Table of Contents
Section 28 — Power to Make Rules by Competent Authority
In one line: Section 28 empowers the 'competent authority' (Speaker of Lok Sabha, Chairman of Rajya Sabha, CJI, Chief Justices of High Courts, Governors for certain bodies) to frame rules for RTI implementation within their own institution. Rules made under Section 28 cover Supreme Court administrative-side RTI, High Court RTI, and Legislature Secretariat RTI.
Key points
- Competent authority defined in Section 2(e).
- Rules cover fees, forms, appellate procedure.
- Cannot override Sections 8/9 exemptions or Section 7(5) BPL waiver.
- Must be laid before the appropriate House (Section 29).
Legislative history
No amendments.
Rulings and references
- Registrar SC v. R.S. Misra, Delhi HC (2017) — Supreme Court administrative-side records are subject to Section 28 rules made by the CJI.
- High Court decisions — each HC has its own Section 28 rules.
Practical note
For RTIs to courts or legislatures, use the competent authority's own rules on fee and form. See the detailed competent-authority explainer.
Call to action
For drafting RTIs or appeals engaging this section, use the First RTI template or the First Appeal template. See How to fill an RTI application for structural help.
Related
Sources
- Right to Information Act, 2005, Section 28.
- RTI (Amendment) Act, 2019 (where applicable).
- DPDP Rules, 2025, notified 14 November 2025 (where applicable).
- Department of Personnel and Training, Guide on the RTI Act, 2005.
Last reviewed on: 21 April 2026