Executive Engineer Jalnigam: & RTI cases rarely make headlines, yet they reveal exactly how transparency laws function on the ground. When a citizen files an RTI application seeking basic staffing and transfer records, the expectation is simple: a public authority either provides the information or, within five days, forwards it to the correct department. However, in Mirzapur, the story of Executive Engineer Jalnigam: & RTI took a different turn. Instead of a swift transfer, the applicant’s request bounced between the Urban and Rural wings for nearly two months before ending in a vague redirection. This case matters because it exposes how procedural loopholes, not outright refusals, can quietly defeat the purpose of the Right to Information Act. Consequently, understanding this timeline helps future applicants recognize similar delays and push back effectively.
Key Takeaways
- The case of Executive Engineer Jalnigam: & RTI reveals how procedural loopholes can delay transparency and accountability in public authorities.
- An RTI request filed in Mirzapur faced unjustified delays as it bounced between Urban and Rural departments.
- Despite clear statutory duties, the PIO failed to transfer the application within the mandated five-day period, resulting in a 60-day delay.
- The applicant’s First Appeal received no substantive response, highlighting ongoing issues with RTI compliance by the authorities.
- This case underscores the need for administrative will to uphold the Right to Information Act and foster genuine transparency.
Executive Engineer Jalnigam & RTI: The Curious Case of the 60-Day Transfer Loophole
Fundamentally, the story of Executive Engineer Jalnigam & RTI is, in essence, a narrative about accountability. Lawmakers originally envisioned the Right to Information (RTI) Act of 2005 as a beacon of transparency, specifically designed to empower citizens to hold public authorities accountable. However, as exemplified by the case of Yogi M. P. Singh vs. Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam (Urban), procedural delays and administrative “shunting” can, unfortunately, turn a straightforward request for information into what becomes a months-long ordeal.
Executive Engineer Jalnigam & RTI: The Core Issue
Broadly speaking, at the heart of this Executive Engineer Jalnigam & RTI dispute is, fundamentally, a pivotal request regarding the transfer policies and posting details of engineers and staff within the Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam in Mirzapur. Specifically, the applicant sought to thoroughly investigate whether, indeed, the state government was strictly implementing its new transfer policy. This policy, in turn, aims not only to curb corruption but also to prevent officials from staying too long in a single district.
Instead of receiving data on junior engineers, assistant engineers, and outsourced staff, however, the applicant faced a jurisdictional ping-pong match. Essentially, the Urban and Rural wings of the Jal Nigam each pointed to the other.
Anatomy of the RTI Request
Registration Number: DUPJN/R/2024/60142
Date of Filing: 15/12/2024
Target Authority: U.P. Jal Nigam (Urban), Mirzapur
In particular, the applicant requested seven specific points of information, including:
- Posting dates and charges of all Junior and Assistant Engineers in Mirzapur.
- CUG (Closed User Group) mobile numbers of departmental staff.
- Details of outsourced and daily-wage staff.
- Compliance with the new transfer policy formulated by the Yogi Adityanath government.
Section 6(3) and the 5-Day Mandate: A Statutory Failure
This is where Executive Engineer Jalnigam & RTI obligations collide most directly. Notably, the most glaring violation in this timeline concerns Section 6(3) of the RTI Act. Simply put, the law is clear. Specifically, if a Public Information Officer (PIO) receives a request for information held by another public authority, they must transfer that application to the concerned department within five days.
The Timeline of Delay:
- 15/12/2024: Consequently, the applicant filed the application with Jal Nigam (Urban).
- 18/12/2024: Consequently, the PIO (Urban) drafted an internal letter (No. 2282) to the Executive Engineer (Rural), thereby acknowledging that the information belongs to the Rural wing.
- 14/02/2025: Consequently, the office officially “Disposed Of” the application, subsequently advising the applicant to “contact the Rural office.”
Admittedly, the PIO drafted a letter quickly, within three days. However, the actual resolution and the final “disposal” on the portal took nearly two months. Consequently, telling an applicant to “go contact another office” after 60 days directly contradicts the PIO’s duty to transfer the file internally. In other words, the duty is to ensure the applicant receives the data, not to redirect them.
The First Appeal: Seeking Accountability
Eventually, when the 30-day statutory limit for providing information passed with no data in hand, the applicant filed a First Appeal (Section 19(1)) on 10th February 2025.
Grounds for Appeal:
- No Response Within Time Limit: Firstly, the applicant argued that the PIO failed to provide information within the 30 days prescribed under Section 7(1).
- Violation of Statutory Duty: Additionally, the appeal highlighted that 19 years after the RTI Act’s inception, public authorities are still failing to respect the timelines that make the Act effective.
- Request for Disciplinary Action: Finally, the appellant explicitly requested the First Appellate Authority (FAA) to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the PIO for procedural negligence.
The FAA’s Response:
Ultimately, the First Appellate Authority (Executive Engineer, Urban) ultimately disposed of the appeal on 14/02/2025 with the same generic response: The information relates to Jal Nigam (Rural); consequently, please contact their office.
Implications of the “Post Office” Approach
Every unresolved case of Executive Engineer Jalnigam & RTI delay carries real consequences. In fact, the courts in India have repeatedly held that PIOs should not act merely as “post offices.” Consequently, by simply telling an applicant to go elsewhere after two months of silence, the Jal Nigam (Urban) PIO has effectively denied the right to information.
1. Penalty Provisions
For instance, under the RTI Act, if a PIO fails to receive or transfer an application without reasonable cause, the Information Commission can impose a penalty. Specifically, the penalty is ₹250 per day, up to a maximum of ₹25,000. Therefore, the gap between December 15 and February 14 represents a significant delay that could warrant such a penalty.
2. Erosion of Transparency
Moreover, the information sought is critical for monitoring the New Transfer Policy, as it clearly illustrates how long engineers have been posted in one location. However, by delaying the release of this information, the department inadvertently, or perhaps intentionally, shields officials who may be overstaying their tenures, thus violating government mandates.
Procedural Roadmap for the Applicant
Given that the First Appeal resulted in a “disposal” without the actual delivery of information, the applicant now has a clear path forward:
- Firstly, file a Second Appeal: submit a Second Appeal to the State Information Commission (SIC) of Uttar Pradesh.
- Second, invoke Section 20: Specifically request the Commission to invoke Section 20 of the RTI Act to penalize the PIO for the 60-day delay in providing a definitive direction.
- Finally, highlight Section 6(3) misuse: Argue that the PIO’s duty was to transfer the application to the Rural wing and ensure they respond. Instead, the PIO simply told the applicant to start the process over again.
Executive Engineer Jalnigam & RTI: The Need for Administrative Will (Executive Engineer Jalnigam: & RTI)
The case of Yogi M. P. Singh is a textbook example of “administrative lethargy.” Indeed, when a citizen seeks to verify whether officials are actually following a government policy, the response should be data-driven and timely. Instead, using jurisdictional boundaries as a shield only weakens the democratic fabric the RTI Act seeks to strengthen.
For the residents of Mirzapur, the question remains: are the officials in the Jal Nigam following the transfer policy? Or, alternatively, is the delay in information a sign of something deeper? Until the answer is clear, Executive Engineer Jalnigam & RTI compliance will stay a matter of public concern.
Meanwhile, to ensure you have all the necessary details for your next steps, here is the consolidated contact directory for both public authorities involved in this case. In particular, this is useful for the Second Appeal to the State Information Commission, or for contacting the correct department directly.
1. Primary RTI Record Information (Executive Engineer Jalnigam: & RTI)
- Application Registration Number:
DUPJN/R/2024/60142 - First Appeal Registration Number:
DUPJN/A/2025/60004
2. Public Authority: Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam (Urban) (Executive Engineer Jalnigam: & RTI)
Notably, this is the department where you filed your original application and appeal.
| Office / Officer | Contact Person | Mobile Number | Email / Web Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| PIO (CD Mirzapur) | Raj Kumar (Asstt. Engineer) | 7607517410 | gpcumzp@gmail.com |
| FAA (Appellate Authority) | Executive Engineer | 9473942664 | gpcumzp@gmail.com |
| Nodal Officer | Dr. S. Sahai | 9450942304 | rti2005upjn@gmail.com |
| Official Website | — | — | jn.upsdc.gov.in |
3. Public Authority: Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam (Rural) (Executive Engineer Jalnigam: & RTI)
Meanwhile, this is the department that allegedly holds the information you seek.
| Office / Officer | Contact Person | Mobile Number | Email / Web Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Division Office, Mirzapur | Executive Engineer (Rural) | 9473942500 (HQ Support) | mdupjng@gmail.com |
| Headquarters (Rural) | MD Office (Lucknow) | 0522-4063542 | upjn.co.in |
| Staff Directory Link | — | — | Staff Directory Rural |
4. Uttar Pradesh State Information Commission (SIC)
Additionally, you will need these details to file your Second Appeal regarding the 60-day delay and the lack of a proper transfer under Section 6(3). (Executive Engineer Jalnigam: & RTI)
- Website: upsic.up.nic.in
- Address: 7/7A, Chini Bazar, Near Jawahar Bhawan, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh – 226001.
- Online Appeal Portal: RTI Online UP
Pro-Tip: When filing your Second Appeal online, upload the document provided by the Urban wing (dated 18.12.2024) as evidence. This document proves they knew the information belonged elsewhere. Yet they failed to officially transfer it within the 5-day legal window.
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