The Right to Information Act lets any citizen ask public authorities for information. This guide explains how to write and file an RTI application, what it costs, how long the authority has to reply and how to appeal if you are not satisfied.
Mara Vakil editorial team · Updated 16 October 2026
To file an RTI, write to the Public Information Officer of the public authority, pay the fee (Rs 10 for central authorities), and file online, by post or in person. The reply is due in 30 days (48 hours for life or liberty), with a first appeal in 30 days and a second appeal to the Information Commission in 90 days.
The Right to Information Act, 2005 applies to public authorities: central, state and local government bodies, and bodies owned, controlled or substantially financed by government. Information includes records, documents, emails, opinions, circulars, contracts, reports and samples held by the authority. You do not have to give a reason for asking.
Address the application to the Public Information Officer (PIO) of the public authority that holds the information. State your name and address, list the information you want as clear, specific questions or document requests, and mention the period it relates to. Avoid asking for opinions or explanations that are not on record; ask for copies of documents instead. Keep the questions short.
For central public authorities the application fee is ten rupees. States set their own fees, which are often similar. Applicants below the poverty line are exempt on producing proof. Additional fees may be charged for copies of documents at the prescribed rate. Fees can be paid online, by postal order, demand draft or as the authority allows.
For central ministries and many central public authorities, applications and appeals can be filed online on the RTI Online portal of the Government of India. Several states have their own online portals. You can also send the application by post or hand it in at the authority's office. Keep proof of filing.
The PIO must provide the information or reject the request with reasons within thirty days. If the information concerns the life or liberty of a person, it must be provided within forty-eight hours. If the application is sent through an Assistant PIO, five days are added. If the information is held by another authority, the application should be transferred to that authority within five days.
Section 8 of the Act exempts certain information, such as information affecting national security, information received in confidence from foreign governments, cabinet papers before a decision, information that would impede an investigation, and personal information about other people. Partial disclosure is possible where only part of a record is exempt.
If you get no reply within the time limit, or are not satisfied with the reply, you can file a first appeal with the First Appellate Authority, usually a senior officer in the same authority, within thirty days. The appeal should normally be decided within thirty days, extendable to forty-five. If you are still not satisfied, a second appeal or complaint can be filed with the Central Information Commission or the State Information Commission within ninety days.
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The steps above are enough to file a basic application. This part of the guide is about getting a useful answer: finding the right office, writing questions that cannot be dodged, using the portals, reading the reply, appealing effectively, and knowing what the law now allows officers to withhold.
| Stage | Who | Time limit |
|---|---|---|
| Application | You, to the Public Information Officer | Any time |
| Transfer to the right authority | PIO who received it | Within 5 days |
| Reply | PIO | 30 days; 48 hours for life or liberty; extra 5 days if filed through an Assistant PIO; up to 40 days where third-party notice is needed |
| First appeal | You, to the First Appellate Authority | Within 30 days of the reply or of the deadline passing |
| First appeal decision | First Appellate Authority | 30 days, extendable to 45 with reasons |
| Second appeal | You, to the Central or State Information Commission | Within 90 days of the first appeal decision or deadline |
An application sent to the wrong office loses time even if it is eventually transferred. A few minutes of research at the start pays off.
The Act covers bodies created by the Constitution or by law, government departments and offices at every level, and any body that the government owns, controls or funds to a substantial extent, which can include some non-government organisations that receive substantial government funds. The Supreme Court held in Thalappalam Service Co-operative Bank v. State of Kerala (2013) that a co-operative society is not automatically a public authority; it depends on whether it is controlled or substantially financed by the government. Private companies are generally not covered, though information about them held by a regulator, such as a ministry or a regulatory authority, can be sought from that regulator.
Every public authority must designate Public Information Officers and an appellate authority, and publish their names and contact details. Look on the authority's website, usually under an RTI or transparency section, or on the notice board at the office. If you cannot find the name, address the application to "The Public Information Officer" at the office's address; that is sufficient.
Nationalised banks, public sector insurance companies and regulators such as the RBI and SEBI are public authorities, though information about individual customers' accounts and commercially confidential matters is usually exempt. For complaints about a specific account, the bank's grievance process and the ombudsman are often more effective, with RTI used to obtain policies, circulars and the handling of your own complaint.
Section 4 of the Act requires every public authority to publish a range of information proactively: its functions and duties, rules and manuals, the budget allocated to each agency, details of subsidy programmes and beneficiaries, and the names and salaries of officers, among others. Much of what people ask for is already on the authority's website. Checking first can save a month.
When information is held by several authorities, file separate applications with each, rather than one application asking one office to collect everything. A PIO who receives an application for information held elsewhere must transfer it, or the relevant part, within five days and inform you.
The Act gives a right to information that exists in records. It does not oblige an officer to explain, justify or create information that is not on file. Questions framed as requests for records are far harder to refuse or answer vaguely.
| Weak question | Stronger version |
|---|---|
| Why has my pension not been sanctioned? | Provide the daily progress report on my pension application number ___ dated ___, including the names of officers who handled it and the dates it was received and sent by each. |
| Why is the road in our colony not repaired? | Provide copies of the work order, estimate and completion certificate for road repair in ___ colony sanctioned between ___ and ___, and the name of the contractor. |
| Is the police doing anything about my complaint? | Provide the action taken on my complaint dated ___ submitted at ___ police station, including any diary entry number and the name of the officer to whom it was marked. |
| Who is responsible for the delay in my passport? | Provide the current status of my application ___ and copies of any objection or report received in respect of it. |
| Why did I fail? | Provide a certified copy of my evaluated answer sheet for roll number ___ in the ___ examination held in ___. |
If you need information from three sections of the same office about one subject, one application is fine. If the subjects are unrelated, such as your pension and a road in your area, file separate applications. It keeps replies focused and appeals simpler, and avoids rejection under rules that limit an application to one subject.
The RTI fee calculator helps you work out the fee and copying charges before you file.
Several States run their own online portals for State authorities. Where none exists, file by post or in person.
Write or type the application, attach the fee in the mode the authority accepts, such as an Indian Postal Order, demand draft or cash against receipt, and send it by speed post or registered post, or hand it in at the office and ask for a receipt. Central government Assistant PIOs are also available at many post offices, who forward applications to the right authority.
| Item | Fee for central public authorities |
|---|---|
| Application | Ten rupees |
| Copies of documents | Two rupees per page for A4 or A3 size, or actual cost for larger sizes |
| Inspection of records | No fee for the first hour, five rupees for each additional hour |
| Information on CD or other media | As prescribed |
| First and second appeal | No fee |
States set their own fees for State authorities; many are similar, some differ. Applicants below the poverty line do not pay fees on producing proof. If the authority asks for additional fees for copies, it must tell you how the amount was calculated, and the time you take to pay is excluded from the thirty days.
You can ask for information in the form you prefer, such as printed copies, a CD or an email, and the authority should provide it in that form unless doing so would disproportionately divert its resources or harm the record. Many authorities now reply by email for online applications, which saves postage and time.
You can file in English, Hindi or the official language of the area. If you cannot write, the PIO is required to give reasonable help to reduce an oral request to writing.
Keep a copy of the application, the fee proof and the postal or online receipt. You will need them for any appeal.
There is no compulsory form under the central Act; a plain letter works. Some States prescribe a format, so check your State rules. A typical layout:
To: The Public Information Officer, [name of office], [address]
Subject: Application under Section 6(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005
1. Applicant: [Your name], [full postal address], [email and phone, optional]
2. Information sought (for the period [from date] to [to date]):
(a) Certified copies of [specific document], relating to [file or application number].
(b) The date on which [application or file] was received, and the dates on which it moved between officers, with their designations.
(c) Copies of all notings and correspondence on [file number].
3. Fee: Paid by [mode, number, date] / Exempt as BPL, proof attached.
4. I am a citizen of India. Please provide the information by post at the address above. If any part of this application relates to another public authority, please transfer it under Section 6(3).
Place, date, signature
Keep the wording plain. You do not need to quote judgments or sections beyond the reference to Section 6(1).
| Phrase in the reply | What it usually means | Your next step |
|---|---|---|
| "Information not available" | The record does not exist or cannot be found | Ask, in appeal, whether the record should exist under the rules and who is responsible for keeping it |
| "Not in compiled form" | The data exists in files but has not been summarised | Ask to inspect the files instead |
| "Matter under consideration" | No decision yet | Ask for copies of notings and the stage the file has reached |
| "Exempt under Section 8(1)(j)" | Personal information | Check whether the information is about public activity or your own records; appeal if so |
| "Exempt under Section 8(1)(h)" | Disclosure would impede investigation or prosecution | Ask how; investigation must be shown to be ongoing and genuinely affected |
| "Question in the nature of seeking opinion" | The question asks for explanation not on record | Reframe as a request for documents |
| "Transferred to another authority" | Another office holds the information | Track the new authority's reply from the transfer date |
Read the reply against each of your numbered questions. Check that copies are complete and legible, and that certified copies are signed and stamped where you asked for certification. If some points are answered and others are not, note which ones; you can appeal on those alone.
The PIO may ask for additional fees for copies. The letter should state the number of pages and the rate. Pay within the time given, by the mode stated, and keep proof. The clock stops while the fee is pending and restarts once you pay.
If the office does not hold the information, it must transfer the application to the right authority within five days and tell you. The thirty days then run from the date the new authority receives it. Keep the transfer letter.
Where the information relates to or was supplied by a third party and treated as confidential, the PIO must give that party notice and a chance to object. The reply can take up to forty days in such cases. The PIO then decides, and the third party can appeal against disclosure.
A rejection must state the reasons, the section of the Act relied on, the period within which you can appeal and the name of the appellate authority. A rejection that just says "information cannot be given" without reasons is itself a ground for appeal.
Silence beyond thirty days is treated as a refusal. You can file a first appeal. If information is eventually provided after the deadline, it must be provided free of charge, as Section 7(6) requires.
Inspection lets you see the original files at the office. Go prepared with a list of what you want to check, take notes, and mark pages you want copied. Inspection is often the fastest way to get to the bottom of a delayed file.
If you applied in English and receive a reply only in the local language, or the reverse, you can ask for the information in the language you used, especially where the record exists in both. Commissions have generally expected authorities to reply in the language of the application where feasible.
Answers like "the matter is under consideration" or "information is not in a compiled form" can sometimes be challenged. If the information exists in files, even scattered, you may ask to inspect those files. If the reply contradicts what you know from documents in your possession, attach them to your appeal.
The Act starts from disclosure, and exemptions are exceptions. A PIO who refuses must point to a specific clause and explain how it applies.
Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act originally exempted personal information that had no relationship to any public activity or interest, or that would cause an unwarranted invasion of privacy, unless the officer was satisfied that larger public interest justified disclosure. The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 amended this clause through Section 44(3), and the amendment came into force when the government notified the Digital Personal Data Protection Rules on 13 November 2025. The clause now exempts information that relates to personal information, without the earlier public interest test written into the clause. Transparency groups have criticised the change as weakening RTI, and how commissions and courts apply it is still developing.
In practice, this means requests about named individuals, such as an officer's service record, assets or disciplinary history, are more likely to be refused than before. Requests about how a public function was carried out, such as files, decisions, contracts, expenditure and records of your own case, remain the core of RTI. Frame requests around records of public activity rather than the private details of individuals.
Information that has already been published, such as gazette notifications or tender results, cannot reasonably be withheld, though the PIO may direct you to where it is available.
Under Section 10, where only part of a record is exempt, the rest must be provided after removing the exempt part, with the reasons for the removal.
Section 8(2) still allows a public authority to disclose information if public interest in disclosure outweighs the harm to protected interests, even where an exemption applies. Raise it in appeal where it fits.
Intelligence and security organisations listed in the Second Schedule are exempt under Section 24, except for information relating to allegations of corruption and human rights violations.
Information about yourself, such as your own application, file, answer sheet or service record, is not someone else's personal information. Make it clear in the application that you seek your own records.
The first appeal goes to the First Appellate Authority, an officer senior to the PIO in the same public authority. There is no fee. A good first appeal is short and specific:
File it within thirty days of the reply or of the date the reply was due. The appellate authority may call you for a hearing, which you can attend in person or sometimes online.
If the First Appellate Authority does not decide within forty-five days, you can go straight to the Information Commission with a second appeal, attaching proof that the first appeal was filed.
If the first appeal fails or is not decided, you can approach the Central Information Commission for central authorities, or the State Information Commission for State and local authorities. There are two routes:
Commissions accept filings online, and many hold hearings by video. Hearings can take months to be listed, depending on the commission's backlog.
Inform the Commission in writing of non-compliance. Commissions can issue show-cause notices and impose penalties. Beyond that, a writ petition in the High Court is possible, though rarely needed for ordinary matters.
Decisions of Information Commissions can be challenged in the High Court by writ petition. Many important rulings on the scope of RTI have come this way, including the Supreme Court's decision in Central Public Information Officer, Supreme Court of India v. Subhash Chandra Agarwal (2019), which held that the office of the Chief Justice of India is a public authority under the Act, while balancing transparency against privacy and judicial independence.
RTI is most powerful when used to move a stuck file or to find out what actually happened. These are common uses, with the kind of records to ask for.
Ask for the status and movement of your file, with dates and the officers who dealt with it, copies of notings and any objections raised. The very act of filing often moves a file that has been lying untouched.
Ask for the status of your application, any adverse report or objection, and the date by which the service should have been delivered under any citizen's charter or public service guarantee law in your State.
The Supreme Court held in Central Board of Secondary Education v. Aditya Bandopadhyay (2011) that students have a right to inspect and obtain copies of their evaluated answer sheets under RTI. Many boards and universities now have their own procedures and fees for this, sometimes alongside RTI. The Central Information Commission has also treated evaluation records as information under the Act; see the story on our legal news page.
Ask for the action taken on your complaint, the diary entry number, and the name of the officer it was marked to. Information that would impede an ongoing investigation may be withheld, but the fact of action taken usually is not. See also the criminal law guide on what to do if police do not register an FIR.
Ask for copies of mutation orders, survey reports, building plan approvals, notices issued and inspection reports. These are often crucial evidence in property disputes. See the property law guide.
Ask for sanction orders, estimates, tender documents, work orders, measurement books, completion certificates and payments for a specific work. Citizens have used such requests to expose poor or incomplete work.
Ask for the list of beneficiaries, which is often required to be published under Section 4, the criteria applied, and the status of your own application.
Government employees can seek their own service records, annual appraisal reports as made available under the rules, and the notings on their promotion or transfer files, subject to exemptions.
For delayed refunds, subsidies or payments from a government body, ask for the date your claim was processed, the reason for any hold, and copies of communications sent to you. Combined with the department's grievance system, this often resolves long delays.
Government hospitals are public authorities. Patients and families can ask for records of their own treatment as the hospital's rules allow, and anyone can ask for information on drug availability, equipment purchases and staffing.
The RTI Act is a central law, but each State government and High Court frames its own rules for its own public authorities. These rules decide practical points:
Before filing with a State or local authority, check the State's RTI rules on the State government or State Information Commission website. High Courts and the Supreme Court also have their own RTI rules for information about their administration.
Answer sheets, marks, cut-offs, merit lists, the criteria used in selection and the status of applications for scholarships and admissions. Many examination bodies have separate procedures as well; RTI remains available where those fall short.
Their own service records, pension calculations and the movement of files about their dues, promotions and transfers.
Sanctioned plans of nearby construction, municipal works, sanitation contracts, tree-felling permissions and pollution inspections.
Land records, compensation for land acquisition, crop insurance claims, subsidy disbursements and work under rural employment schemes.
Status of licences, refunds, tender evaluations where permissible, and inspection reports concerning their own premises.
Policy files after decisions, expenditure, contracts and statistics, subject to the exemptions.
Records that can be used as evidence, such as certified copies of official documents. Certified copies obtained under RTI are often accepted in court as public documents. Read our guides on property and consumer complaints for how such records are used.
An illustration with made-up details.
Sunita's family has been told that their land's mutation, applied for after her father's death, was "rejected long ago", but no one has seen an order. She files an RTI application with the tehsil office asking for the certified copy of the mutation order or rejection order on her application number, copies of any objections received, the notice issued to the family and the date of the hearing, if any. The reply says the file is "not traceable". In her first appeal, she points out that mutation registers must be maintained under the State's land revenue law and asks for the register entry for the relevant period and the name of the official responsible for its custody. The appellate authority directs a search; the register shows that the mutation was in fact sanctioned but never entered in the online record. With a certified copy of the register entry, Sunita gets the record corrected.
An illustration with made-up details.
The problem. Mr Sharma retired from a State government department fourteen months ago. His pension papers were submitted on time, but he has received only provisional pension, and every visit ends with "the file is under process".
The application. He files an RTI application with the department's PIO asking for: (1) the date his pension papers were received; (2) the movement of the file, with dates of receipt and dispatch at each desk and the designation of each officer; (3) copies of all notings and objections on the file; (4) the date by which pension should be finalised under the applicable rules; and (5) the current status. He pays the State fee and keeps the postal receipt.
The reply. Twenty-six days later, he receives a partial reply: the file was received on time, an objection about a missing service verification for two years was raised eight months ago, and the file has been with the accounts section since. No copy of the noting is attached.
The first appeal. He appeals, pointing out that item 3 was not answered and that he was never told about the objection. At the hearing, the appellate authority directs the PIO to supply the notings and the department to inform him of the objection.
The result. With the noting in hand, Mr Sharma learns that the missing verification relates to a posting in another district. He obtains a certificate from that office, submits it, and the pension is finalised within weeks, with arrears.
Why it worked. The questions asked for records, not explanations; the appeal was specific; and the information revealed exactly what needed to be fixed.
An illustration with made-up details.
Residents of a colony notice that the municipal website shows a road in their lane as "completed", though nothing has been done. Their association files an RTI application with the municipal engineering department asking for the sanction order, estimate, tender, work order, measurement book entries, completion certificate and payments made for the road. The reply includes all of them: the measurement book records work that clearly was not done, and the contractor has been paid.
The association does not stop at the reply. It submits the documents with photographs to the commissioner and the vigilance officer, asking for an inquiry and for the work to be done. The vigilance inquiry confirms the false measurement, payment is recovered from the contractor, and the road is built.
What made the difference was asking for the specific records that each step of a public work generates, and then using them in the right forum.
RTI works best alongside other tools.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Public authority | A body covered by the Act, such as a government office or a body substantially financed by government. |
| PIO | The Public Information Officer who receives applications and supplies information. |
| APIO | An Assistant PIO who receives applications and forwards them, adding five days to the time limit. |
| First Appellate Authority | A senior officer in the same authority who hears first appeals. |
| Information Commission | The independent body, central or State, that hears second appeals and complaints. |
| Suo motu disclosure | Information an authority must publish on its own under Section 4. |
| Third party | A person other than the applicant whose information is involved, who must be given notice in some cases. |
| Deemed refusal | Treating a failure to reply in time as a refusal, which can be appealed. |
| Inspection | Examining records in person at the office. |
| Certified copy | A copy signed and stamped by the authority as a true copy of the record. |
Long before the RTI Act, the Supreme Court had recognised that the right to know is part of the freedom of speech and expression. In State of U.P. v. Raj Narain (1975) it observed that the people have a right to know every public act done in a public way by their public functionaries. Grassroots campaigns in the 1990s, especially among rural workers in Rajasthan demanding to see the muster rolls and bills for local works, showed how access to records could expose fraud and secure wages. Several States passed their own laws, and Parliament enacted the Right to Information Act in 2005.
The Act's premise is simple: information held by public authorities belongs to the public, and secrecy is the exception that must be justified. Used well, it helps individuals resolve their own problems and helps communities hold institutions to account.
When an authority claims a record is not available, point to these duties in your appeal. Poor record-keeping is not a valid reason to deny information that should exist.
Information Commissions publish their own formats and accept filings online. Whatever the format, include:
File within ninety days of the first appeal order, or of the date it was due. If late, explain the reason; Commissions can condone delay for sufficient cause.
Courts are public authorities for their administrative functions, such as appointments, budgets and administrative orders, and have their own RTI rules. Information about cases, however, is usually obtained through the court's own procedures: case status on the eCourts portal, certified copies from the copying section, and inspection of files by parties or their advocates under the court's rules. Where a court's rules provide a separate mechanism for case records, RTI may not be the route. The legal news page explains how to find orders and judgments online.
Most applications are filed by ordinary people about their own pensions, certificates, land, exams and complaints. RTI was designed for exactly that.
No. The process is meant for citizens to use themselves, with a simple letter and a small fee. A lawyer helps mainly when the information will be used in a legal dispute.
Refusal must be based on a specific exemption with reasons. Dislike or inconvenience is not a ground.
RTI gets you information. Often that information, and the knowledge that someone is watching, moves a file. But sometimes you will need to use the information in a grievance, appeal or court.
Commissions regularly direct disclosure and impose penalties, though backlogs and outcomes vary. A well-prepared appeal has a fair chance.
Not since the 2025 amendment, if it ever could. Personal information about individuals is now broadly exempt, and RTI is best used for records of public functions and your own matters.
| Situation | Reply due by | First appeal by |
|---|---|---|
| Application received by the PIO on 1 March | 31 March | Thirty days after the reply or after 31 March if no reply |
| Application filed through an Assistant PIO on 1 March | Five days more than the usual 30 | Thirty days after the reply or due date |
| Transferred on 4 March and received by the new authority on 6 March | Thirty days from 6 March | Thirty days after that authority's reply or due date |
| Life or liberty of a person involved | Forty-eight hours | Promptly, as delay defeats the purpose |
| Additional fee demanded | Time between the demand and your payment is excluded | Thirty days after the reply |
Count from the date the application reaches the PIO, not the date you posted it. Keep tracking information from the post or portal as proof.
The Act asks PIOs to give reasonable assistance to applicants who cannot make a written request, and to persons with sensory disabilities, including help with inspection. Older applicants and those with a disability may request this help in person at the office. Applicants who are not comfortable writing in English can file in Hindi or the official language of the area. Legal services authorities and many NGOs also help people draft RTI applications free of charge; see free legal aid eligibility.
No. The Act does not require you to give reasons, only contact details for sending the reply.
Not directly, unless it is a public authority under the Act. You may get information about it from a regulator that holds it.
Treat it as a refusal and file a first appeal. The Information Commission can also impose penalties on a PIO for unjustified delay.
Personal information about other people is generally exempt unless a larger public interest justifies disclosure.
Yes. BPL applicants are exempt from fees on producing proof.
Usually not. RTI is designed for citizens to use directly, though advice can help in complex appeals.
Related pages:
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This page gives general information about Indian law. It is not legal advice and is not an advertisement or solicitation by any advocate. Laws and court practice change; confirm the position for your case with an advocate before acting. Mara Vakil is a technology platform, not a law firm. Read our disclaimer.
Yes. For central public authorities, use the Government of India's RTI Online portal; many States have their own portals for State authorities.
Section 6(2) says you need not state reasons, nor give personal details other than what is needed to reach you.
Under the central rules, two rupees per page for standard sizes; inspection is free for the first hour and five rupees for each hour after. States set their own rates.
No fee is charged for first or second appeals under the central rules.
It is treated as a refusal. File a first appeal; if information is given late, it must be free.
The PIO can offer inspection, but copies should be sent if you asked for them and paid the fees.
From 13 November 2025, Section 8(1)(j) exempts information relating to personal information, without the earlier public interest test in that clause, following the amendment by the Digital Personal Data Protection Act.
Yes. Your own applications, files, answer sheets and service records are not someone else's personal information.
Yes. The Supreme Court held in CBSE v. Aditya Bandopadhyay (2011) that students can inspect and get copies of evaluated answer sheets.
Generally not, but information about it held by a public authority or regulator can be sought from that authority.
Only if it is a public authority, for example because it is controlled or substantially financed by the government.
A second appeal seeks the information itself; a complaint addresses lapses such as refusal to accept an application or false information and can lead to penalties.
Two hundred and fifty rupees per day of delay, up to twenty-five thousand rupees, for unjustified refusal, delay or false information, as the Commission decides.
The Information Commission can order the public authority to compensate an applicant for loss or detriment suffered.
It depends on the Commission's backlog; it can take several months to be heard.
Indian citizens can file online through the portal; the Act gives the right to citizens.
Listed security and intelligence organisations are exempt, except for information about corruption and human rights violations.
You can ask for the records, notings and reasons recorded on file, but not for a fresh explanation that is not on record.
Yes, you can ask for action taken on your complaint, though information that would impede an investigation may be withheld.
Several short, single-subject applications to the right offices usually work better.
Not under the central Act; a plain letter is enough. Some States prescribe a format.
The data exists in files but is not summarised. You can ask to inspect the files instead.
Certified copies of official records obtained under RTI are often accepted as public documents, subject to the rules of evidence.
Follow the limit, keep to one subject per application and file separate applications for different subjects.
Organise all papers in date order, prepare a one-page summary of what is pending, and be clear about what you want.
The Supreme Court has treated the right to know as part of freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a); the RTI Act gives it a statutory procedure.
No. Section 4(1)(a) requires authorities to maintain records properly; poor record-keeping is not a valid ground for refusal.
Usually case records are obtained through the court's own procedures, such as certified copies and eCourts; RTI covers courts' administrative information under their rules.
Yes, the Commission can condone delay if you show sufficient cause.
Applications are usually filed in the name of an individual citizen; an office bearer can file on behalf of the association in their own name.
Use it to follow up the file, support a grievance or complaint, or as evidence; escalate to vigilance if it shows wrongdoing.
Yes. Ask for the sanction, estimate, tender, work order, measurement book, completion certificate and payments for the specific work.
Generally yes where feasible; ask for it in your appeal if the reply came in another language.
Yes. You can ask for information in the form you prefer, including email or electronic media, unless that would disproportionately burden the authority.
Yes, as public authorities, though individual customers' account details and commercially confidential information are usually exempt.
After forty-five days you can file a second appeal with the Information Commission, attaching proof of the first appeal.
No. Use separate applications for unrelated subjects; it keeps replies focused and avoids rejection under one-subject rules.
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