Transparency and Deception on the GPDP Portal critically influence public perception and trust. While the portal provides open access to information, it ensures that citizens can easily understand and engage with the data. Nevertheless, there may be situations where individuals do not fully disclose information or present it misleadingly. This duality creates a complex relationship among the stakeholders involved. Promoting transparency is crucial for fostering accountability, but any form of deception undermines the platform’s integrity and erodes public trust. Therefore, maintaining an optimal balance is imperative to ensure effective communication and stakeholder confidence.

Transparency or Deception on GPDP Portal? The RTI Battle for Accountability in Gram Panchayat Bihasada Khurd

Public transparency forms the bedrock of local governance in India. However, a recent case from Gram Panchayat Bihasada Khurd, Mirzapur, raises alarming questions about whether digital transparency tools like eGramSwaraj and physical Public Information Boards (PIBs) on the GPDP Portal inform the public or mask financial discrepancies, leading to concerns of transparency or deception.

The ongoing appeal before the Uttar Pradesh Information Commission (Appeal No. S09/A/0494/2025) involving appellant Ashok Kumar Maurya highlights a systemic issue: the gap between “paper plans” and “ground reality”. +2

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The Core of the Conflict: Estimates vs. Reality

The dispute began when RTI enquiries revealed that officials had significantly misrepresented the work advertised on the village’s Public Information Board compared to the actual expenditures recorded in the official cash books. In rural development, the Public Information Board serves as a “site detail” of work actually performed. However in Bihasada Khurd, officials seem to have listed budgetary wish lists as completed projects.

1. The Case of the “Phantom” Infrastructure (Transparency or Deception on GPDP Portal)

According to the Public Information Board for the year 2022-23, they listed several major infrastructure projects with high estimated costs:

• Drain Construction: ₹100,000. +1
• Soak Pit Construction: ₹70,000. +1
• Interlocking Construction: Multiple entries totaling over ₹310,000.

When the appellant requested specific locations and dates for these works, the Public Information Officer (PIO), Dileep Kumar Yadav, admitted in a written response dated May 10, 2026, that they incurred zero expenditure on these projects. The PIO claimed that these figures were merely “references to the action plan.” This raises a critical question: why did they display an “Action Plan” to the public as “Work Done”?

2. Inflated Estimates and Expenditure Gaps

Even where the team performed work, the financial figures show inexplicable variances. For instance, the board publicised ₹190,000 for painting the Panchayat Bhawan. However, the PIO later claimed that they only paid ₹32,750 for this work on March 10, 2023. This leaves an unexplained discrepancy of over ₹1.5 lakh between what the public received and what they allegedly spent. (Transparency or Deception on GPDP Portal)

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The “Technical Error” Defense (Transparency or Deception on GPDP Portal)

One of the most startling revelations in this case involves the digital records of the Gram Panchayat. The appellant discovered that the second page of the Public Information Board for Bihasada Khurd actually belonged to an entirely different village—Gram Panchayat Bagedha Khurd—listing different officials completely. +1

The PIO dismissed the issue as a “technical error” (तकनीकी त्रुटिवश). However, according to the law and the RTI Act, such errors indicate that the public authorities did not follow Section 4 (Sua Sponte Disclosure), which requires them to provide accurate and updated information to the public. By uploading the wrong board, the administration effectively blinded the citizens of Bihasada Khurd to the actual financial status of their village for the 2022-23 fiscal year.

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Financial Records: Where are the Details?

While the PIO points to the PFMS (Public Financial Management System) and eGramSwaraj as evidence of transparency, the raw data often lacks the specificity required for accountability.

For example, the Gram Panchayat’s Cash Book for June 2022 shows multiple payments for “hand pump maintenance”: +3

• Voucher P/7: ₹38,682 for material. +3
• Vouchers P/8, P/9, P/10: Multiple payments for labour. +3

The PIO claims it repaired hand pumps at 17 different locations. However, the appellant highlights that despite these entries, the PIO did not provide the specific dates and GPS-tagged locations for these repairs. Without these details, citizens cannot confirm whether a hand pump was actually repaired or if someone siphoned off the funds through ghost vouchers.

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The Fight for Accountability at the Commission (Transparency or Deception on GPDP Portal)

The matter is currently under the scrutiny of State Information Commissioner Shakuntala Gautam. The Commission has taken a stern view of the repeated absences of both parties in previous hearings and has directed a final opportunity for personal appearance on May 11, 2026.

In a formal addendum filed by the appellant on the morning of the hearing, three major demands were placed before the Commission: +2

1. Imposition of Penalties: Under Section 20(1) of the RTI Act, for providing misleading and incorrect information. +1
2. Physical Verification: A demand for an independent on-site audit of the hand pump repairs and Panchayat Bhawan painting to ensure the funds were utilised as claimed. +1
3. Data Correction: A directive to the department to rectify the “technical errors” on the eGramSwaraj portal so that the correct information for Bihasada Khurd is available to the public. +1

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Conclusion: A Lesson for Local Governance

The Bihasada Khurd case is a microcosm of the challenges facing the Panchayati Raj system in India. Digital portals are only as good as the data that is entered into them. When “Action Plans” disguise themselves as “Completed Works” and “Technical Errors” hide village data, they defeat the spirit of the RTI Act. (Transparency or Deception on GPDP Portal)

As the Information Commission deliberates, this case serves as a reminder that transparency is not just about uploading PDFs; it is about ensuring that every rupee allocated for a village drain, a soak pit, or a hand pump is visible, verifiable, and actually spent on the ground. For the residents of Mirzapur, the hope is that this legal battle will lead to a more honest and accountable administration.

Based on the uploaded documents and official correspondence, here are the identification and contact details for the concerned public authorities and the case:

1. Case Identification Details (Transparency or Deception on GPDP Portal)

• Registration Number: A-20250200820 (also referred to as A-20250200829 in portal records ). +1
• RTI Registration Number: COMRD/R/2024/60265. +1
• Appeal Number: S09/A/0494/2025. +2
• Notice Number: 202604S09N300614. +1
• Diary Number: D-110520260031 (Online Portal).

2. Email Addresses (Transparency or Deception on GPDP Portal)

• UP Information Commission (Hearing Room S-9): hearingcourts9.upic@up.gov.in. +1
• District Panchayat Raj Officer (DPRO), Mirzapur: dpromi-up@nic.in.
• Block Development Officer (BDO), Chhanbey: bdo.chhanbey96@rediffmail.com.
• District Development Officer (DDO), Mirzapur: ddomirzapur123@gmail.com.
• PIO/Gram Panchayat Officer (Dileep Yadav): dileepline4@gmail.com.

3. Mobile Numbers (Transparency or Deception on GPDP Portal)

• PIO/Gram Panchayat Officer (Dileep Kumar Yadav): 9454465108.
• Appellant (Ashok Kumar Maurya): 9619971441. +1

4. Web Links and Portals (Transparency or Deception on GPDP Portal)

• UP Information Commission Portal: https://upsic.up.gov.in/.
• eGramSwaraj Portal: [suspicious link removed].

5. Public Authority Addresses (Transparency or Deception on GPDP Portal)

• Uttar Pradesh Information Commission: 7/7/A, RTI Bhawan, Vibhuti Khand, Gomti Nagar, Lucknow.
• PIO Office Address: Office of Gram Panchayat Officer, Gram Panchayat Bihasada Khurd, Block Chhanbey, Mirzapur c/o District Panchayat Raj Officer, District Mirzapur, PIN 231001.