🚨 Final Proceedings: Escalation of Unanswered RTI Application (DIRPR/R/2025/61901)

The Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005, mandates that public authorities provide requested information within a strict timeframe. If the Public Information Officer (PIO) and Nodal Officer fail to entertain the RTI application (DIRPR/R/2025/61901) within the stipulated 30 days, the law provides a clear pathway for escalation and penal action.

This post outlines the necessary steps for the applicant, Mr. Devi Prasad Gupta, to pursue the matter through the statutory appeal process.

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1. 🛑 Timeline Violation and Failure to Entertain

The RTI application was filed on 29/07/2025. Under Section 7(1) of the RTI Act, the PIO was required to furnish the information or issue a decision rejecting the request within 30 days of filing.

• Deadline for Response: Approximately 28/08/2025.

If the deadline has passed without any satisfactory communication from the PIO or the Nodal Officer, this constitutes a deemed refusal under the Act, triggering the appeal process.

2. 📝 Filing the First Appeal (Section 19(1))

The immediate next step is to file the First Appeal to the designated First Appellate Authority (FAA).

Details of the First Appeal:

• Who to File To: The First Appellate Authority (FAA), who is typically an officer senior in rank to the PIO within the Panchayati Raj Directorate.
• Deadline: The appeal must be filed within 30 days from the date the information was due (i.e., 30 days after 28/08/2025) or the date the decision was received.
• Contents: The appeal must clearly state:
  • The Registration Number (DIRPR/R/2025/61901).
  • The details of the information sought (the five points).
  • The date of filing the original RTI.
  • The fact that the PIO (DPRO, Bhadohi) failed to provide any information or decision within the statutory time limit.

3. ⚖️ Filing the Second Appeal (Section 19(3))

If the FAA fails to deliver a decision on the First Appeal within 30 days (or 45 days if extended by the FAA in writing), the applicant must then proceed to the Second Appeal.

Details of the Second Appeal:

• Who to File To: The State Information Commission (SIC) of Uttar Pradesh.
• Grounds: Failure of the FAA to pass an order, or dissatisfaction with the order passed by the FAA.
• Importance: This stage is crucial as the SIC holds the power to impose penalties on the defaulting officers.

4. 💰 Seeking Penalty and Compensation

If the case reaches the SIC, the applicant can request that the Commission take strict action against the defaulting PIO.

• Penalty Clause (Section 20): If the PIO is found to have denied the request without reasonable cause, failed to furnish the information within the time limit, or knowingly given incorrect information, the SIC can impose a penalty of $250$ per day until the information is furnished, subject to a maximum of $25,000$.
• Compensation: The SIC also has the power to recommend disciplinary action and direct the public authority to compensate the applicant for any detriment suffered (Section 19(8)(b)).

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🎯 Key Officers and Action Point

Officer Role	Name/Designation	Responsibility Violated
Defaulting PIO	Bhadohi (Sant Ravidas Nagar)-DPRO	Failure to provide information within 30 days (Sec. 7(1)).
Nodal Officer	SHRI. S.N. SINGH	Failure to monitor and ensure compliance within the directorate.

The applicant should immediately initiate the First Appeal process to uphold their right to information and ensure transparency in the developmental schemes of Village Panchayat Dhanwatiya.

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📝 RTI Application Analysis: Seeking Transparency in Village Panchayat Development (DIRPR/R/2025/61901)

This post provides a structured analysis of the Right to Information (RTI) application filed by Mr. Devi Prasad Gupta, seeking detailed records on developmental schemes in a Village Panchayat in Bhadohi district, Uttar Pradesh. The application emphasizes the need for transparency and accountability at the grassroots level.

🔍 Application Overview & Status

Detail	Information
Registration Number	DIRPR/R/2025/61901
Date of Filing	29/07/2025
Applicant Name	Devi Prasad Gupta (Gender: Male, Status: Literate Above Graduate)
Public Authority	Panchayati Raj Directorate
Current Status	RTI REQUEST RECEVED as on 29/07/2025
Target Location	Village Panchayat – Dhanwatiya, Post- Barwa, Development block- Bhadohi, District- Bhadohi (PIN- 221402)

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🎯 Five Key Information Points Sought

The applicant seeks the following detailed information regarding developmental schemes executed in Village Panchayat – Dhanwatiya over the last four years and the current year:

1. Estimates: Provide the estimates of all executed developmental schemes.
2. Fund Distribution: Provide the distribution of government funds in the executed developmental schemes.
3. Work Booklet: Provide the work booklet (records) of the executed developmental schemes.
4. Fund Release Description: Provide the description of the release of government funds for the developmental schemes.
5. Wall Painting Details: Provide the Wall painting details and the government fund spent on them, as part of the developmental schemes.

The request humbly asks the Public Information Officer to provide these 5 points of information within the stipulated 30 days as prescribed under Section 7(1) of the Right to Information Act 2005.

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🏛️ Concerned PIO and Nodal Officer Contact Details

The responsibility for providing the information rests with the Public Information Officer (PIO) for Bhadohi.

👤 PIO Details (DPRO, Bhadohi)

Detail	Contact Information
Name	Bhadohi (Sant Ravidas Nagar)-DPRO
Designation	DPRO (District Panchayati Raj Officer)
Mobile	9450981727
Email	dprosr-up[at]nic[dot]in

🧑‍💼 Nodal Officer Details

Detail	Contact Information
Name	SHRI. S.N. SINGH
Mobile	9795140577
Email	up[dot]panchayatiraj[at]gmail[dot]com

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⚖️ Call for Transparency and Accountability

The applicant has included a strong appeal, noting that the RTI Act was introduced to promote transparency and accountability in the working of public authorities. This application is a direct effort to utilize the Act to scrutinize public expenditure and scheme execution at the local Village Panchayat level, demanding records that are essential for public oversight.