State Information Commission Targets LDA for Obstruction. The commission has recently taken decisive steps to address ongoing issues with the Land Development Authority (LDA), accusing it of hindering the transparency and accessibility of public information. As part of its mandate, the commission emphasises the importance of upholding the right to information, which is crucial for promoting accountability and good governance. Authorities believe that the LDA’s lack of cooperation in providing essential data undermines public trust and hampers community involvement in development processes. Future actions will likely include recommendations for reforms to improve information dissemination practices and ensure compliance with transparency regulations.

State Information Commission Targets LDA Over Persistent RTI Non-Compliance

The right to information is a cornerstone of transparency, yet recent proceedings at the Uttar Pradesh Information Commission reveal a troubling pattern of obstruction by the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA). In the case of Yogi M.P. Singh vs PIO, LDA, the Commission has been forced to take drastic measures to ensure accountability. Notably, these actions demonstrate how the State Information Commission targets LDA in its ongoing efforts.

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1. The Core Dispute: Transparency in Corruption Probes

The case centres on an RTI application filed in early 2024 regarding grievance GOVUP/E/2024/0006965. The applicant sought details that are vital for public accountability, including: Throughout this dispute, targets set by the State Information Commission to push LDA for improved information delivery have become ever more significant.

• Investigative Accountability: The reasons why the relevant investigating committee withheld a 24-page PDF document concerning corruption.
• Committee Transparency: The names and designations of LDA staff and committee members authorised to handle representations in the matter. +1
• Documented Actions: Evidence of actions taken on multiple representations filed by Dinesh Pratap Singh between 2022 and 2023. +2

2. A History of Deliberate Obstruction

Despite the matter’s escalation to the State Information Commission, the Public Information Officer (PIO) has consistently disregarded legal mandates. In fact, the State Information Commission has repeatedly set targets regarding LDA’s compliance to address these ongoing issues.

• Failure of First Appeal: The PIO failed to provide information even after directions from the First Appellate Authority. +1
• Absence from Hearings: During the hearing on February 24, 2026, the Commission noted that the respondent was absent and had provided no information under Section 6(1).
• Defiance of Commission Orders: An explicit order was issued on February 24, 2026, directing the PIO to comply, yet as of the May 13, 2026 hearing, no information has been shared. +2

3. The Commission’s “Show Cause” Crackdown

Faced with “wilful disobedience,” State Information Commissioner Shri Padum Narayan Dwivedi has initiated penal proceedings. The Commission has observed that the PIO’s conduct—providing incomplete or misleading information and obstructing the process—is a fit case for punishment under Section 20 of the RTI Act. In this crackdown, it is clear that the State Information Commission targets the LDA with stern show-cause actions. +2

Current legal actions include:

• Personal Penalty: A “Show Cause” notice has been issued to the PIO to explain why a maximum penalty of ₹25,000 should not be imposed. +1
• High-Level Intervention: The Vice Chairman of the LDA has been formally ordered to ensure that his subordinates comply with the law. +1

4. Seeking Justice: The Appellant’s Final Prayer

On May 13, 2026, the appellant, Yogi M.P. Singh, submitted a formal representation (Diary No. D-130520260004) demanding more than just the missing documents. He is now seeking: The actions taken in response, which underline how the State Information Commission targets LDA to uphold justice and proper information handling. +1

1. Disciplinary action against the offending officers under Section 20(2).
2. Financial compensation for mental harassment and time lost due to the LDA’s “grave obstruction.”

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Key Takeaway: This case highlights a critical bottleneck in the RTI process—the reliance on the PIO’s integrity. When officers choose silence instead of transparency, the Commission’s power to fine and recommend disciplinary action remains the final safeguard for the citizen’s right to know.

It is highly misleading—and legally problematic—to establish an investigative committee that exists only on paper while providing no tangible reports or accountability to the public. Under the RTI Act, 2005, the details of such committees and their progress are public information, especially when they concern allegations of corruption in public land allocation.

Based on your documents, the State Information Commission is currently holding the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) accountable for this exact lack of transparency. +1

The “On-Paper” Committee Problem

Your RTI request directly challenges the legitimacy of this “ghost” committee by demanding specific, verifiable facts:

• The “Reason” for Inaction: You have asked why a 24-page PDF document detailing the corruption was never provided to the committee.
• The “Who” and “Where”: You requested the names and designations of the committee members and the staff authorised to consider your representations. +1
• The “Action Taken”: You sought the details of actions taken on four different representations regarding these irregularities. +3

Why This is Legally “Misleading”

When a public authority like the LDA claims a committee is investigating but refuses to disclose its members or progress, it creates a “transparency vacuum.” This is considered obstruction under the RTI Act because the following

1. Section 4 Compliance: Public authorities are required to proactively disclose the boards, councils, and committees they establish.
2. Section 20 Violations: The Commission has already noted that the PIO is providing “incomplete or misleading” information regarding this grievance.
3. Deliberate Delay: By not disclosing who is on the committee, the LDA prevents you from following up or presenting evidence, effectively stalling the investigation. +1

Commission’s Current Stand on This Irregularity

The State Information Commissioner has recognised that the PIO is likely shielding the committee from inactivity. By issuing a Show Cause Notice, the Commission is signalling that ‘investigations on paper’ without compliance are violations of the law. +1

Next Step for Your Hearing: During your hearing today (or in your next follow-up), emphasise that “establishing a committee without a public mandate or identifiable members is a tactic to bypass the RTI Act. Request that the Commission order the LDA to produce the Minutes of the Meetings of this committee to prove that it is actually functioning. (State Information Commission Targets LDA)

Has the Commission provided a specific deadline for the Vice Chairman of the LDA to respond to your latest representation?

Based on the provided documents and your latest submission to the Commission, here are the specific identification and contact details for the authorities involved in your case:

Case & Application Identifiers (State Information Commission Targets LDA)

• Commission Appeal Number: S-05/A/0518/2024 +4
• Commission Registration Number: A-20240701671 +2
• Original RTI Registration Number: LKDPA/R/2024/60105 +1
• Grievance Registration Number (Core Issue): GOVUP/E/2024/0006965 +3
• Commission Notice Number: 202604S05N200406 +1
• Online Diary Number (Latest Submission): D-130520260004 +1

Contact Details for Public Authorities (State Information Commission Targets LDA)

Authority / Officer	Email Address	Mobile / Phone
State Information Commission (S-5)	hearingcourts5.upic@up.gov.in	Not provided
PIO, Lucknow Development Authority	raz.9125@gmail.com	9918001893
LDA RTI Online (Cc’d in emails)	ldartionline@gmail.com	Not provided
Deputy Secretary (Atul Krishna Singh)	Not provided	Cited as PIO/Opposite Party

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Web Links & Portals (State Information Commission Targets LDA)

• UP State Information Commission Official Website: www.upsic.up.gov.in
• UP Information Commission Portal (Direct): https://upsic.up.gov.in/

Postal Addresses (State Information Commission Targets LDA)

• UP Information Commission: 7/7/A RTI Bhavan, Vibhuti Khand, Gomti Nagar, Lucknow +2
• Lucknow Development Authority (LDA): Office of the Public Information Officer, Lucknow, Pin Code: 226012