Mass RTI filings demand accountability in J&K village: Over 50 pleas filed on the spot

By A Representative 

Magam, Jammu & Kashmir – In a significant demonstration of civic engagement, residents of Mallabuchan village, supported by the J&K RTI Foundation, collectively filed over 50 RTI applications to address long-standing issues of safe drinking water and administrative accountability. Due to the unexpectedly high turnout, additional applications are expected to be filed in the coming days.

“We were not anticipating such a large gathering,” said Ishfaq Majeed, Membership Secretary of the J&K RTI Foundation. “Fifty applications were filed today, and more will follow to ensure every household’s concerns are formally raised.”

Mallabuchan village, situated at the junction of Budgam and Baramulla districts, has faced challenges with access to safe drinking water for more than two decades. While some households have been connected to clean water sources, the majority remain without access, despite repeated appeals to authorities. Recently, tensions escalated after an official filed a police complaint against villagers, alleging unfounded accusations about the water crisis.

“Access to clean water is a basic necessity and a matter of justice,” stated Er. Irfan Ali Banka, Chairman of the J&K RTI Foundation. “The police complaint was an attempt to stifle legitimate concerns. Through RTI, we aim to uphold transparency and accountability.”

Prominent RTI activists, including Sajad (RTI Secretary), Syed Farhat (Senior RTI Activist), Ishfaq Majeed (Membership Secretary), and Momin Hussain Banka (Foundation Member), guided villagers through the application process during the event.

The RTI applications raised critical concerns, such as:

Lack of consultation with Gram Sabhas and Panchayat Samitis in planning water supply schemes.

Minimal involvement of women in decision-making processes, in contravention of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment.

Discrepancies between official records and the ground reality of water supply.

Lack of transparency in forming Pani Samitis and drafting the Village Action Plan.

Questions about the allocation and utilization of funds for water supply projects.

Women played a prominent role in the initiative, many filing RTI applications for the first time. “We were unaware of our right to participate in these decisions,” said one participant. “Today, we are asserting our right to clean water and equal representation.”

The J&K RTI Foundation has also established "Action 4 Mallabuchan," a local group dedicated to maintaining pressure on authorities and ensuring long-term accountability.

Activists compared the effort to a similar campaign in 2014 in Sonawari, Bandipora, where mass RTI filings after a flood crisis led to improved rehabilitation measures. That initiative became a model for leveraging RTI for accountability.

“The mass filing of RTI applications is a crucial step toward transparency and ensuring basic rights for the people,” said Syed Farhat, a Senior RTI Activist. “We are committed to supporting the villagers in their pursuit of justice and sustainable solutions.”