🚨Transparency Issues in Mirzapur’s Medical Health: Citizen Appeals to UP Information Commission Over Information Blackout

Transparency issues in Mirzapur’s Medical Health department have left an RTI applicant without answers for months. Despite repeated follow-ups, the applicant has faced persistent delays and a lack of clarity regarding the status of their request. The case has drawn attention to the broader concerns about accountability within the department, raising questions about the handling of public information and the rights of citizens to access it. As the timeline unfolds, it becomes evident that this situation is not isolated, revealing potential systemic flaws in the way health-related information is managed. Citizens are increasingly frustrated by the barriers they face when seeking essential details about public health initiatives, which underscores the urgent need for reform and enhanced transparency in the administration of health services in the region.

Second Appeal Filed For Transparency Issues in Mirzapur’s Medical Health

To start, the ongoing transparency issues in Mirzapur’s Medical Health department have pushed one citizen to take his case to the state’s highest information watchdog. Yogi M P Singh has filed a formal Second Appeal with the Uttar Pradesh Information Commission (UPIC). In particular, the appeal accuses both the Public Information Officer (PIO) and the First Appellate Authority (FAA) in the Medical Health and Family Welfare Department, Mirzapur, of ignoring the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005.

As a result, Singh says the authorities’ silence shows “insolence to the provisions of the right to information act 2005.” In fact, he goes further and calls it an act “tantamount to anarchy.” Naturally, this case adds to a growing list of complaints about how public bodies in Uttar Pradesh handle citizen information requests.

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Why Transparency Issues in Mirzapur’s Medical Health Matter

Before diving into the timeline, it helps to understand why this case carries weight beyond one applicant’s frustration. First, the Medical Health and Family Welfare Department manages public resources, staff postings, and health services for an entire district. Therefore, when the department withholds basic posting and transfer records, it raises real questions about how those resources get managed behind closed doors.

Moreover, the RTI Act exists specifically to prevent this kind of opacity. So, when a public authority ignores its obligations under the Act — as this case alleges — it undermines the broader promise of accountable governance. In other words, the transparency issues in Mirzapur’s Medical Health department aren’t just a paperwork dispute. Instead, they touch on whether ordinary citizens can hold their local health administration to account at all.

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📅 Timeline of Non-Compliance (Transparency Issues in Mirzapur’s Medical Health)

First, Singh documented each step carefully. Overall, the record shows a consistent pattern: the authorities took no action.

Step	Date of Application	Authority	Response/Status
RTI Application (Section 6(1))	21-08-2024	CMO, Mirzapur (PIO)	Status: REQUEST TRANSFERRED (as of 09/09/2024); in short, no information provided.
First Appeal (Section 19(1))	20-10-2024	AD, Mirzapur (FAA)	Status: RTI APPEAL RECEIVED (as of 20/10/2024), but “there is no answer.”
Second Appeal (Section 19(3))	24-11-2024	UP Information Commission	Consequently, filed due to total lack of response from both authorities.

Indeed, Singh argues that a “REQUEST TRANSFERRED” status without any follow-up amounts to non-entertainment of the RTI application. Meanwhile, the FAA’s complete silence, he adds, undermines the entire appeal process. Altogether, this three-month gap between the original request and the Second Appeal illustrates just how slowly — or not at all — the system responded.

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❓ Information Sought Under RTI

To begin with, Singh filed the original RTI application (Registration No. DIRMH/R/2024/61573) to obtain public-interest data on employee postings and transfer-policy compliance within the department. In particular, he sought:

1. Posting Details of Class I & II Employees: for example, date of joining in Mirzapur district, length of posting, first posting location, and CUG mobile numbers.
2. Posting Details of Class III Employees: likewise, date of joining the district, other posting details, and records of transfers from other districts.
3. Posting Details of Class IV Employees: in addition, posting and service-commencement details, including inter-district transfers.
4. Transfer Policy Compliance: finally, whether the state government’s new transfer policy is being followed, plus a step-by-step account of the department’s efforts.

In addition, Singh attached a copy of the new transfer policy to the Second Appeal. Consequently, he is asking the Commission to weigh this document during the relief process. Notably, none of these four requests involve sensitive personal data — they concern routine administrative records that, under Section 4 of the RTI Act, many public authorities are supposed to proactively disclose anyway.

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🗣️ Appellant’s Core Allegations and Prayer

In summary, throughout the appeal, Singh makes a strong case for the RTI Act’s original purpose:

“The Right to information act 2005 was introduced by the government of India to promote transparency and accountability in the working of the public authorities… but it is most unfortunate no public authority wants to disclose the information to the information seekers.”

Ultimately, he blames rampant corruption for the stonewalling. In his view, public authorities are “diluting the provisions of the right to information act 2005 by hatching conspiracy against the act.” Additionally, he frames the department’s silence not as bureaucratic oversight but as a deliberate strategy to avoid scrutiny.

Relief Sought in case of Transparency Issues in Mirzapur’s Medical Health

First and foremost, Singh’s primary request under Section 19(3) is straightforward: the Commission should order the department to hand over the requested information. Beyond that, he wants the Commission to take “harsh steps against the wrongdoer” — a move he hopes will curb arbitrary withholding of public services and strengthen democratic accountability.

Currently, the appeal awaits a hearing before the Chief Information Commissioner and the Companion Information Commissioners. Meanwhile, similar complaints from other applicants across Uttar Pradesh suggest that the transparency issues in Mirzapur’s Medical Health department may reflect a wider pattern rather than an isolated incident.

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⚖️ RTI Appeal Structure: Key Provisions Explained

To understand the case fully, it helps to know that the RTI Act, 2005 sets up a three-tier appeal mechanism. In short, here is how each stage applies to Singh’s case.

1. Section 6(1): Request for Information

This is the first step, and to begin, any citizen can submit a written or electronic request to the PIO of the relevant public authority.

• Time limit for the PIO: 30 days to provide the information or reject the request with valid reasons under Section 8 or 9.
• In this case: Singh filed his request on 21-08-2024 with the CMO, Mirzapur. Yet the PIO did not respond within the deadline.

2. Section 19(1): First Appeal

However, if the PIO fails to respond — or gives an unsatisfactory answer — the applicant can escalate. In particular, this appeal goes to the First Appellate Authority (FAA) within the same public authority, generally within 30 days of the PIO’s decision or the expiry of the response window.

• Time limit for the FAA: 30 days to issue an order (45 days in exceptional cases).
• In this case: Singh filed the First Appeal on 20-10-2024 with the AD, Mirzapur. Once again, the FAA never issued a response, and as a result, the case moved to the next stage.

3. Section 19(3): Second Appeal

Ultimately, this is the final step. If the FAA’s order is unsatisfactory — or, as here, never arrives — the applicant can then file a Second Appeal with the State or Central Information Commission. In fact, this must happen within 90 days of when the FAA’s decision was due (or actually received).

At this stage, the Commission holds real power. For instance, it can:

• First, order the department to release the information.
• Also, award compensation to the appellant.
• Finally, fine the PIO for unreasonable or malicious delay (up to ₹25,000).

In this case: Singh filed the Second Appeal on 24-11-2024 with the UPIC, citing non-compliance by both the PIO and the FAA. So, the case now sits at this final stage.

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What’s Next for Transparency Issues in Mirzapur’s Medical Health

Looking ahead, the Commission’s decision on this case will matter beyond Singh’s individual request. Specifically, if the Commission penalizes the PIO or orders swift disclosure, it would send a clear signal that departments cannot simply sit on RTI requests indefinitely. On the other hand, if the case drags on without resolution, it would reinforce concerns that transparency issues in Mirzapur’s Medical Health department — and similar bodies across the state — face little real consequence for non-compliance.

Either way, this case is worth watching. After all, it tests whether the RTI Act’s enforcement mechanisms actually work as intended when a public authority chooses silence over disclosure.

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✉️ Contact Details for U.P. Information Commission (UPIC)

Detail	Contact Information
Official Address	7/7A, RTI Bhawan, Vibhuti Khand, Gomti Nagar, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, PIN Code – 226010
General Office Phone	0522-2724930
Official Website	https://upsic.up.gov.in/
General Commission Email	webmaster-upic[at]up[dot]gov[dot]in
PIO, UPIC (Email)	jansu-section[dot]upic[at]up[dot]gov[dot]in

Contacts Mentioned in the Appeal

Authority	Name	Mobile Number	Email ID
Appellant	Yogi M P Singh	7379105911	yogimpsingh@gmail.com
PIO (Respondent 1)	CMO Mirzapur	9454455171	cmomzp@gmail.com
FAA (Respondent 2)	AD Mirzapur	8005192626	admhmzp1@gmail.com

Medical Health and Family Welfare Department, Mirzapur

Detail	Contact Information
Official Website	https://www.up-health.in/
Alternate Portals	https://mis.dgmhup.in/ (DGMIS Portal), https://upnrhm.gov.in/ (NHM U.P.)
Department Email	janhithealthup@gmail.com
Department Phone	0522-4150500
Address	Public Health Department, Raja Nawab Ali Marg, Qaisar Bagh, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226001

Key Political Head

Currently, Deputy Chief Minister Shri Brajesh Pathak oversees this department. In particular, his portfolio covers Medical Education, Medical Health, Family Welfare, and Mother and Child Welfare.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main transparency issues in Mirzapur’s Medical Health department? So far, the biggest issue is the department’s failure to respond to a legitimate RTI request about employee postings and transfer-policy compliance, even after the applicant escalated through both the PIO and First Appellate Authority stages.

Who filed the Second Appeal, and when? Yogi M P Singh filed the Second Appeal with the UP Information Commission on 24-11-2024, after receiving no meaningful response for three months.

What penalties can the Commission impose? Under Section 19(3), the Commission can order disclosure, award compensation, and fine the PIO up to ₹25,000 for unreasonable or malicious delay.e the PIO up to ₹25,000 for unreasonable or malicious delay.Medical Health, Family Welfare, and Mother and Child Welfare. Education, Medical Health, Family Welfare, and Mother and Child Welfare.