In a glaring example of power of Right to Information (RTI) Act, a farmer got back his land after about two decades in Sultanpur district. Not only this, the local thesil officials who took no interest the matter so far, informed the Information Commissioner about execution of his order.
According to reports, one Barsati, hailing from Parkhauli hamlet of lambhuwa thesil in Sultanpur district, lost his agriculture land when some local villagers grabbed it in 1996. Barsati, who lost his only mean of livelihood, took the matter to the local police but they refused to take cognizance and advised the victim to go and seek justice from the officials of the local thesil. Subsequently, he contacted the local sub-divisional magistrate and pleaded for help in the matter but once again he got no relief. Hapless Barsati since then started taking round from one office to another and he also reportedly gone several dozens of times both in the Thana Diwas and the Thesil Diwas, with the hope that he could get his land back but he failed to get justice.
Reports further said that in 2013, Barsati on suggestion of his friend filed an application with the SDM of Sadar in Sultanpur, seeking the reply on what action has been taken on his applications ( More than 100 applications and reminders which he made to get his land back) which he filed since 1996 after his land was grabbed. However, the SDM even then took no cognizance and even after reminders to his RTI, they refused to answer any query. losing all hope, Barasati finally lodged an appeal with the Information Commissioner, Swadesh Kumar, seeking his help in getting his matter resolved and to help him in getting his land back.
Swadesh claimed he summoned the SDM, Sadar Ram Vilas along with all the details in the matter but much to his surprise that even then the officials not turned up or filed any reply. Finally taking the matter very seriously, Swadesh imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on Ram Vilas and also issued summon directing the local officials to produce the said officer before him for further necessary action in the matter. Reports said that after the said action of Swadesh Kumar, the local officials wake up from their slumber and the present SDM, Dinesh Chandra Gupta, appeared before Swadesh Kumar last week and he not only appraised the Information Commissioner that they were in touch with Barsati but claimed that they had also taken necessary steps and help the victim to get his entire grabbed land back from the accused. Subsequently Swadesh Kumar called the victim and after he confirmed that he got his land back, Information Commissioner closed the file but he reportedly directed the district magistrate of Sultanpur to initiate criminal proceedings against those villagers who illegally hold the land for almost two decades.