ACP Manoj Kumar Singh heads the Phulpur zone of the Prayagraj Police Commissionerate. This post sets out his service record, as disclosed under the RTI Act, 2005. In addition, it explains how the information was obtained and what still remains unanswered.
Key Takeaways
- Yogi M. P. Singh filed an RTI to obtain the service record of ACP Manoj Kumar Singh.
- The PIO confirmed on September 19, 2023 that the information had been dispatched.
- The reply shows the PPS recruitment date of ACP Manoj Kumar Singh as April 23, 2022, with his current rank as DSP.
- It also gives a brief chronology of his postings, starting as Sub Inspector in 1996.
- As a result, the inquiry adds transparency to his career and tests compliance with the RTI Act, 2005.
RTI Inquiry on ACP Manoj Kumar Singh at a Glance
Author: Yogi M. P. Singh RTI Registration Number: SSPPY/R/2023/60405 Date of Filing: July 10, 2023 Status: Request disposed on January 9, 2025
Why This RTI on ACP Manoj Kumar Singh Was Filed
Public officials must answer to the people they serve. Therefore, Yogi M. P. Singh filed an RTI application in July 2023. Its aim was simple: to obtain the service record of ACP Manoj Kumar Singh.
He currently serves as Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) in the Police Commissionerate, Prayagraj. This post carries heavy responsibility for law and order. Consequently, citizens have a real interest in knowing how such officers are recruited and promoted. This is not the first time his office has drawn scrutiny; see our earlier analysis of false feedback by the ACP.
What the Application on ACP Manoj Kumar Singh Asked
The application sought three kinds of information. First, it asked about his recruitment, including the examinations and training involved. Second, it asked for a list of his postings during his career. Third, it asked about his promotions and the basis for each one.
Together, these details show whether advancement in the force follows merit. Moreover, they help citizens judge the fairness of the system. In short, the RTI was a tool for accountability, not a personal attack.
Why Service Records Are Public Information
Some officials treat service records as private matters. However, the RTI Act, 2005 says otherwise. Recruitment dates, cadre details and posting histories are held by a public authority. Hence, they fall within the definition of “information” under Section 2(f) of the RTI Act, 2005.
Section 8 of the Act does list exemptions. For instance, purely personal information can be withheld if it has no public interest. Yet an officer’s rank, posting and date of appointment are not private. On the contrary, they concern the exercise of public power. Therefore, they should be disclosed as a matter of routine.
ACP Manoj Kumar Singh and the Prayagraj Police Commissionerate
Prayagraj moved to the commissionerate system in November 2022. Under this system, senior police officers hold magisterial powers. As a result, the ACP rank replaced the older post of Circle Officer in the city.
An ACP supervises several police stations within a zone. In addition, the ACP oversees investigations, law-and-order arrangements and public grievances. Phulpur is one such zone within the Prayagraj Commissionerate. Accordingly, ACP Manoj Kumar Singh holds a post of real influence over local policing. Details of the commissionerate structure are available on the Uttar Pradesh Police website.
RTI Response Summary on ACP Manoj Kumar Singh
The Public Information Officer (PIO) of the ACP Office, Prayagraj, replied by registered letter. The letter was dated September 19, 2023. In it, the PIO confirmed that the requested information had already been sent to the applicant’s address.
However, the request was not formally marked as disposed until January 9, 2025. This gap is worth noting. Nevertheless, the reply itself was fairly complete, as the sections below show.
PIO Contact Details
- Name: ACP Office
- Designation: Assistant Commissioner of Police
- Phone: 9889392339
- Email: cooffice012@gmail.com
Service Details of ACP Manoj Kumar Singh Provided by the PIO
- Date of Recruitment: April 23, 2022
- Cadre: PPS
- Cadre Year: 2021
- Initial Rank: Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP)
- Current Rank: DSP
- Current Post: ACP, Police Commissionerate Prayagraj
- Date of Posting in Prayagraj: June 11, 2022
- Unit: ACP / Police Commissionerate Prayagraj
Personal and Educational Background
- Date of Birth: August 16, 1974
- Father’s Name: Late Girja Prasad Singh
- Home Place: Mau
- Educational Qualification: B.A.
The PPS Cadre of ACP Manoj Kumar Singh
PPS stands for Provincial Police Service. It is the state police service of Uttar Pradesh. Officers enter it in two ways. Some are selected directly through the UPPSC examination. Others are promoted from the rank of Inspector after long service.
In the case of ACP Manoj Kumar Singh, the recruitment date is April 23, 2022, and the cadre year is 2021. Meanwhile, the officer joined the force as a Sub Inspector in 1996. Taken together, these facts point to entry into the PPS through promotion rather than direct selection. In other words, he rose through the ranks over roughly 26 years.
Chronology of Postings of ACP Manoj Kumar Singh
In reply to the third point of the RTI, the PIO gave a short chronology of the postings of ACP Manoj Kumar Singh. It is brief, but it still traces the main stages of his career. Above all, it shows the jump from Sub Inspector to a PPS officer.
- Joined as Sub Inspector in Allahabad district on February 10, 1996
- Served in Allahabad until November 28, 2005
- Transferred from Jaunpur district and appointed ACP Phulpur, Prayagraj on June 20, 2022
The Missing Years in the Record of ACP Manoj Kumar Singh
Notably, the reply skips the years between 2005 and 2022. That is a gap of almost seventeen years. During this time, he presumably served in Jaunpur and possibly other districts. Likewise, his promotion to Inspector must have taken place somewhere in this period.
None of these details appear in the reply on ACP Manoj Kumar Singh. Hence, the full picture of his mid-career postings remains unclear. A complete service book would fill this gap. Consequently, a further RTI or a first appeal could ask for it specifically.
An Earlier Refusal to Disclose Details of ACP Manoj Kumar Singh
The road to this information was not smooth. Initially, the PIO in the office of the Commissioner of Police, Prayagraj, refused to provide the posting details of ACP Manoj Kumar Singh. Only later did the ACP office itself supply the record. The legal consequences of that refusal are examined in ACP Phoolpur Denies RTI: Legal Implications Explained. Furthermore, it forms part of a wider RTI battle against the police in Prayagraj.
This pattern is common in RTI matters. First comes denial; then, under pressure, comes partial disclosure. Even so, the outcome here shows that persistence pays.
What the Law Requires of a PIO
Section 7(1) of the RTI Act sets a clear deadline. A PIO must reply within 30 days of receiving an application. If the information concerns life or liberty, the limit drops to 48 hours. Furthermore, a PIO who refuses must give reasons and cite the exemption relied upon.
When a PIO fails to do so, as happened at first with the ACP Manoj Kumar Singh request, the applicant has remedies. First, a first appeal lies under Section 19(1) to the senior officer in the same department. Second, a further appeal lies under Section 19(3) to the State Information Commission. For a fuller explanation, read Understanding PIO and FAA Roles in RTI Appeals. Finally, Section 20 allows a penalty of up to Rs. 25,000 against a defaulting PIO.
Lessons from the ACP Manoj Kumar Singh RTI
The ACP Manoj Kumar Singh case offers three practical lessons. First, address the RTI to the office that actually holds the record. Here, the ACP office replied, whereas the Commissioner’s office had refused. Second, ask for specific documents, such as the service book or posting orders. Vague requests invite vague answers. Applications can be filed online through the RTI Online portal for central bodies, or through the state portal for Uttar Pradesh. Our guide to the Uttar Pradesh RTI application process walks through each step.
Third, keep a record of every date. The filing date, the reply date and the disposal date all matter in an appeal. In this instance, the eighteen-month gap between reply and disposal is itself a point worth raising. Similarly, the missing years in the chronology are grounds for a fresh request.
Conclusion: What the ACP Manoj Kumar Singh Record Shows
This RTI response sheds light on the career of ACP Manoj Kumar Singh. It confirms his entry as Sub Inspector in 1996 and his PPS recruitment in 2022. Furthermore, it records his current posting as ACP Phulpur, Prayagraj.
The information was provided under Section 7(1) of the RTI Act, 2005. As a result, the case stands as a small but real example of accountability in public service. Ultimately, such disclosures build trust between citizens and the officials who serve them. The record of ACP Manoj Kumar Singh is now a matter of public knowledge, exactly as the RTI Act intended.
Attachment: postingdetails.pdff assistant commissioner Phoolpur
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