Daman & Diu MP Umesh Patel Files RTI Violation Complaint Against Administrator

Daman | Union Territory — Daman & Diu Member of Parliament (MP) Umesh Patel has escalated a serious governance dispute by filing a formal complaint with the Central Information Commission (CIC) against Union Territory Administrator Praful Patel, alleging violations of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005. The complaint, registered under Section 18 of the RTI Act, accuses the administration of systematically undermining transparency and accountability.

In his submission, Daman and Diu MP Umesh Patel said, “The Administrator has failed to comply with the statutory obligations mandated under Section 4(1)(b) of the RTI Act. Essential details such as the names, designations, contact information, and email IDs of Public Information Officers (PIOs) and First Appellate Authorities (FAAs) have not been published on the official website or RTI portal. This makes the entire system non-functional and deprives citizens of their legal rights.”

Alleged Breakdown of RTI Mechanism

The MP highlighted that the RTI portal under the Administrator’s office does not provide a statutory mechanism for filing first appeals. Without such a facility, the portal becomes legally ineffective, directly contradicting the purpose of the RTI Act.

Calling the lapse “a direct attack on democratic values,” Patel said, “By disabling or ignoring the mechanism established by Parliament, the administration is setting a dangerous precedent of arbitrary governance. This is not only a statutory violation but also a denial of citizens’ fundamental rights under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution.”

Key Demands to the Commission

In his complaint, Patel requested the CIC to direct the Administrator of Daman and Diu and Dadra Nagar Haveli to:

Immediately publish and regularly update the complete list of PIOs and FAAs, as mandated under Section 4(1)(b).

Ensure the RTI portal is made fully legally compliant, including the addition of an online mechanism for filing first appeals.

Patel stressed that such corrective measures are crucial to safeguard transparency in governance and restore public confidence in the administration.

RTI as a Democratic Cornerstone

The RTI Act, enacted in 2005, is regarded as one of India’s most powerful tools for ensuring transparency in governance. By allowing citizens to demand information from public authorities, it acts as a check on arbitrary decision-making. Patel warned that the ongoing violations in Daman and Diu “seriously undermine the spirit of the RTI Act and erode citizens’ trust in public institutions.”