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—file-rti-maharashtra [2026/04/22 14:36] (current) – created - external edit 127.0.0.1
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 +{{htmlmetatags>metatag-keywords=(file rti maharashtra,rti online maharashtra,maharashtra rti portal,mahaonline rti,maharashtra state information commission,rti fee maharashtra,rti mumbai,rti pune,rti state information commission mumbai)&metatag-description=(File RTI online in Maharashtra — complete 2026 guide. MahaOnline RTI portal, fees, timelines, appeal routes. Maharashtra State Information Commission contacts, common rejection reasons, and the exact wording that works for pay-scale, PMC, transfers and tenders.)}}
 +
 +====== File RTI in Maharashtra — 2026 guide ======
 +
 +
 +
 +<WRAP center round tip 95%>
 +**Need help drafting this RTI?** Use our free **[[:tools:rti-assistant|RTI Assistant]]** — describe your problem, get a ready-to-file Section 6(1) application with your name and address pre-filled. Also handles First Appeal and Second Appeal to the CIC/SIC.
 +</WRAP>
 +
 +**Maharashtra accepts RTI applications at three levels: Central Government departments (via rtionline.gov.in, Rs 10 fee), State Government departments (via MahaOnline RTI portal or in person, Rs 20 fee), and municipal / local bodies (directly at the office, typically Rs 10-20). The State Information Commission sits in Mumbai and Nagpur; First Appeal timelines follow the Central 30-day / 45-day framework. Average response time is 25-35 days; systemic delays concentrated in PMC, BMC and Home Department.**
 +
 +{{page>_snippets:dpdp-banner}}
 +
 +===== Which portal / office — quick map =====
 +
 +| **Department type** | **Portal / office** | **Fee** | **Mode** |
 +| Central Government (IT, Railways, Posts, Income Tax, PSU banks) | **rtionline.gov.in** | Rs 10 | Online (UPI, card, net banking) |
 +| State Government Ministries & Departments (Revenue, Home, Health, Education, Urban Development) | **MahaOnline RTI** (aaplesarkar.mahaonline.gov.in) or at the department | Rs 20 | Online OR in person with IPO / court-fee stamp |
 +| Municipal Corporations (BMC, PMC, NMC, TMC, etc.) | Direct at Corporation — RTI Cell | Rs 10-20 (varies) | In person / post; Mumbai BMC has online option |
 +| Zilla Parishad / Panchayat | Direct at Parishad office / Block BDO | Rs 10 | In person |
 +| Police (State) | District SP office / Home Department | Rs 20 | In person |
 +
 +===== Step-by-step: filing an RTI with a State department =====
 +
 +  - **Identify the correct department**. Revenue for land records, Home for police matters, Urban Development for municipal policy, General Administration for service-cadre records. If unsure, file with any and the PIO will transfer under §6(3) within 5 days.
 +  - **Visit aaplesarkar.mahaonline.gov.in** (the unified MahaOnline portal) OR prepare a plain-paper application in Marathi, Hindi, or English — all are accepted under §4(3).
 +  - **Draft the application**: address it to "The Public Information Officer, [Department], Government of Maharashtra". Your name, address, email, phone. 3-6 numbered queries asking for documents (not opinions).
 +  - **Pay the Rs 20 fee**: online payment on the portal, OR affix a Rs 20 court-fee stamp (if filing on paper), OR attach an Indian Postal Order for Rs 20 drawn in favour of the Department.
 +  - **Submit**: online (get registration number via SMS/email), OR by registered post / speed post (keep the POD slip).
 +  - **Track**: rtionline for Central or aaplesarkar.mahaonline for State; otherwise follow up by RTI number on the department's page.
 +
 +===== Fees summary =====
 +
 +  * **Application fee**: Rs 20 (State); Rs 10 (Central); Rs 10-20 (local bodies).
 +  * **Copy fee**: Rs 2 per A4 page; larger documents at prescribed higher rates.
 +  * **Inspection**: first hour free; Rs 5 per subsequent 15 minutes.
 +  * **BPL exemption**: full fee exemption on production of BPL certificate; no additional proof required.
 +
 +===== Timeline expectations =====
 +
 +  * **Statutory**: §7(1) — 30 days for disposal; 48 hours for life-and-liberty; 40 days where §11 third-party consultation applies.
 +  * **Practical average in Maharashtra** (based on editorial observation): 25-35 days for routine RTIs; PMC and BMC frequently 40-50 days; Home Department and service-matters 45-60 days.
 +  * **Life-and-liberty 48-hour** rarely invoked; use only for genuine emergencies.
 +
 +===== Maharashtra State Information Commission (SIC) =====
 +
 +  * **Main seat**: Mumbai, 13th Floor, New Administrative Building, opposite Mantralaya.
 +  * **Nagpur bench**: Civil Lines, Nagpur.
 +  * **Website**: https://sic.maharashtra.gov.in (Hindi / Marathi / English)
 +  * **Second Appeal filing**: within 90 days of FAA decision (or expiry of FAA's 45-day window).
 +  * **Average SIC disposal**: 8-12 months (backlog concentrated in pre-2023 matters).
 +
 +===== First-Appellate-Authority (FAA) — typical ranks =====
 +
 +In Maharashtra State public authorities, the FAA is typically:
 +
 +  * **State Secretariat**: Joint Secretary (one rank above PIO, who is usually Deputy Secretary)
 +  * **Directorate**: Director (PIO is usually Deputy Director)
 +  * **Municipal Corporation**: Additional Municipal Commissioner (PIO is Deputy MC)
 +  * **Zilla Parishad**: Chief Executive Officer (PIO is Deputy CEO)
 +  * **Police**: SP / Commissioner of Police (PIO is Deputy SP)
 +
 +Check the department's §4(1)(b)(xvi) disclosure for the exact designation.
 +
 +===== Common rejection reasons — and the counter =====
 +
 +  * **"No such record exists"** — counter: file a fresh RTI asking for **the file index / register maintained by the department** for the subject-matter. The index will reveal whether records were created.
 +  * **"Information is voluminous"** — counter: RTI does not have a volume-based exemption. Offer to inspect the records under §2(j) in lieu of copies.
 +  * **"Transferred to concerned department"** — counter: ask for the §6(3) transfer letter and acknowledgement from the transferee PIO. If no transfer actually happened, escalate to First Appeal.
 +  * **"§8(1)(j) — personal information"** — post-14-November-2025, check if the information truly is about another individual. Information about public-authority action (transfer orders, sanctions, budget utilisation) is NOT personal just because public servants are named.
 +  * **"Cabinet confidentiality, §8(1)(i)"** — counter: is the matter closed and the decision announced? If yes, //R.K. Jain// (SC 2013) mandates disclosure.
 +
 +===== Templates for common Maharashtra RTIs =====
 +
 +**Template 1 — Municipal transfer / posting orders (BMC/PMC/NMC)**
 +
 +<code>
 +Kindly provide the following information under the RTI Act, 2005:
 +
 +1. Copies of all transfer and posting orders issued in the
 +   [Department, e.g., Health / Engineering] wing of [BMC / PMC / NMC] from
 +   [start date] to [end date].
 +2. The criteria / policy document governing transfers in this wing.
 +3. A statement showing the number of transfers effected in this period,
 +   by rank.
 +4. Copies of representation files (not names of individual officers) where
 +   transfer orders were challenged by affected officers.
 +</code>
 +
 +**Template 2 — Police station FIR / GD records (Home Department)**
 +
 +<code>
 +Kindly provide the following information under the RTI Act, 2005:
 +
 +1. Copy of the First Information Report (FIR) No. [FIR No.]/[Year] of
 +   [Police Station name].
 +2. Copy of the General Diary (GD) entry for the date [date] at the
 +   said police station.
 +3. Status of investigation: has a charge-sheet been filed, is the matter
 +   under investigation, or has it been closed?
 +4. Copy of the closure report if any, under §173(2) CrPC.
 +</code>
 +
 +**Template 3 — Municipal building plan approval**
 +
 +<code>
 +Kindly provide the following information under the RTI Act, 2005:
 +
 +1. The building-plan approval file for [Plot No., Survey No., Village],
 +   [Municipal Corporation] — application number [if known].
 +2. Copies of the technical scrutiny notings, departmental objections
 +   (if any), and final sanction order.
 +3. The current status — sanctioned / rejected / pending.
 +4. Copies of any NOC obtained from DCR / Fire / Environment departments.
 +</code>
 +
 +===== Notable Maharashtra SIC rulings =====
 +
 +  * **[[:cases:sic-maharashtra-corporator-records-2019|Corporator funds utilisation — Maharashtra SIC 2019]]** — local-body corporator fund records fall under §4(1)(b) proactive disclosure.
 +  * **[[:cases:bombay-hc-private-school-rti-2019|Aided private schools under RTI — Bombay HC 2019]]** — salary-grant-receiving schools are §2(h) public authorities.
 +  * **[[:cases:bombay-hc-medical-council-2018|Statutory professional councils — Bombay HC 2018]]** — Medical Council, Bar Council covered under §2(h).
 +  * **[[:cases:bombay-hc-pio-deemed-refusal-2014|PIO silence as deemed refusal — Bombay HC 2014]]** — §7(2) applies; direct First Appeal permissible.
 +
 +===== When an RTI fails — appeal routes =====
 +
 +  - **First Appeal (§19(1))** to the FAA of the concerned department within **30 days**. Use the same format as the RTI; state grounds of challenge; enclose copies of the RTI and the PIO's reply.
 +  - **Second Appeal (§19(3))** to the **Maharashtra State Information Commission** within **90 days** of FAA decision (or after 45 days of FAA non-decision).
 +  - **Writ petition** to the Bombay High Court under Article 226 in exceptional cases where the Commission's order is legally flawed or delayed unreasonably.
 +
 +===== FAQs =====
 +
 +**Q1: Do I need to attach my Aadhaar or identity proof?**
 +
 +No. §6(2) bars the PIO from asking for identity or motive. Only your name, address, and contact information are needed.
 +
 +**Q2: Can I file RTI in Marathi?**
 +
 +Yes. §4(3) and §6(1) expressly permit filing in the local language of the State. Marathi is accepted in Maharashtra without translation by the applicant.
 +
 +**Q3: What if the PIO ignores my RTI?**
 +
 +After 30 days without response, §7(2) treats it as deemed refusal. File First Appeal immediately — do not wait longer.
 +
 +**Q4: Is the MahaOnline portal the only way to file State RTIs?**
 +
 +No. You can file by post, speed post or in person at the department. MahaOnline is a convenience option, not a requirement.
 +
 +**Q5: What's the average time to get a reply in Maharashtra?**
 +
 +25-35 days for routine RTIs; 40-50 days for BMC / PMC; 45-60 days for service matters. Systemic delays in the Home Department.
 +
 +**Q6: Can an NRI file RTI in Maharashtra?**
 +
 +§3 of the RTI Act confers the right on "citizens of India" — Indian passport holders abroad retain citizenship and the right. An OCI card-holder does not have direct §3 standing.
 +
 +===== Notable RTI rulings from Maharashtra (from the case-law corpus) =====
 +
 +  * **[[:cases:hc-bombay-rti-ulb-property-tax-2024|Municipal property-tax records — Bombay HC 2024]]** — Municipal revenue aggregates are open; individual tax bills are §11-gated.
 +  * **[[:cases:hc-bombay-rti-cooperative-bank-fraud-2022|Cooperative bank fraud investigation — Bombay HC]]** — Cooperative bank fraud investigation: pending-phase §8(1)(h); closed-investigation reports disclosable to depositors.
 +  * **[[:cases:bombay-hc-rti-bmc-slum-records-2021|BMC slum-redevelopment records — Bombay HC]]** — SRA slum-redevelopment records: eligibility lists + allotment orders = §4(1)(b) proactive disclosure.
 +  * **[[:cases:hc-bombay-rti-ngo-fcra-compliance-2021|NGO FCRA-compliance scrutiny — Bombay HC]]** — FCRA-compliance records with MHA: §4(1)(b) disclosure (registration, cancellation, aggregate donor data).
 +  * **[[:cases:sic-maharashtra-corporator-records-2019|Corporator funds utilisation — Maharashtra SIC]]** — Corporator / councillor fund utilisation is proactive-disclosure material under §4(1)(b).
 +  * **[[:cases:bombay-hc-private-school-rti-2019|Aided private schools under RTI — Bombay HC]]** — Aided private schools (salary-grant recipients) are public authorities under §2(h).
 +  * **[[:cases:bombay-hc-rti-medical-council-2018|RTI coverage of Medical Council — Bombay HC]]** — Statutory professional councils are public authorities under §2(h); must comply with RTI Act.
 +  * **[[:cases:bombay-hc-rti-section-24-proviso-2018|§24 proviso — corruption complaint — Bombay HC]]** — §24 exemption does NOT apply to corruption / human-rights complaints — proviso forces disclosure path.
 +
 +Browse the **[[:cases|full case-law database — 362 curated rulings]]** and filter by court / section / keyword.
 +===== Related reading =====
 +
 +  * **[[:file-rti-online-india|File RTI online in India — 12-step 2026 guide]]** (pan-India)
 +  * **[[:rti-fees-by-state|RTI fees by State — complete table]]**
 +  * **[[:state-rti-portals-directory|State RTI portals — reliability-graded directory]]**
 +  * **[[:pio-rti-reply-guide|PIO RTI Reply Guide]]**
 +  * **[[:faa-first-appeal-timelines|First Appeal timelines]]**
 +
 +===== External links =====
 +
 +  * Maharashtra State Information Commission: https://sic.maharashtra.gov.in
 +  * Aaple Sarkar / MahaOnline: https://aaplesarkar.mahaonline.gov.in
 +  * Central RTI portal: https://rtionline.gov.in
 +  * rti.gov.in (Central reference portal)
 +
 +~~NOCACHE~~
 +
 +//Last reviewed: 22 April 2026.//
 +
 +{{tag>state-guide maharashtra rti mahaonline file-rti}}
  
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