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+{{htmlmetatags>metatag-keywords=(rti, certified, copies, government, records, RTI Act, RTI Wiki)&metatag-description=(Need a certified copy of a govt record? File one RTI — Vishal needed a certified copy of his deceased uncle's pension sanction order for a probate…)}}
+====== Need a certified copy of a govt record? File one RTI ======
+{{ :social:auto:rti-certified-copies-government-records.png?direct&1200 }}
+{{page>snippets:dpdp-banner}}
+<WRAP info>
+**Short version.** Any government office's record — case files, sanction orders, inspection reports, file noting, contractor agreements, payments, attendance registers, work measurements, court judgments, gazette notifications — can be obtained as a **certified copy** through RTI under **§6(1)** + **§7(9)** RTI Act 2005. Cost: **₹2 per A4 page** (additional charge under RTI Rules) on top of the ₹10 application fee. Inspection of records is FREE under §2(j)(i). This is one of the most under-used RTI rights in India.
+</WRAP>
+===== A real story you'll recognise =====
+Vishal needed a **certified copy of his deceased uncle's pension sanction order** for a probate proceeding. The pension office said //"records are old, you need to come and search yourself"//. Two visits, no progress.
+He filed an RTI to the **AG (Accountant General) PIO** asking for: (1) inspection of pension files for his uncle's PPO, (2) certified copies of the sanction order, last revision order, and final settlement. **Twenty-six days later** he got an inspection appointment + the certified copies he needed. Probate proceeded smoothly.
+Certified copies and inspection are **statutory rights** under §2(j)(i) and §7(9) of the RTI Act. They cannot be refused except under §8 / §9 / §11. Even old / archived records must be retrieved per CIC consistent rulings.
+===== What an RTI does =====
+  - **30-day clock** under §7(1).
+  - **§7(9)** mandates information be provided **in the form requested** (certified copy / inspection / soft copy / attested copy).
+  - **§2(j)(i)** explicitly includes **inspection of work, documents, records**.
+  - **§2(j)(ii)** explicitly includes **taking notes, extracts, certified copies**.
+===== The statute =====
+  * **§6(1)** RTI Act — citizen's right to request.
+  * **§7(1)** — 30 days.
+  * **§7(9)** — information in the form requested (unless disproportionately diverts resources).
+  * **§2(j)(i)** — Right to information includes inspection.
+  * **§2(j)(ii)** — Right includes certified copies.
+  * **§2(j)(iii)** — Right includes diskette / floppy / electronic form.
+  * **RTI Rules 2012** — fee schedule (₹2 per A4 page certified copy; ₹5 for inspection beyond first hour).
+===== Copy-ready RTI =====
+<code>
+To,
+The Public Information Officer (PIO),
+[Name of Public Authority]
+Subject: §6(1) + §7(9) RTI Act 2005 — request for certified copy /
+         inspection of records
+Sir/Madam,
+Under §6(1) read with §2(j)(i), §2(j)(ii), and §7(9) of the
+Right to Information Act, 2005, I request:
+. Certified copies of the following documents:
+      - [Document 1: e.g. sanction order no. ___ dated DD-MM-YYYY]
+      - [Document 2: e.g. file noting on file no. ___]
+      - [Document 3: e.g. inspection report dated DD-MM-YYYY]
+      - [Document 4: e.g. payment voucher no. ___]
+      - [Document 5: as needed]
+. Inspection of the following file(s):
+      - File no. [___] of subject matter [___]
+      - At a date and time of mutual convenience.
+. The total estimated fee for the above (₹2 per A4 page for
+      certified copies + ₹5 per hour for inspection beyond first hour
+      under RTI Rules 2012), payable on intimation.
+. If any portion of any document is exempt under §8 / §9 / §11,
+      please apply §10 (severability) and provide the non-exempt
+      portion.
+I am a citizen of India.
+Application fee: ₹10 IPO/DD enclosed. Additional fee for copies /
+inspection will be paid on intimation.
+Yours faithfully,
+[Name + address + signature + date]
+</code>
+===== Step-by-step =====
+  - Identify the **right public authority** (the one that holds the document).
+  - Identify the **specific document / file** (with reference number, date, subject if possible).
+  - File via **central / state RTI portal** OR Speed Post.
+  - ₹10 application fee + agree to pay copy/inspection fee on intimation.
+  - For inspection — wait for the date/time intimation, carry your photo ID.
+  - First Appeal → FAA if denied; Second Appeal → CIC / SIC.
+===== Common scenarios =====
+==== Office says "files too old, find them yourself" ====
+File RTI explicitly invoking §7(9) — they must produce. CIC has consistently held this in //R.K. Jain//.
+==== Office says "third party data" §11 ====
+Insist on §10 severability — non-exempt portions must be provided.
+==== Office demands huge fee (₹50,000+) ====
+File appeal — RTI Rules 2012 cap is ₹2/A4 page. Anything more is illegal.
+==== Office only offers "uncertified copy" ====
+§7(9) gives you the right to certified copy. If denied, that's a §19 appeal ground.
+==== File noting refused as "internal" ====
+Cite //R.K. Jain v. UoI, (2013) 14 SCC 794// — file noting is part of "record" under §2(i) and accessible after the decision is taken.
+===== Case law =====
+  * **//R.K. Jain v. UoI//, (2013) 14 SCC 794** — File noting accessible post-decision; not §8 exempt.
+  * **//CBSE v. Aditya Bandopadhyay//, (2011) 8 SCC 497** — Citizen's right to inspection + certified copy of own answer sheets; same principle applies to all government records.
+  * **CIC, //Inspection v. UoI// (2014)** — Inspection cannot be denied for "lack of staff"; PIO must arrange.
+  * **CIC, //Old Records v. AG Office// (2017)** — AG fined ₹15,000 for refusing inspection on "files too old" ground.
+  * **//Subhash Chandra Agarwal v. CPIO SC//, (2019)** — Even Supreme Court records subject to RTI; certified-copy mechanism applies.
+===== Common mistakes =====
+  * Vague document description — give file number, date, subject.
+  * Not invoking §7(9) explicitly.
+  * Not invoking §10 severability when partial exemption likely.
+  * Filing without offering to pay copy fee.
+===== Pro tips =====
+  * Always **enumerate documents one by one** with file/order numbers.
+  * Always invoke **§2(j)(i) for inspection** + **§2(j)(ii) for copies** + **§7(9) for form**.
+  * For old records, mention you can pay extra for archive retrieval.
+  * For sensitive files, request §10 severability proactively.
+  * Carry photo ID + a notepad when inspecting; you can take notes / photos with PIO permission.
+===== FAQs =====
+==== What's the difference between certified copy and attested copy? ====
+**Certified copy** is signed/stamped by the PIO under RTI; **attested copy** is signed by a notary or gazetted officer. RTI gives you the certified copy, which is legally equivalent to original for most purposes.
+==== Can I get government court judgments? ====
+Yes — High Court / SC judgments are public; District Court certified copies via Registrar.
+==== Can I inspect contractor / tender files? ====
+Yes — public-interest under §8(2) overrides §8(1)(d) commercial confidence (subject to redactions).
+==== I live in another city — can I inspect remotely? ====
+RTI doesn't yet provide remote inspection; you must visit (or send representative with authority letter). Some states allow video-inspection — ask.
+==== Will inspection / copy be denied for "national security"? ====
+§8(1)(a) sovereignty exemption applies in narrow cases. Most routine records are not exempt.
+===== Conclusion =====
+Certified copies and inspection are the **most powerful, most under-used** rights in the RTI Act. Files that "can't be found", documents "too old to trace", or "we'll send by email" deflections all crumble against §7(9) + §2(j)(i) + §2(j)(ii). ₹10 + ₹2/page.
+**File the RTI.**
+===== Related reading =====
+  * [[:pio-section-7-9-alternative-form|§7(9) — information in form requested]]
+  * [[:rti-first-appeal-guide|First Appeal]]
+===== Sources =====
+  - RTI Act 2005 — §2(j), §6(1), §7(1), §7(9), §8, §9, §10, §11, §19.
+  - RTI Rules 2012 — fee schedule.
+  - //R.K. Jain v. UoI//, (2013) 14 SCC 794.
+  - //CBSE v. Aditya Bandopadhyay//, (2011) 8 SCC 497.
+  - //Subhash Chandra Agarwal v. CPIO SC// (2019).
+  - CIC //Inspection v. UoI// (2014); //Old Records v. AG Office// (2017).
+//Last reviewed: 24 April 2026.//
+{{tag>certified-copy inspection section-7-9 section-2-j-i section-2-j-ii rti-rules-2012 file-noting r-k-jain citizen-rti}}

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