Pushing for transparency, protection of public rights, the Congress party on Saturday (May 16, 2026) questioned the Uttar Pradesh culture department for failing to provide information despite multiple requests by a Lucknow local on funding, payment of public money by the department to certain social organizations and individual.

“An individual Desh Deepak Dubey reached to me over repeated delay by the Department of Culture and Culture Directorate giving Right to Information (RTI) reply of request/registration number DPCUL/R/2025/60047 filed in December 2025, which was transferred to Culture Directorate vide new registration number DRCUL/R/2026/80002 in January, 2026. The same request is pending with new registration number DPCUL/R/2026/80011 with the culture directorate, but reply is awaited. After, failing to get a response from the department, the appellant reached to the Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh, for the reply, the Chief Secretary office forwarded the request to culture department, but again the response is awaited.

“The RTI relates to information of payment by the culture department to certain social organization and individual for cultural events in the State, it is basically the information request about use of public money,” said Shahnawaz Alam, national secretary, Congress.

Mr. Alam alleged through delay and even not responding to forwarding by the Chief Secretary office, the culture department is giving impression that it wants to hide information. “The basic idea of RTI law is to boost openness in how government institutions operate by granting citizens access, to information held by government and national bodies. Its goal is to increase oversight of government activities. By remaining silent on information, it seems the department is canceling something about powerful groups,” added the Congress leader.

The appellant Desh Deepak Dubey, who is an activist, added he files RTI to check corruption and nepotism aiming to bring information in public domain. “I am looking for data from the department on its expenditure in cultural events and distribution to organizations, but there is silence over my request for information. Our fundamental aim is to promote transparency,” said Mr. Dubey, who claims to be an RTI activist. The Hindu reached out to the Uttar Pradesh culture department over allegations but failed to get a response.