File RTI in Maharashtra — 2026 guide

Maharashtra accepts RTI applications at three levels: Central Government departments (via rtionline.gov.in, Rs 10 fee), State Government departments (via MahaOnline RTI portal or in person, Rs 20 fee), and municipal / local bodies (directly at the office, typically Rs 10-20). The State Information Commission sits in Mumbai and Nagpur; First Appeal timelines follow the Central 30-day / 45-day framework. Average response time is 25-35 days; systemic delays concentrated in PMC, BMC and Home Department.

1. Identify the correct department. Revenue for land records, Home for police matters, Urban Development for municipal policy, General Administration for service-cadre records. If unsure, file with any and the PIO will transfer under §6(3) within 5 days.
2. Visit aaplesarkar.mahaonline.gov.in (the unified MahaOnline portal) OR prepare a plain-paper application in Marathi, Hindi, or English — all are accepted under §4(3).
3. Draft the application: address it to “The Public Information Officer, [Department], Government of Maharashtra”. Your name, address, email, phone. 3-6 numbered queries asking for documents (not opinions).
4. Pay the Rs 20 fee: online payment on the portal, OR affix a Rs 20 court-fee stamp (if filing on paper), OR attach an Indian Postal Order for Rs 20 drawn in favour of the Department.
5. Submit: online (get registration number via SMS/email), OR by registered post / speed post (keep the POD slip).
6. Track: rtionline for Central or aaplesarkar.mahaonline for State; otherwise follow up by RTI number on the department's page.

• Application fee: Rs 20 (State); Rs 10 (Central); Rs 10-20 (local bodies).
• Copy fee: Rs 2 per A4 page; larger documents at prescribed higher rates.
• Inspection: first hour free; Rs 5 per subsequent 15 minutes.
• BPL exemption: full fee exemption on production of BPL certificate; no additional proof required.

• Statutory: §7(1) — 30 days for disposal; 48 hours for life-and-liberty; 40 days where §11 third-party consultation applies.
• Practical average in Maharashtra (based on editorial observation): 25-35 days for routine RTIs; PMC and BMC frequently 40-50 days; Home Department and service-matters 45-60 days.
• Life-and-liberty 48-hour rarely invoked; use only for genuine emergencies.

• Main seat: Mumbai, 13th Floor, New Administrative Building, opposite Mantralaya.
• Nagpur bench: Civil Lines, Nagpur.
• Website: https://sic.maharashtra.gov.in (Hindi / Marathi / English)
• Second Appeal filing: within 90 days of FAA decision (or expiry of FAA's 45-day window).
• Average SIC disposal: 8-12 months (backlog concentrated in pre-2023 matters).

In Maharashtra State public authorities, the FAA is typically:

• State Secretariat: Joint Secretary (one rank above PIO, who is usually Deputy Secretary)
• Directorate: Director (PIO is usually Deputy Director)
• Municipal Corporation: Additional Municipal Commissioner (PIO is Deputy MC)
• Zilla Parishad: Chief Executive Officer (PIO is Deputy CEO)
• Police: SP / Commissioner of Police (PIO is Deputy SP)

Check the department's §4(1)(b)(xvi) disclosure for the exact designation.

• “No such record exists” — counter: file a fresh RTI asking for the file index / register maintained by the department for the subject-matter. The index will reveal whether records were created.
• “Information is voluminous” — counter: RTI does not have a volume-based exemption. Offer to inspect the records under §2(j) in lieu of copies.
• “Transferred to concerned department” — counter: ask for the §6(3) transfer letter and acknowledgement from the transferee PIO. If no transfer actually happened, escalate to First Appeal.
• “§8(1)(j) — personal information” — post-14-November-2025, check if the information truly is about another individual. Information about public-authority action (transfer orders, sanctions, budget utilisation) is NOT personal just because public servants are named.
• “Cabinet confidentiality, §8(1)(i)“ — counter: is the matter closed and the decision announced? If yes, R.K. Jain (SC 2013) mandates disclosure.

Template 1 — Municipal transfer / posting orders (BMC/PMC/NMC)

Kindly provide the following information under the RTI Act, 2005:

1. Copies of all transfer and posting orders issued in the
   [Department, e.g., Health / Engineering] wing of [BMC / PMC / NMC] from
   [start date] to [end date].
2. The criteria / policy document governing transfers in this wing.
3. A statement showing the number of transfers effected in this period,
   by rank.
4. Copies of representation files (not names of individual officers) where
   transfer orders were challenged by affected officers.

Template 2 — Police station FIR / GD records (Home Department)

Kindly provide the following information under the RTI Act, 2005:

1. Copy of the First Information Report (FIR) No. [FIR No.]/[Year] of
   [Police Station name].
2. Copy of the General Diary (GD) entry for the date [date] at the
   said police station.
3. Status of investigation: has a charge-sheet been filed, is the matter
   under investigation, or has it been closed?
4. Copy of the closure report if any, under §173(2) CrPC.

Template 3 — Municipal building plan approval

Kindly provide the following information under the RTI Act, 2005:

1. The building-plan approval file for [Plot No., Survey No., Village],
   [Municipal Corporation] — application number [if known].
2. Copies of the technical scrutiny notings, departmental objections
   (if any), and final sanction order.
3. The current status — sanctioned / rejected / pending.
4. Copies of any NOC obtained from DCR / Fire / Environment departments.

• Corporator funds utilisation — Maharashtra SIC 2019 — local-body corporator fund records fall under §4(1)(b) proactive disclosure.
• Aided private schools under RTI — Bombay HC 2019 — salary-grant-receiving schools are §2(h) public authorities.
• Statutory professional councils — Bombay HC 2018 — Medical Council, Bar Council covered under §2(h).
• PIO silence as deemed refusal — Bombay HC 2014 — §7(2) applies; direct First Appeal permissible.

1. First Appeal (§19(1)) to the FAA of the concerned department within 30 days. Use the same format as the RTI; state grounds of challenge; enclose copies of the RTI and the PIO's reply.
2. Second Appeal (§19(3)) to the Maharashtra State Information Commission within 90 days of FAA decision (or after 45 days of FAA non-decision).
3. Writ petition to the Bombay High Court under Article 226 in exceptional cases where the Commission's order is legally flawed or delayed unreasonably.

Q1: Do I need to attach my Aadhaar or identity proof?

No. §6(2) bars the PIO from asking for identity or motive. Only your name, address, and contact information are needed.

Q2: Can I file RTI in Marathi?

Yes. §4(3) and §6(1) expressly permit filing in the local language of the State. Marathi is accepted in Maharashtra without translation by the applicant.

Q3: What if the PIO ignores my RTI?

After 30 days without response, §7(2) treats it as deemed refusal. File First Appeal immediately — do not wait longer.

Q4: Is the MahaOnline portal the only way to file State RTIs?

No. You can file by post, speed post or in person at the department. MahaOnline is a convenience option, not a requirement.

Q5: What's the average time to get a reply in Maharashtra?

25-35 days for routine RTIs; 40-50 days for BMC / PMC; 45-60 days for service matters. Systemic delays in the Home Department.

Q6: Can an NRI file RTI in Maharashtra?

§3 of the RTI Act confers the right on “citizens of India” — Indian passport holders abroad retain citizenship and the right. An OCI card-holder does not have direct §3 standing.

• Municipal property-tax records — Bombay HC 2024 — Municipal revenue aggregates are open; individual tax bills are §11-gated.
• Cooperative bank fraud investigation — Bombay HC — Cooperative bank fraud investigation: pending-phase §8(1)(h); closed-investigation reports disclosable to depositors.
• BMC slum-redevelopment records — Bombay HC — SRA slum-redevelopment records: eligibility lists + allotment orders = §4(1)(b) proactive disclosure.
• NGO FCRA-compliance scrutiny — Bombay HC — FCRA-compliance records with MHA: §4(1)(b) disclosure (registration, cancellation, aggregate donor data).
• Corporator funds utilisation — Maharashtra SIC — Corporator / councillor fund utilisation is proactive-disclosure material under §4(1)(b).
• Aided private schools under RTI — Bombay HC — Aided private schools (salary-grant recipients) are public authorities under §2(h).
• RTI coverage of Medical Council — Bombay HC — Statutory professional councils are public authorities under §2(h); must comply with RTI Act.
• §24 proviso — corruption complaint — Bombay HC — §24 exemption does NOT apply to corruption / human-rights complaints — proviso forces disclosure path.

Browse the full case-law database — 362 curated rulings and filter by court / section / keyword.

• File RTI online in India — 12-step 2026 guide (pan-India)
• RTI fees by State — complete table
• State RTI portals — reliability-graded directory
• PIO RTI Reply Guide
• First Appeal timelines

• Maharashtra State Information Commission: https://sic.maharashtra.gov.in
• Aaple Sarkar / MahaOnline: https://aaplesarkar.mahaonline.gov.in
• Central RTI portal: https://rtionline.gov.in
• rti.gov.in (Central reference portal)

Last reviewed: 24 April 2026.