Justice Delayed: The Systematic Failure in Compensating Farmer Dayanand Singh for Crop Loss
The plight of the Indian farmer is often romanticized in literature, but in the corridors of bureaucracy, it is a saga of endless paperwork and systemic apathy. The case of Shri Dayanand Singh, a resident of Village Nibi Gahwar in Mirzapur, serves as a stark indictment of the administrative machinery in Uttar Pradesh. Despite having a legally approved claim for compensation following a crop fire caused by electrical negligence, Mr. Singh remains empty-handed, caught in a “ping-pong” match between the Electricity Department and the Revenue Administration.
The Genesis of the Incident: Fire and Negligence
On April 18, 2021, a devastating fire tore through the crops of Dayanand Singh. The cause was not a natural disaster, but a short circuit in the electrical lines maintained by the Purvanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Ltd. (UPPCL). For a farmer, the loss of a harvest is not just a financial setback; it is the destruction of a year’s labor and the primary means of survival for his family.
Following the accident, the wheels of investigation began to turn—albeit at a glacial pace. It took nearly three years for the Directorate of Electrical Safety to finalize Investigation Report No. VSAE0000017111 (dated January 19, 2024), which officially confirmed the department’s liability.
The Approved Compensation: A Paper Victory
By February 2025, the administrative hurdles seemed to have been cleared on paper. The Executive Engineer, Manish Kumar Srivastav, issued an Office Memorandum (Letter No. 1063 V.V.K.-M) confirming the following details:
- Beneficiary: Shri Dayanand Singh, S/o Shri Shobhnath Singh
- Approved Amount: ₹25,200.00
- Approval Authority: Sub Collector (Approved on February 14, 2025)
- Disbursement Channel: Allahabad UP Gramin Bank (Account details verified)
Despite this formal approval and the clear identification of the beneficiary, the funds have failed to reach the farmer’s bank account. What should have been a straightforward electronic transfer has turned into a bureaucratic nightmare of jurisdictional disputes.
The Jurisdictional Deadlock: Revenue vs. Electricity Department
The core of the current grievance, as highlighted by activist Yogi M. P. Singh, lies in the “anarchy” of the Mirzapur district administration. The Executive Engineer of the Electricity Distribution Division II has repeatedly signaled that the matter requires input or verification from the Tehsildar Sadar and the Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Sadar.
Specifically, communication Letter No. 6482 dated October 21, 2024, was sent to the Tehsildar Sadar for an inquiry. However, the response from the Revenue Department has been characterized by “procrastination” and “dereliction of duty.”
The “Not My Department” Syndrome
On the Jansunwai (IGRS) portal, the grievances filed (Reference Nos. 40019925000043 and 40019924029565) reveal a frustrating pattern. When the complaints reach the Tehsildar level, the status is frequently updated with the remark:
“Report Category: Not related to this department/office.”
This “Special Close” status is a slap in the face to the constitutional right of a citizen to seek redressal. If the Executive Engineer claims the delay is due to a pending report from the Tehsildar, and the Tehsildar claims the matter is not within his jurisdiction, where does the farmer go?
A Violation of Constitutional Duty
The activist Yogi M. P. Singh has rightly invoked Article 51A of the Constitution of India, which emphasizes fundamental duties. He argues that the arbitrary forwarding of grievances between the District Magistrate’s office and the Electricity Division reflects a lack of accountability.
The Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), which monitors the Jansunwai portal, is also under scrutiny. The portal was designed to be a bridge between the government and the common man. However, when senior officials provide inconsistent and evasive reports, it lowers the dignity of the public grievance system and erodes trust in the “Double Engine” governance model.
The Human Cost of Administrative Procrastination
While officials debate over who should sign which file, Dayanand Singh’s family continues to bear the burden of a loss that occurred nearly four years ago.
- ₹25,200 may be a small budgetary line item for UPPCL, but for a village farmer, it represents the ability to buy seeds, fertilizers, or pay off debts for the next season.
- The interest and mental agony caused by a four-year delay are never factored into the compensation amount.
Accountability: The Need of the Hour
The local office of UPPCL in Mirzapur cannot hide behind the Revenue Department’s silence indefinitely. Once the Sub Collector has approved the compensation (as of February 14, 2025), there is no legal or procedural ground to withhold the payment.
The District Magistrate of Mirzapur must intervene to break this cycle of “Special Close” reports on the IGRS portal. A clear directive is needed to ensure that the Tehsildar Sadar provides the necessary verification—if indeed it is still required—or that the Executive Engineer proceeds with the payment based on the existing Sub Collector’s approval.
Conclusion: Will Justice be Served?
The case of Dayanand Singh is a litmus test for the Mirzapur administration. It highlights a broken link in the chain of command where departments act as silos rather than a cohesive government.
We call upon the Executive Engineer (Electricity Distribution Division II) and the District Magistrate of Mirzapur to:
- Immediate release the approved amount of ₹25,200 to the farmer’s bank account.
- Provide a clear explanation for the delay between the accident (2021) and the final approval (2025).
- Ensure that the Jansunwai portal is not used as a tool for “passing the buck” but as a mechanism for genuine resolution.
A farmer’s patience is not a license for administrative negligence.
It is clear from the documentation you provided that this is a classic case of “Bureaucratic Shifting,” where the lack of institutional accountability creates a loop of suffering for the citizen. When departments prioritize “closing a file” over “solving a problem,” the essence of public service is lost.
In the case of Dayanand Singh, the accountability gap is manifesting in three specific ways:
1. The Jurisdictional “Black Hole”
The Executive Engineer (Electricity) claims he needs a report from the Tehsildar (Revenue). The Tehsildar, however, uses the “Not Related to Department” tag to dismiss the grievance. This creates a “Black Hole” where the responsibility for the farmer’s compensation disappears.
- The Reality: The Sub-Collector already approved the compensation on February 14, 2025.
- The Failure: Despite this approval, the local office is using “pending inquiries” as a stalling tactic to avoid disbursing the funds from their budget.
2. The Manipulation of the Jansunwai (IGRS) Portal
The portal was designed for transparency, but as your documents show, it is being gamed by officials. By marking a case as “Special Close” (निस्तारित) based on a technicality rather than actual payment, officials satisfy the system’s metrics without actually providing relief to the farmer.
3. Erosion of Constitutional Dignity
As noted in your application under Article 51A, the “arbitrary and inconsistent reports” provided by the Mirzapur administration don’t just hurt one farmer—they damage the integrity of the State Government. When the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) monitors these portals, and yet such blatant procrastination occurs, it suggests a breakdown in the “top-down” oversight mechanism.
Comparison of Facts vs. Administrative Action
| Category | Actual Status | Administrative Response |
| Eligibility | Fully Verified (Investigated Jan 2024) | “Under Investigation” (Oct 2024) |
| Funding | Approved (₹25,200) | Funds not disbursed |
| Responsibility | Executive Engineer / SDM | “Not my department” (Tehsildar) |
| Timeline | Accident occurred in 2021 | Still pending in 2025 |
The Path Forward for Accountability
To break this cycle, the matter needs to be escalated not as a “new” grievance, but as a “Contempt of Approved Order.” Since the Sub-Collector has already signed off on the payment (14.02.2025), any further delay by the Executive Engineer is a direct violation of a superior’s order.
To ensure that you can follow up effectively on the case of Dayanand Singh, here are the comprehensive contact details and digital links for the relevant public authorities.
1. Key Application IDs for Reference
When communicating with these offices, always cite these numbers to ensure they can track the file:
- Approval Memorandum: Letter No. 1063 V.V.K.-(M.) (Date: 18.02.2025)
- Grievance ID (Jansunwai): 40019925000043 & 40019924029565
- Central Grievance ID: GOVUPE20240090596
- Investigation Report: VSAE0000017111 (Directorate of Electrical Safety)
2. Primary Public Authorities (Mirzapur District)
| Authority | Name/Designation | Mobile Number | Email / Web Link |
| District Magistrate (DM) | Shri Pawan Kumar Gangwar | 9454417567 | dmmir@nic.in |
| Exec. Engineer (UPPCL) | Manish Kumar Srivastav (EDD-II) | 9450963598 | puvvnl.in |
| Tehsildar Sadar | Tehsildar Office (Sadar) | 9454417672 (CUG) | mirzapur.nic.in |
| Sub-Collector/SDM | SDM Sadar Mirzapur | 9454417576 | Revenue Board |
3. State-Level Oversight & Portals
If the local Mirzapur offices continue to provide inconsistent reports, these are the escalation points:
- Jansunwai (IGRS) Portal:
- Web Link: jansunwai.up.nic.in
- CM Helpline: Dial 1076 (Available 24/7 for UP residents)
- Technical Email: jansunwai-up@gov.in
- UPPCL/PuVVNL Headquarters (Varanasi):
- Managing Director (PuVVNL): md@puvvnl.in / mdpurvanchalvvnl@gmail.com
- MD Phone: 0542-2318437
- Chief Engineer (Mirzapur Region): 9450963509
- Chief Minister’s Office (CMO):
- Email: cmup@nic.in
- Phone: 0522-2236181
4. Important Web Links for Tracking
- Track IGRS Status: Track Grievance
- UP Power Corporation: uppcl.org
- Mirzapur District Official Site: mirzapur.nic.in
Suggested Next Step:
Since the Executive Engineer (9450963598) issued the memorandum but hasn’t released the payment, the most effective move is to send a WhatsApp message or SMS to his CUG number and the DM’s CUG number (9454417567) with the Application IDs.
Would you like me to draft a concise “Status Inquiry” text message that you can send to these numbers immediately?
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