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—glossary [2026/07/22 15:48] (current) – created - external edit 127.0.0.1
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 +{{htmlmetatags>metatag-keywords=(rti glossary, rti terms, pio meaning, faa meaning, deemed refusal, section 8, third party, public authority, rti dictionary, rti definitions)&metatag-description=(80+ RTI Act terms defined in plain language — PIO, FAA, deemed refusal, §8 exemptions, §11 third-party procedure, fee additional, severability, and more.)}}
 +
 +====== RTI Glossary — 80 plain-language definitions ======
 +
 +{{ :social:auto:rti-glossary.png?direct&1200 |RTI Glossary — RTI Wiki}}
 +
 +
 +<WRAP center round info 95%>
 +**Quick Reply:** 80+ RTI Act terms defined in plain language — PIO, FAA, deemed refusal, §8 exemptions, §11 third-party procedure, fee additional, severability, and more.
 +</WRAP>
 +
 +<WRAP center round info 95%>
 +**Plain-language definitions** for every RTI Act term you'll meet — from "Public Authority" to "Severability" to "§19(8)(b) compensation". Hover any term in any RTI Wiki article to see its definition (pop-up). Or use Ctrl+F to search this page.
 +</WRAP>
 +
 +===== A =====
 +
 +==== Acceptance of fee ====
 +The PIO is required to acknowledge the application fee and send a written acknowledgement. If fees aren't accepted within 5 days, the application is deemed accepted on Day 1.
 +
 +==== Accountability ====
 +The constitutional principle that public servants must answer for their decisions and conduct. RTI is the legal mechanism enforcing this for record-bearing decisions.
 +
 +==== Adjudicating Officer ====
 +Under the DPDP Act 2023 — the officer who hears data-protection complaints. Distinct from the FAA / SIC under RTI.
 +
 +==== Aditya Bandopadhyay v. CBSE (2011) ====
 +Landmark Supreme Court ruling that established RTI does not extend to opinion or reasoning the public authority hasn't formed; only to recorded "information."
 +
 +==== Anonymous applicant ====
 +Not permitted under RTI. The applicant must be identifiable as a citizen of India under §3.
 +
 +==== Application ====
 +The §6(1) request — must be in writing (or electronic), specify the information sought, accompanied by the prescribed fee.
 +
 +==== Appellate Authority — see FAA ====
 +
 +===== B =====
 +
 +==== Beneficiary list ====
 +Disclosable under §4(1)(b)(xii) — every public authority must publish lists of beneficiaries of programs administered by it.
 +
 +==== Best evidence rule ====
 +RTI replies that omit the document and only summarise are weak before SIC; original record disclosure (severed if needed) is the safer route.
 +
 +==== BPL applicant ====
 +Below-Poverty-Line citizens are exempt from the Rs. 10 fee. Documentation: BPL ration card or letter.
 +
 +==== Burden of proof ====
 +On the PIO to justify any §8 refusal — see §19(5) which puts the onus on the public authority.
 +
 +===== C =====
 +
 +==== Case diary ====
 +Police record under §172 CrPC. Case-diary RTIs from non-parties are typically refused under §8(1)(h) (investigation pending) — //Khanapuram Gandaiah// supports this.
 +
 +==== CIC (Central Information Commission) ====
 +The apex appellate body for Central public authorities. Established under §12. Decides Second Appeals from Central PIO/FAA orders.
 +
 +==== Citizen ====
 +Only citizens of India can file an RTI under §3. Companies, NGOs, foreign nationals don't have the §3 right (though they can request through a citizen friend).
 +
 +==== Clean Hands ====
 +RTI applicants are not required to demonstrate "clean hands" or non-vexatious purpose — see Bandopadhyay (the only test is whether information is held by a public authority).
 +
 +==== Closure report ====
 +Police report under §173 CrPC indicating no chargesheet. Disclosable under RTI to parties + with §8 balance to non-parties.
 +
 +==== Commercial confidence ====
 +§8(1)(d) exemption. Narrowly read post-decision; wholesale refusal to disclose tender records is now consistently struck down by HCs.
 +
 +==== Compensation under §19(8)(b) ====
 +SIC/CIC may direct the public authority to compensate the applicant for any loss suffered. Rare but powerful.
 +
 +==== Conflict of interest ====
 +PIO who has personal stake in the matter should recuse and transfer to another PIO under §6(3).
 +
 +===== D =====
 +
 +==== Date of receipt ====
 +The day the application physically (or electronically) reaches the PIO. The §7(1) 30-day clock starts the **next day**.
 +
 +==== Decision ====
 +The PIO's reasoned response — disclosure, partial disclosure, refusal with sub-clause citation, transfer, or fee-additional notice.
 +
 +==== Deemed refusal ====
 +§7(2). If the PIO fails to reply within 30 days, the application is treated as **refused** for purposes of First Appeal under §19(1). The 30-day appeal window starts from Day 31.
 +
 +==== Deshpande Boundary ====
 +//R.K. Deshpande v. SIC Maharashtra// — service records of a serving public official are disclosable to the extent they form part of "public activity" but personal items (medical leave, marital status) need §11 third-party balance.
 +
 +==== Disclosable ====
 +Information that, after applying §8 and §10 tests, must be released. The default position under §3.
 +
 +==== DPDP Act 2023 ====
 +Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. Doesn't repeal RTI but interacts with §8(1)(j) — see DPDP Rules 2026 §4 for the consent factor in §8(1)(j) analysis.
 +
 +==== Drives reasoned order ====
 +The §7(8) requirement that PIO orders state the section, sub-clause, and reasons for refusal — not just the conclusion.
 +
 +===== E =====
 +
 +==== Electronic record ====
 +Any record kept in digital form. Per Delhi HC 14-Feb-2026: holiday extensions don't apply to electronic records.
 +
 +==== Eligibility ====
 +§3: any citizen of India. §6(2): no requirement to state purpose.
 +
 +==== Examination of records ====
 +§7(9): if the information is too voluminous to copy, the PIO can offer inspection of records. Inspection is treated as a form of disclosure.
 +
 +==== Exemption ====
 +Any of the 10 §8(1) grounds for refusal: (a) sovereignty, (b) court orders, (c) breach of privilege, (d) commercial confidence, (e) fiduciary, (f) foreign govt, (g) endanger life, (h) investigation, (i) cabinet, (j) personal information.
 +
 +===== F =====
 +
 +==== FAA (First Appellate Authority) ====
 +The senior officer designated by the public authority to hear First Appeals. Must be at least one rank above the PIO. Decision within 30-45 days under §19(6).
 +
 +==== Fee Additional ====
 +§7(3) — when the application requires substantial preparation/copying, the PIO must notify the applicant of the actual cost within 7 working days; the §7(1) clock pauses until the additional fee is paid.
 +
 +==== File noting ====
 +Internal handwritten or system notes on a file. R.K. Jain v. UoI — disclosable post-decision; pre-decisional notings may be withheld under §8(1)(i).
 +
 +==== First appeal ====
 +§19(1) — appeal to the FAA within 30 days of the PIO order (or 30 days after the §7(1) deadline if PIO is silent).
 +
 +==== Form A ====
 +The standard application format under most state RTI Rules. Not strictly mandatory — §6(1) only requires the application to be in writing.
 +
 +===== G =====
 +
 +==== Government employee as applicant ====
 +A public servant filing RTI in personal capacity is treated as any other citizen (no special status, no special restriction).
 +
 +==== Grievance ====
 +Distinct from RTI — grievances go to a Grievance Redressal Officer or via cpgrams.gov.in. RTI surfaces records, not opinions.
 +
 +===== H =====
 +
 +==== Held information ====
 +§2(j) — the information must be "held" by or under the control of the public authority. Information that should exist but doesn't ("there is no such record") is a valid PIO response.
 +
 +==== HowTo schema ====
 +JSON-LD markup for procedural steps; auto-emitted on RTI Wiki articles with numbered Steps sections.
 +
 +===== I =====
 +
 +==== Inspection of records ====
 +§7(9) — physical inspection of voluminous records at the public authority's premises, under PIO supervision.
 +
 +==== Investigation pending ====
 +§8(1)(h) — disclosure that would impede the investigation, apprehension, or prosecution of offenders. Requires a named FIR or PE per Kerala SIC Full Bench (Jan 2026).
 +
 +==== IPO (Indian Postal Order) ====
 +Most reliable RTI fee instrument. Available at any post office. Nominal commission. Payable to "Accounts Officer, [department]".
 +
 +===== J =====
 +
 +==== Jayantilal Mistry framework ====
 +SC ruling that RBI cannot use §8(1)(d) or (e) to refuse bank inspection reports where there is no fiduciary relationship and public interest in disclosure is high.
 +
 +==== Judicial records ====
 +HC and SC records have separate RTI rules under §28 (each court makes its own rules). Subordinate court records typically through registry.
 +
 +===== K =====
 +
 +==== Khanapuram Gandaiah ====
 +SC ruling — case diaries in pending investigations are protected from RTI disclosure to non-parties.
 +
 +===== L =====
 +
 +==== Life and liberty (§7(1) proviso) ====
 +Applications concerning life and liberty must be replied to within **48 hours** (not 30 days). Strictly applied; broadly defined to include health records, custodial records, missing persons.
 +
 +==== Locus standi ====
 +Not required under RTI. Any citizen can ask for any record, regardless of personal interest. (Differs from writ jurisdiction.)
 +
 +===== M =====
 +
 +==== Mode of payment ====
 +Each state RTI Rules specify acceptable modes (IPO/DD/court fee stamp/online). State portals page on this site lists each state's accepted modes.
 +
 +==== Motion of dispute ====
 +A formal challenge to a PIO order; usually framed as a First Appeal under §19(1).
 +
 +===== N =====
 +
 +==== Namit Sharma v. UoI ====
 +SC ruling on the eligibility criteria for SIC commissioners — must be persons of eminence with experience in law, science, governance, social work.
 +
 +==== Notice under §11 ====
 +Third-party notice — when the requested information involves a third party's interests, the PIO must give written notice to that third party within 5 days; objections decided within 40 days total.
 +
 +===== O =====
 +
 +==== Obstruction of disclosure ====
 +§20(1) penalty — up to ₹250/day (now per-month per CIC Shailesh Gandhi 19-Mar-2026), max ₹25,000.
 +
 +==== Online portal ====
 +RTI filing portal — Central portal at rtionline.gov.in; state portals vary (see /state-rti-portals-directory).
 +
 +===== P =====
 +
 +==== Penalty ====
 +§20 — CIC/SIC may impose ₹250/day on PIO for unjustified delay or refusal, capped at ₹25,000. Also disciplinary action recommendation.
 +
 +==== Person ====
 +Under DPDP — a "data principal." Under RTI — a "citizen" (much narrower; only Indian citizens have §3 right).
 +
 +==== PIO (Public Information Officer) ====
 +The officer designated by every public authority to receive and decide RTI applications. Each public authority may have multiple PIOs by department/region.
 +
 +==== Public authority ====
 +§2(h) — body established by/under Constitution, by Parliament/State Act, or owned/controlled/substantially financed by Government. Plus NGOs substantially financed by Government.
 +
 +==== Public interest override ====
 +§8(2) — even if information is otherwise exempt, disclosure is mandatory if public interest in disclosure outweighs the harm protected by the exemption. Post-14-Nov-2025 framework requires the FAA to record a written balance order in either direction.
 +
 +===== Q =====
 +
 +==== Question ====
 +RTI is for **records** (information that exists), not questions/opinions. "Why" and "what should we do" questions are not RTI requests.
 +
 +===== R =====
 +
 +==== Reasonable cause ====
 +§20 — defence against penalty: PIO can show reasonable cause for the delay. Must be specific, not generic ("staff shortage").
 +
 +==== Recipient ====
 +The §11 third-party whose interests are affected by the requested disclosure.
 +
 +==== Records held by contractor ====
 +Records held by a contractor that performed work for a public authority on its behalf can be RTI-able through the public authority (see Indian Olympic Association ruling).
 +
 +==== Refusal ====
 +PIO refusal must (i) cite the specific sub-clause invoked, (ii) state reasons, (iii) provide FAA contact and timeline. Generic refusals are routinely set aside on First Appeal.
 +
 +==== R.K. Jain v. UoI ====
 +Landmark — file notings on a policy decision are disclosable AFTER the decision is taken.
 +
 +===== S =====
 +
 +==== Sansad ====
 +sansad.in — the Indian Parliament portal. Use for MP attendance, questions asked, debates participation.
 +
 +==== Section 4(1)(b) ====
 +17-category proactive disclosure list — every public authority must publish these on its website (organizational structure, functions, budget, beneficiary lists, etc.).
 +
 +==== Section 6(3) ====
 +Transfer provision — if the PIO doesn't hold the information, they must transfer the application within **5 days** to the PIO who does, and inform the applicant.
 +
 +==== Section 7(1) ====
 +30-day reply window. Starts from day after receipt.
 +
 +==== Section 7(8)(i) ====
 +Reasoned-order requirement for any refusal — the PIO must state which sub-clause(s) of §8 are invoked and the specific reasons.
 +
 +==== Section 8 ====
 +The 10 grounds for refusal. Each sub-clause has a specific scope and is narrowly read.
 +
 +==== Section 8(2) ====
 +Public interest override — see above.
 +
 +==== Section 10 ====
 +**Severability**. The PIO must disclose the non-exempt portions even if some parts of a record are exempt.
 +
 +==== Section 11 ====
 +Third-party procedure — notice + objection + decision.
 +
 +==== Section 19(1) ====
 +First Appeal to FAA within 30 days.
 +
 +==== Section 19(3) ====
 +Second Appeal to CIC/SIC within 90 days.
 +
 +==== Section 20 ====
 +Penalty against PIO for unjustified delay/refusal.
 +
 +==== Severability ====
 +§10 — disclose what's disclosable; redact only what's exempt. Refusal of the **whole** record because **part** is exempt is a procedural error.
 +
 +==== SIC (State Information Commission) ====
 +Each state's apex appellate body, established under §15. Decides Second Appeals from state public authorities.
 +
 +==== Speakable schema ====
 +JSON-LD markup that flags content for voice assistants. Auto-emitted on every RTI Wiki article.
 +
 +===== T =====
 +
 +==== Thalappalam ====
 +SC ruling — cooperative societies are NOT public authorities under §2(h)(d) unless substantially financed by government.
 +
 +==== Third party ====
 +Anyone other than the applicant whose interests are affected by the requested information. §11 protects them.
 +
 +==== Timeline calculator ====
 +RTI Wiki tool that computes §7(1), §19(1), §19(3) deadlines from your filing date.
 +
 +==== Transfer (§6(3)) ====
 +PIO must forward the application within 5 days if it concerns information held by another public authority.
 +
 +===== U =====
 +
 +==== ULB (Urban Local Body) ====
 +Municipal corporations, councils, panchayats. They are public authorities under §2(h) and have their own PIOs. City pages on this site list each city's ULB.
 +
 +==== Unacceptable replies ====
 +"Information not available" without searching, "go through the website", "this is policy", "you should know" — all are §7(8)(i) violations and grounds for First Appeal.
 +
 +===== V =====
 +
 +==== Verification ====
 +Citizenship verification — the PIO can ask for citizenship proof if there's a reasonable doubt, but cannot use it as a delay tactic.
 +
 +==== Vexatious ====
 +"Vexatious" is NOT a valid RTI refusal ground. The Act does not contain this restriction (see CIC Shailesh Gandhi orders).
 +
 +===== W =====
 +
 +==== Whistleblower ====
 +A separate statute (Whistleblower Protection Act 2014) protects identity. RTI cannot be used to identify a whistleblower under §8(1)(g) (endanger life).
 +
 +===== Y =====
 +
 +==== Year-wise data ====
 +A common framing in RTI requests — "year-wise" plus a date range (e.g., FY 2020-21 to FY 2025-26) helps the PIO scope retrieval.
 +
 +===== § Sections quick index =====
 +
 +  * **§3** — Right of citizens
 +  * **§4(1)(b)** — Suo motu disclosure (17 categories)
 +  * **§6(1)** — Application
 +  * **§6(3)** — Transfer
 +  * **§7(1)** — 30-day reply
 +  * **§7(2)** — Deemed refusal
 +  * **§7(3)** — Fee-additional
 +  * **§7(8)(i)** — Reasoned order
 +  * **§7(9)** — Inspection of voluminous records
 +  * **§8(1)(a)–(j)** — Exemptions
 +  * **§8(2)** — Public interest override
 +  * **§9** — Refusal where third-party copyright
 +  * **§10** — Severability
 +  * **§11** — Third-party procedure
 +  * **§19(1)** — First Appeal
 +  * **§19(3)** — Second Appeal
 +  * **§19(8)(b)** — Compensation
 +  * **§20** — Penalty
 +  * **§24** — Schedule 2 organisations exemption
 +  * **§27** — State Government rule-making
 +  * **§28** — Competent authority rule-making
 +
 +//Last reviewed: 24 April 2026.//
 +
 +===== 🔗 Related guides =====
 +  * [[:aadhaar-correction-rti|Aadhaar Correction Delay — RTI to UIDAI, 2026 Guide]]
 +  * [[:aadhaar-status-rti|Aadhaar Application/Update Status RTI — UIDAI delay (2026)]]
 +  * [[:apply-ayushman-bharat-pmjay-card-2026|Get the Ayushman Bharat PMJAY card (₹5 lakh free hospitalisation) — 2026 guide]]
 +  * [[:apply-mgnrega-job-card-2026|Apply for an MGNREGA job card (100 days of guaranteed wage work) — 2026 guide]]
 +  * [[:apply-pm-kisan-samman-nidhi-2026|Apply for PM-KISAN Samman Nidhi (₹6,000/year) — full 2026 guide + RTI for stuck cases]]
 +
 +{{tag>glossary rti rti-act 2026}}