RTI Application on Issue Referred by MP or MLA: Sample 2026

RTI Application on Issue Referred by MP or MLA: Sample 2026 - RTI Wiki

Direct answer. When a Member of Parliament or Member of Legislative Assembly refers a citizen's issue to a public authority and the issue is not resolved in reasonable time, file a free RTI to the PIO asking for the file opened on the reference, the action-taken report and the names of officers responsible. 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

  • Your MP or MLA wrote to a public authority on your behalf
  • The reference is older than the Citizens' Charter time-frame
  • You want the file noting and any action-taken report
  • You want a copy of the reply, if any, sent to the MP or MLA

When NOT to use this RTI

  • If the MP or MLA has not yet written the reference
  • If the matter is sub judice in a tribunal
  • If you are seeking another citizen's reference file (Section 8(1)(j) applies)

Sample RTI application

To,
The Public Information Officer
[Public Authority where MP referred the issue]
[Full Address, Pin Code]

Sub: Request for information under Section 6(1) of the RTI Act, 2005,
     regarding action taken on the reference made by Hon'ble MP /
     MLA on a citizen issue.

Sir / Madam,

Hon'ble [Member of Parliament / Member of Legislative Assembly]
Shri / Smt ____________ had referred the issue described below to
your office vide letter dated ____________. I am the affected
citizen / petitioner. I seek the following information.

Reference details:
  MP / MLA name: ____________
  MP / MLA letter number and date: ____________
  Subject of reference: ____________
  Affected citizen: ____________

Information sought:

[1] Certified copy of the file opened in your office on the said
    reference, including all notings.

[2] Certified copy of the action-taken report sent to the MP / MLA
    or to the citizen, if any.

[3] Reasons in writing for delay in disposal of the issue beyond
    the time-frame in the Citizens' Charter or service norms.

[4] Names, designations and office addresses of officers who have
    handled the file.

[5] Whether any reply has been issued to the MP / MLA. Date and
    copy of the reply.

[6] 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. Please send the information 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

Is correspondence with an MP or MLA disclosable?

Yes. The file noting on the public-authority side, the action-taken report and the reply to the MP or MLA are public records. Section 8(1)© breach-of-privilege concerns are narrow and rarely apply to a routine reference.

Can I file the RTI as the underlying citizen, not the MP?

Yes. The right under Section 6(1) is for any citizen. The MP's reference is the public authority's record; you have a stake as the affected citizen.

What if the public authority claims the file is with the Minister?

Files in a Minister's office that are in the official record-room are public-authority records. The PIO can call them under Section 5(4). A bare claim of 'with Minister' is not a Section 8 ground.

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. DARPG, Public Grievance Redressal, https://pgportal.gov.in
  5. Department of Personnel and Training, RTI Master Circular
  6. Lok Sabha Secretariat, citizen reference protocols, https://sansad.in

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

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