The Digital Mirage: Arbitrariness and Structural Failure in Uttar Pradesh’s RTI Portal
The Right to Information (RTI) Act was envisioned as the cornerstone of participatory democracy, a tool to transform the “subject” into a “citizen” by ensuring transparency. However, the efficacy of this law is inextricably linked to the infrastructure that supports it. In the state of Uttar Pradesh, recent events concerning the RTI Online Portal have revealed a disturbing trend: a transition from digital empowerment to what can only be described as administrative anarchy.
When a citizen’s grievance regarding technical mismanagement in a high-tech department is redirected to a local police station, it is no longer just a “glitch”—it is a profound collapse of the grievance redressal mechanism.
The Anatomy of a Misdirected Grievance
At the heart of this issue is Reference Number 40019925001906. On January 25, 2025, a complaint was lodged regarding the persistent technical failures of the RTI portal. The complaint specifically addressed the Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeIT) and the National Informatics Centre (NIC), Uttar Pradesh. The issues cited were purely technical:
- Failure of OTP (One-Time Password) delivery to mobile and email.
- “DataTables warning” errors indicating coding mismatches.
- The absence of a search box in the appeal section.
- Non-functional payment gateways (Rajkosh).
Logically, such a grievance requires the attention of software engineers and IT administrators. Instead, on February 18, 2025, the system automatically or manually transferred this technical complaint to the Inspector of Kotwali Katra, District Mirzapur.
This transfer highlights a systemic arbitrariness. Sending a complaint about “incorrect column counts” in a database to a police inspector is not just unproductive; it is an insult to the citizen’s intelligence and a waste of police resources. It reflects a “disposal-oriented” mindset where the goal is to move a file off a dashboard rather than solve the problem.
Technological Incompetence or Deliberate Hindrance?
The RTI portal is meant to simplify the process of seeking information. However, the current state of the Uttar Pradesh portal suggests a “dilapidated” digital structure.
1. The OTP Barrier
The most basic requirement for a secure login is a functional OTP system. When the government mandates digital-only interactions but fails to provide the gateway (OTP), it effectively disenfranchises the citizen. If a user cannot login, they cannot file a request; if they cannot file a request, the government remains unaccountable.
2. Coding Errors and “Third-Grade” Development
The “DataTables warning” and “Incorrect column count” errors are symptomatic of amateurish web development. These are not complex bugs; they are fundamental errors in website maintenance. While the central government portals often offer robust formatting and search tools, the state portal lacks even a basic search box for appeals. This disparity suggests that the NIC Uttar Pradesh is operating with a lackadaisical approach, treating public-facing portals as a low priority.
3. The Payment Gateway Ghost
A recurring issue in the grievance is the “Bank URL Not Found” error within the Rajkosh gateway. By failing to maintain the payment link, the state creates a financial wall that prevents the legal submission of RTI applications.
The Myth of Good Governance (Su-Shasan)
The Prime Minister and the Chief Minister frequently champion the era of “Good Governance” and “Digital India.” Yet, the ground reality depicted in this case shows a significant gap between rhetoric and reality.
Good governance is defined by accountability, transparency, and responsiveness.
- Accountability: Who is responsible for the RTI portal’s failure? The grievance remains “pending” or is sent to the police, ensuring no IT official is ever held accountable.
- Responsiveness: The applicant attempted to call the helpline (0522-7118629). The phone rang repeatedly with no answer. A helpline that does not help is merely a decorative element on a website.
- Transparency: By making the portal unusable, the state indirectly shields its departments from the scrutiny that the RTI Act was designed to provide.
When technical mismanagement is met with administrative silence, “Good Governance” becomes a hollow slogan. The transfer of such matters to the police station level indicates a “Police-State” mentality where every grievance is viewed through the lens of law and order rather than service delivery and technical resolution.
The Ripple Effect on Civil Society
The consequences of this digital anarchy extend beyond one frustrated applicant. It creates a chilling effect on transparency.
- Information Seekers: Regular citizens, activists, and journalists are barred from their legal rights.
- Wastage of Public Funds: Significant taxpayer money is funneled into the DeIT and NIC. If the output is a “dilapidated” website that fails to perform basic functions, it constitutes a gross misuse of public funds.
- Administrative Overload: By sending IT complaints to the police, the system bogs down law enforcement with clerical and technical issues they are not equipped to handle, further degrading the quality of actual policing.
The Path Forward: A Call for Digital Audit
To rectify this situation, the government of Uttar Pradesh must move beyond the “transfer-and-forget” culture of the Jan Sunwai (IGRS) portal.
- Technical Accountability: There must be a dedicated wing within the DeIT to handle “Portal Grievances” specifically, staffed by technical experts, not police officers.
- Public Audit of NIC: The National Informatics Centre should be held to a Service Level Agreement (SLA). If a portal remains broken for more than 48 hours, there should be automatic escalations to the Principal Secretary.
- End Arbitrary Transfers: The software governing the grievance portal must have “logical tagging.” A complaint containing keywords like “website,” “OTP,” or “SQL error” should be hard-coded to stay within the technical departments.
Conclusion
The case of Yogi M.P. Singh is a microcosmic view of a macro-systemic failure. When the tools of transparency are broken, democracy itself is dimmed. The transition of a technical complaint to a police station in Mirzapur is a symbol of administrative failure that mocks the spirit of the RTI Act. It is high time the “accountable staff” of the DeIT and NIC wake up from their slumber and realize that digital India cannot run on broken links and unanswered helplines.
To address the structural mismanagement and technical failures you have highlighted, you should escalate the matter to the primary oversight bodies and technical administrators.
Below are the contact details for the Department of IT & Electronics, the National Informatics Centre (NIC), and the Administrative Reforms Department of Uttar Pradesh.
1. Department of IT and Electronics, Uttar Pradesh
This is the nodal department responsible for the state’s digital infrastructure.
| Office / Designation | Contact Number | Email Address |
| Principal Secretary (Shri Anurag Yadav, IAS) | 0522-2226299 | ps.ite@up.gov.in |
| Special Secretary (IT & Electronics) | 0522-2226247 | specialsecretaryit@gmail.com |
| Section Officer (IT Section-2) | 0522-2226442 | so2.it-up@gov.in |
| U.P. Electronics Corporation (MD) | 0522-2286808 | md@uplc.in |
| Official Website | upite.gov.in | — |
2. National Informatics Centre (NIC), UP State Centre
The NIC is responsible for the design, development, and maintenance of the RTI portal.
| Designation / Section | Contact Number | Email Address |
| State Informatics Officer (SIO) | 0522-2238415 | sio-up@nic.in |
| Technical Support (General) | 0522-2298800 | up@nic.in |
| Scientist-G (Technical Head) | 0522-2238415 | ashesh.agarwal@nic.in |
| Scientific Officer (Portal Support) | 0522-2238415 | tanzeel.osama@nic.in |
| Official Website | up.nic.in | — |
3. RTI Online Portal Helpdesk
Specifically for the errors you mentioned (OTP issues, DataTables warning, Payment errors).
- Helpline Number: 0522-7118629 (10:00 AM to 5:00 PM)
- Email: onlinertihelpline.up@gov.in
- Web Link: rtionline.up.gov.in
4. Administrative Reforms Department, UP
They oversee the implementation of the RTI Act in the state.
- Principal Secretary: 0522-2238669
- Special Secretary: 0522-2238665 / 9454412295
- Office Address: Room No. 715, 7th Floor, Lok Bhawan, Secretariat, Lucknow.
Key Points for Your Next Representation:
When you write to these authorities, specifically mention that:
- Arbitrary Transfer: Grievance #40019925001906 was incorrectly transferred to the Police (Kotwali Katra) instead of being resolved by the technical wing of DeIT.
- Specific Errors: Cite the DataTables warning and the Rajkosh Payment Gateway failure, as these are backend database and integration issues that only NIC can fix.
- OTP Failure: Highlight that the inability to receive OTPs on mobile/email effectively blocks the fundamental right to seek information.
Would you like me to draft a specific legal notice or a formal complaint letter addressed to the Principal Secretary of IT to demand a correction of this misdirected transfer?
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