Key Takeaways

• The applicant requested specific service-related information from BDO Bhadohi, focusing on employee posting details.
• According to Section 7(1) of the RTI Act, BDO Bhadohi must respond within 30 days, yet no response was received.
• The PIO neglected to act on the RTI application, violating legal mandates, and neglected duty to transfer the inquiry properly.
• The applicant filed a First Appeal with the Commissioner of Rural Development, demanding action against the PIO’s inaction.
• This situation highlights the importance of transparency and accountability in public service, as upheld by the RTI Act.

Introduction

BDO Bhadohi must make sure compliance of new transfer police by providing transfer and posting details. The Block Development Officer (BDO) at the office of Development Block-Bhadohi, District-Bhadohi, Uttar Pradesh receives the application. The application comes from the Public Information Officer (PIO).

Sought information from BDO Bhadohi

Information Requested: The applicant seeks specific service-related information for employees within the BDO’s office, broken down into five points. This request particularly focuses on BDO Bhadohi’s role.

1. First posting details of the current Block Development Officer (BDO), including the district and date.
2. The date the BDO joined the Bhadohi district and their post at that time.
3. Names and posting details (date of joining the district and the block) for all Class 2 employees.
4. Names and posting details (date of joining the district and the block) for all Class 3 employees.
5. Names and posting details (date of joining the district and the block) for all Class 4 employees.

Stipulated time

Legal Basis: The applicant cites Section 7(1) of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005. This section mandates a response within 30 days. Meanwhile, BDO Bhadohi is tasked with ensuring that this timeline is respected.

Supporting Document: I have attached a copy of the new transfer policy to the application. Dated June 15, 2022, it comes from the Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh and provides context.

Transfer of Application: The applicant explicitly requests the District Development Officer (DDO), Bhadohi, to transfer the matter. This should happen instantly. The plea is to move it to the office of BDO Bhadohi. They should do this upon receiving the application, as the BDO is the correct authority to give the information.

As a citizen of India, I believe in the power of transparency and accountability. The Right to Information (RTI) Act of 2005 serves as a crucial tool. It empowers us to hold public authorities accountable. Yet, what do we do when someone ignores this right? My recent meeting with the Public Information Officer (PIO) in Bhadohi, Uttar Pradesh, highlights the challenges we confront. It also reveals the recourse available to us. This blog post details my journey and the legal grounds for my first appeal.

The First information demand and the 30-Day Silence

On August 1, 2025, I filed an RTI application. Its Registration Number is COMRD/R/2025/60587. I sought specific details from the Block Development Officer (BDO), Development Block-Bhadohi. My inquiry included information on the BDO’s posting history. It also detailed various staff members (Class 2, 3, and 4) within the block office.

According to Section 7(1) of the RTI Act, a Public Information Officer (PIO) has a legal duty. They must supply the requested information. They must do this within 30 days of receiving the application. The District Development Officer (DDO), acting as the PIO’s office, received my application on the very same day. Despite this, I did not get any response before the deadline of August 31, 2025. The region’s connection to BDO in Bhadohi is significant in this context.

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The PIO’s Failure and the Legal Mandate

The PIO’s inaction directly violates the RTI Act. I submitted a straightforward application; I clearly defined the information requested, which pertains to public records. Furthermore, I explicitly stated that the Block Development Officer oversees the information I seek.

The PIO at the DDO’s office had two options, as per the law:

1. Give the information directly if they held it.
2. If another public authority held the information, it had to transfer the application to the correct authority. Section 6(3) of the RTI Act required this transfer to happen within five days.

The PIO did neither. This failure to act is a serious dereliction of duty. It is a deliberate try to obstruct the flow of public information related to BDO Bhadohi.

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My First Appeal and the Way Ahead

Given this lack of response, I have filed a First Appeal with the First Appellate Authority (FAA). The authority is the Commissioner of Rural Development, Sant Ravidas Nagar (Bhadohi). My appeal, filed on September 21, 2025, outlines the grounds for my grievance and seeks specific relief.

My appeal calls for the FAA against BDO Bhadohi to:

• Direct the PIO to promptly release the requested information.
• Start action against the PIO for their unexcused delay.
• Impose a penalty on the PIO. This is as per Section 20(1) of the RTI Act. It allows for a penalty of Rs. 250 for each day of delay, up to a limit of Rs. 25,000.

This appeal extends beyond my specific information inquiry. It upholds the principles of transparency, accountability, and citizen empowerment. These are the core values that the RTI Act protects. It reminds public servants of their duty to serve the public. The RTI Act empowers citizens to hold them accountable. I urge anyone facing a similar situation not to give up and to use the legal recourse available to them.

Enquiry officer may provide the information concerned with enquiry

Anand Kumar Tiwari submitted appeal against misleading information of C.O..