Best RTI Questions: How to Ask for Records, Not Opinions

A well-phrased RTI saves the citizen weeks of appeals. The Public Information Officer is required to supply records, not to write essays for you. Asking the right way the first time is a skill, not an art. This page gives you the seven proven patterns, the seven anti-patterns, and worked examples by topic.

• Your RTI is rejected as “vague” or “not specific”.
• Your RTI is partly answered with one-line replies dodging the substance.
• Your RTI is transferred multiple times under Section 6(3).
• The PIO writes “no information available” but you know the records exist.
• You filed a long, multi-page application and got nothing back.

• Section 2(f) — definition of “information” — material in any form, including records, documents, memos, advice, opinions, already held by or under the control of any public authority.
• Section 2(j) — definition of “right to information” — including inspection of work, taking notes, certified samples, etc.
• Section 6(1) — the application must be in writing or by electronic means, accompanied by the prescribed fee.
• Section 7(1) — PIO to provide the information within 30 days.

1. Pattern 1: “Furnish certified copies of …”
   • “Furnish certified copies of the bid evaluation matrix used for award of work order no. ABC dated 12-04-2026.”
2. Pattern 2: “Provide a list of …”
   • “Provide a list of all sub-contractors empanelled by this office between 1-04-2024 and 31-03-2026, with date of empanelment, period of validity and contact address.”
3. Pattern 3: “Furnish the file noting from page X to Y of file …”
   • “Furnish a certified photocopy of pages 1 to 47 of file no. F.123/2024-XYZ.”
4. Pattern 4: “Furnish the date of receipt and current status of …”
   • “Furnish the date of receipt and current status (with reference number) of the application made by Mr Sharma on 5-03-2026.”
5. Pattern 5: “Furnish the orders / circulars / OMs issued under …”
   • “Furnish certified copies of all Office Memoranda issued by this office under Rule 12 of the Service Rules between 1-04-2025 and 31-03-2026.”
6. Pattern 6: “Inspect / allow inspection of records of …”
   • “Permit inspection under Section 2(j)(i) of the file relating to project XYZ on a date convenient to the office, between 11:00 and 16:00 hours.”
7. Pattern 7: “Furnish the present incumbent of … with date of joining”
   • “Furnish the name, designation and date of joining of the present incumbent of the post of [post title] in this office.”

1. “Why” questions. “Why was the project delayed?” — opinion, not record. Re-phrase: “Furnish the reasons recorded in writing in file no. F.123 for the delay in project XYZ.”
2. “Whether” questions on facts the PIO must investigate. “Whether the contractor is blacklisted” — re-phrase as “Furnish the present status (active / blacklisted / suspended) of contractor M/s ABC against reference no. R.45.”
3. Future-tense questions. “Will the office sanction my pension?” — re-phrase as “Furnish the present status and the latest noting on file relating to my pension application dated …”
4. Hypothetical questions. “If the project is approved, what would be the budget?” — these have no record on file and will be refused.
5. Opinion-seeking. “Does the office consider Mr X eligible?” — re-phrase as “Furnish the order / file noting (if any) recording the eligibility decision of Mr X.”
6. Cross-references to outside data. “Furnish information about XYZ as per the Wikipedia entry” — the PIO answers from her files, not from external sources.
7. Argumentative. “Why did the negligent officer …” — abusive or argumentative language is a ground for refusal in many SIC orders. Stay neutral.

Bad. Why is my pension delayed?

Good.

1. Furnish the date of receipt of my pension papers in this office (Form 5 dated …).
2. Furnish the present status (under process / pending sanction / sanctioned / dispatched) of the said papers.
3. Furnish a certified photocopy of the latest two notings on file no. F.PEN/2026/XXX.
4. Furnish the name, designation and date of joining of the dealing officer.
5. Furnish the date by which the case is expected to be disposed of, if such date has been fixed in any internal target.

Bad. Why was this contractor chosen?

Good.

1. Furnish certified copies of the tender notice dated …, technical bid evaluation, financial bid evaluation, and the work order no. … under which contract was awarded for the works of …
2. Furnish the names of all bidders who submitted bids, their bid amounts and their evaluation scores.
3. Furnish the file noting on which the award decision is recorded (page numbers and file reference).
4. Furnish a certified copy of the contractor's empanelment letter and any blacklisting / debarment record (if any) against the contractor.

Bad. Why was my child denied admission?

Good.

1. Furnish a certified copy of the admission rejection order dated … bearing reference no. …
2. Furnish the eligibility criteria adopted for the relevant academic year, as recorded in the school's circular / order.
3. Furnish the marks / criteria scoring of all admitted candidates and of my child, in a comparative table format.
4. Furnish a certified copy of the appeal mechanism, if any, recorded in the school's prospectus.

Bad. Why has the police not acted on my complaint?

Good.

1. Furnish the date of receipt and serial number of my written complaint dated … submitted at … police station.
2. Furnish a certified photocopy of the daily diary (general diary) entry recording the complaint.
3. Furnish the present status of action taken (investigation initiated / FIR registered / closed / not yet acted upon).
4. Furnish the name, designation and date of joining of the investigating officer assigned to the case (if assigned).

1. Step 1. Write your concern in plain English in two sentences.
2. Step 2. Identify the records that must exist if your concern is real (file notings, orders, registers, lists, notices).
3. Step 3. Convert each record into a numbered point starting with “Furnish certified copies of …” or “Provide a list of …”.
4. Step 4. For each point, specify date range, file reference (if known), and the format (paper / digital).
5. Step 5. Cross out anything that starts with “Why”, “Whether”, “Will” or “If”.
6. Step 6. Read the points aloud — if any point sounds like a question to a teacher, re-write.
7. Step 7. Limit to 5 to 8 points per RTI. Beyond that, file separate RTIs.
8. Step 8. Add the boilerplate: applicant details, fee details, request for Section 6(3) transfer if records lie elsewhere, signature.

• Trying to fit a complaint into an RTI. RTI is for records. Complaints go to the grievance redressal mechanism (CPGRAMS, jansunwai, etc.).
• Asking for all records on a topic without date or reference. PIOs use this as a reason to charge unrealistic additional fees.
• Mixing subjects. Filing one RTI on five different files. PIOs treat this as multiple applications and may charge multiple fees.
• Forgetting Section 6(3) language. Always add “If any portion of the information is held by another public authority, kindly transfer the application under Section 6(3).”

• Read RTI rejected? How to fix it in first appeal.
• Cite *Adesh Kumar v. Union of India* (Delhi High Court, 2014) — irrelevance / vagueness must be specifically demonstrated by the PIO, not asserted.
• Cite *Bhagat Singh v. CIC* (Delhi High Court, 2007) — the PIO has a Section 5(4) duty to seek assistance and not to refuse on procedural grounds.

The Act does not prescribe a limit. CIC practice tolerates 5 to 8 numbered points. Beyond that, expect partial answers.

Yes. If a file contains an opinion already recorded (“the legal opinion of Director (Law) dated …”), that is a record under Section 2(f) and you can ask for it. You cannot ask the PIO to write a fresh opinion.

No. Interpretation is not information. Ask for the rule itself and the office's standing orders / clarifications under it.

Yes. Section 2(j) covers inspection of work, taking notes, samples and models. Specify the dates and the records you wish to inspect.

Yes. Section 6(1) allows the application in English, Hindi or the official language of the area. The reply will normally be in the same language.

The PIO must reply that the records do not exist. She cannot create records. You may then file a Section 18 complaint if records that are statutorily required to exist (e.g. quarterly meeting minutes) are absent.

Yes, but the PIO of each office answers from her own files. If you want consolidated information, file at the apex office and request consolidation.

• The Right to Information Act, 2005 — Sections 2, 6, 7.
• *Bhagat Singh v. CIC*, Delhi High Court, 2007.
• *Adesh Kumar v. Union of India*, Delhi High Court, 2014.
• Department of Personnel and Training, rti.gov.in — applicant guidelines.

• How to use AI to draft an RTI
• RTI rejected? How to fix it
• How to file an RTI application
• How to file a First Appeal
• Free RTI Drafter tool

Last reviewed: 9 May 2026.