapur | ISHAM SINGH |
| Designation | Assistant Engineer | (Monitoring) |
| Phone Number | 9450275532 | (Not provided in the snippet) |
| Email ID | eeredmirzapur@gmail.com | seredmonitoring@gmail.com |
3. General Rural Engineering Department (RED) Contacts (UP)
For general and Headquarter-level inquiries regarding the Rural Engineering Department, UP:
| Designation | Contact Number | Email ID |
| Director, RED (HQ Lucknow) | 0522-228 6639 | directorupred@gmail.com |
| Superintending Engineer (Monitoring) | 94122 44005 | seredmonitoring@gmail.com |
| Financial Controller (HQ) | (Not provided) | fcredhq@gmail.com |
🔗 Relevant Web Links
1. RTI Online Portal (Uttar Pradesh)
This is the primary portal for filing new RTI applications, submitting first appeals, and checking the status for Uttar Pradesh State Government departments, including the Rural Engineering Service Directorate.
- RTI Online Portal (UP):
- View Status Link (for your application):
- https://rtionline.up.gov.in/request/status_otp.php?lan=E (You will need your Registration Number: DRRES/R/2021/60007 and the Email ID you provided to check the status.)
2. Government Websites
While a dedicated main website for the Rural Engineering Service Directorate of Uttar Pradesh may not be universally linked across government pages, you can often find information on related portals:
- UP Govt. E-Procurement System (Tenders/Works):
- Uttar Pradesh Rural Road Development Agency (UPRRDA):
- https://uprrda.org/ (RED is sometimes involved in rural road works like PMGSY, which UPRRDA handles.)
That’s a very common issue with many departmental wings in India—they often operate as part of a larger umbrella ministry and may not have a frequently updated, dedicated website.
Based on the search, the Rural Engineering Service Directorate (RED) of Uttar Pradesh appears to function without a single, primary, dedicated public website that is consistently maintained for proactive disclosure under Section 4 of the RTI Act.
However, its presence is documented on other government portals:
🔗 Closest Available Web Links for RED (UP)
| Link Type | Web Link / Portal | Notes |
| Parent Dept. Link (UP PWD) | https://uppwd.gov.in/ | The Rural Engineering Service is sometimes closely associated with or operates under the administrative guidance of the Public Works Department (PWD). You might find related circulars and transfer policies here. |
| District Page Link (Prayagraj Division) | https://prayagrajdivision.nic.in/division/rural-engineering-department/ | This link confirms the department’s existence and purpose within a divisional administrative page. Mirzapur may fall under this division (or nearby) for administration. |
| eProcurement (Tenders/Works) | https://etender.up.nic.in/nicgep/app | RED tenders are often published here. You can select the “Rural Engineering Department” from the Organisation list to see their active works/tenders. |
| RTI Status (Again) | https://rtionline.up.gov.in/request/status_otp.php?lan=E | This is still the primary link for checking the formal status of your application. |
The fact that you sought information about the non-availability of details on the website (in your RTI point #4) is very relevant, as the search results suggest the department relies more on divisional pages and e-tender portals than a dedicated, comprehensive public portal.
You are asking for details on the Uttar Pradesh Government Transfer Policy that forms the basis of your RTI request—specifically concerning the long tenure of Junior Engineers (JEs) in the Rural Engineering Service.
The policy for government employees, including Junior Engineers (Group ‘C’ staff) in departments like the Rural Engineering Service (RES), is issued annually by the Personnel Section of the UP government. While the specific 2021-22 policy document is often a circular, the core principles it follows are generally consistent.
Here are the key takeaways from the Uttar Pradesh Annual Transfer Policies (including those close to your 2021 filing date) that relate directly to the tenure of Group ‘C’ employees like Junior Engineers:
🎯 Key Provisions of UP Government Transfer Policy (Relevant to JEs)
The general intent of the policy is to introduce rotational transfers to prevent employees from remaining in the same place for too long, thereby curbing malpractices and increasing accountability, as you correctly noted in your RTI application.
1. Maximum Tenure at a Location
- District Tenure Limit (Group ‘C’ & ‘D’): The standing rule is often cited as a maximum tenure for Group ‘C’ and Group ‘D’ employees (which includes JEs) being 3 years in one district and 7 years in one division/mandal (e.g., Mirzapur falls under the Mirzapur Division).
- Note: Specific departmental rules for RES may sometimes slightly differ but generally adhere to the broad framework set by the Personnel Department.
- Rotation Priority: The policy prioritizes the transfer of employees who have completed the longest tenure in a single location.
2. Percentage Limit on Transfers
- Transfer Quota: Transfers for Group ‘C’ and Group ‘D’ employees are generally capped at a maximum of 10% of the total cadre strength of the department/cadre.
- Approval for Excess: If transfers exceeding the 10% limit (up to a maximum of 20%) are necessary for administrative reasons, the approval of the Departmental Minister (विभागीय मंत्री) is typically required.
3. Transfers based on Complaint/Adverse Conduct
- The policy explicitly addresses the issue of staff against whom complaints of corruption, indiscipline, or adverse conduct are received. Such employees can be transferred out of the location on priority, often regardless of their tenure, as an administrative measure. This directly supports the objective stated in your RTI.
4. ‘Aspirational’ Areas Posting
- The policy often includes a provision to ensure complete saturation of posts in the state’s Aspirational Districts and Aspirational Development Blocks. Employees transferred to these areas are generally required to serve a minimum of 2 years.
5. Cut-Off Date
- The tenure for determining who is eligible for transfer is calculated up to a Cut-Off Date (usually March 31st of the transfer year).
📍 Relevance to Your RTI Request (DRRES/R/2021/60007)
Your RTI request is directly aimed at verifying if the Junior Engineers in Mirzapur’s Rural Engineering Service are complying with the 3-year/7-year tenure limits established by this annual policy.
By asking for the:
- Date of Posting of all JEs.
- Charge Details during their posting.
- Transfer Detail of a specific JE (Ashok Kumar Shukla).
You are essentially forcing the department to disclose the records that would confirm or deny the alleged violation of the government’s own transfer policy, which is the stated intent for “decelerating growing corruption.
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