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blog:rti-subjects-filed-satisfied-appealed [2026/04/19 09:55] – Shrawanblog:rti-subjects-filed-satisfied-appealed [2026/06/03 17:01] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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-====== What Indians file RTI applications about — the subjects filed, satisfied, and appealed ======+====== What Indians file RTI applications about ====== 
 +<WRAP center round tip 95%> 
 +**Practice this in 30 seconds.** Use our free **[[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/rti-assistant-app.html|RTI Assistant]]** — AI-driven drafting, First Appeal, Second Appeal in one place. 
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-{{htmlmetatags>metatag-keywords=(rti applications, rti subjects, rti filing patterns, rti appeal categories, dopt annual report, satark nagrik sangathan, cic appeals, section 8(1)(j), rti refusal grounds, rti statistics) +{{ :social:auto:blog-rti-subjects-filed-satisfied-appealed.png?direct&1200 |blog / rti-subjects-filed-satisfied-appealed — RTI Wiki}}
-metatag-description=(A practitioner's note on the subject-matter pattern of Right to Information applications in India: what citizens file about, where the Public Information Officer typically gives a satisfactory reply, and where applications end up in appeal before the Information Commission. With sources.)}}+
  
-{{ :blog-rti.png?230 |Subjects of RTI applications in India}}+{{htmlmetatags>metatag-keywords=(rti applications, rti subjects, rti filing patterns, rti appeal categories, dopt annual report, satark nagrik sangathan, cic appeals, section 8(1)(j), rti refusal grounds, rti statistics) 
 +metatag-description=(A practitioner's note on the subject-matter pattern of Right to Information applications in India: what citizens file about, where the Public Information Officer.)}}
  
-{{page>snippets:dpdp-banner}}+{{ :blog-rti.png?230x130 |Subjects of RTI applications in India}}
  
 //An evaluatory note on the subject-matter pattern of Right to Information applications in India. Drawn from the annual reports of the Department of Personnel and Training, the published reports of the Satark Nagrik Sangathan, and the case-law line at the Central Information Commission and the Supreme Court. The note is for applicants, Public Information Officers, First Appellate Authorities, and researchers who want to see where the Act works, where it stops, and why.// //An evaluatory note on the subject-matter pattern of Right to Information applications in India. Drawn from the annual reports of the Department of Personnel and Training, the published reports of the Satark Nagrik Sangathan, and the case-law line at the Central Information Commission and the Supreme Court. The note is for applicants, Public Information Officers, First Appellate Authorities, and researchers who want to see where the Act works, where it stops, and why.//
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 The empirical observations in this note are drawn from three classes of source. The empirical observations in this note are drawn from three classes of source.
  
-  * **Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Annual Reports on the implementation of the Right to Information Act.** These carry the aggregate number of applications received, transfers under Section 6(3), denials, and the clause of Section 8 most often cited. The reports from 2005-06 onwards are published at the DoPT website.+  * **Department of Personnel and Training (%%DoPT%%), Annual Reports on the implementation of the Right to Information Act.** These carry the aggregate number of applications received, transfers under Section 6(3), denials, and the clause of Section 8 most often cited. The reports from 2005-06 onwards are published at the %%DoPT%% website.
   * **Satark Nagrik Sangathan, //Report on the Performance of Information Commissions in India//.** The annual series tracks the composition, pendency, and disposal pattern of the Central Information Commission and the State Information Commissions. The 2024-25 report noted aggregate pendency of over four lakh appeals and complaints across the State Commissions.   * **Satark Nagrik Sangathan, //Report on the Performance of Information Commissions in India//.** The annual series tracks the composition, pendency, and disposal pattern of the Central Information Commission and the State Information Commissions. The 2024-25 report noted aggregate pendency of over four lakh appeals and complaints across the State Commissions.
   * **Central Information Commission annual returns, and the published orders.** Individual orders record the ground of refusal, the decision of the Commission, and the direction to the Public Information Officer. The pattern across hundreds of orders gives the shape of the appeal docket.   * **Central Information Commission annual returns, and the published orders.** Individual orders record the ground of refusal, the decision of the Commission, and the direction to the Public Information Officer. The pattern across hundreds of orders gives the shape of the appeal docket.
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 Across the central Government, the State Governments, and the Union Territories, five subject areas account for the largest share of the annual RTI filing. Across the central Government, the State Governments, and the Union Territories, five subject areas account for the largest share of the annual RTI filing.
  
-  - **Service matters of the applicant's own employment.** Applications by serving and retired Government employees for their own Service Book, Annual Performance Appraisal Reports, leave record, increment and promotion orders, transfer orders, and disciplinary records. The single largest category across both central and State Governments, on DoPT's aggregate reporting.+  - **Service matters of the applicant's own employment.** Applications by serving and retired Government employees for their own Service Book, Annual Performance Appraisal Reports, leave record, increment and promotion orders, transfer orders, and disciplinary records. The single largest category across both central and State Governments, on %%DoPT%%'s aggregate reporting.
   - **Land records, revenue, and municipal records.** Applications for patta, khata, mutation entries, survey records, building-plan sanction, occupancy certificates, and local body works. Very heavy in States with computerised land-record portals running parallel to RTI.   - **Land records, revenue, and municipal records.** Applications for patta, khata, mutation entries, survey records, building-plan sanction, occupancy certificates, and local body works. Very heavy in States with computerised land-record portals running parallel to RTI.
   - **Pension and retirement benefits.** Applications on pension computation, leave encashment, gratuity status, PF withdrawal timelines, and family pension sanction.   - **Pension and retirement benefits.** Applications on pension computation, leave encashment, gratuity status, PF withdrawal timelines, and family pension sanction.
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   * Information relating to a named company director or trustee.   * Information relating to a named company director or trustee.
  
-The leading authority has been //Girish Ramchandra Deshpande v. Central Information Commissioner//, (2013) 1 SCC 212. The Supreme Court held that the information pertaining to the service and conduct of a public servant is personal information under Section 8(1)(j). The 14 November 2025 amendment to clause (j), by Section 44(3) of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, has removed the public-interest override from within the clause. The public interest reasoning now operates through Section 8(2). A first generation of post-amendment orders will set the new appellate pattern. See [[blog:pio-reply-section-8-1-j-after-dpdp-2025|Section 8(1)(j) after the DPDP Rules, 2025]].+The leading authority has been //Girish Ramchandra Deshpande v. Central Information Commissioner//, (2013) 1 SCC 212. The Supreme Court held that the information pertaining to the service and conduct of a public servant is personal information under Section 8(1)(j). The 14 November 2025 amendment to clause (j), by Section 44(3) of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, has removed the public-interest override from within the clause. The public interest reasoning now operates through Section 8(2). A first generation of post-amendment orders will set the new appellate pattern. See [[:blog:pio-reply-section-8-1-j-after-dpdp-2025|Section 8(1)(j) after the DPDP Rules, 2025]].
  
 ==== Fiduciary relationship — Section 8(1)(e) ==== ==== Fiduciary relationship — Section 8(1)(e) ====
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 ==== Third party procedure — Section 11 ==== ==== Third party procedure — Section 11 ====
  
-Applications where the information sought is about a third party engage Section 11. The common grounds of appeal are delay in issuing the Section 11(1) notice within five days, failure to consider the third-party representation, or refusal to disclose after the third-party objection. See [[explanations:third-party|Third-party — practitioner note]] for the procedural timeline.+Applications where the information sought is about a third party engage Section 11. The common grounds of appeal are delay in issuing the Section 11(1) notice within five days, failure to consider the third-party representation, or refusal to disclose after the third-party objection. See [[:explanations:third-party|Third-party — practitioner note]] for the procedural timeline.
  
 ==== "No such record" and non-availability refusals ==== ==== "No such record" and non-availability refusals ====
  
-A set of refusals turn on the claim that the requested record is not traceable, has been destroyed, or was never maintained. The Commission's line has been that the Public Information Officer must record a search report, produce the register of destruction, and, where relevant, show the rule that governed the retention period. A mere statement that the record is not available does not discharge the statutory duty. See [[explanations:missing-files-under-rti|Missing files under the RTI Act]].+A set of refusals turn on the claim that the requested record is not traceable, has been destroyed, or was never maintained. The Commission's line has been that the Public Information Officer must record a search report, produce the register of destruction, and, where relevant, show the rule that governed the retention period. A mere statement that the record is not available does not discharge the statutory duty. See [[:explanations:missing-files-under-rti|Missing files under the RTI Act]].
  
 ==== Politically sensitive matters ==== ==== Politically sensitive matters ====
  
-Applications relating to political functionaries, party funds, the Prime Minister's Office, Cabinet Committee records, and individual Ministers often attract a refusal on a combination of Section 8(1)(a), (e), (h), and (j). The Central Information Commission has held that the office of a Minister is a public authority under Section 2(h) (see [[important-decisions:cic-case-laws:ministers-under-rti|Ministers under the RTI Act]]). Implementation has been uneven. The Electoral Bonds judgment //Association for Democratic Reforms v. Union of India//, (2024) 5 SCC 1, re-anchored the Article 19(1)(a) constitutional right to know about political funding.+Applications relating to political functionaries, party funds, the Prime Minister's Office, Cabinet Committee records, and individual Ministers often attract a refusal on a combination of Section 8(1)(a), (e), (h), and (j). The Central Information Commission has held that the office of a Minister is a public authority under Section 2(h) (see [[:important-decisions:cic-case-laws:ministers-under-rti|Ministers under the RTI Act]]). Implementation has been uneven. The Electoral Bonds judgment //Association for Democratic Reforms v. Union of India//, (2024) 5 SCC 1, re-anchored the Article 19(1)(a) constitutional right to know about political funding.
  
 ==== Judicial records ==== ==== Judicial records ====
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 ===== The common denial grounds — what the numbers show ===== ===== The common denial grounds — what the numbers show =====
  
-Across successive DoPT annual reports, the grounds most cited in refusals are, in order of frequency:+Across successive %%DoPT%% annual reports, the grounds most cited in refusals are, in order of frequency:
  
   - Section 8(1)(j) — personal information.   - Section 8(1)(j) — personal information.
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   - Section 8(1)(g) — endangerment.   - Section 8(1)(g) — endangerment.
  
-Clause (j) has been the largest single ground across the years covered. The 14 November 2025 amendment will change the shape of the numbers; the next two DoPT annual reports will be the baseline for how the amendment plays out in practice.+Clause (j) has been the largest single ground across the years covered. The 14 November 2025 amendment will change the shape of the numbers; the next two %%DoPT%% annual reports will be the baseline for how the amendment plays out in practice.
  
 ===== Why the mismatch ===== ===== Why the mismatch =====
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 ===== Related notes on this site ===== ===== Related notes on this site =====
  
-  * [[blog:rti-act-decade-of-change-2015-2025|The Right to Information Act, 2005 — a decade of change, 2015 to 2025]]. The macro picture of legal change. +  * [[:blog:rti-act-decade-of-change-2015-2025|The Right to Information Act, 2005 — a decade of change, 2015 to 2025]]. The macro picture of legal change. 
-  * [[blog:pio-reply-section-8-1-j-after-dpdp-2025|Section 8(1)(j) after the DPDP Rules, 2025: the PIO's reply, the file noting, and the practice]]. The drafting note. +  * [[:blog:pio-reply-section-8-1-j-after-dpdp-2025|Section 8(1)(j) after the DPDP Rules, 2025: the PIO's reply, the file noting, and the practice]]. The drafting note. 
-  * [[blog:dpdp-rules-2025-amendment-to-rti-act|DPDP Rules, 2025: The amendment to Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act]]. The amendment itself. +  * [[:blog:dpdp-rules-2025-amendment-to-rti-act|DPDP Rules, 2025: The amendment to Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act]]. The amendment itself. 
-  * [[important-decisions:start|Case law library]]. The curated landmark decisions. +  * [[:important-decisions:start|Case law library]]. The curated landmark decisions. 
-  * [[guide:applicant|Guide for applicants]]. The step-by-step drafting note. +  * [[:guide:applicant|Guide for applicants]]. The step-by-step drafting note. 
-  * [[explanations:grounds-for-rejection|Grounds for rejection]]. Concept-wise note on the ten exemptions. +  * [[:explanations:grounds-for-rejection|Grounds for rejection]]. Concept-wise note on the ten exemptions. 
-  * [[explanations:missing-files-under-rti|Missing files under the RTI Act]]. On "no such record" refusals.+  * [[:explanations:missing-files-under-rti|Missing files under the RTI Act]]. On "no such record" refusals. 
 + 
 + 
 + 
 +<WRAP center round help 95%> 
 +**New to RTI? File your first application in ten minutes.** See [[:file-rti-online-india|How to File RTI Online in India — 2026 Step-by-Step Guide]] with a ready-to-use English and Hindi template, the Rs 10 online fee flow, and the appeal path. 
 +</WRAP> 
 + 
 + 
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 +**More from the site.** [[:file-rti-online-india|File an RTI online in 2026]] · [[:why-rti-gets-rejected|Why RTI applications get rejected]] · [[:faq|The twenty-five-question FAQ]]. 
 +</WRAP>
  
 ===== Sources ===== ===== Sources =====
  
-  - Department of Personnel and Training, //Annual Reports on the Implementation of the Right to Information Act, 2005//, successive years. Available at the DoPT website.+  - Department of Personnel and Training, //Annual Reports on the Implementation of the Right to Information Act, 2005//, successive years. Available at the %%DoPT%% website.
   - Satark Nagrik Sangathan, //Report on the Performance of Information Commissions in India//, annual series. Most recent: 2024-25, released 12 October 2025.   - Satark Nagrik Sangathan, //Report on the Performance of Information Commissions in India//, annual series. Most recent: 2024-25, released 12 October 2025.
   - Second Administrative Reforms Commission, //Right to Information — Master Key to Good Governance//, First Report, June 2006.   - Second Administrative Reforms Commission, //Right to Information — Master Key to Good Governance//, First Report, June 2006.
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   - Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025, notified on 14 November 2025.   - Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025, notified on 14 November 2025.
  
-===== Last reviewed on ===== +//Last reviewed on: 19 April 2026 — RTI Wiki editorial team.//
- +
-19 April 2026+
  
 {{tag>rti applications filing-patterns appeals cic subjects section-8-1-j dopt-annual-report satark-nagrik-sangathan pio-reply dpdp-2025}} {{tag>rti applications filing-patterns appeals cic subjects section-8-1-j dopt-annual-report satark-nagrik-sangathan pio-reply dpdp-2025}}