RTI Application — Get the Record of Your Complaint from a Government Office
If a government office — Railways, SBI, LIC, MSEDCL or your Municipal Corporation — has not answered your complaint, send an RTI application under Section 6(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005. For Central offices the fee is ₹10 on rtionline.gov.in (nil for BPL applicants). The PIO must reply within 30 days; if not, file a First Appeal within the next 30 days.
The three RTI stages — who decides, how long it takes, and the fee
| Stage | Who decides, and the time limit | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| RTI application | Public Information Officer (PIO) — reply within 30 days (48 hours if it concerns a person's life or liberty) | Central: ₹10 · State: as per State RTI Rules · BPL: nil |
| First Appeal | First Appellate Authority (the officer senior to the PIO) — file within 30 days; decision within 30 days, 45 at most | Central: no fee · State: as per State RTI Rules (Maharashtra ₹20) |
| Second Appeal | Central or State Information Commission — file within 90 days | Central: no fee · State: as per State RTI Rules (Maharashtra ₹20) |
How to file an RTI — 5 steps
Check the office is a public authority
RTI applies only to a public authority — a government department, a PSU (SBI, LIC, BSNL), a regulator or a municipal body. It does not apply to private companies such as HDFC Bank, Jio or Tata Power; for those, you can send an RTI to their regulator (RBI, TRAI or the State Electricity Regulatory Commission).
Ask for records, not explanations
Do not ask "why". Ask for the status of your complaint, the dates of action taken, certified copies of file notings and the designation of the officer responsible. You do not have to give a reason for asking — Section 6(2).
File it and pay the fee
Central offices: ₹10 on rtionline.gov.in. State offices: the State's portal or by post, with the fee set by that State. Keep the registration number and the receipt.
Wait 30 days for the reply
The PIO must reply within 30 days under Section 7(1). If there is no reply in time, the request is treated as refused under Section 7(2).
File a First Appeal if needed
Appeal to the First Appellate Authority within 30 days under Section 19(1). Central offices charge no fee; some States do (Maharashtra: ₹20). If you still do not get the information, file a Second Appeal with the Information Commission within 90 days.
Frequently asked questions
Can I file an RTI against a private company like HDFC Bank, Jio or Amazon?
No. The RTI Act applies only to a public authority (Section 2(h)). Send the company a complaint letter instead, or file an RTI with its regulator — such as RBI, TRAI or the State Electricity Regulatory Commission — asking for the status of a complaint you lodged there.
What is the RTI fee?
₹10 for Central Government offices (Right to Information Rules, 2012). Applicants with a BPL card pay nothing. For State offices the fee is set by that State's own RTI Rules — check the office's or the State Information Commission's website before paying. Maharashtra charges ₹10, and limits an application to one subject and ordinarily 150 words. Appeals are free for Central offices; some States charge for them (Maharashtra: ₹20 each).
Do I have to give a reason for asking?
No. Under Section 6(2), an applicant does not have to give any reason for requesting information. Just say clearly which record or status you want.
Can I ask for an officer's name or phone number?
Better not to. Since 13 November 2025, Section 44(3) of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act has substituted Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, so the PIO is no longer obliged to disclose personal information. Ask for the officer's designation, the file notings and the dates of action taken instead.
What if I get no reply within 30 days?
No reply is treated as a refusal under Section 7(2). File a First Appeal with the First Appellate Authority (the officer senior to the PIO) within 30 days. There is no fee for Central offices; some States charge one (Maharashtra: ₹20). Nyaykar drafts the appeal for you too.
Can the PIO be penalised?
Yes. Under Section 20(1), the Information Commission can fine a PIO ₹250 for each day of delay, up to ₹25,000. The Commission decides this during a Second Appeal or a complaint.
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Nyaykar is not a law firm and this is not legal advice. Documents are AI-assisted drafts — read them before sending. You file or send them yourself.