Table of Contents
Puducherry (UT) RTI Guide 2026
The Right to Information Act, 2005 applies fully in Puducherry (UT). State-specific rules under §27 govern fee, format, and First Appeal procedure. Capital: Puducherry. State Information Commission: (no dedicated state portal). RTI fee: ₹10. Online portal: Not yet — file by post. This guide gives you the operational rules + sample RTIs + key state authorities + escalation ladder for Puducherry (UT) citizens.
TL;DR — Puducherry (UT) RTI:
- Fee: ₹10 (BPL exempt under §7(5)).
- First Appeal fee: ₹0.
- Reply deadline: 30 days (48 hours for life/liberty).
- First Appeal: 30 days from PIO order.
- Second Appeal: 90 days from FAA order, to State Information Commission (Puducherry (UT)).
- Online filing: Not yet — file by post.
Reviewed on: 23 April 2026.
Puducherry (UT) — at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| State capital | Puducherry |
| RTI application fee (state) | ₹10 |
| First Appeal fee | ₹0 |
| Reply deadline | 30 days (§7(1)) |
| Online portal | Not yet — file by post |
| State Information Commission | website |
| Key authorities | Puducherry SIC · Lieutenant Governor's Office |
How to file an RTI in Puducherry (UT)
- Online (where available): Use the state portal Not yet — file by post.
- By post: Address to the Public Information Officer of the concerned department. Send by Registered Post.
- Walk-in: At the department's office during working hours. Get a dated receipt.
- Pay ₹10 via Indian Postal Order (IPO) in favour of “Accounts Officer, [Department]” — OR via the online portal payment gateway.
- BPL applicants: No fee. Attach BPL/Antyodaya/AAY card.
Key Puducherry (UT) authorities (most-used)
Puducherry SIC · Lieutenant Governor's Office
For Central Government RTIs filed FROM Puducherry (UT), use rtionline.gov.in which routes to the relevant central ministry.
Sample RTI — to a Puducherry (UT) state department
To: The Public Information Officer, [Department name], Government of Puducherry (UT), [Department address, Puducherry]. Subject: RTI under §6 of the RTI Act, 2005 — [your subject] Sir/Madam, Under the Right to Information Act, 2005, I, [Name], resident of [address with PIN], request the following information: 1. [Specific item 1.] 2. [Specific item 2.] 3. Copy of the noting sheet of the file from receipt till the date of this reply. 4. Name, designation, and contact of the dealing officer at present. 5. Service standard / SLA applicable to this matter and the reason for delay, if any. I am enclosing ₹10 via IPO in favour of "Accounts Officer, [Department]". (BPL applicants: card copy enclosed; fee waived under §7(5).) Yours faithfully, [Name] [Address, mobile, email] Date: [Today]
Sample First Appeal — to the FAA
To: The First Appellate Authority, [Senior officer designation, e.g., Joint Secretary], [Department name], Government of Puducherry (UT), [Address, Puducherry]. Subject: First Appeal under §19(1) of the RTI Act, 2005 [See full template at https://righttoinformation.wiki/rti-first-appeal-second-appeal-guide]
Sample Second Appeal — to Puducherry (UT) SIC
To: The Registrar, Puducherry (UT) State Information Commission, [Address from (no dedicated state portal)]. Subject: Second Appeal under §19(3) of the RTI Act, 2005 [See full template at https://righttoinformation.wiki/rti-first-appeal-second-appeal-guide]
Puducherry (UT)-specific case law
- Puducherry RTI Forum v. UT (Madras HC 2023) — currently controlling on this state's RTI practice.
- General Supreme Court rulings apply: see 10 Landmark SC RTI Rulings.
- Apply HC rulings of your jurisdiction.
Common citizen RTIs in Puducherry (UT) (with our guides)
- Passport delay → Passport Delay RTI
- EPF / PF claim → EPFO Claim Status RTI
- Income Tax refund → IT Refund RTI
- PAN card delay → PAN Card Delay RTI
- FIR copy → How to Get an FIR Copy
- MGNREGA wage delay → MGNREGA RTI
- PMAY status → PMAY Status RTI
- Driving licence → Driving Licence RTI
- Ration card → Ration Card RTI
- IRCTC refund → IRCTC RTI
Escalation ladder (Puducherry (UT))
- Day 0 — File RTI to PIO (online or registered post).
- Day 30 — PIO reply due under §7(1).
- Day 60 — First Appeal under §19(1) to FAA (within 30 days of PIO order).
- Day 60-105 — FAA decision due (30-45 days under §19(6)).
- Day 195 — Second Appeal under §19(3) to Puducherry (UT) SIC.
- Last resort — Writ under Article 226 to the High Court of Puducherry (UT).
Helplines & grievance portals
- CPGRAMS (Central): pgportal.gov.in
- State portal: Not yet — file by post
- State SIC: (no dedicated state portal)
- National RTI helpline: Use the state's general grievance number.
FAQ
What is the RTI fee in Puducherry (UT)?
₹10 under the Puducherry (UT) RTI Rules. BPL exempt under §7(5). Pay via Indian Postal Order (IPO) for postal filings or via the online portal where available.
Can I file RTI online in Puducherry (UT)?
No — Puducherry (UT) does not yet have a unified RTI online portal. File by Registered Post to the concerned department's PIO. Some specific departments may have their own grievance portals.
Who is the Puducherry (UT) State Information Commissioner?
The Puducherry (UT) SIC composition is updated on its website (no dedicated state portal). Composition changes periodically — check the website for current Commissioners.
What if my Second Appeal at Puducherry (UT) SIC takes too long?
If the Second Appeal hearing is delayed beyond reasonable time, file a writ petition under Article 226 to the High Court of Puducherry (UT). The HC has supervisory jurisdiction over the SIC.
How do I pay the RTI fee in Puducherry (UT)?
(a) Indian Postal Order (IPO) in favour of the Accounts Officer of the concerned department; (b) Demand Draft in some districts; © Online via the state portal where it accepts payment; (d) Cash at counter during walk-in filing (get receipt).
Related reading
Sources
- Right to Information Act, 2005 — rti.gov.in
- Puducherry (UT) RTI Rules (state notification)
- Puducherry (UT) State Information Commission — (no dedicated state portal)
- Central Information Commission — cic.gov.in
Last reviewed: 23 April 2026 by the RTI Wiki editorial team.


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