The RTI Merry-Go-Round & Income Tax is a complex and often perplexing interplay between the Right to Information Act and the taxation system. The RTI Act empowers citizens to seek information about various governmental processes, including income tax assessments and regulations. This transparency not only fosters accountability within the tax administration but also gives taxpayers insights into how they use their money. However, the process can be daunting, with procedural hurdles and potential delays. Overall, the merry-go-round of seeking information can often feel overwhelming, yet it remains an essential tool for fostering civic engagement and ensuring transparency in governance.
Key Takeaways
- The RTI Merry-Go-Round highlights issues in seeking information about income tax and corruption, emphasising the complexity of the RTI Act.
- Shri Yogi M.P. Singh’s case showcases tactical delays by CPIOs, obstructing transparency and accountability in the Income Tax Department.
- Public officials often misuse jurisdictional arguments to evade providing necessary information under the RTI Act.
- The Central Information Commission’s response to Singh’s second appeal could determine if accountability will improve in the Income Tax Department.
- This case exemplifies the need for transparency and citizen rights in government processes, underscoring that civic engagement matters.
RTI Merry-Go-Round & Income Tax: Corruption, Systemic Failure, and the Fight for Accountability
Lawmakers designed the Right to Information (RTI) Act of 2005 to disinfect India’s corridors of power with sunlight. Yet, Shri Yogi M.P. Singh experienced the RTI Merry-Go-Round firsthand while battling the Income Tax Department. Bureaucrats used tactics that blocked transparency and dodged accountability.
This case is not just about asking for documents. It is a fight for financial freedom, claiming corruption, fraudulent data entry of ₹6.6 million, and repeated refusal by public officials to follow the law.
1. The Genesis: Corruption and Human Rights Violations
This dispute centres on an RTI application that Shri Singh filed on 30.01.2026. He used the special exception in Section 24(1) of the RTI Act. This section lets people request information about corruption or human rights violations, even if the office is usually exempt.
Normally, certain intelligence and security organisations do not have to respond under the RTI Act. However, if someone seeks information about corruption or human rights violations, the law removes this exemption. Shri Singh’s request qualifies because it relates to both issues:
- Fraudulent Financial Data: The unauthorised feeding of ₹6.6 million into tax records. +4
- Police Investigations: Active proceedings under FIR 0291/2023. +4
- Administrative Malfeasance: Allegations that officers provided false remarks regarding police requisitions in official case diaries. +2
2. The RTI Merry-Go-Round in Income Tax: A Tactical Delay
Several Central Public Information Officers (CPIOs) used a “procedural bypass” to frustrate the process. When Shri Singh filed the application, the Principal Commissioner of Income Tax (PCIT), Allahabad, sent it to various wards and gave clear instructions.
The transfer order told each CPIO to transfer the request to the actual custodian under Section 6(3) if it was not within their ward’s jurisdiction. Instead, the CPIOs at Fatehpur, Kaushambi, and several wards in Allahabad simply issued a “summary disposal”.
Common Tactics Observed:
- The “NIL” Response: CPIOs claimed no records existed. They closed the matter instead of looking for the actual office that holds the data.
- The “Not My Office” Defence: Officers said the information “does not pertain to this office” and marked the request as resolved. They ignored the law requiring them to transfer it to the correct department, such as the Investigation Wing or DGIT Systems.
The applicant calls this the RTI Merry-Go-Round—a tactical delay that harms his financial liberty. The department keeps passing the buck from one office to another within the Income Tax system. This practice buries the truth in endless paperwork.
3. The Failure of the First Appellate Authority (FAA)
If a CPIO does not do their duty, the FAA should correct the situation. In this case, the FAA (Additional Commissioner of Income Tax, Range-1, Allahabad) issued an order on 17.03.2026 that made the search for justice more difficult. (RTI Merry-Go-Round & Income Tax)
The FAA upheld the CPIOs’ refusal, saying the PAN (GSWPS0850Q) did not fall under Range-1’s jurisdiction. This logic is flawed. The RTI Act is not limited by “assessment jurisdiction”. If a citizen asks about a specific grievance (for example, CBODT/E/A/26/0000294) handled by a central authority or an investigation wing, the recipient CPIO must send the request there. They cannot deny it just because they do not personally manage the applicant’s tax returns.
4. Core Legal Issues: Section 6(3) and Section 7(1)
This case exposes a critical weakness: public officials bypass the law’s anti-circumvention measures and weaken its ability to guarantee transparency and justice for citizens like Shri Singh.
Section 6(3): The Duty to Transfer
A public authority should not say “I do not have the information” if they know or should know which office holds it. CPIOs must forward the request to the right office, such as the Investigation Wing, to comply with the law.
Section 7(1): Life and Liberty
Shri Singh argued that fake financial data could harm his finances and freedom. For this reason, he said the tax office should have provided the information within 48 hours. The office took a month to respond, which broke the Act’s urgent rule.
5. The Road to the Central Information Commission (CIC)
After the First Appeal closed the case without solving anything, the applicant filed a Second Appeal. On 07.05.2026, the Central Information Commission (CIC) received the Second Appeal and assigned Diary Number 628189. (RTI Merry-Go-Round & Income Tax)
This appeal seeks to:
- Direct Accountability: The appeal asks the CIC to force CPIOs to identify who holds records related to corruption and human rights violations.
- Expose Falsehoods: The appeal requests that the CIC uncover why officials allegedly falsified remarks about police investigations.
- The appeal asks for specific records justifying the continued posting of false rent figures, even after the applicant’s formal denials.
6. Conclusion: Why This Matters to Every Citizen
Shri Yogi M.P. Singh’s case shows how hard it is to get transparency in India. When officials send a citizen from one office to another for a single RTI, the Act loses its purpose.
Transparency is not a government favour; it is a right. When officers use “jurisdictional grounds” to cover up allegations of ₹6.6 million in fraud, they do more than make a procedural error. They obstruct justice.
The public now watches the Central Information Commission. Will it allow the RTI Merry-Go-Round within the Income Tax Department to continue, or will it finally shine the sunlight of truth on Ward-1(3), Allahabad, and beyond?
If you are facing similar procedural obstructions in your RTI journey, remember that Section 6(3) is your strongest tool against bureaucratic buck-passing. bureaucratic buck-passing.
Based on the documents provided, here are the specific identification and contact details for the public authorities and applications involved:
1. Application & Appeal Identifiers (RTI Merry-Go-Round & Income Tax)
- RTI Request Registration Number: CCITL/R/T/26/00032.
- RTI First Appeal Registration Number: CCITL/A/E/26/00008.
- CPGRAM Appeal Numbers: * CBODT/E/A/26/0000294.
- CBODT/E/A/26/0000246.
- CBODT/E/A/26/0000245.
- CIC Second Appeal Diary Number: 628189 (Dated 07-05-2026).
2. Email Addresses of Public Authorities (RTI Merry-Go-Round & Income Tax)
- PCIT Allahabad (Hq./Admn): allahabad.ito.hq.admin.pcit@incometax.gov.in.
- Addl. CIT Range-1, Allahabad (FAA): allahabad.addicit1@incometax.gov.in.
- ITO Ward-1(1), Allahabad: allahabad.ito2.1@incometax.gov.in.
- ITO Ward-2(4), Fatehpur: fatehpur.ito2.4@incometax.gov.in.
- ITO Ward-2(5), Kaushambi: kaushambi.ito2.5@incometax.gov.in.
- ITO Ward-3(2), Mirzapur: mirzapur.ito3.2@incometax.gov.in.
- CCIT Allahabad: allahabad.ccit@incometax.gov.in.
- Pr. CCIT (Lucknow) Nodal Officer: lucknow.acit.hq.admin@incometax.gov.in.
- Investigation Wing (Lucknow): lucknow.addidit.ici@incometax.gov.in.
3. Telephone & Mobile Numbers (RTI Merry-Go-Round & Income Tax)
- CPIO, PCIT Allahabad: 0532-2408435.
- FAA, Addl. CIT Range-1, Allahabad: 0532-2408228.
- PCIT Allahabad (General): 0532-2400142.
- Lucknow Nodal Officer: 0522-2466009.
- Appellant (Yogi M.P. Singh): +91-7379105911.
4. Web Links & Portals (RTI Merry-Go-Round & Income Tax)
- RTI Online Portal: https://rtionline.gov.in.
- Central Information Commission (CIC): http://www.cic.gov.in (For tracking Diary No. 628189).
- Income Tax Status Check: rtionline.gov.in/request/Status_Check_Otp.php.
5. Physical Addresses (RTI Merry-Go-Round & Income Tax)
- PCIT/Addl. CIT Range-1, Allahabad: Aaykar Bhawan, 38 Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Civil Lines, Allahabad 211001.
- Central Information Commission (CIC): CIC Bhawan, Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka, New Delhi-110067.
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