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--- practical-guides:building-plan-approval-delayed-after-fees-paid [2026/06/05 04:00] – created - external edit 127.0.0.1
+++ practical-guides:building-plan-approval-delayed-after-fees-paid [2026/06/12 12:38] (current) – Batch 2 rewrite: answer-first, topic-specific content and metadata Shrawan Pathak
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{htmlmetatags>metatag-canonical=(https://righttoinformation.wiki/rti-for-building-plan-approval-delay)&metatag-title=(Building Plan Approval Delayed After Paying the Fees?)&metatag-description=(Building plan approval stuck after you paid the fees? Track the application number, push municipal escalation, and use RTI to find the file status. Guide.)&metatag-keywords=(Property and RERA)&metatag-robots=(index,follow)&metatag-og:title=(Building Plan Approval Delayed After Paying the Fees?)&metatag-og:description=(Building plan approval stuck after you paid the fees? Track the application number, push municipal escalation, and use RTI to find the file status. Guide.)&metatag-og:type=(article)}}
+{{htmlmetatags>metatag-title=(Building Plan Stuck After Paying Fees? Timelines, Deemed Approval, and an RTI for the File)&metatag-description=(Paid the fees but no building plan sanction? Service guarantee timelines, deemed approval rules, and the RTI that finds your file. Worked example inside.)&metatag-keywords=(Housing and RERA)&metatag-robots=(index,follow)&metatag-og:title=(Building Plan Stuck After Paying Fees? Timelines, Deemed Approval, and an RTI for the File)&metatag-og:description=(Paid the fees but no building plan sanction? Service guarantee timelines, deemed approval rules, and the RTI that finds your file. Worked example inside.)&metatag-og:type=(article)}}
-====== Building Plan Approval Delayed After You Paid the Fees? Here Is How to Push It Through ======
+====== Building plan sanction stuck after you paid the fees? Work through Ramesh's file ======
-**You paid the building plan fees, your architect submitted the drawings, and weeks have passed with no sanction. This is a common and frustrating situation. The fee receipt only registers your application — approval still depends on scrutiny, objections, and inspection. This guide shows you how to track the application number, reply to objections, escalate inside the municipal corporation or development authority, and use an RTI to surface the file status, the inspection notes, and whether the statutory time limit was crossed.**
+**Reviewed on:** 2026-06-12.
 {{:practical-guides:building-plan-approval-delayed-after-fees-paid.webp|Building Plan Approval Delayed After You Paid the Fees? Here Is How to Push It Through}}
-**Reviewed on:** 2026-05-30.
+Ramesh owns a 1,500 sq ft plot in Bhopal. His architect filed a ground-plus-one house plan on the Madhya Pradesh online building permission system on 3 February and paid Rs 18,400 in scrutiny and permission fees the same day. On 28 May the portal still showed "under scrutiny". No objection had ever reached him. Here is how Ramesh forced a decision in about five weeks, and how the same method works in your city. The key fact he learned first: the fee receipt only registers the application. Sanction needs scrutiny, objections cleared, and often a site inspection. The receipt proves your side is done; the law then puts the clock on the authority's side.
-<WRAP center round info 95%>
+===== Week 1: Ramesh pins down the legal timeline =====
-**Quick answer**
-Paying the fee does not by itself approve your building plan. The fee registers your application; sanction still needs the plan to clear scrutiny, all objections to be resolved, and any inspection to be done. **First step: get your application or plan number and check the online status, then ask the dealing officer in writing for the exact pending stage.** Reply to every objection through your architect and keep dated proof. If the authority crosses its own published timeline, escalate in writing to the senior officer or commissioner. Because a municipal corporation or development authority is a public authority, you can file an RTI to obtain the file movement notings, the inspection report, the list of pending objections, and confirmation of whether the statutory time limit was crossed. Timelines and rules — including any deemed-approval provision — vary by state and authority, so always check the official portal.
+Madhya Pradesh notifies building permission as a service under its Lok Sewa Guarantee Adhiniyam, 2010, with a fixed working-day limit for residential plans of his size (check the current notification for the exact figure; low-risk residential categories also have a fast-track route). Most states have an equivalent: Karnataka's Sakala, Bihar's RTPS, the Punjab and Haryana Right to Service Acts, and citizen charters of municipal corporations elsewhere. The limit matters because it converts "the file is moving" into "the named officer is in default".
-</WRAP>
-===== Who this guide is for =====
+Ramesh printed the notified timeline, put it beside his 3 February acknowledgement, and counted. The limit was crossed in March. That single page became the spine of everything he filed afterwards.
-This guide is for any homeowner, plot owner, or small builder whose building plan or building permission application is stuck even though the scrutiny or sanction fee has been paid. It is useful if you:
+Find your own number on your corporation, development authority or state service guarantee portal before writing a single letter. A complaint without the timeline is a request. A complaint with it is a case.
-  * Have an application or plan number and a fee receipt, but the file shows no decision after weeks or months, or
+===== Week 2: a written status query, not phone calls =====
-  * Are facing objections that keep coming one at a time instead of all together, or
-  * Cannot get a clear answer on which stage the file is at, or who is holding it, or
-  * Suspect the authority has crossed its own published timeline but cannot prove it.
-It applies whether your file is with a municipal corporation, a municipal council, a town and country planning department, a development authority, or a panchayat that issues building permissions — the bodies and the exact process vary by state and by city.
+Ramesh gave the dealing building officer a one-page letter: application number, dates of submission and payment, the portal status, and four questions. The exact pending stage. The officer currently holding the file. All objections, consolidated, with one deadline to reply. The date by which a decision would issue. He took a stamped acknowledgement on his copy.
-==== Who this guide is NOT for ====
+Two things make this letter work. It asks for objections consolidated, which blocks the common tactic of releasing objections one at a time to restart the clock. And it creates dated proof that the applicant asked, which the authority cannot later deny.
-This guide does not cover a stop-work notice or a demolition notice already issued against construction you have started. If you have received such a notice, see our guide on a [[/practical-guides/municipal-stop-work-demolition-notice-home-renovation/|municipal stop-work or demolition notice]]. It also does not cover the change of land use or non-agricultural conversion that must happen before a plan is even considered on agricultural land — see [[/practical-guides/agricultural-land-conversion-na-order-delayed/|non-agricultural conversion order delayed]]. For an occupancy certificate after construction is complete, that is a separate later stage with its own process. This guide stops at getting the building plan sanctioned. For high-stakes disputes — a large project, a heavy financial exposure, or a contested rejection — consult a qualified architect and a property lawyer.
+===== Week 3: the RTI that found the file =====
-===== What you can do this weekend =====
+No reply came, so Ramesh filed an RTI with the corporation's PIO. The corporation is a public authority, so the file, its noting sheet and the inspection record are all reachable. His application asked:
-==== Friday evening ====
+<code>
+Under the RTI Act, 2005, regarding building permission application
+no. [X] dated [date] for plot [number, address]:
+. The date the application was received and its current stage.
+. Certified copy of the file noting sheet from receipt till date.
+. Copy of the site inspection report, if conducted, with date.
+. The complete list of objections recorded on the file, with dates.
+. The time limit applicable to this service under the MP Lok Sewa
+   Guarantee Adhiniyam, 2010, and whether it stands crossed.
+</code>
-Pull together every paper connected to your application. Find the architect's submission acknowledgement, the application or plan number, the fee receipt, and any objection or query letter you have received. Write down the date you submitted and the date you paid. Then open your municipal corporation or development authority website and look for an online building plan tracking option. Most cities now have one. Note down exactly what status it shows.
+The reply, due in 30 days, showed the file had sat with one assistant engineer since mid-February with a single unsigned query about the plot's road width, never communicated to anyone. Question 5 forced the corporation to admit on its own letterhead that the notified limit was crossed. Adapt the same five asks to your authority; filing steps are at [[file-rti-online-india|how to file RTI online]], and if the PIO stalls, [[act:section-19|the first appeal]] is the next move.
-==== Saturday ====
+===== Week 4 and 5: the service guarantee appeal =====
-Call your architect or licensed engineer and confirm two things in writing: that the plan was submitted in full, and whether any objection has been received that needs a reply. Ask the architect for a short written note on the technical position. If an objection is pending, get the corrected drawing or document ready over the weekend so it can be resubmitted on Monday. Draft your written status query to the dealing officer using the template lower in this guide. Keep it factual: application number, date of submission, date of fee payment, and a request for the exact pending stage.
+With the RTI reply attached, Ramesh filed a first appeal under the Lok Sewa Guarantee Act to the notified appellate officer. These appeals are decided fast because the defaulting officer faces a personal fine, which in MP and several other states can be directed to be paid to the applicant as compensation. The sanction issued within three weeks, with the road-width query resolved at a hearing in ten minutes.
-==== Sunday ====
+Where your state has no service guarantee law covering building permission, the same escalation runs through the city engineer or commissioner and the state grievance portal, with the RTI reply doing the heavy lifting.
-Build one clean folder, named by date, with scans of the acknowledgement, the fee receipt, the application number page, every objection letter, and your architect's note. Screenshot the online status. Decide your escalation order: first the dealing officer, then the senior officer or commissioner, and — if the authority is a public body and you still get no clarity — an RTI application. On Monday, submit your written query at the office and insist on a dated, stamped acknowledgement. Without dated proof of your query, the authority can later claim you never asked.
+===== A note on deemed approval =====
-===== Documents and evidence checklist =====
+Some states have a deemed-sanction rule. Under section 45 of the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, a plan undecided within the statutory period can be treated as deemed permitted, subject to conditions. Madhya Pradesh's online system provides deemed or auto-approval for notified low-risk residential categories. Other states have nothing of the kind. Three cautions apply everywhere. The rule never cures a plan that violates the bye-laws. The conditions and covered categories are narrow. And building on an assumed deemed sanction without written confirmation invites a stop-work notice. Get the deemed position confirmed in writing, through the authority or your RTI, before any work starts.
-^ Document / Evidence ^ Why you need it ^ Where to get it ^
+===== Common mistakes =====
-| Architect's submission acknowledgement | Proves the plan was filed and on what date; starts your timeline | Your architect or empanelled engineer; the online portal receipt |
-| Application number / plan number | The single reference that unlocks online tracking and every follow-up | On the acknowledgement, the portal, or the fee receipt |
-| Fee receipt (scrutiny / sanction fee) | Proves you completed the payment step; key evidence in any escalation | The portal payment confirmation or the cash counter receipt |
-| Copy of the submitted plan and drawings | Shows exactly what was filed; needed to answer objections | Your architect's records; keep a full set |
-| Title and land documents (sale deed, mutation, tax receipt) | Establishes ownership; authorities often raise objections on title | Your own records; the sub-registrar or revenue office for copies |
-| Any objection or query letter from the authority | Tells you what is blocking the file and what to reply to | The portal, email, SMS, or a physical letter from the office |
-| Screenshots of online status over time | Shows the file frozen at one stage; evidence of unexplained delay | The municipal or development authority tracking portal |
-| Copy of your written status query and its acknowledgement | Proves you asked and creates a paper trail for escalation | Keep a stamped copy; email gives an automatic time-stamp |
-===== Step-by-step action plan =====
+  * Treating the fee receipt as approval and starting construction.
+  * Chasing by phone for months with no dated paper trail.
+  * Answering objections one at a time without demanding consolidation.
+  * Not checking whether a service guarantee timeline covers building permission in your state.
+  * Filing the RTI against the architect. RTI reaches the corporation, not your private consultant. A non-performing architect is a consumer dispute.
+  * Relying on deemed approval without written confirmation.
-==== Step 1 — Gather your papers and confirm what was actually submitted ====
+===== FAQs =====
-Before chasing anyone, be sure your own side is complete. Confirm with your architect that the full set of drawings and documents was submitted, and that the fee was paid against the correct application. Match the application number on the receipt with the number on the acknowledgement. Many delays are caused by a missing document or a mismatch that the applicant never noticed. Fix any gap on your side first, because the authority will point to it the moment you escalate.
+==== How long should building plan approval take after fees are paid? ====
-==== Step 2 — Track the file online using the application number ====
+There is no single national limit. Notified service guarantee timelines for residential plans commonly run 30 to 60 working days, and authority citizen charters say similar things. Find your authority's notified figure; it is the number every complaint hangs on.
-Most municipal corporations and development authorities now run an online building plan or building permission system. Log in with your application or plan number and read the current stage carefully. It may show scrutiny pending, objection raised, inspection due, or awaiting sanction. Screenshot whatever it shows, with the date visible. If the portal shows nothing useful or has not moved for weeks, that frozen status is itself useful evidence later.
+==== Can I get the fees back if the plan is rejected or the delay is abnormal? ====
-==== Step 3 — Ask the dealing officer in writing for the exact pending stage ====
+Refund rules vary by authority. Scrutiny fees are often non-refundable once processing starts, while sanction fees may be partly refundable on rejection or withdrawal. Ask in writing quoting your application number, and use RTI to obtain the applicable refund policy and any order passed on your request.
-Submit a short written query to the designated building or town planning officer. State your application number, the date of submission, and the date of fee payment. Ask three precise things: the exact stage at which the file is pending, the name or designation of the official currently holding it, and any objection that needs your action. Insist on a dated, stamped acknowledgement of your query. A specific written question is much harder to ignore than a phone call.
+==== The objections keep coming one at a time. What do I do? ====
-==== Step 4 — Reply to every objection through your architect ====
+Reply to each through your architect with dated proof, and write to the officer asking that all objections be consolidated with a single deadline. If they continue trickling, the RTI noting sheet shows whether the objections were genuine or added to dress up the delay. That noting is strong material for the appeal.
-If an objection has been raised, address it fully and quickly. Let your architect handle the technical points, since they know the bye-laws and drawing standards. Resubmit the corrected plan or the missing document and keep dated proof of resubmission. If objections are arriving one at a time, ask in writing for all objections to be consolidated and given together with a single timeline. Staggered objections are a common way a file is kept moving on paper while staying stuck in practice.
+==== Should the owner or the architect chase the file? ====
-==== Step 5 — Escalate to senior officers if the timeline is crossed ====
+The architect handles the technical side, since the drawings and bye-law compliance are his trade. The owner files the status letter, the RTI and the service guarantee appeal in his own name. The two tracks together move files that either alone does not.
-Many states publish a service timeline for building plan approval, sometimes under a public service guarantee or right-to-service law. If that timeline is crossed, write to the senior officer, the additional commissioner, or the commissioner of the corporation or development authority. Attach your earlier query, its acknowledgement, and the fee receipt. State plainly how long the file has been pending and ask for a decision by a specific date. A calm, document-backed escalation often moves a file that calls did not.
+==== Does an RTI make the corporation approve my plan? ====
-==== Step 6 — File an RTI to surface the file status and inspection notes ====
+No. RTI produces the file's truth: where it sits, who holds it, what objections exist, and whether the time limit is crossed. The approval itself comes from the authority, pushed by the escalation and the appeal that the RTI reply arms.
-If the authority is a public body — a municipal corporation, a town planning department, or a development authority — you can file an RTI. Ask for the date your application was received, the current stage, the file noting sheet, the site inspection report, the list of objections raised, and whether the statutory or published time limit has been crossed. This often reveals exactly where and why the file is held, and creates pressure because the authority must respond. Read our step-by-step guide on [[/file-rti-online-india|how to file an RTI online in India]].
+==== My plot is under a panchayat, not a corporation. Does any of this change? ====
-===== Escalation ladder =====
+Only the addressee. Panchayats and district town and country planning offices that issue permissions are also public authorities under RTI, and several states' service guarantee notifications cover them too. The sequence is identical. If your plot first needs agricultural land conversion, settle that stage first; see [[practical-guides:agricultural-land-conversion-na-order-delayed|NA conversion order delayed]].
-^ Level ^ Who / Where ^ How to reach ^ When to use ^ Expected outcome ^
+===== Related guides =====
-| 1 | Architect / empanelled engineer | Direct contact; confirm submission and handle technical objections | First — to be sure your own side is complete | Objections answered; corrected plan resubmitted |
-| 2 | Dealing building / town planning officer | Written status query at the office; get a stamped acknowledgement | When the online status is vague or frozen | Written reply naming the pending stage and any objection |
-| 3 | Senior officer / Additional Commissioner | Written escalation; attach query, acknowledgement, and fee receipt | If the dealing officer does not respond in a reasonable time | Internal push; the file is reviewed by a senior hand |
-| 4 | Commissioner / Head of the authority | Formal letter or grievance to the corporation or development authority head | If the published service timeline is crossed | Decision directed or reason for delay recorded |
-| 5 | State right-to-service / grievance portal (where it exists) | The state's public service guarantee or grievance portal, if available | When a statutory service timeline applies and is breached | Time-bound disposal under the state service law, where applicable |
-| 6 | RTI to the municipal / development authority PIO | [[https://rtionline.gov.in|rtionline.gov.in]] or the state RTI portal; address the authority's PIO | Parallel to or after Level 4; to obtain file notings and inspection report | Discloses the pending stage, objections, and any timeline breach |
-===== Copy-paste status query template =====
+  * [[practical-guides:builder-not-providing-occupancy-certificate-copy|Builder not providing the occupancy certificate copy]]
+  * [[practical-guides:builder-has-oc-but-refuses-possession-handover-documents|Builder has the OC but refuses possession handover]]
+  * [[practical-guides:agricultural-land-conversion-na-order-delayed|Agricultural land NA conversion order delayed]]
+  * [[practical-guides:blacklisting-notice-issued-small-contractor|Blacklisting notice issued to a small contractor]]
+  * [[practical-guides:start|All practical guides]]
+  * [[state-rti-portals-directory|State RTI portal directory]]
-Replace the text in square brackets with your own details before sending. Use this for your written query to the dealing officer, or adapt it for escalation to a senior officer.
+Download the building plan sanction follow-up checklist (PDF).
-To,
-The [Building Officer / Town Planning Officer / Designated Officer],
-[Name of Municipal Corporation / Development Authority],
-[Office Address]
-Subject: Request for status of building plan application No. [your application/plan number] — fees paid on [date], approval still pending
-Dear Sir / Madam,
-I have applied for sanction of my building plan for the property at [property address / survey or plot number]. The application was submitted by my architect / empanelled engineer, [name and licence number], on [date of submission], and the prescribed scrutiny / sanction fee was paid on [date of payment]. A copy of the acknowledgement and the fee receipt is enclosed.
-As of today, [date of this letter], the application is still pending and I have not received a sanction or a clear reason for the delay. The online status shows [paste the status shown, or write "no change for several weeks"].
-I respectfully request that you provide, in writing:
-. The exact stage at which my file is currently pending.
-. The name or designation of the official currently dealing with the file.
-. The full list of any objections raised, consolidated together, with a single timeline to respond.
-. The expected date by which a decision will be taken.
-If any document or correction is required from my side, kindly specify it precisely in one communication so that I can comply at once.
-I request a written response and a dated acknowledgement of this query.
-Yours sincerely,
-[Your full name]
-[Your mobile number and email address]
-[Date]
-Enclosures:
-. Copy of the architect's submission acknowledgement
-. Copy of the fee receipt
-. Copy of any objection letter received
-. Copy of the title / land documents (if relevant to an objection)
-===== When RTI can help =====
-The RTI Act, 2005 applies to public authorities. A municipal corporation, a municipal council, a town and country planning department, and a development authority are public authorities. So is a panchayat that issues building permissions. This makes RTI a strong tool for a stuck building plan, because the file, the notings, and the inspection record are all held by a public body. You can file an RTI with the authority's Public Information Officer to:
-  * Obtain the date your application was received and the current stage of the file.
-  * Get a copy of the file noting sheet showing how the file moved between officials and where it stopped.
-  * Obtain the site inspection report and the inspecting officer's notes.
-  * Get the complete, consolidated list of objections raised on your plan, with dates.
-  * Confirm whether the statutory or published time limit for disposal has been crossed in your case.
-This information often exposes whether the delay is genuine or unexplained. A noting that shows the file sitting on one desk for weeks, or objections added late, is powerful evidence for your escalation. If the authority does not reply to your RTI within the prescribed period, you can file a first appeal — see [[/file-first-appeal-rti-section-19-2026|how to file a first appeal under RTI]]. For a delayed government service generally, our guide on [[/cpgrams-rti|CPGRAMS and RTI for government service complaints]] explains how the two tools work together. You can also browse more [[/practical-guides/category/property-and-rera/|property and RERA practical guides]] for related situations.
-===== When RTI will not help =====
-**Your architect or private consultant:** RTI does not apply to your private architect, engineer, or consultant. If the delay is on their side — drawings not submitted, objections not answered — that is a private service matter. Pursue it directly, in writing, or through the consumer route if you paid for a service that was not delivered.
-**RTI cannot order approval:** RTI gives you information; it does not compel the authority to sanction your plan. It cannot override a genuine objection or a bye-law requirement your plan does not meet. What the information does is reveal the real status, surface unexplained delay, and give you a documented basis to escalate, to invoke a state right-to-service law where one exists, or to approach a court if the delay is illegal.
-**Records the law exempts:** Some information may be withheld under the exemptions in the RTI Act, and third-party objections in your file may need a third-party process. Frame your RTI around your own application — its status, notings, inspection report, objections, and timeline — to stay within what you are clearly entitled to.
-**A note on deemed approval:** Some states and cities have a deemed-approval or auto-approval rule, where a plan is treated as approved if the authority does not decide within a fixed period. The period, the conditions, and the categories it covers vary widely, and many places do not have it at all. Do not assume it applies to you. Confirm the exact rule on your authority's official portal or building bye-laws, and get written confirmation before starting any construction. Building without a valid sanction is risky and can lead to a stop-work or demolition notice.
-===== Common mistakes to avoid =====
-  * **Assuming the fee receipt means the plan is approved.** It does not. The fee only registers the application. Sanction needs scrutiny, objection clearance, and inspection. Treating the receipt as approval and starting construction can lead to a stop-work or demolition notice.
-  * **Chasing only by phone or in person, with no paper trail.** Verbal follow-up leaves no record. Always put your status query in writing and get a dated acknowledgement, so you can prove you asked and when.
-  * **Letting objections come one at a time.** Staggered objections keep a file alive on paper while it stays stuck. Ask in writing for all objections to be consolidated and given together with a single timeline.
-  * **Ignoring your own side.** If a document is missing or the drawings do not meet a bye-law, the authority is entitled to wait. Fix gaps on your side first, through your architect, before you escalate.
-  * **Not checking the state service timeline.** Many states have a right-to-service or public service guarantee law with a published timeline for building approvals. If you do not know your timeline, you cannot prove the delay is illegal.
-  * **Assuming deemed approval applies.** The rule, its period, and its conditions vary by state and authority, and many places do not have it. Confirm it in writing before relying on it or starting work.
-  * **Filing an RTI against your private architect.** RTI reaches public authorities, not your private consultant. Use the consumer or direct route for a private service failure, and RTI only for the records the municipal or development authority holds.
-===== Official links =====
-  * [[https://rtionline.gov.in|RTI Online Portal — rtionline.gov.in (for central public authorities; many states have their own RTI portals)]]
-  * [[https://pgportal.gov.in|CPGRAMS — Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System]]
-  * [[https://cic.gov.in|Central Information Commission — cic.gov.in]]
-  * [[https://mohua.gov.in|Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs — mohua.gov.in]]
-  * [[https://www.india.gov.in|National Government Services Portal — india.gov.in (find your state municipal / development authority)]]
-===== Frequently asked questions =====
-==== I paid the building plan fees, so why is the approval still pending? ====
-Paying the fee only registers your application. Approval depends on the plan clearing scrutiny, any objections being resolved, and required inspections being done. The file can stall at any of these stages. The fee receipt does not by itself force approval. Your best move is to get the application number, ask in writing for the exact pending stage, and escalate if the authority crosses its own published timeline. The timeline and stages vary by state and by the development authority or municipal corporation handling your file.
-==== What is deemed approval and does it apply to my building plan? ====
-Some states and cities have a deemed-approval or auto-approval rule. The idea is that if the authority does not decide within a fixed number of days, the plan is treated as approved or the applicant can proceed under conditions. However, the period, the conditions, and whether it applies to your category of building vary widely by state and authority. Many places do not have it at all, and some limit it to small plots or low-rise buildings. Do not assume deemed approval applies. Check the exact rule on your authority's official portal or building bye-laws, and get written confirmation before you start construction.
-==== How do I find out exactly where my building plan file is stuck? ====
-Start with the online tracking option on your municipal corporation or development authority portal, using your application or plan number. If the status is vague or frozen, write to the designated officer asking for the current stage, the name of the dealing official, and any objection raised. If you still get no clear answer, and the authority is a public body, file an RTI application asking for the file movement notings, the inspection report, and the list of pending objections. This usually surfaces exactly where and why the file is held.
-==== Can I file an RTI to get my building plan file status and inspection notes? ====
-Yes, if your plan is with a public authority such as a municipal corporation, a town planning department, or a development authority, you can file an RTI. You can ask for the date your application was received, the current stage, the file noting sheet, the site inspection report, the list of objections raised, and whether the statutory time limit has been crossed. RTI cannot order the authority to approve your plan, but the information can expose unexplained delay and strengthen your escalation or appeal.
-==== The authority raised an objection late. What should I do? ====
-Reply to every objection in writing, point by point, and ask your architect to revise the plan or submit the missing document quickly. Keep a dated acknowledgement of your reply. If the objection seems unreasonable, raised in stages, or used only to delay, ask the authority in writing to consolidate all objections at once and give a single timeline. If objections keep coming one at a time, an RTI for the file noting can show whether they were genuine or added later to justify the delay.
-==== My architect submitted the plan. Should I deal with the authority directly or through the architect? ====
-In most cities a licensed or empanelled architect or engineer submits the plan and is the technical point of contact. Let your architect handle technical objections and revisions, since they know the bye-laws and the drawing standards. But you, as the applicant and owner, can and should follow up on administrative delay, escalate to senior officers, and file an RTI in your own name. Keep your architect informed so the technical and administrative pressure work together.
-==== Can I get a refund if the building plan approval is rejected or abnormally delayed? ====
-Refund rules for scrutiny or sanction fees vary by state and authority. Some refund a part of the fee on rejection or withdrawal, while others treat the scrutiny fee as non-refundable once the file is processed. There is no single national rule. Check your authority's published fee and refund policy, and raise a written request quoting your application number. If the authority is a public body, an RTI can confirm the applicable refund policy and any orders passed on your request.