Right to Information (RTI)

The Right to Information Act 2005 — twenty years on — remains India's most powerful citizen-government transparency tool. Filed correctly, an RTI application unlocks government records, decisions, file movements, expenditure data, contract documents, exam keys, social security entitlements, and a vast range of information held by public authorities. By 2026, despite some narrowing through amendments and Supreme Court jurisprudence, RTI remains broadly available — and remains the fastest non-litigation route for citizens, journalists, researchers, businesses, and complainants to access government-held information.

The framework: Right to Information Act 2005; Sections 6, 7, 8, 11 on application, response timeline, exemptions, third-party rule; Section 19 first appeal to First Appellate Authority within 30 days of receiving information / non-receipt within statutory window; Section 19(3) second appeal to Central Information Commission (CIC) / State Information Commissions (SICs); Section 20 penalties on PIO / FAA for non-compliance.

We file RTIs, prosecute first appeals, represent before CIC / SICs in second appeals, and provide RTI-strategy consulting for journalists, civil-society organisations, businesses, and individuals.

What RTI Can Practically Get

• Government Decision Records:: File notings, inter-departmental correspondence, decisions taken, rationale, dissent.

• Tender / Contract Information:: Tender documents, bid evaluation, awarded contracts, payments, performance reports.

• Personal Records:: Pension files, scholarship status, exam keys / answer scripts (subject to Section 8 exemptions and SC's CBSE v Aditya Bandopadhyay framework), social-security entitlements.

• Land & Revenue Records:: Mutation history, land ceiling, revenue notifications.

• Police / Criminal Records:: Investigation status (subject to Section 8(1)(h) exemption for ongoing investigations), FIR copies (most States now provide free).

• Public Sector Information:: Salaries above defined level, top-employee data, public-money expenditure, procurement.

Section 8 Exemptions — What RTI Cannot Get

National security, foreign relations, third-party trade secrets, fiduciary information, personal privacy of individuals (Section 8(1)(j)), ongoing investigation interference, confidential cabinet papers, and specific exclusions for certain intelligence agencies (Section 24). The exemption framework has been narrowed by jurisprudence — many information categories that were earlier withheld are now disclosable on public-interest grounds.

The RTI Workflow

Step 1: PIO Identification. Each public authority has designated Public Information Officers; correct PIO identification is critical.

Step 2: Application Filing. Online (RTI Online portal for Central; State portals) or physical; application fee ₹10 (Central; varies by State, free for BPL).

Step 3: PIO Response. Within 30 days (48 hours for life / liberty information). Information provided / fee for inspection / partial response with Section 8 exemption claims.

Step 4: First Appeal. To First Appellate Authority (FAA, senior officer in same authority) within 30 days of PIO response / 30 days from end of statutory window.

Step 5: Second Appeal. To CIC (Central) or SIC (State) within 90 days of FAA decision; CIC / SIC has powers to direct disclosure, impose penalty on PIO, and award compensation.

Step 6: Compliance / Further Action. Information provided post-CIC / SIC order; or High Court writ if order not complied / wrongly decided.