Your passport is stuck for three months. Status page says “Under Review”. The call centre keeps repeating the same script. Your pension has not arrived for the fourth month in a row. The police station refused to register an FIR. The Tehsildar has held your mutation file since April. The state scholarship is “approved” but not in your bank.

You do not need a lawyer for any of this. You need one sheet of paper and ten rupees. You need the Right to Information Act, 2005.

This guide shows how to use RTI for personal problems in five real-life situations. Each case comes with a ready-to-copy RTI application, an expected timeline, and the exact next step if the reply does not arrive.

The Right to Information Act, 2005 gives every citizen of India the right to ask a public authority for records, documents, file notings, and reasons for decisions. The public authority must reply within 30 days. The fee is Rs. 10 for central government offices. Refusal without a valid ground attracts a penalty on the officer.

That is it. No lawyer, no court, no theatrics.

RTI works for personal grievances for three practical reasons.

1. It forces accountability. An RTI puts the officer's name next to the file. Once asked in writing, no officer wants to appear as the reason for the delay in a written reply.

2. It creates a permanent written record. The reply (or the silence) becomes proof. That proof feeds the First Appeal, the Second Appeal before the Information Commission, and, in some cases, a writ petition in the High Court.

3. It is legally binding. Under Section 7, the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) is required to reply in 30 days. Section 20 empowers the Information Commission to impose a penalty of Rs. 250 per day of delay on the officer, up to Rs. 25,000.

Most personal grievances settle before the 30-day mark simply because the RTI arrived. The file moves.

You applied for a passport or renewal. Police verification is pending, or the file is “Under Review” with no movement for 60 to 90 days. The PSK helpline and the MEA tracker give the same non-answer.

The Regional Passport Office (RPO) is a public authority under the Ministry of External Affairs. Police verification is done by the local police, also a public authority. Both are bound by the 30-day RTI reply deadline. A pointed RTI to the RPO normally traces the exact file movement and identifies the officer holding it.

To,
Central Public Information Officer
Regional Passport Office, [city]
[address]

Subject: Request for information under Section 6 of the Right to Information Act, 2005

Sir/Madam,

Kindly provide the following information in respect of passport application File No. [your file number] dated [date of application] in the name of [applicant name]:

1. Date on which the police verification request was forwarded to the local police, with the name and designation of the forwarding officer.
2. Date on which the police verification report was received by the Regional Passport Office, or, if not yet received, the current status.
3. Copy of the police verification report, if received.
4. Current stage of the application file, with the name and designation of the officer currently holding the file.
5. Expected date of printing and despatch of the passport.
6. Standard service-level timeline for passport issuance after police verification is cleared.

Time period covered: from [date of application] to the date of this request.

I am a citizen of India. The information is sought for personal use.

A fee of Rs. 10/- is enclosed by way of Indian Postal Order No. [number] dated [date], drawn in favour of the Accounts Officer, Regional Passport Office, [city].

If any part of the information sought lies with another public authority, kindly transfer the application under Section 6(3) of the Act within five days and inform me.

Name: [your full name]
Address: [your postal address]
Mobile: [your mobile]
Email: [your email]

Date:
Signature:

• Day 0 — File the RTI at the RPO window or through rtionline.gov.in.
• Day 5 — Transferred to the correct CPIO if misdirected, under Section 6(3).
• Within 30 days — Written reply with the file stage and officer's name.
• Practical experience — Most passport files move within 7 to 14 days of RTI filing, as the RPO resolves the query rather than write a detailed reply about the delay.

If no reply arrives by the 30th day, file a First Appeal under Section 19(1) before the First Appellate Authority (FAA) of the RPO within 30 days of the deemed refusal. If the FAA still does not act, a Second Appeal before the Central Information Commission (CIC) lies within 90 days. See the step-by-step First Appeal guide and Second Appeal guide.

You retired from a central or state government post. Pension was sanctioned but has not been credited for one or more months. The Accountant General's office blames the bank. The bank blames the department. You are in the middle.

Pension is sanctioned through a Pension Payment Order (PPO) issued by the Accountant General (AG) office or the CPAO (Central Pension Accounting Office) and disbursed by a designated bank branch (Pension Disbursing Authority, PDA). All three are public authorities under the RTI Act.

To,
Central Public Information Officer
Office of the Accountant General / CPAO / [department that sanctioned the pension]
[address]

Subject: Request for information under Section 6 of the RTI Act, 2005 — non-receipt of pension

Sir/Madam,

Kindly provide the following information in respect of pensioner [full name], PPO No. [number], employee ID [number], retired on [date] from [post/department]:

1. Date on which the Pension Payment Order was issued.
2. Date on which the PPO was communicated to the pension disbursing bank branch, with copy of the forwarding letter.
3. Name, branch code, and IFSC of the pension disbursing bank on record.
4. Whether any pension instalment has been held back, and if so, the exact reason in writing with reference to the governing rule.
5. Current outstanding pension amount and the scheduled date of credit.
6. Name and designation of the officer presently responsible for this file.

Time period covered: from [date of retirement] to the date of this request.

I am a citizen of India. The information is requested for personal use.

A fee of Rs. 10/- is enclosed by way of Indian Postal Order No. [number] dated [date].

If any part of the information lies with another public authority, please transfer the request under Section 6(3) within five days and inform me.

Name: [your name]
Address: [your address]
Contact: [mobile, email]

Date:
Signature:

• Day 0 — File at AG office / CPAO / bank PIO window.
• Within 30 days — Written reply with PPO status and release date.
• Practical experience — Most pension credits reach the bank within two weeks of the RTI, because the AG or CPAO does not want to put a delay reason in writing.

File a First Appeal within 30 days. In parallel, send a copy of the unanswered RTI to the concerned Pay and Accounts Office and to the CPENGRAMS portal (pgportal.gov.in). Two channels open in parallel are faster than one.

You went to the police station with a written complaint. The duty officer took the complaint but did not register an FIR. No copy of the entry was given. The Daily Diary or Rojnamcha entry is not visible.

Every police station is a public authority under the RTI Act. The Daily Diary, General Diary (GD), and station register are public records (subject only to exemption under Sections 8 and 24 where they strictly apply to the specified intelligence and security organisations, which most police stations are not). An RTI forces the station to confirm whether the complaint was entered and what action was taken.

To,
Central Public Information Officer
Police Station [name]
[address]

Subject: Request for information under Section 6 of the RTI Act, 2005 — complaint dated [date]

Sir/Madam,

Kindly provide the following information in respect of my written complaint dated [date], submitted in person at Police Station [name] and acknowledged by the duty officer at [time] on [date]:

1. Daily Diary (Rojnamcha / GD) entry number and date recorded for the complaint.
2. Certified copy of the Daily Diary / GD entry.
3. Whether an FIR has been registered on the complaint. If yes, the FIR number, section, and date. If no, the reason recorded in writing with reference to the governing rule or judgment.
4. Name and designation of the officer in charge of the investigation, if initiated.
5. Action taken on the complaint as of the date of this reply.
6. Whether the complainant was informed of the action, and if so, the mode and date.

I am a citizen of India. The information is sought for personal use and is not exempt under Section 8 of the Act.

A fee of Rs. 10/- is enclosed by way of Indian Postal Order No. [number] dated [date], drawn in favour of the Accounts Officer, Police Department, [state].

If any part of the information lies with another public authority, kindly transfer the request under Section 6(3) within five days.

Name: [your name]
Address: [your address]
Contact: [mobile, email]

Date:
Signature:

• Day 0 — File at the station SHO or the circle DCP / SP office.
• Within 30 days — Written reply with the GD entry and action taken.
• Parallel channel — Under Section 173(4) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (earlier Section 154(3) CrPC), if the officer in charge refuses to register a cognisable FIR, a written complaint can be sent to the Superintendent of Police. The RTI is a complement, not a replacement.

First Appeal within 30 days to the Appellate Authority at the district or range level. If still no result, Second Appeal to the State Information Commission. In addition, a private complaint under Section 223 of the BNSS (earlier Section 200 CrPC) can be filed before the jurisdictional Judicial Magistrate to direct registration of FIR.

You bought a plot or flat six months ago. The sale deed is registered. The mutation application is lying at the Tehsildar, SDM, or Sub-Registrar's office. The revenue record still shows the earlier owner. Every follow-up is met with “coming soon”.

Mutation is the administrative act of updating the revenue record (jamabandi, khata, khatauni, khasra) to reflect a new owner after registration of a sale deed. It is done by the Tehsildar or SDM under the state land revenue code. The Revenue Department is a public authority under RTI. Most states have a statutory time limit (often 45 to 90 days) for mutation disposal.

To,
Central Public Information Officer
Office of the Tehsildar / SDM, [tehsil name]
District: [district]
[address]

Subject: Request for information under Section 6 of the RTI Act, 2005 — mutation application

Sir/Madam,

Kindly provide the following information in respect of Mutation Application No. [number] dated [date] filed by [applicant name] in respect of property at [address / khasra number]:

1. Date of receipt of the mutation application at this office.
2. Current stage of the application in the file movement register.
3. Date on which the public notice of mutation was published or affixed, with details of the notice board.
4. Whether any objection has been received, and if so, the name of the objector and the ground of objection.
5. Name and designation of the officer currently responsible for disposal of the application.
6. Statutory timeline for mutation disposal under the [state name] Land Revenue Code or allied rules.
7. Expected date of final disposal.

I am a citizen of India. The information is requested for personal use.

A fee of Rs. 10/- is enclosed by way of Indian Postal Order No. [number] dated [date], drawn in favour of [state rule — commonly the DDO of the Tehsil office].

If any part of the information lies with another public authority, please transfer the application under Section 6(3) within five days.

Name: [your name]
Address: [your address]
Contact: [mobile, email]

Date:
Signature:

• Day 0 — File at the Tehsil office window or the district online RTI portal.
• Within 30 days — Written reply confirming stage, objections, and expected disposal date.
• Practical experience — Once the officer's name is on paper, the mutation almost always moves within two to four weeks of filing. Pending objections, if any, get named in the reply.

First Appeal to the SDM or the Collector as prescribed under state rules. If not resolved, Second Appeal to the State Information Commission. In parallel, a representation to the District Collector cross-referencing the unanswered RTI usually triggers disposal.

Your state or central scholarship has been “approved” on the National Scholarship Portal or the state portal. Months pass. The amount is not in the bank. The portal shows “Payment under process”.

Scholarships are disbursed by the state Social Welfare Department, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, or the Ministry of Minority Affairs depending on the scheme. Disbursal is through DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer). Each stage is a public authority record.

To,
Central Public Information Officer
[Scheme name, for example: National Scholarship Portal / State Social Welfare Department]
[address]

Subject: Request for information under Section 6 of the RTI Act, 2005 — delayed scholarship credit

Sir/Madam,

Kindly provide the following information in respect of scholarship application ID [number] under the [scheme name] scheme for academic year [year], filed by [applicant name]:

1. Date on which the application was sanctioned by the competent authority.
2. Date on which the sanctioned amount was released for DBT transfer.
3. Bank account number and IFSC currently on record for the beneficiary.
4. If the DBT attempt failed, the date and reason returned by the NPCI / bank.
5. Name and designation of the officer presently responsible for the case.
6. Expected date of credit and the step required from the beneficiary, if any, to unblock the payment.

I am a citizen of India. The information is requested for personal use.

A fee of Rs. 10/- is enclosed by way of [Indian Postal Order / Court Fee Stamp as per state] No. [number] dated [date].

If any part of the information lies with another public authority, please transfer the request under Section 6(3) within five days.

Name: [your name]
Address: [your address]
Contact: [mobile, email]

Date:
Signature:

• Day 0 — File at the department window or through the Union RTI online portal.
• Within 30 days — Written reply with sanction date, DBT status, and expected credit date.
• Practical experience — Most stuck DBTs are released inside 10 working days of the RTI, because the department prefers to push the payment rather than put the delay reason on paper.

First Appeal within 30 days. The scholarship grievance module on the scheme portal is a parallel channel. The RTI reply, once received, is usable in both.

Use this template for any personal grievance where a specific record or file stage is missing. Replace the placeholders in square brackets.

To,
Central Public Information Officer
[Name and address of the department]

Subject: Request for information under Section 6 of the Right to Information Act, 2005

Sir/Madam,

Kindly provide the following information under Section 6(1) of the RTI Act, 2005:

1. [Ask about a specific record — for example: date of receipt of my application dated ...]
2. [Ask about the file stage — for example: current stage in the file movement register]
3. [Ask about an officer — for example: name and designation of the officer currently holding the file]
4. [Ask about the timeline — for example: statutory timeline for disposal under ... rule]
5. [Ask for a document — for example: certified copy of the order sheet / file noting]
6. [Ask about communication — for example: letters sent to me and the dates thereof]

Time period covered: from [start date] to the date of this request.

I am a citizen of India. The information is requested for personal use.

A fee of Rs. 10/- is enclosed by way of Indian Postal Order No. [number] dated [date].

If any part of the information lies with another public authority, please transfer the request under Section 6(3) of the Act within five days and inform me.

Name: [your full name]
Address: [your postal address]
Contact: [mobile, email]

Date:
Signature:

  Problem
     ↓
  Draft RTI (one subject, specific records, Rs. 10 fee)
     ↓
  File at CPIO window / rtionline.gov.in / speed post
     ↓
  30 days — PIO reply
     ↓
  Satisfactory reply  → Resolution
     ↓
  Unsatisfactory / no reply  → First Appeal (Section 19(1))
     ↓
  Still no action  → Second Appeal (CIC / SIC, Section 19(3))
     ↓
  Commission order + penalty on officer (Section 20)
     ↓
  Resolution

• You have the right department. An RTI sent to the wrong authority loses 5 days to transfer. Confirm from the public-authority list or the department's contact page.
• You have the right PIO. Most departments publish the CPIO name on their website. Section 5 requires it.
• You have Rs. 10 ready. Indian Postal Order is the cleanest form. For central government RTIs online, the payment is via rtionline.gov.in and the fee is built in.
• You have one subject. Personal grievance today, policy question another day.
• You have a file number or a date range. No pointer means a general reply.

Some grounds of refusal (Section 8) are valid. Most are not. A quick pointer table:

For a full map, see Why RTI applications get rejected, and how to avoid it and Grounds for rejection under Section 8.

Yes. Most personal-administrative grievances — stuck files, delayed sanctions, pending verifications — move the moment an RTI is filed, because the officer prefers to clear the file rather than write a reply explaining the delay. It does not replace a lawsuit, but for administrative inaction, it is the fastest and cheapest tool in a citizen's hand.

The statutory reply time is 30 days from the date the CPIO receives the application. If the matter concerns life or liberty, the time is 48 hours. If the application is misdirected, 5 extra days are allowed for transfer under Section 6(3). See what-is-the-time-limit-for-rti-reply.

Silence becomes a deemed refusal. File a First Appeal before the First Appellate Authority of the department under Section 19(1) within 30 days. If the FAA does not respond in 30 days (45 in special cases), file a Second Appeal before the Central or State Information Commission under Section 19(3) within 90 days.

Yes. Every police station and every rank above it is a public authority under the RTI Act. The only exclusions under Section 24 are specified intelligence and security agencies listed in the Second Schedule. A local police station is not excluded.

The application fee is Rs. 10 for central government public authorities. States vary from Rs. 10 to Rs. 50. Persons below the poverty line are exempt under Section 7(5). Copy charges are Rs. 2 per page in the standard fee schedule.

Send it to the public authority that holds the record. If it has the same subject-matter across two offices (say, the Tehsil and the Collector), send it to the one that actually maintains the file. If unsure, any reasonable department will forward under Section 6(3) within 5 days.

For central government public authorities, rtionline.gov.in is as effective as a paper RTI and usually faster, because the fee, dispatch, and date-stamp are automated. For state departments, check the state's own RTI portal or file by speed post. See How to File RTI Online in India.

Pick your situation from the five cases above. Copy the template. Fill in the file number, dates, and department. Attach a Rs. 10 Indian Postal Order. Send it by speed post or file through rtionline.gov.in.

Thirty days from today, one of two things will happen. The file will move and your problem will be solved. Or the reply will arrive with the name of the officer holding your file. Either way, you are ahead of where you were yesterday.

• How to File RTI Online in India — the practical walk-through
• rtionline.gov.in — portal-specific steps
• Why RTI applications get rejected and how to avoid it
• Guide for applicants — the drafting primer
• First Appeal under Section 19(1)
• Second Appeal before the Information Commission
• Template: first RTI
• Grounds of rejection under Section 8
• Time limit for an RTI reply
• Frequently asked questions on RTI

• The Right to Information Act, 2005 (Act No. 22 of 2005), Sections 6, 7, 8, 19, 20.
• The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (in force 1 July 2024), Sections 173 and 223.
• Central Public Information Officer, Supreme Court of India v. Subhash Chandra Agarwal, (2020) 5 SCC 481.
• CBSE v. Aditya Bandopadhyay, (2011) 8 SCC 497.
• Girish Ramchandra Deshpande v. Central Information Commission, (2013) 1 SCC 212.
• Passport Manual, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.
• Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 2021.
• CCS (Pension) Rules on PPO and disbursement, Department of Pension and Pensioners' Welfare.
• Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, National Scholarship Portal guidelines.
• State land revenue codes of Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Haryana (mutation timelines).

19 April 2026, with reference to the Right to Information Act, 2005 as it stands after the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, Section 44(3), in force 14 November 2025.