How to File RTI in Kerala — Online & Postal Guide (2026)

Step-by-step guide to filing an RTI application in Kerala — state portal, fee, SIC address, sample template and appeal path. Rs. 10 fee. 2026 edition.

Part of How to file RTI online in India — this page covers the Kerala state procedure.

• Portal: https://sic.kerala.gov.in
• Works for most Kerala state departments, public undertakings, and major urban local bodies.
• Fee is paid online through SBI e-Pay.
• You get a unique Registration Number that you use for all follow-ups.

• Address the application to the Public Information Officer, [Name of Public Authority], [Full address].
• Send by Speed Post with Acknowledgement Due. Retain the receipt — it is your filing evidence.
• Enclose the fee in one of the accepted modes: online via Kerala RTI portal; IPO / DD / cash receipt at the concerned office; court-fee stamp.

• Application fee: Rs. 10 (BPL applicants: free, on production of a BPL card copy).
• Additional cost for copies: Rs. 2 per page (A4); Rs. 50 per CD.
• Inspection of records: free for the first hour; Rs. 5 for each subsequent 15 minutes (standard state rule).
• Fee modes: online via Kerala RTI portal; IPO / DD / cash receipt at the concerned office; court-fee stamp.

Governing rules: Kerala Right to Information (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2006.

To,
The Public Information Officer,
[Name of Public Authority],
[Full Address, Kerala]
[PIN Code]

Subject: Request for information under Section 6(1) of the
Right to Information Act, 2005.

Sir / Madam,

I, [Full Name], resident of [Complete Address with PIN], a citizen of
India, request the following information / records under the RTI Act:

1. [Specific record, file number, or data you want — name the document]
2. [Date / period — anchor the timeframe]
3. [Identifier — your application number, account number, or similar]
4. Name and contact of the First Appellate Authority for this office.

I enclose Rs. 10 by way of [IPO No. / DD No. / online payment ref.]
in favour of [Accounts Officer, concerned department].

Please send the information to the address below by Registered Post.

Yours faithfully,
[Signature]
Name:    __________________
Address: __________________
PIN:     __________________
Mobile:  __________________
Date:    __________________

Need a topic-specific template? Pick from the sample RTI library — FIR, admission, exam marks, ration card, pension, refund, and more.

1. Day 0 — PIO receives your RTI.
2. Day 0–5 — Transfer under §6(3) if the matter sits with another public authority; the 30-day clock restarts from the date of transfer.
3. Day 10–25 — Most routine requests are answered.
4. Day 30 — Statutory reply deadline. Silence = deemed refusal under §7(2).
5. Day 31 → Day 60 — First Appeal under §19(1) to the Department FAA (one rank above PIO)..
6. Day 75 → Day 165 — Second Appeal under §19(3) to KSIC at Thiruvananthapuram..

For deadlines in detail, see First Appeal timelines and FAA appellate-review checklist.

• Kerala HC produced the ratio that the Supreme Court affirmed in Thalappalam (2013) — co-operative society RTI status is fact-driven, not automatic.
• Kerala SIC has a strong track record on file-noting disclosure (Treesa Irish line).
• Malayalam is the preferred language; English is accepted.
• For Panchayat-level RTI, each Gram Panchayat Secretary is a PIO; use the state portal or file in person.

• Name: Kerala State Information Commission (KSIC)
• Address: Punnen Road, Thiruvananthapuram - 695039
• Website: keralasic.gov.in

For §19(3) Second Appeals, file directly to the Commission's Registry — postal or online where the Commission's portal allows.

• Filing at the wrong PIO — route via the concerned department, not the generic state grievance portal.
• Asking “why” questions. Ask for records, not answers — see the records-not-answers drafting guide.
• Missing the fee payment — even online filings fail if the payment is not completed.
• Skipping the application reference / identifier that lets the PIO locate your file.
• Drafting in English when the authority uses a regional language — use either, but be consistent.

• Lokayukta inquiry report RTI — Kerala HC 2024 — Concluded anti-corruption findings are public; live inquiries are protected.
• Kerala Beverage Corp records — Kerala HC — KSBC = §2(h); tender + licensing + revenue records disclosable.
• Service book disclosure to public servant — Kerala HC — Own service book + notings fully accessible; §8(1)(j) protects against third-party access only.
• Ration card / PDS records — Kerala SIC — PDS beneficiary lists are §4 suo-motu material; individual card entitlements also disclosable.
• MGNREGS beneficiary lists — Kerala HC — MGNREGS muster rolls = §4(1)(b)(xii); name+aggregate-days disclosable, Aadhaar/bank details protected.
• Pension records — Kerala HC — A pensioner's own records (pension calc, arrears, retirement benefits) are disclosable to him under RTI.
• Cooperative banks under RTI — Kerala HC — Post-Thalappalam, cooperative banks are public authorities only if substantial State financing is proven.
• Political party accounts — Kerala HC 2015 — State units of political parties held NOT public authorities under §2(h) — contrast with CIC ruling.

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

• How to file RTI online — national guide
• Why RTI gets rejected — drafting fix-it guide
• Ask for records, not answers
• Grounds for RTI rejection
• First Appeal timelines
• FAA appellate-review checklist
• Sample RTI applications
• RTI FAQ — 25 most-asked questions

• Right to Information Act, 2005 (as amended 2019, 2023)
• Kerala Right to Information (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2006
• Kerala State Information Commission (KSIC) — annual reports
• Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 — §44(3), amending RTI §8(1)(j)

Last reviewed: 24 April 2026.

Filing RTI in Kerala — complete guide on rules, fees, and the online portal for 2026:

1. Step 1: Kerala RTI rules. (a) Kerala has its own RTI Rules (the Kerala Right to Information Rules, 2006 — notified under the Central RTI Act, 2005 — which apply to all public authorities in Kerala — state government departments, municipalities, panchayats, police, courts, and public sector undertakings), (b) the fee is Rs 10 for general category — and FREE for BPL category (Kerala is one of the few states where BPL citizens can file RTI without any fee — and get copies free — under Rule 3 of the Kerala RTI Rules), © the application can be in Malayalam or English (the PIO must accept applications in either language — under Section 6(1) of the RTI Act — and in Kerala — Malayalam is the primary language — and most PIOs accept Malayalam applications), (d) the PIO must respond within 30 days (48 hours if the information concerns life or liberty — under Section 7(1)), (e) the first appeal is filed with the First Appellate Authority (FAA — within 30 days of the PIO's response — or non-response), (f) the second appeal is filed with the Kerala State Information Commission (located in Thiruvananthapuram — within 90 days of the FAA's order — or non-response).
2. Step 2: Online filing. (a) the Kerala government has an online RTI portal (keralarticommision.org — or through the e-Office portal — the citizen can file RTI online — to state government departments), (b) the process: (i) register on the portal (with mobile number and email — OTP verification), (ii) select the department (and the sub-department — and the PIO), (iii) write the RTI application (in the text box — or upload a PDF — in Malayalam or English), (iv) pay the fee (Rs 10 — online — through net banking, UPI, or credit/debit card — or free for BPL — with BPL proof), (v) submit — and get a registration number (for tracking), © the online portal is available for most state government departments (but not for central government departments in Kerala — for central departments, use rtionline.gov.in), (d) the PIO's response is sent electronically (to the registered email — and can be viewed on the portal).
3. Step 3: How to file offline. (a) write the application (on plain paper — in Malayalam or English — with the applicant's name, address, and the information sought — and the fee — court-fee stamp of Rs 10 — or free for BPL — with BPL proof), (b) submit to the PIO (by hand — at the PIO's office — and get a receiving — or by registered post — with the court-fee stamp), © the court-fee stamp of Rs 10 is available at the treasury office — or the court — or the post office — in Kerala, (d) the PIO must respond within 30 days (if submitted by hand — or within 35 days if submitted by post), (e) if the PIO does not respond: file a first appeal (with the FAA — within 30 days of the non-response), (f) if the FAA does not respond: file a second appeal (with the Kerala State Information Commission — in Thiruvananthapuram — within 90 days of the FAA's non-response).
4. Step 4: Common issues in Kerala. (a) PIO not designated (many departments — especially at the Panchayat level — have not designated PIOs — or the PIOs are additional charge — in Kerala — the Panchayat Secretary is the PIO — at the Gram Panchayat level), (b) Malayalam applications rejected (some PIOs reject Malayalam applications — which is illegal — under Section 6(1) — the PIO must accept applications in the official language — Malayalam is the official language of Kerala), © the State Information Commission is slow (the Kerala SIC has a backlog — with pending second appeals — and the appeals take 1-3 years — the SIC is located in Thiruvananthapuram — and conducts hearings in Thiruvananthapuram — and through video conferencing), (d) municipal corporations (the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation, Kochi Municipal Corporation, Kozhikode Municipal Corporation — and other municipalities — have their own PIOs — and the RTI process is separate), (e) Kerala Water Authority, KSEB (the Kerala State Electricity Board — and the Kerala Water Authority — are public authorities — and RTI can be filed — for billing issues, connection status, etc.).
5. Step 5: File RTI on Kerala-specific issues. (a) land records: ask the Village Officer (or the Revenue Department) for: (i) the Thatcha (of [survey number] — village [name] — for the year [year]), (ii) the Pokkuvaravu (mutation entry — of [survey number] — village [name] — and the status), (iii) the Land Tax receipt (of [survey number] — village [name] — for the year [year]), (b) civic issues: ask the Municipality / Corporation for: (i) the status of [complaint number] (filed on [date] — for [issue] — the action taken), (ii) the building permission (of [building] — the approved plan — and the occupancy certificate status), © police: ask the police for: (i) the FIR copy (of FIR number [number] — at [police station]), (ii) the status of the investigation (of FIR number [number] — the charge sheet — and the trial status), (d) education: ask the school/college for: (i) the admission criteria (and the number of seats — and the list of admitted students), (ii) the fee structure (and the fee hike approval), (e) ration card: ask the Civil Supplies Department for: (i) the ration card status (application number [number] — the current status — and the reason for delay), (ii) the PDS supply (at Maveli store [number] — for the month [month] — the stock position).
6. Step 6: Kerala State Information Commission. (a) the Commission is located in Thiruvananthapuram (at the Kerala State Information Commission — at the address available on the website — keralasic.gov.in), (b) the second appeal is filed with the Commission (in writing — with the RTI application, the PIO's response, the first appeal, the FAA's order — and the fee — if any), © the Commission can: (i) order the PIO to provide the information (within a specified timeline), (ii) impose a penalty (Rs 250 per day — up to Rs 25,000 — under Section 20(1)), (iii) recommend disciplinary action (against the PIO — under Section 20(2)), (iv) order compensation (to the appellant — under Section 19(8)(b)), (d) the Commission's orders are available on the website (keralasic.gov.in — for reference), (e) Kerala's SIC is considered one of the more active commissions (compared to other states — and has issued several progressive orders — including on BPL fee waiver, Malayalam applications, and proactive disclosure).
7. Step 7: Practical tips. (a) use the online portal (for faster filing — and tracking), (b) file in Malayalam (if the records are in Malayalam — e.g., land records — the PIO cannot reject on language grounds), © BPL citizens file free (with BPL proof — the fee is waived — and copies are free — in Kerala), (d) be specific (the PIOs in Kerala — especially in rural areas — may not be trained — be specific — and avoid vague queries), (e) follow up (the PIOs may not respond — follow up with the FAA — and the Commission), (f) Example: A citizen filed RTI with the Village Officer — asking for the Thatcha and Pokkuvaravu — the VO did not respond — the citizen filed a first appeal — the FAA ordered the VO to respond — the VO provided the records — showing that the land was wrongly mutated — the citizen used the RTI reply to challenge the mutation — and to save his land from a fraudulent transfer — the citizen was a BPL cardholder — and filed free — under the Kerala RTI Rules.

See RTI Kerala and Find PIO.