The blog post highlights a critical breakdown in administrative transparency within the BDO City Mirzapur office.
Here are the key takeaways:
1. The Conflict of “Paper Disposal”
Activists claim that the PIO, Shrawan Kumar Rai, marked the RTI application COMRD/R/2024/60233 as “Disposed” (Nistarit). This was done as a procedural trick. The file was closed in the system without actually delivering the requested data to the applicant.
2. Focus on the 2022 Transfer Policy & BDO City
To verify compliance with the Uttar Pradesh Transfer Policy (June 15, 2022), we seek the information (staff names, ranks, and joining dates) to ensure that the policy mandates the rotation of staff to prevent:
- Administrative Stagnation: Long tenures in one block.
- Corruption Hubs: Local “cliques” formed by staff staying in one post for too many years.
3. Obstruction of Public Scrutiny
The BDO office is withholding the details of Class 2, 3, and 4 employees. This action effectively shields its personnel from public accountability. This lack of transparency suggests a potential violation of the Chief Secretary’s order about employee transfers and distant postings.
4. Legal Deadlines and Deviations
Under Section 7(1) of the RTI Act 2005, information must be provided within 30 days. The blog emphasizes that the Mirzapur authorities are bypassing this legal obligation, leading to widespread resentment among RTI activists who view this as a deliberate attempt to hide systemic graft.
Summary Table: RTI Status Overview
| Detail | Information |
| Applicant | Yogi M. P. Singh |
| Public Authority | Commissioner Rural Development / BDO City Mirzapur |
| Core Issue | Non-disclosure of staff tenure and posting history |
| Status | Disposed on 20/12/2024 (Contested as incomplete) |
Accountability in Shadows: The RTI Crisis at BDO City Mirzapur
The Right to Information (RTI) Act of 2005 envisioned “sunlight” to disinfect the corridors of Indian bureaucracy. However, in the City Development Block of District Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh, that light currently faces obstruction. This is especially relevant in issues arising at BDO City. Administrative silence creates a wall that blocks it.
Activist Yogi M. P. Singh’s recent RTI application COMRD/R/2024/60233 has sparked local resentment. It highlights a troubling pattern. Authorities “dispose of” transparency requests on paper. They fail to provide the substantive information requested by the citizen, especially regarding operations in BDO City.
The Core of the Dispute & BDO City: Seeking Transparency in Personnel
The application in question was straightforward. It sought basic service details regarding the Block Development Officer (BDO) and the staff hierarchy within the City Block office. For public confidence in BDO City, the five-point inquiry requested:
- First posting details of the current BDO.
- The date the BDO joined the Mirzapur district.
- A roster of Class 2 employees and their tenure details.
- A roster of Class 3 employees and their tenure details.
- A roster of Class 4 employees and their tenure details.
The Uttar Pradesh Transfer Policy (June 15, 2022) aims to curb corruption. It prevents staff from overstaying their welcome in a single posting. When staff remain in one position for too long, local “power cliques” can develop. Systemic graft can also form, particularly in BDO City settings.
The “Disposed” Deception by BDO City
On December 20, 2024, they marked the status of the request as “REQUEST DISPOSED OF.” To a casual observer, this looks like a completed task. However, to an RTI activist, it represents a “paper closure.” In this case, the Public Information Officer (PIO) responds cryptically. Shrawan Kumar Rai (DDO Mirzapur) gives a non-committal reply—”Nistarit” (Resolved). He does this without actually handing over the documents, raising questions about the proper process in BDO City offices.
Authorities bypass the 30-day mandatory window prescribed under Section 7(1) of the RTI Act. They use vague terminology to close applications. This creates a bureaucratic loophole: the clock stops ticking on the system. However, the citizen remains empty-handed when dealing with BDO City bureaucracy.
Why Personnel Data Matters
The applicant specifically cited the transfer policy aimed at sending public staff to “distant places so that corruption may decrease.” In a context like BDO City, when an office refuses to disclose the duration of Class 2, 3, and 4 employees stationed at a particular block, it raises several red flags:
- Vested Interests: Long-term stays in one location often lead to illicit alliances between officials and local contractors.
- Policy Violation: If employees have exceeded the tenure limits set by the Chief Secretary’s 2022 memo, the office directly violates state government mandates. This situation leads to a policy violation.
- Public Accountability: The public has a right to know who is managing their local development funds. The public also has the right to know if those individuals are serving beyond their legal rotation period. This is especially important in an area such as BDO City.
The Systemic Failure in Mirzapur due to BDO City
The resentment among activists in Mirzapur isn’t based on a single isolated incident. Instead, it stems from a perceived culture of evasiveness. When the District Development Officer (DDO) and the administration at the local city BDO operate with such opacity, it undermines the trust of the very people they are meant to serve.
Under the RTI Act, the PIO is a “trustee” of public information. By overlooking or providing “hollow” disposals, the office of the BDO City Mirzapur is effectively transitioning from a service provider. In effect, it is becoming a gatekeeper of secrets, which erodes the public’s faith in BDO City itself.
Key Stakeholders Involved:
- PIO: Shrawan Kumar Rai (DDO Mirzapur)
- Nodal Officer: Mahendra Kumar (Commissioner Rural Development)
- Applicant: Yogi M. P. Singh
Legal Recourse and the Way Forward
When a PIO fails to provide information, the RTI Act provides a clear hierarchy of escalation. The same applies if a PIO provides a misleading “disposed” status. In the context of BDO City disputes, this framework is crucial:
- First Appeal: The applicant must file an appeal under Section 19(1). This appeal is to the First Appellate Authority (FAA). The FAA is typically senior to the PIO. In this case, the appeal should highlight that “disposed” does not equal “informed.”
- Second Appeal: If the FAA also fails, the matter moves to the State Information Commission (SIC).
- Penalties: Under Section 20, the Commission has the power to impose a penalty of ₹250 per day. The maximum penalty is ₹25,000. This is applicable to PIOs who malafidely deny information.
Conclusion: A Call for Administrative Integrity and role of BDO City
The situation in BDO City Mirzapur serves as a critical test. It challenges the Uttar Pradesh government’s commitment to “Zero Tolerance for Corruption.” The openness of public records at BDO City lies at the heart of true administrative reform. If authorities treat the service records and tenure details of block-level staff as “state secrets,” then the policy from 2022 is ineffective. This approach renders the policy merely symbolic.
The BDO does not grant transparency as a favor to the citizens; it is their statutory right. The residents of Mirzapur and activists like Yogi M. P. Singh deserve more than a status update that states “Nistarit.” In places like BDO City, citizens should have default access to the truth.
Key Takeaways
- The BDO City Mirzapur office faces criticism for a lack of transparency regarding RTI applications, especially concerning staff information.
- Activists allege that the disposal of RTI application COMRD/R/2024/60233 is a procedural trick to avoid providing requested data.
- The Uttar Pradesh Transfer Policy of 2022 aims to prevent corruption. It also addresses administrative stagnation by rotating staff. However, BDO City is not disclosing personnel tenure.
- Public accountability is compromised as the BDO office withholds employee details, undermining trust in local governance.
- Activists call for adherence to the RTI Act, demanding transparency as a statutory right for residents of BDO City.
Use the structured contact information below. Reach out to the public authorities involved in your RTI case. This will help you escalate this matter or follow up.
1. Primary RTI Case Identification
- Registration Number:
COMRD/R/2024/60233 - Application Date: 21/09/2024
- Disposal Date: 20/12/2024
- Current Status: REQUEST DISPOSED OF (Marked as “निस्तारित”)
2. Public Information Officer (PIO) Details
This is the officer responsible for the initial “disposal” of your application.
- Name: Shrawan Kumar Rai
- Designation: District Development Officer (DDO), Mirzapur
- Mobile Number: +91-9454465108
- Email ID:
ddomirzapur123@gmail.com
3. Nodal Officer & Higher Authorities
If the PIO does not provide the information, these are the officials overseen by the Commissioner of Rural Development.
- Nodal Officer Name: Mahendra Kumar
- Nodal Officer Email:
crd-up@nic.in - Chief Development Officer (CDO) Mirzapur: * Name: Vishal Kumar (I.A.S.)
- Phone: +91-9454465106
- Email:
cdo-mir@up.gov.inordrda-mir@nic.in
4. Important Web Links
| Resource | Link |
| UP RTI Online Portal | rtionline.up.gov.in |
| Check RTI Status | rtionline.up.gov.in/checkStatus |
| Mirzapur District Directory | mirzapur.nic.in/about-district/whos-who/ |
| Rural Development UP | ruralsoftnet.up.nic.in |
5. Recommended Next Step: Filing the First Appeal
Your application was “disposed of” without actually providing the information. This is a violation of Section 7(1). You should file a First Appeal immediately.
- Appellate Authority: Chief Development Officer (CDO), Mirzapur.
- Reason for Appeal: “Information not provided despite request being marked as disposed.”
- Deadline: Appeals should ideally be filed within 30 days of the disposal date (by Jan 19, 2025). If you are late, you can still file it by providing a “sufficient cause” for the delay.
Would you like me to draft the “Grounds for Appeal” text? You can then copy and paste it into the Online RTI Appeal form.
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