RTI template for government school or college — what to ask, who to file with, sample 2026

The Maharashtra State Information Commission alone disposed of around 4,800 education-sector RTI second appeals in 2024-25 (SIC annual report). Roughly two in three were filed against schools or colleges that had given oral refusals like Sushma's. Once the file is on paper — through an RTI — the conversation changes.

A government school, a government-aided school (most “convent” and “trust” schools that get state grants), a government degree college, a Kendriya Vidyalaya, a Navodaya Vidyalaya, an IIT, an IIM, a central university, a state university, an autonomous college, a polytechnic — every one of these is a “public authority” under §2(h) of the RTI Act, 2005.

Even private unaided schools that take RTE §12(1)© admissions are treated as public authorities for the limited purpose of those admissions — confirmed by multiple State Information Commissions including Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Delhi.

The PIO sits inside the institution, not in the district office. So your RTI travels straight to the person who can actually answer it.

• Government primary / secondary school → PIO is the Headmaster / Principal.
• Government / aided college → PIO is the Principal.
• Central University → PIO is the Registrar (and there are usually departmental sub-PIOs for each faculty).
• CBSE / ICSE board → PIO at the regional office (Delhi, Ajmer, Chennai, etc.).
• State board → PIO at the State Board headquarters (e.g., Maharashtra State Board, Pune).
• Kendriya Vidyalaya / Navodaya Vidyalaya → Principal of the specific KV/NV is the PIO; the Regional Office Commissioner is the FAA.

A simple way to confirm: every public authority must publish its PIO and FAA names under §4(1)(b) on its website. Search “[school name] PIO RTI” or look for a “Right to Information” tab on the institution's website.

1. Open the official website of the institution. Look for a “RTI” link, often in the footer.
2. If the site doesn't list it (sad reality for many small schools), the Principal is the deemed PIO — write to that designation.
3. For the First Appellate Authority (FAA), write to the District Education Officer (DEO) for schools, or to the Registrar / Vice-Chancellor for colleges. Both are one rank above the PIO.
4. For aided / private RTE-quota schools, the FAA is the Block Education Officer (BEO) with jurisdiction over that school.

If you genuinely cannot find the address: file the RTI with the District Education Officer's office under §6(3) — the DEO must transfer it to the right school PIO within 5 days and inform you.

1. Admission decision — your child's application status, the merit list / lottery list under which the seat was allotted or denied, the exact rule cited for any denial. (Useful for: RTE 25%, NEET-UG counselling, EWS/OBC/SC quota seats, transfer cases, DU spot-round refusals.)
2. Fee receipt + fee structure — the fee head-wise breakup approved by the State Fee Regulation Committee (Maharashtra Fee Act 2011, Tamil Nadu Self-Financing Colleges Act 2009, Karnataka Educational Institutions Act, etc.), and your daughter's payment ledger. (Useful for: catching unauthorised “development fees”, “smart-class fees”, “exam fees” on top of approved structure.)
3. Scholarship credit status — National Scholarship Portal (NSP) credit dates, post-matric SC/ST scholarship sanction, minority pre-matric scholarship, Maulana Azad National Fellowship, INSPIRE — all flow through the institution. PIO can tell you what was claimed, sanctioned, and credited.
4. Attendance records — your own (or your child's) attendance register entries. Useful when shortage-of-attendance is being cited to debar from exams, particularly in colleges.
5. Faculty list + qualifications + UGC norms compliance — names, designations, AICTE/UGC qualifications, sanctioned vs filled posts. Useful when a college claims accreditation but runs on guest faculty.
6. Infrastructure expenditure — funds received under Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), PM SHRI scheme, RUSA (for colleges) — the bill of quantities, the contractor, the utilisation certificate.
7. RTE §12(1)© compliance — sanctioned RTE seats, filled seats, vacancies, lottery numbers, list of children admitted, reimbursement received from state government per child.
8. Your own answer script — under Aditya Bandopadhyay v. CBSE, (2011) 8 SCC 497, you have the right to inspect and get a certified copy of your own evaluated answer script. Includes board exams, university exams, KV/NV internal exams, JEE, NEET (with caveats from CBSE v. Khanapuram Gandaiah, 2010, on examiner-evaluation reasoning).

[Your full name]
[Your full postal address with PIN]
[Phone] · [Email]
[Date]

To,
The Public Information Officer
(The Principal)
[Full name of the institution]
[Full postal address with PIN]

Subject: RTI application under §6(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005
         — information regarding [admission / fee / scholarship / RTE / answer
         script / etc., as applicable]

Sir/Madam,

I am a citizen of India. I request the following information under §6(1)
of the Right to Information Act, 2005.

Reference details:
  - Name of student          : [name]
  - Class / programme / year : [Class 1 / B.A. II / etc.]
  - Roll no. / admission no. : [if applicable]
  - Lottery number / merit
    list reference            : [if applicable, e.g. RTE allotment ID]
  - Period concerned         : [academic year 2025-26 / 2026-27]

Information sought:

1. The total number of seats sanctioned for [class / programme] for the
   academic year [year], category-wise (general / SC / ST / OBC / EWS /
   RTE 25% / divyang / other), and the number filled in each category
   as on date of this application.

2. The complete merit list / lottery list / counselling list under which
   admissions were finalised for [class / programme], including the
   seat-allotment date, the round, and the cut-off rank/score for each
   category.

3. With reference to my application dated [date], please provide the
   exact status of the application, the date(s) on which it was
   considered, and — if rejected or kept pending — the specific clause
   of the Admission Regulations / RTE Act / state notification under
   which the rejection or pendency is recorded.

4. A copy of the fee structure approved by the [State Fee Regulation
   Committee / UGC / AICTE / Department of Higher Education] for the
   institution for the academic year [year], head-wise (tuition /
   development / examination / library / lab / other), and a copy of
   my fee payment ledger / receipts for the same year.

5. The status of [scholarship name, e.g. Post-Matric SC Scholarship /
   National Means-cum-Merit / Pre-Matric Minority] for me / my ward,
   including (a) date of forwarding by the institution to the
   sanctioning authority, (b) sanction order number and date,
   (c) amount sanctioned and amount credited, (d) bank account credited
   into.

6. A list of teaching faculty currently posted at the institution, with
   designation, qualification, mode of recruitment (regular / contract /
   guest), and the sanctioned vs filled position count subject-wise as
   on date of this application.

7. Details of infrastructure-grant funds received during 2024-25 and
   2025-26 under [Samagra Shiksha / PM SHRI / RUSA / SSA / specify],
   including the work executed, the contractor / vendor name, the bill
   of quantities, and the utilisation certificate filed.

8. [If applicable — answer script] Under the principle laid down in
   //Aditya Bandopadhyay v. CBSE// (2011) 8 SCC 497, please permit
   inspection of and provide a certified photocopy of my evaluated
   answer script(s) for the [exam name, e.g. Class 12 Board / B.Com
   Sem IV] held in [month, year], roll no. [number]. I am willing to
   pay the photocopy charges of ₹2 per page on intimation.

Fee: I enclose Indian Postal Order No. [number] dated [date] for ₹10
in favour of "[Accounts Officer of the institution / state-prescribed
payee]". [If BPL: I am Below Poverty Line and attach a copy of my BPL
ration card; please process this RTI without fee under §7(5).]

Mode of reply: By post and by email at [email].

Citizenship declaration: I am a citizen of India.

Thank you,

[Signature]
[Name]

• “This is internal academic information, not public.” Wrong. Aditya Bandopadhyay settles that students' own records (admission, attendance, evaluation, answer scripts) are public information. Cite the case in your First Appeal.
• “You should have asked through the parent body / SMC.” RTI is an individual right under §3. Parental status is not required.
• “The lottery list is private to the State.” RTE 25% allotment lists are statutorily public — the State Government publishes them as a matter of routine. Refer to your state's RTE rules.
• “Fee structure is approved by management — confidential.” All government and aided institutions, plus all unaided schools regulated under State Fee Acts, must disclose approved structures. Maharashtra Fee Act §6, TN Act §5, Karnataka Act §3.
• “Faculty qualifications are personal — §8(1)(j).” Wrong. Names, designations and qualifications of public servants performing public duties are not personal information — Girish Ramchandra Deshpande distinguished by later CIC orders. Cite Subhash Chandra Agrawal line of cases.
• “Examiner identity / marking scheme is confidential.” Partly true. CBSE v. Khanapuram Gandaiah, (2010) 2 SCC 712, allows the institution to refuse the examiner's reasoning and identity. But it does not allow refusing the answer script itself or the marking key (which Aditya Bandopadhyay permits).
• “You must take the answer-script copy in person only.” Permissible if the institution has a published procedure, but the certified copy must still be issued. Ask for inspection date in writing under §7(9).
• “The Principal is on leave; please come back.” Not a valid ground. The PIO designation continues; an officer-in-charge must accept the application and the 30-day clock keeps running.

After day 30, send a polite written reminder by Registered AD: “30 days have lapsed; reply due under §7(1); please dispatch within 7 days else I shall move First Appeal.” Many PIOs respond at this nudge.

• Where: to the FAA — typically the District Education Officer (DEO) for schools, or the Registrar / Vice-Chancellor for colleges. For KVs the FAA is the Deputy Commissioner of the KV Region. For NVs, the Deputy Commissioner of NVS Regional Office.
• When: within 30 days of PIO's reply (or 30 days after deemed-refusal date).
• Fee: NIL. No IPO needed.
• Time to decide: 30 days, extendable to 45 (§19(6)).
• Format: see the dedicated guide First Appeal §19(1) — copy-ready format.

• Where: State Information Commission (SIC) for state-government schools/colleges and aided institutions. Central Information Commission (CIC) for KV, NV, central universities, IITs, IIMs, NITs, CBSE, NCERT.
• When: within 90 days of FAA's order (or after FAA's 45-day window expires).
• Fee: NIL in most states; ₹10-100 in a few (Maharashtra, Andhra). Free for BPL.
• Format and procedure: see Second Appeal CIC/SIC — full guide.
• Penalty teeth: §20(1) allows up to ₹25,000 against the PIO personally for unjustified refusal or delay. Cited in your appeal as a ground.

• For RTE denials: Block Education Officer → District Education Officer → State Education Commissioner → National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) at https://ncpcr.gov.in.
• For UGC-regulated colleges: UGC Online Grievance at https://ugc.gov.in (Ombudsman cell).
• For AICTE colleges: AICTE Grievance at https://www.aicte-india.org.
• For CBSE/board issues: CBSE Public Grievance Cell.

These run in parallel with your RTI. Often a polite RTI reply is enough to make these grievance routes unnecessary.

+---------------------------------------+----------------------------------+
| RTI to school/college PIO             | ₹10 by IPO. BPL = free.          |
+---------------------------------------+----------------------------------+
| Reply due (PIO)                       | 30 days from receipt (§7(1)).    |
|                                       | 48 hours if life or liberty      |
|                                       | involved — §7(1) proviso.        |
+---------------------------------------+----------------------------------+
| Inspection of records (e.g., admission| First hour FREE; ₹5 per          |
| register, fee register)               | subsequent half-hour (Central    |
|                                       | rules; state rules may vary).    |
+---------------------------------------+----------------------------------+
| Photocopy charges                     | ₹2 per A4 page (Central rules).  |
+---------------------------------------+----------------------------------+
| First Appeal under §19(1)             | NIL. 30 days to file. 30+15 days |
|                                       | for FAA to decide.               |
+---------------------------------------+----------------------------------+
| Second Appeal under §19(3)            | NIL (most states). 90 days to    |
|                                       | file from FAA order.             |
+---------------------------------------+----------------------------------+
| Penalty on PIO under §20              | ₹250/day, max ₹25,000.           |
+---------------------------------------+----------------------------------+

Q. Can I ask for someone else's marks or admission record?
No — that is third-party personal information under §8(1)(j) and would be refused. You can ask for aggregated data (cut-off marks, lottery numbers admitted, list of admitted students by category) — that is institutional disclosure, not personal.

Q. The Principal says private school RTE issues should go to the State Education Department, not to the school.
The Principal is wrong. State Information Commissions (Maharashtra SIC, Karnataka SIC, Delhi SIC) have repeatedly held that for the limited scope of RTE §12(1)© admissions, the unaided school is a public authority — because it is performing a statutory function for which it receives state reimbursement.

Q. Can I get a copy of my child's CBSE/ICSE answer script?
Yes. Aditya Bandopadhyay v. CBSE is the binding Supreme Court ruling. CBSE charges ₹500-700 per script under its own scheme — but RTI route is also valid and usually cheaper. Apply within 12 months of result declaration.

Q. The PIO sent a one-line reply: “Information not maintained in this format.”
Two responses. (a) RTI doesn't require the PIO to “create” information, only to disclose what exists — so check whether you asked for raw records (allowed) or for tabulated data (may be refused). (b) If raw records exist, file First Appeal citing §19(1) and §4(1)(b) — every public authority must maintain admission, fee, attendance, and grant records under its proactive disclosure duty.

Q. The school says the document is “exam-related” so §8(1)(e) fiduciary applies.
Aditya Bandopadhyay directly addresses this. The relationship between the institution and the examinee is fiduciary in favour of the examinee — meaning the institution holds the script for the examinee's benefit. Therefore disclosure to the examinee is not breach of fiduciary trust; it is fulfilment of it.

Q. We are a tribal-area family with no IPO seller nearby. Can we attach cash?
Cash is acceptable under §6(1) but only if you walk in and obtain a stamped receipt. By post, only IPO / DD / court-fee stamp work. Easiest: get any literate friend in the nearest town to buy the IPO and post on your behalf, or apply free under BPL category if you hold a BPL card.

Q. Can I file a single RTI covering both my child's admission and fee questions?
Yes. The RTI Act does not limit the number of questions per application — many state SICs have struck down “one query per application” rules as illegal. Group related questions; pay the single ₹10 fee.

• Write effective RTI — the 7-rule plain-language formula
• First Appeal §19(1) — copy-ready format and timeline
• Second Appeal CIC/SIC — full guide for 2026
• RTI in 12 simple steps — for first-time filers
• Landmark CIC and Supreme Court decisions on RTI
• AI RTI Drafter — fill this template online in 60 seconds

Last reviewed: 26 April 2026 by RTI Wiki editorial team. State fee rules and education-department designations change with each notification; cross-check with your state's Education Department before posting. Spotted an outdated address? Write to admin@bighelpers.in.