The key takeaway from the blog post is that :
there is a systemic gap between government policy and administrative action regarding the regularisation of workers in Uttar Pradesh.
Specifically:
- Policy vs. Reality: Despite a 2016 government notification (under Article 309) intended to regularise daily wage and contract staff, institutions like Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith (MGKVP) appear to have made zero progress in implementation.
- The “Elephant Teeth” Phenomenon: The notification has become a symbolic gesture—visible and impressive on paper, but non-functional and ineffective for the actual welfare of the unemployed youth.
- Transparency Crisis: Public authorities are using administrative silence and the withholding of RTI information to avoid accountability, leaving workers in a state of professional and economic limbo.
- Right to Reason: The core of the issue is not just the lack of regularisation, but the refusal of the authorities to provide a legal or administrative reason for their inaction, which undermines the Rule of Law.
The “Elephant Teeth” Promise: The Unfilled Vow of Daily Wage Regularisation in Uttar Pradesh
In the socio-political landscape of Uttar Pradesh, government notifications are often hailed as beacons of hope for the thousands of youth laboring in the shadows of “temporary” employment. However, when these notifications fail to transition from paper to practice, they become what local critics aptly describe as “elephant teeth”—showy and imposing, but entirely useless for the actual task of “chewing” through the hardships of unemployment.
The case of the Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith (MGKVP), Varanasi, serves as a stark microcosm of a larger systemic failure. Despite a landmark notification issued in 2016 intended to provide security to daily wage workers, the reality on the ground suggests a total standstill, shielded by a wall of administrative silence.
The 2016 Notification: A False Dawn?
On September 12, 2016, the Government of Uttar Pradesh issued a significant notification under the proviso to Article 309 of the Constitution. This rule, titled “The Uttar Pradesh Regularisation of Persons Working On Daily Wages or On Work Charge or On Contract In Government Departments On Group C And Group D Posts Rules, 2016,” was designed to be a definitive solution.
It aimed to:
- Formalize the services of long-term daily wage earners.
- Provide social security and pay scales associated with Group C and D posts.
- Supersede all previous fragmented orders to create a unified path to regularisation.
For the staff at MGKVP and similar public authorities, this was supposed to be the end of years of precarious employment. Instead, nearly a decade later, the “temporary” status of these workers remains an indefinite sentence.
The RTI Battle: Piercing the Veil of Secrecy
Transparency is the bedrock of a healthy democracy. When the executive branch fails to implement its own rules, the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005 becomes the only weapon available to the citizen.
The RTI application filed by Yogi M. P. Singh (Registration No: MGKVV/R/2025/60036) against MGKVP highlights a disturbing trend. The applicant sought five critical points of information:
- A list of regularised personnel.
- Copies of communications between the University and the Government regarding the 2016 notification.
- The specific reasons why no staff were regularised (Right to Reason).
- Measures taken to ensure transparency in the process.
- The total headcount of current daily wage staff.
The fact that such information must be “pried” out of a public authority—and often results in non-disclosure or vague responses—suggests that the regularisation process is not just delayed, but potentially non-existent.
The “Right to Reason” and Administrative Accountability
One of the most profound aspects of the pending RTI request is the demand for the “Right to Reason.” In modern administrative law, a public authority cannot simply choose not to act on a government mandate without providing a justification.
If the 2016 notification has not resulted in a single regularisation at MGKVP, the university owes a debt of explanation to its staff. Is it a lack of sanctioned posts? A budgetary constraint? Or a lack of administrative will? By withholding these reasons, the public authority violates the principles of natural justice and leaves the youth in a state of perpetual limbo.
The Human Cost: Unemployment and Insecurity
Behind every “Group C” or “Group D” designation is a human being with a family, bills, and a future to plan. Working as a daily wage earner in a premier institution like Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith without the hope of regularisation leads to:
- Psychological Stress: The constant fear of termination without notice.
- Economic Stagnation: Inability to access credit, loans, or pension benefits.
- Erosion of Trust: A growing disillusionment with government promises and the rule of law.
When the government issues a notification but fails to enforce it, it effectively “teases” the unemployed. It creates a mirage of progress that keeps workers tethered to their jobs under the hope of future security, while the years of their prime productivity slip away.
Institutional Resistance at MGKVP
The role of the Public Information Officer (PIO), Dr. Sunita Pandey, and the Nodal Officer, Sri Rajesh Rai, is now under the scanner. In the eyes of the law, the PIO is not a shield for the department but a facilitator for the citizen.
The systemic failure to provide a list of regularised personnel suggests one of two things: either the process has been conducted with such opacity that records are unavailable, or—more likely—no regularisation has taken place at all. If the latter is true, it represents a defiance of the Governor’s 2016 rules.
Conclusion: Moving Beyond Paper Notifications
A government notification is not a gift; it is a mandate. The 2016 Rules were framed to rectify historical injustices faced by temporary workers. Turning these rules into “elephant teeth”—visible but non-functional—is a disservice to the youth of Uttar Pradesh.
For Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith, the path forward is clear. They must:
- Disclose the Data: Be transparent about how many workers qualify under the 2016 criteria.
- State the Hurdles: If the university is unable to regularise staff, it must officially communicate the obstacles to the State Government.
- Respect the RTI: Provide the requested information within the 30-day window to maintain the integrity of the democratic process.
The plight of daily wage workers is a matter of wide public interest. It is time for the administration to stop hiding behind bureaucratic delays and start fulfilling the promises made in the name of the Constitution.
Based on the specific RTI application details provided and verified contact data for the Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith (MGKVP), Varanasi, here are the structured contact details and links for the concerned public authorities.
I. Primary Public Authority: MGKVP Varanasi
These details are specific to the Registrar’s office, which handles administrative matters and RTI queries for the university.
| Designation | Name | Mobile / Phone | |
| PIO / Registrar | Dr. Sunita Pandey | 9839501925 / 0542-2222689 | registrarmgkvp@gmail.com |
| Nodal Officer | Sri Rajesh Rai | 9839501925 | nodalrticellmgkvp@gmail.com |
| General Helpline | Support Desk | 9952833420 | info@mgkvp.ac.in |
| Vice Chancellor | Prof. A. K. Tyagi | 0542-2225472 | vc.office@mgkvp.ac.in |
II. Web Portal & Digital Links
For tracking the specific application or filing future appeals, use the following official links:
- Official University Website: https://mgkvp.ac.in/
- UP State RTI Online Portal:https://rtionline.up.gov.in/
- Note: Use this to track Application ID: MGKVV/R/2025/60036
- UP Government Personnel Department:http://shasanadesh.up.gov.in/
- Search here for the official copy of the 2016 Regularisation Rules (Notification No. 9/2016/2/1/97-Ka-2-2016).
III. Strategic Next Steps for the Applicant
If the PIO does not provide the information within the 30-day stipulated period (by June 10, 2025), you should take the following actions:
- File a First Appeal: Address this to the First Appellate Authority (FAA) at MGKVP. Usually, the Vice Chancellor or a senior designated officer acts as the FAA.
- Submit to the State Information Commission (SIC): If the First Appeal is ignored, you can escalate the matter to the UP Information Commission in Lucknow.
- Reference the Case Law: Mention the Right to Reason as established by the Supreme Court, which dictates that administrative decisions (or lack thereof) must be backed by a clear justification.
Would you like me to draft the “First Appeal” letter template for you, so you are ready if the deadline passes without a response?


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