RTI Application for Land Records and Title Documents: Sample 2026

RTI Application for Land Records and Title Documents: Sample 2026 - RTI Wiki

Direct answer. Citizens with locus to a property may seek certified copies of the record of rights, registered sale deed, encumbrance certificate, mutation order and pending revisions by filing a free RTI to the Tehsildar or Sub-Registrar's PIO. The PIO must reply in 30 days.

Drafting notes. This is a sample application. Customise each item before filing. See Guide for applicants for procedure, fee, and appeal path. After 14 November 2025, requests seeking information about a named individual engage Section 8(1)(j) as amended by Section 44(3) of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. See the practitioner note for the test the Public Information Officer must apply.

When to use this RTI

  • You want certified copies for inheritance, sale, loan or court use
  • You want to verify a chain of title before purchase
  • Mutation has not been effected after a registered sale or inheritance
  • You suspect a forged or duplicate entry on the record

When NOT to use this RTI

  • If you have no locus or stake (third-party land records may be denied under Section 8(1)(j))
  • If you want the PIO to decide a title dispute (RTI gives records, civil court decides title)
  • If purely commercial bulk title-search for a real-estate database (RTI is for citizen access, not bulk extraction; check digitisation portal alternatives)

Privacy caution. If your RTI names another individual or asks for personal records about a third party, the PIO is required to follow Section 11 procedure: written notice to the third party, ten-day representation window, and a reasoned decision under Section 8(1)(j) read with Section 8(2). Seek records that pertain to you or to public activity, not third-party private data.

Sample RTI application

To,
The Public Information Officer
Office of the Tehsildar / Sub-Registrar / Revenue Department
[Full Address, Pin Code]

Sub: Request for information under Section 6(1) of the RTI Act, 2005,
     regarding land records of property described below.

Sir / Madam,

Please supply me certified copies of land records of the property
described below.

Property particulars:
  Survey number / khasra number / plot number: ____________
  Village / town: ____________
  Tehsil / taluka: ____________
  District: ____________
  State: ____________
  Approximate area: ____________

Information sought:

[1] Certified copy of the current revenue record of rights:
    Khasra-Khatauni / Record of Rights / 7-12 / Patta / Pahani as
    applicable to the state.

[2] Certified copy of the registered sale deed or other title
    document on the basis of which the present entry has been made.

[3] Certified copy of any encumbrance certificate issued for the
    property in the last 13 years.

[4] Certified copy of the mutation order, if any, with file noting.

[5] Certified copy of any objection or revision filed against the
    current entry, and the disposal order.

[6] Names, designations and office addresses of officers in custody
    of the records.

[7] Names of officers whose assistance is sought by the PIO under
    Section 5(4) of the RTI Act.

Application fee of Rs 10 is enclosed in the form of Indian Postal
Order or as prescribed by the State RTI Rules. Please send the
certified copies to the address below.

Yours faithfully,
[Signature]
[Name, address]
[Phone, email]
[Date]

If the PIO does not reply or refuses without reasons: First Appeal

[Date]
To,
The First Appellate Authority
[Public Authority Name]
[Address]

Sub: First appeal under Section 19(1) of the RTI Act, 2005, against
     the order of the PIO dated [____] / against deemed refusal
     under Section 7(2), in respect of my RTI dated [____].

Sir / Madam,

1. I had filed an RTI application dated [____] seeking the
   information described in the enclosure (Annexure A).
2. The PIO has [refused / not replied / partly replied] vide letter
   dated [____]. The reply does not satisfy the requirements of
   Sections 7(8) and 8 of the RTI Act, 2005, for the reasons set
   out below.
3. Grounds of appeal:
   (a) The reply does not record reasons for refusal, contrary to
       Section 7(8) and Section 19(5).
   (b) The PIO has not applied Section 8(2) public-interest
       balancing.
   (c) Severable parts under Section 10 have not been supplied.
   (d) [add specific factual grounds].
4. Prayer: I pray that the FAA may be pleased to direct the PIO to
   supply the information sought, free of cost under Section 7(6),
   and to record findings on PIO conduct.

Yours faithfully,
[Name and signature]
[Address, phone, email]

Frequently asked questions

Are land records on the public Bhulekh portal?

Most states have a public Bhulekh or land-record portal. If the entry is shown there, the certified copy still requires a counter or RTI route.

Will a sale deed of someone else's property be released?

A registered sale deed is a public document accessible at the Sub-Registrar's office on payment of fee. RTI for a third-party sale deed is examined under Section 8(1)(j); however, registered deeds have strong public-record character and are often released.

How to deal with a missing or partly torn record?

Ask in writing for the missing-record certificate, the file-reconstruction order and the date of weeding under the retention rules. Loss of records does not extinguish the citizen's right.

Sources

  1. The Right to Information Act, 2005 (Sections 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 19)
  2. The Right to Information (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2012
  3. The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, Section 44(3)
  4. Department of Land Resources, https://dolr.gov.in
  5. DILRMP digitisation programme, https://dilrmp.gov.in
  6. State revenue codes and Land Records Manuals
  7. Bhulekh / state land-record portals

Last reviewed: 9 May 2026. Sources verified: statutory references and portal links cross-checked on 9 May 2026.

Stuck scheme or document? Check the status first

Many RTIs are filed because a government scheme or document is delayed. Before filing, check the status directly:

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