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+{{htmlmetatags>metatag-keywords=(RTI fundamental facts,RTI Act basics,RTI Section 3 right,RTI applicant rights,citizen rights RTI 2005)
+metatag-description=(Fundamental facts every RTI applicant should know - Section 3 unconditional right, Section 7 timelines, Section 8 exemptions, fee structure.)}}
+====== Fundamental facts every RTI applicant should know ======
+{{ :social:auto:guide-applicant-fundamental-facts.png?direct&1200 |Fundamental facts every RTI applicant should know — RTI Wiki}}
+<WRAP center round info 95%>
+**Quick Reply:** Fundamental facts every RTI applicant should know - Section 3 unconditional right, Section 7 timelines, Section 8 exemptions, fee structure.
+</WRAP>
+**Before you file your first RTI, know these 10 fundamental facts. They protect you against PIO stonewalling and form the citation arsenal you will use at every stage — from application to first appeal to second appeal to High Court writ.**
+===== 1. The right is unconditional (Section 3) =====
+  * **§3 of the RTI Act 2005**: "Subject to the provisions of this Act, all citizens shall have the right to information."
+  * No reason needed. **§6(2)** expressly forbids the PIO from asking why.
+  * Citation: [[:important-decisions:court:irrelevant-information|Adesh Kumar v. UoI]] (Delhi HC, 2014).
+===== 2. The PIO has a duty to assist (Section 5(4)) =====
+  * **§5(4)**: PIO must seek assistance of any officer to compile the reply.
+  * The PIO cannot refuse on procedural grounds (vague / wrong office / not specific).
+  * Citation: [[:important-decisions:court:bhagat-singh-vs-cic|Bhagat Singh v. CIC]] (Delhi HC, 2007).
+===== 3. Reply within 30 days (Section 7(1)) =====
+  * Standard window: **30 days** from receipt.
+  * **48 hours** if life or liberty is at stake.
+  * Silence past 30 days = **deemed refusal** under §7(2).
+===== 4. Fee is capped (Section 7(3)) =====
+  * Application fee: **₹10** (most authorities), with state variations.
+  * Photocopy: ₹2 per A4 page.
+  * **§7(5)** — BPL applicants pay zero.
+  * **§7(6)** — if PIO does not demand additional fee within 30 days, info MUST be supplied free.
+===== 5. Exemptions are a CLOSED LIST (Section 8 + 9) =====
+  * Only the 10 grounds in §8(1) + §9 (third-party copyright) are valid grounds for refusal.
+  * Anything else (irrelevance, vagueness, "you have no business asking") is unlawful.
+  * **§8(2)** — even §8(1) exemptions yield to public interest.
+===== 6. Severability is mandatory (Section 10) =====
+  * **§10(1)**: If part of the info is exempt, the rest must be disclosed.
+  * **§10(2)**: PIO must record reasons for severance in writing.
+  * A blanket refusal of an entire RTI when only part is exempt is unlawful.
+===== 7. Third-party hearing is mandatory (Section 11) =====
+  * If the info pertains to a third party, PIO must serve §11 notice within 5 days.
+  * Third party has 10 days to respond.
+  * PIO must consider response before deciding.
+  * Citation: [[:important-decisions:court:arvind-kejriwal-vs-cpio|Arvind Kejriwal v. CPIO]] (Delhi HC, 2014).
+===== 8. Two-stage appeal is built in (Section 19) =====
+  * **§19(1) First Appeal**: to FAA, within 30 days, free.
+  * **§19(3) Second Appeal**: to CIC / SIC, within 90 days, free.
+  * **§19(8)(b)**: IC may award compensation.
+===== 9. Penalty + disciplinary action (Section 20) =====
+  * **§20(1)**: ₹250/day on PIO for malafide refusal (cap ₹25,000).
+  * **§20(2)**: Disciplinary action recommended.
+===== 10. The DPDP Act 2023 has changed §8(1)(j) =====
+  * §44(3) of DPDP 2023 (in force 14 November 2025) deleted the proviso to §8(1)(j).
+  * Public-interest test now anchors entirely in **§8(2)**.
+  * Substantive test for "personal information" unchanged: see [[:important-decisions:court:girish-ramchandra-deshpande|Girish Deshpande]] + [[:important-decisions:court:cpio-supreme-court-v-subhash-agarwal|CPIO SC v. Subhash Agarwal]].
+===== Where this fits in your citizen workflow =====
+  - **Before filing** — read this page + pick a sample from [[:guide:applicant:application:sample:start|sample RTI index]].
+  - **Drafting** — use [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/ai-rti-draft-app.html|AI RTI Drafter]].
+  - **Tracking** — use [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/timeline-calculator-app.html|Timeline Tracker]].
+  - **First appeal** — use [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/first-appeal-app.html|First Appeal Builder]].
+  - **Second appeal** — file directly with the SIC.
+===== Citations and sources =====
+  * **Right to Information Act, 2005** — [[:act|full annotated text]]
+  * Adesh Kumar v. UoI (Delhi HC, 2014) — irrelevance is not a ground
+  * Bhagat Singh v. CIC (Delhi HC, 2007) — §5(4) duty
+  * Girish Deshpande (2013) 1 SCC 212 — §8(1)(j) test
+  * CPIO Supreme Court v. Subhash Agarwal (2020) 5 SCC 481 — Constitution Bench
+  * DPDP Act 2023 + DPDP Rules 2025 (in force 14 Nov 2025)
+===== Related on RTI Wiki =====
+  * [[:guide:applicant:application|How to file an RTI application]]
+  * [[:guide:applicant:first-appeal|How to file a First Appeal]]
+  * [[:important-decisions|Master directory of landmark RTI rulings]]
+  * [[:cases|Case-law database (300+)]]
+  * [[:rules|State RTI rules]]
+//Last reviewed: 4 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:
+  * [[:check-status/pmay-status|PMAY beneficiary status]]
+  * [[:mgnrega-job-card-status-2026|NREGA / MGNREGA job card and payment status]]
+  * [[:check-status/ration-card-status|Ration card status]]
+  * [[:pm-kisan-status-check-2026|PM-KISAN Rs 6,000 status]]
+  * [[:eshram-card-status-check-2026|e-Shram card status]]
+If a status is stuck beyond the official timeline, use the [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/ai-rti-draft-app.html|AI RTI Drafter]] to file in minutes.
+{{tag>fundamental-facts rti-basics section-3 section-7 section-8 section-19 first-time-filer 2026}}