🚨 RTI Nightmare: Mirzapur Police PIO Fails to Respond for Nearly 5 Months in ‘Sub Judice’ Land Dispute

The scenario of a Sub-Inspector (SI) meeting the Appellant is unusual and highlights the RTI Nightmare & Mirzapur Police experience. Taking the RTI documents is not part of the standard process defined by the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005.

Here is a breakdown of why this is unusual and what the provisions of the RTI Act actually allow:

1. The Official Channel for RTI is the PIO

• The RTI Act designates a Public Information Officer (PIO) as the official responsible for receiving an RTI application. The PIO is also responsible for responding to the application. (RTI Nightmare & Mirzapur Police)
• The PIO of the police department (in this case, the ASP Operation) is responsible for providing the information. They must officially reject the request within the stipulated time, which is usually 30 days.
• The RTI Act does not prescribe or require the Appellant to provide documents to the police. The documents should only be provided to the PIO (or APIO) who processes the application. The applicant’s role is typically over once the application is submitted.

2. The PIO Can Seek Assistance (Section 5(4) and 5(5)) (RTI Nightmare & Mirzapur Police)

• Under Section 5(4) of the RTI Act, the PIO may seek the assistance of any other officer. This helps in the proper discharge of their duties. This officer’s assistance is sought for tasks like locating, collecting, or retrieving the required information within the Public Authority’s records.
• The SI from Jigana Police Station could have been an officer. The PIO (ASP Operation) sought his assistance to locate the relevant records. These records are related to the Appellant’s grievance (the illegal boring/possession case mentioned in the RTI).
• In this context, the SI’s visit might have been an internal step in the information-gathering process.

3. The Unconventional Part: Taking Documents from the Applicant

• The PIO can seek assistance to find internal records. However, there is no provision in the RTI Act. It does not mandate the applicant (Kamlesh Singh) to provide his personal copies of the RTI documents. The RTI Act does not mandate giving these documents to a subordinate officer. An officer like an SI does not need them for processing the RTI request. The PIO already has the original application. (RTI Nightmare & Mirzapur Police)
• If the SI’s visit aimed to verify the details of the original complaint, it indicates another motive. The visit wasn’t just to address the core grievance of police inaction. It was not just to process the RTI. It might be an action taken under police administrative/investigative procedures, not directly under the RTI Act.

Conclusion and Implication (RTI Nightmare & Mirzapur Police)

• Allowed: The PIO (ASP Operation) is allowed to seek the assistance of a subordinate officer. An officer like an SI can collect or retrieve the information from the police records.
• Unusual/Not Required by RTI: It is not an official requirement of the RTI process. The applicant does not need to hand over copies of the RTI documents to the police.
• The Key Issue: The Appellant provided the documents to the SI. Yet, the PIO still provided NO INFORMATION (as stated in the submission). This confirms that the RTI Act’s mandate was still violated. The SI’s interaction is largely irrelevant to the PIO’s legal obligation to respond. The Appellant is right to seek a penalty against the PIO for non-compliance.

📝 Second Appeal Hearing Submission Summary (RTI Nightmare & Mirzapur Police)

This is a written statement and status update. Kamlesh Singh (Appellant) submitted the text to the Uttar Pradesh Information Commission. The commission will hold the Second Appeal hearing today, November 26, 2025. (RTI Nightmare & Mirzapur Police)

Detail	Description
Case No.	509/A/2182/2025
Appellant	Kamlesh Singh
Opposite Party	PIO, SP Mirzapur (Shri Om Prakash Singh, ASP Operation)
Original RTI Date	July 4, 2025
Grievance	The RTI sought information regarding police inaction on illegal boring and possession activity related to a sub judice land dispute.

Key Status Updates (RTI Nightmare & Mirzapur Police)

• Continued Non-Compliance: As of November 26, 2025, the Public Information Officer (PIO) has provided no information. This is in response to the RTI application. The application was filed over four months ago. (RTI Nightmare & Mirzapur Police)
• Wilful Violation: The Appellant asserts this continued failure constitutes a “wilful violation of the RTI Act, 2005.”
• Police Interaction: A Sub-Inspector (SI) from Jigana Police Station recently met the Appellant and took the RTI documents. However, the PIO (Additional SP Mirzapur) has still not furnished the information. Additionally, no action has been taken on the core police grievance.

Prayer to the Commission

The Appellant requests the Hon’ble Commission to:

1. Direct the PIO (Shri Om Prakash Singh) to immediately provide the complete information sought in the RTI application.
2. Impose the statutory penalty on the PIO under Section 20 of the RTI Act for the unexcused delay and non-compliance.
3. Issue necessary directions to the Public Authority (Police). They need to address the core grievance. We must make efforts to maintain the status quo on the disputed land. (RTI Nightmare & Mirzapur Police)

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Overview: A Systemic Failure of Accountability

This post presents the ongoing battle of applicant Kamlesh Singh. He is working to enforce his fundamental Right to Information (RTI) against the Superintendent of Police Office, Mirzapur. The case demonstrates a severe breach of statutory duty. The Public Information Officer (PIO) failed to provide a response for nearly five months. This inaction forced the matter to the highest state appellate body. The core of the grievance is the alleged police stagnation on illegal possession activity. The land in question is currently pending before the revenue court (sub judice).

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Stage 1: The Original RTI Application (RTI Nightmare & Mirzapur Police)

The Applicant sought accountability for the police’s failure to intervene in a land dispute, despite receiving an emergency alert.

• RTI Registration Number: SPMZR/R/2025/60170.
• Date of Filing: 04/07/2025.
• Public Authority: Superintendent of Police Office, Mirzapur.
• Concerned PIO: OM PRAKASH SINGH, ASP OPERATION.

Core Information Sought (RTI Nightmare & Mirzapur Police)

The applicant requested specific documents to justify the police’s passive role: (RTI Nightmare & Mirzapur Police)

1. Documents/orders that restrained the police from acting after the applicant’s son dialed 112 to report illegal boring.
2. Legal provisions or departmental protocols hold the police in a state of “stagnancy.” This occurs in the sub judice/lis pendens matter. Offenders are attempting to supersede the revenue court’s jurisdiction.
3. Names and designations of police personnel who visited the site but failed to stop the illegal activity.

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Stage 2: The Ignored First Appeal (RTI Nightmare & Mirzapur Police)

The PIO failed to respond within the mandated 30 days (by August 3, 2025), necessitating the First Appeal. (RTI Nightmare & Mirzapur Police)

• First Appeal Registration Number: SPMZR/A/2025/60036.
• Date of Filing: 10/08/2025.
• Ground for Appeal: No Response Within the Time Limit.
• First Appellate Authority (FAA): SOMEN VERMA (Superintendent of Police, Mirzapur).
• Status: The PIO did not provide any information, even after the FAA escalated the matter.

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Stage 3: The Second Appeal (The Current Hearing) (RTI Nightmare & Mirzapur Police)

The authorities failed to furnish information continuously. As a result, the Applicant moved the Uttar Pradesh Information Commission (UPIC) for a Second Appeal. The hearing is scheduled for today.

• UPIC Second Appeal Filing Date (Submission Date): 19/09/2025.
• UPIC Case Number: 509/A/2182/2025.
• UPIC Registration Number: A-20250901643.
• Hearing Date: 26/11/2025, 10:30 AM (Court No. S-9).
• Current Status (26/11/2025): The PIO has provided NO INFORMATION. Recent interactions with a Jigna SI confirm the police department’s awareness. However, they have not taken any corrective action on the ground. They have also not complied with the RTI Act.

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Plea for Penalty and Intervention (RTI Nightmare & Mirzapur Police)

The Applicant is seeking strong intervention from the UPIC:

• Penalty: Impose the statutory penalty of up to ₹25,000. This is under Section 20(1) of the RTI Act. The penalty is against the PIO for the delay exceeding 100 days without reasonable cause.
• Action: Direct the Public Authority to immediately provide the information. Take steps to maintain the status quo on the disputed land.

Key Contact Details (RTI Nightmare & Mirzapur Police)

Party	Name/Designation	Mobile Number	Email ID
Appellant	Kamlesh Singh	8127195424	kamleshsingh8127195424@gmail.com
PIO (Office Ref.)	Public Information Officer, SP Mirzapur	9454401105	asp-op.mi@up.gov.in
FAA	Superintendent Of Police, MIRZAPUR	9454400299	spmzr-up@nic.in