Justice Delayed: A Deep Dive into the RTI Appeal Against Tehsil Lalganj, Mirzapur

The Right to Information (RTI) Act of 2005 was envisioned as a tool to empower citizens, ensuring that the wheels of bureaucracy remain transparent and accountable. However, when the very officials tasked with providing information remain silent, the system falters.

A recent First Appeal filed by Shivam Gupta (B.Sc., LL.B.) against the Tehsildar of Lalganj, Mirzapur, highlights a growing frustration among citizens regarding the implementation of the SVAMITVA Scheme and the handling of public grievances.

The Core of the Dispute: RTI No. DMOMR/R/2025/60145

On July 7, 2025, Shivam Gupta filed a formal request for information. Under Section 7(1) of the RTI Act, a Public Information Officer (PIO) is mandated to provide a response within 30 days. As of August 13, 2025, that deadline had long passed with no communication from the office of Tehsildar Tarun Pratap Singh.

This silence triggered the First Appeal (Registration No. DMOMR/A/2025/60114) to the First Appellate Authority (FAA), SDM Gulab Chandra Second.

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1. The SVAMITVA Scheme: Promise vs. Reality

The SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas) Scheme is a central flagship program aimed at providing an integrated property validation solution for rural India.

The Case of Ram Dulari Devi

At the heart of this RTI is the denial of a Property Card (Gharouni) to Ram Dulari Devi in Dubar Kalan Village. Despite the use of drone technology to map residential lands, her family—now represented by her daughter Anarkali Devi—remains without legal title documents.

• The RTI Query: The applicant has demanded the specific legal rationale for this denial.
• The Conflict: If there is a title dispute pending in the Tehsil Court, the administration is obligated to disclose those details.

2. Misdirection of Grievances: Administrative or Police Matter?

One of the most striking revelations in this appeal is the alleged “Improper Transfer of Grievance.” Shivam Gupta had previously registered a complaint (GOVUP/E/2025/0042472) regarding administrative corruption within the Tehsil.

Instead of being investigated by revenue or anti-corruption authorities, the matter was transferred to the Police Department.

The grievance concerned administrative corruption in Tehsil Lalganj under the SVAMITVA Scheme. Why was it sent to the police?”

This move is often seen as a bureaucratic tactic to “wash hands” of internal corruption charges by shifting the burden to a department that may not have jurisdiction over revenue records.

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3. Seeking Accountability: Identifying the Gatekeepers

Transparency is not just about data; it is about people. The RTI application explicitly asks for the names and designations of the staff members responsible for:

1. Processing the SVAMITVA Scheme in Dubar Kalan.
2. The decision-making process that led to the transfer of the grievance to the police.

By identifying specific officials, the applicant seeks to move away from “faceless” bureaucracy and ensure that individuals are held responsible for delays or irregularities.

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4. Legal Recourse: The First Appeal under Section 19(1)

Since the PIO failed to provide a response, the law allows the applicant to move to the First Appellate Authority.

The Prayer for Relief

In his appeal to SDM Gulab Chandra Second, Shivam Gupta has requested three primary actions:

• Mandatory Disclosure: An immediate order for Tehsildar Tarun Pratap Singh to furnish the requested documents.
• Penalty Clause: Initiation of action under Section 20, which allows for penalties against PIOs who “without any reasonable cause” fail to receive an application or furnish information.
• Systemic Accountability: Ensuring that the SVAMITVA Scheme is not marred by local-level corruption or inefficiency.

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The Broader Implications for Mirzapur

Mirzapur, like many districts in Uttar Pradesh, relies heavily on the success of the SVAMITVA Scheme to reduce land disputes and enable rural citizens to use their property as a financial asset. When the administration fails to provide property cards or refuses to answer why they are being withheld, it undermines the Prime Minister’s vision of a “Digital India.”

Why This Case Matters

1. Protects the Vulnerable: Elderly residents like the late Ram Dulari Devi depend on these documents for their legal security.
2. Exposes “Grievance Shifting”: It highlights how the IGRS (Jansunwai) portal can be manipulated if officials transfer complaints to incorrect departments.
3. Tests the RTI Framework: It puts the spotlight on the SDM of Lalganj to see if the appellate process actually works or if it simply protects its own.

Conclusion

The silence of the Lalganj Tehsil office is not just a procedural delay; it is a hurdle in the path of justice for the residents of Dubar Kalan. As the appeal sits with FAA Gulab Chandra Second, the eyes of the community are on the District Magistrate’s office in Mirzapur.

Will the administration uphold the law, or will the “Information Commission” be the next and final stop for Shivam Gupta?

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Are you facing similar issues with the SVAMITVA Scheme or RTI delays in Uttar Pradesh? Share your experience in the comments or contact the relevant Nodal Officer.

• Nodal Officer: Ajay Kumar Singh (8756844195)
• Appellate Authority: SDM Lalganj (9454416813)

The SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages Abadi and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas) scheme is a landmark central sector initiative launched by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj on April 24, 2020.¹

Its primary goal is to provide legal ownership rights to people living in rural “Abadi” (inhabited) areas, where property records have historically been non-existent or poorly maintained.²

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## 1. Why was it needed?

In India, while agricultural land records have been meticulously kept since the colonial era, the residential areas (Abadi) of villages were rarely surveyed.³ This led to:

• Property Disputes: Lack of clear boundaries led to decades-long legal battles.⁴
• Financial Exclusion: Without a “Title Deed” or “Gharouni,” villagers could not use their homes as collateral for bank loans.⁵
• Lack of Planning: Gram Panchayats lacked accurate maps to plan for roads, schools, or drainage.

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## 2. How the Scheme Works (The Process)

The scheme uses a highly advanced, transparent methodology to map every inch of a village:⁶

• Drone Surveying: The Survey of India uses survey-grade drones to create high-resolution digital maps with an accuracy of up to 5 cm.⁷
• Chuna Marking: Before the drone flies, villagers and revenue officials mark the boundaries of every property using white lime (chuna).⁸
• Ground Verification: Once maps are generated, they are cross-verified by revenue officials and the community to resolve any overlaps or disputes.⁹
• Property Card Issuance: After the inquiry process is complete, a legal document—known as a Property Card (or Gharouni in UP)—is issued to the owner.¹⁰

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## 3. Key Benefits to the Citizen

Benefit	Impact
Financial Asset	Property cards can be used to take bank loans for business or education.
Dispute Reduction	Accurate digital maps act as a “Record of Rights,” preventing neighbors from encroaching on land.
Asset Security	It protects the poor from exploitation by land mafias or fake paperwork.
Gram Swaraj	Panchayats can use the maps for better local planning and to collect property taxes for village development.
Empowerment	The scheme encourages joint ownership with women, securing their social and economic status.

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## 4. Progress Status (2025)¹¹

As of early 2025, the scheme has reached a “saturation” phase in several states:¹²

• Full Coverage: States like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Haryana have completed 100% of their drone surveys.¹³
• Digital Integration: Property cards are now being linked to DigiLocker, allowing owners to download their legal documents on their mobile phones.¹⁴
• Global Recognition: India’s drone-based mapping model is now being shared as a “best practice” with other developing nations in Africa and Southeast Asia.

## Challenges in Implementation

Despite its success, some issues persist (as seen in your RTI case):

• Transfer of Grievances: Administrative delays or “buck-passing” between departments.
• Title Disputes: If a property is under litigation in a Tehsil court, the card may be withheld until a verdict is reached.
• Public Awareness: Some residents are unaware that they must be present during “Chuna Marking” to ensure their boundaries are correctly recorded.

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Note: For the specific case you are pursuing in Mirzapur, the lack of a property card for Ram Dulari Devi might be due to a technical error in the drone extraction data or a pending dispute in the revenue records that wasn’t updated during the survey.

Would you like me to help you draft a letter to the District Magistrate (DM) of Mirzapur specifically requesting a ‘Special Camp’ for resolving SVAMITVA discrepancies in Dubar Kalan?