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Tip: how to file an RTI application that gets a useful reply

LSS Editorial Desk · Legal Space Services 1 min read

The Right to Information Act lets any citizen ask a public authority for information, usually with a reply due in thirty days. A few drafting habits make the difference between a useful reply and a refusal.

The Right to Information Act, 2005 allows any citizen of India to request information held by a public authority. It is one of the most useful tools for people stuck in a government process — a pending application, a delayed certificate, an unanswered complaint.

The basics

  • The application goes to the Public Information Officer of the authority that holds the information.
  • For central government authorities, the application fee is ten rupees; states set their own fees.
  • The authority must generally reply within thirty days.
  • If the reply is refused or unsatisfactory, a first appeal lies to the appellate authority in the same department, and a second appeal to the Information Commission.
  • Many authorities accept applications online.

Habits that get useful replies

  • Ask for information, not opinions. Ask for copies of file notings, the status of your application, the date it was received and the name of the officer handling it — not why the officer has not acted.
  • Be specific. Give your application or file number and dates.
  • Keep it short. A few numbered questions are answered better than a long letter.
  • Keep proof. Keep a copy of the application and the fee receipt, and note the date it was received.

We draft RTI applications and first appeals and can file them online where the authority accepts it. See our legal services page for details.

LSS Editorial Desk Editorial desk, Legal Space Services, New Delhi · Published 22 September 2026 · Approved by our office

News on this page is general information, not legal advice. For your own matter, talk to our team, or find an advocate for court work — the advocate’s fee is engaged and paid by you directly.

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