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+{{htmlmetatags>metatitle=Selected wrong public authority on RTI application — citizen guide 2026
+metadescription=Filed RTI to the wrong ministry or department? The Nodal Officer transfers it under section 6(3). No refund for state authority misfilings. Steps inside.
+metakeywords=wrong public authority rti, rti application wrong department, rti transfer section 6(3), rtionline wrong authority}}
+====== What happens if I select the wrong public authority on my RTI application ======
+{{ :social:auto:faqs-rti-wrong-public-authority.png?direct&1200 |What happens if I select the wrong public authority on my RTI application — RTI Wiki}}
+<WRAP center round info 95%>
+**Quick Reply:** What happens if I select the wrong public authority on my RTI application
+</WRAP>
+<WRAP center round tip 100%>
+**Direct answer:** If you select the wrong Central Government public authority, the Nodal Officer will transfer your application to the correct authority under RTI Act 2005, §6(3) — no action needed from you. But if you filed a state authority application on rtionline.gov.in, it will be returned with no fee refund.
+</WRAP>
+Selecting the wrong ministry or department on rtionline.gov.in is a common mistake, especially when information spans multiple agencies. The law has a built-in transfer mechanism — but it only works within Central Government bodies, and it does not give you extra time beyond the original 30-day clock.
+===== What the official portal says =====
+> "The Nodal Officer will transfer the application electronically or physically to the correct authority under section 6(3) of the RTI Act." — [[https://rtionline.gov.in/faq.php|rtionline.gov.in FAQ Q5]]
+===== Why this happens and what §6(3) means =====
+RTI Act 2005, §6(3) requires that when a CPIO receives an application that does not concern their office, they must transfer it within 5 days to the correct CPIO. The 30-day response clock continues from the original receipt date, not the transfer date. So if transfer takes 5 days, the receiving CPIO has only 25 days left.
+When you receive multiple registration numbers from a single RTI, it means the portal has already split or forwarded your application to multiple CPIOs (FAQ Q17 on the portal). This is normal and legal.
+For state authorities: rtionline.gov.in cannot transfer to state government bodies. The Nodal Officer returns such applications. Your ₹10 fee is lost unless you raise a refund request.
+===== What to do — step by step =====
+  - **Check View Status** on rtionline.gov.in 3–5 days after filing to see if your application has been transferred.
+  - **If transferred within Central Government**: no action needed. Track via View Status. The 30-day clock started from your original filing date.
+  - **If returned as "state authority"**: note your original transaction ID and email [email protected] requesting a fee refund.
+  - **To refile correctly**: identify the right Central ministry/department. If in doubt, the DoPT (Department of Personnel and Training) handles RTI Act interpretation; RBI handles banking; Ministry of Railways handles rail matters.
+  - **If your RTI spans multiple authorities**: file separate applications to each, or file to the primary authority and let §6(3) do the transfer.
+===== FAQ =====
+==== Does the 30-day deadline restart after a transfer? ====
+No. The 30-day clock under RTI Act 2005, §7(1) runs from the original date of receipt. A §6(3) transfer does not reset it. If transferred on day 5, the receiving CPIO has 25 days.
+==== Can I correct my application after submission? ====
+No. Once submitted, RTI applications on rtionline.gov.in cannot be edited. If the content is wrong for the authority, refile a corrected version. If only the authority is wrong, let the transfer mechanism work.
+==== What if no CPIO exists at the authority I selected? ====
+You can file a complaint directly with the Central Information Commission under RTI Act 2005, §18(1)(a) if a public authority has not designated a CPIO.
+==== I got three registration numbers from one application — is that normal? ====
+Yes. When the portal forwards your application to multiple CPIOs because information lies with more than one department, you receive one registration number per CPIO (RTI Act 2005, §6(3)).
+===== Related tools and pages =====
+  * [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/ai-rti-draft-app.html|AI RTI Drafter]] — helps identify the right authority before you file
+  * [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/first-appeal-app.html|First Appeal Builder]] — use if no reply received within 30 days
+  * [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/faqs/rtionline-start|All RTI Online Portal FAQs]]
+{{tag>rti happens select wrong public authority}}