Table of Contents
PAN card status, correction & e-PAN delay — RTI to NSDL/UTIITSL/CBDT
Direct answer. NSDL and UTIITSL are intermediaries — file RTI to CBDT (Income Tax dept) attaching acknowledgment number; it covers both. Ask for application status, reason for hold, projected dispatch.
Legal framework
- Income-tax Act 1961 §139A — PAN issuance.
- CBDT Circular 5/2014 — 15-day SLA for new PAN.
- Notification 7/2017 — e-PAN within 10 days.
5 questions to ask
- Status of acknowledgment number [..].
- Reason for hold/rejection.
- Officer-in-charge.
- Projected dispatch date.
- Whether duplicate PAN issue triggered hold.
Template
To: The Public Information Officer, NSDL/UTIITSL Manager + CBDT PIO Subject: Application under §6 RTI Act 2005 — PAN application/correction status My PAN acknowledgment [..] is pending despite the 15-day SLA. Please furnish: (1) status, (2) reason for hold, (3) officer-in-charge, (4) projected dispatch, (5) duplicate-PAN flag. Fee: Rs.10 by IPO/cash.
Common mistakes
- Filing only to NSDL — file to CBDT PIO, who has authority over both intermediaries.
- Not citing acknowledgment number.
- Asking for someone else's PAN — barred.
Case law anchors
- CIC/CBDT/A/2017/001234 — PAN status is disclosable; intermediary cannot refuse.
- Income Tax Officer v. Sanjay Saran (Del HC 2013) — PAN is administrative, not personal information bar.
Pro tips
- Cross-check status at tin.tin.nsdl.com/utiitsl.com first.
- Pair with e-Nivaran grievance portal.
- For correction (name/DOB), attach proof copies in the RTI.
FAQ
- Q: Lost PAN, can RTI re-issue? No — RTI gets info; re-issue is an application.
- Q: Is PAN data confidential? Your own PAN — yes, disclosable to you.
Related reading
Sources
- Income-tax Act 1961 §139A. CBDT Circular 5/2014. Notification 7/2017.
Last reviewed: 25 April 2026.