Competent Authority under RTI — Section 2(e)

Section 2(e) identifies the “competent authority” empowered to make rules for their own institution. India's independent Right to Information reference, updated 2026.

Under Section 2(e), the competent authority is:

1. Speaker of the Lok Sabha — for the Lok Sabha.
2. Chairman of the Rajya Sabha — for the Rajya Sabha.
3. Speakers of State Legislative Assemblies / Chairmen of Legislative Councils — for their respective Houses.
4. Chief Justice of India — for the Supreme Court.
5. Chief Justices of High Courts — for their High Courts.
6. President of India — for other authorities constituted under the Constitution of India (e.g., Union Public Service Commission, Election Commission of India).
7. Governor — for other authorities constituted under the Constitution for a State (e.g., State Public Service Commissions).

Competent authorities make their own fee rules, forms, and appellate procedure. Examples of rules that depart from Central Rules:

• Supreme Court of India Rules (CJI as competent authority) — fees, application format, appellate procedure on the administrative side.
• Delhi High Court RTI Rules — Rs 10 fee, specific PIO designations.
• Parliament Secretariat RTI Rules — separate fee, governed by Lok Sabha / Rajya Sabha Secretariat.

Each High Court has its own RTI page on its website; the Rules are usually a short PDF on the Gazette.

• Rules cannot contradict the Act (Section 28 is subordinate).
• Rules cannot introduce new exemptions beyond Sections 8, 9 and 24.
• Fee must be reasonable; first hour of inspection remains free and BPL exemption applies universally under Section 7(5).

Judicial-side records (case files, judgments not yet delivered, draft orders) fall under the Supreme Court Rules, 2013 and each High Court's judicial rules — separate from RTI. The RTI Act applies to the administrative side of courts (pay bills, leave orders, procurement) per the rules made by the competent authority. See Registrar, Supreme Court of India v. R.S. Misra (Delhi HC, 2017).

If your RTI concerns a High Court, Parliament, or a constitutional authority, first locate the rules made by that competent authority on the institution's own website. Use the fee prescribed there, not the Central Rules.

• The RTI Act, 2005
• RTI Rules directory
• Supreme Court RTI Rules
• Prescribed — Section 2(g)
• RTI Fees by State

1. Right to Information Act, 2005, Sections 2(e), 28.
2. Supreme Court of India Rules under Section 28.
3. High Court RTI Rules (notified on each High Court website).

Last reviewed on: 20 April 2026