Balrampur: RTI Activist Files First Appeal Over Unprovided Seed Store Information

बलरामपुर उत्तर प्रदेश | अनिरुद्ध प्रताप शुक्ल

Information Withheld on Seed Stores Prompts First Appeal

Amidst suspected irregularities at the government agricultural seed stores in the Balrampur district, advocate Mahendra Kumar Tiwari has filed a first appeal with the Chief Development Officer (CDO) and First Appellate Authority. This action follows the failure of Public Information Officers in six development blocks of the district to provide requested information regarding seed distribution records within the stipulated timeframe under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

Advocate Seeks Records of Seed Procurement and Distribution

Mahendra Kumar Tiwari, an advocate with the Lucknow High Court, submitted an RTI application on August 4, 2026. He requested certified photocopies of crucial records from the government agricultural seed stores in the development blocks of Balrampur, Haraiya Satgharwa, Utraula, Shridattganj, Rehra Bazar, and Gaidas Buzurg for the financial years 2020-21 to 2023-24. These records include seed stock registers, distribution registers, approved subsidies, and detailed seed sales information.

Additionally, the advocate sought details on the eligibility criteria for seed distribution and a list of the beneficiary farmers.

Officials Fail to Provide Information Within Deadline

The appellant stated that after submitting the RTI application, the concerned Public Information Officers failed to provide the requested information within the thirty-day deadline mandated by the Act. With no response received even after the deadline passed, advocate Tiwari has now presented a first appeal to the Chief Development Officer, Balrampur, demanding immediate intervention in the matter.

First Appeal Demands Prompt Provision of Certified Records

The first appeal requests the prompt provision of the sought-after information in its available form from the respective offices, as certified photocopies. According to the advocate, this information directly relates to the receipt, distribution, farmer benefits, and government subsidies at the government agricultural seed stores, which must be transparent in the public interest.

The appeal has been filed to ensure compliance with the timeframe stipulated under Section 7 of the RTI Act. All eyes are now on the actions to be taken at the First Appellate Authority level and the process of cross-referencing these records from the various development blocks. This case could prove to be a significant step towards ensuring transparency and accountability in the government seed stores.