Punjab RTI Guide 2026 — RTI Wiki Citizen Guide 2026

The Right to Information Act, 2005 applies fully in Punjab. State-specific rules under §27 govern fee, format, and First Appeal procedure. Capital: Chandigarh. State Information Commission: https://infocomm.punjab.gov.in. RTI fee: ₹10 (Punjab Right to Information Rules, 2017). Online portal: rti.punjab.gov.in is currently under maintenance — file by post. This guide gives you the operational rules + sample RTIs + key state authorities + escalation ladder for Punjab citizens.

Reviewed on: 2026-09-01.

1. Online: Punjab's RTI portal rti.punjab.gov.in is currently under maintenance — file by Registered Post in the meantime.
2. By post: Address to the Public Information Officer of the concerned department. Send by Registered Post.
3. Walk-in: At the department's office during working hours. Get a dated receipt.
4. Pay ₹10 by Indian Postal Order (IPO) or Demand Draft in favour of “Accounts Officer, [Department]”, in cash against a receipt, or electronically where the facility exists (Rule 6, Punjab RTI Rules, 2017).
5. BPL applicants: No fee. Attach BPL/Antyodaya/AAY card.

Punjab SIC · DC offices

For Central Government RTIs filed FROM Punjab, use rtionline.gov.in which routes to the relevant central ministry.

To:
The Public Information Officer,
[Department name],
Government of Punjab,
[Department address, Chandigarh].

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]

To:
The First Appellate Authority,
[Senior officer designation, e.g., Joint Secretary],
[Department name], Government of Punjab,
[Address, Chandigarh].

Subject: First Appeal under §19(1) of the RTI Act, 2005

[See full template at https://righttoinformation.wiki/rti-first-appeal-second-appeal-guide]

To:
The Registrar,
Punjab State Information Commission,
[Address from https://infocomm.punjab.gov.in].

Subject: Second Appeal under §19(3) of the RTI Act, 2005

[See full template at https://righttoinformation.wiki/rti-first-appeal-second-appeal-guide]

• For state-practice questions, search the Punjab State Information Commission's published decisions at infocomm.punjab.gov.in.
• General Supreme Court rulings apply: see 10 Landmark SC RTI Rulings.
• Apply HC rulings of your jurisdiction.

• 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

1. Day 0 — File RTI to PIO (online or registered post).
2. Day 30 — PIO reply due under §7(1).
3. Day 60 — First Appeal under §19(1) to FAA (within 30 days of PIO order).
4. Day 60-105 — FAA decision due (30-45 days under §19(6)).
5. Day 195 — Second Appeal under §19(3) to Punjab SIC.
6. Last resort — Writ under Article 226 to the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

• CPGRAMS (Central): pgportal.gov.in
• State RTI portal: rti.punjab.gov.in (under maintenance)
• State SIC: https://infocomm.punjab.gov.in
• National RTI helpline: Use the state's general grievance number.

₹10 under the Punjab Right to Information Rules, 2017 (plus ₹2 per page for photocopies). BPL exempt under §7(5) and Rule 5 (attach certificate). Pay by IPO/Demand Draft favouring the Accounts Officer, in cash against a receipt, or electronically where the facility exists.

Punjab's RTI portal rti.punjab.gov.in currently shows “Site under maintenance”, so the reliable route is Registered Post to the concerned department's PIO. Some specific departments may have their own grievance portals.

The Punjab SIC composition is updated on its website https://infocomm.punjab.gov.in. Composition changes periodically — check the website for current Commissioners.

If the Second Appeal hearing is delayed beyond reasonable time, file a writ petition under Article 226 to the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The HC has supervisory jurisdiction over the SIC.

(a) Indian Postal Order (IPO) in favour of the Accounts Officer of the concerned department; (b) Demand Draft/banker's cheque in favour of the Accounts Officer; © Online via the state portal where it accepts payment; (d) Cash at counter during walk-in filing (get receipt).

• All-states RTI comparison
• First Appeal & Second Appeal Complete Guide
• §8 Exemptions explained
• Fee Calculator
• Deadline Calculator
• AI RTI Drafter
• Rajasthan RTI Guide 2026
• Uttarakhand RTI Guide 2026
• The RTI Playbook

• Right to Information Act, 2005 — cic.gov.in
• Punjab RTI Rules (state notification)
• Punjab State Information Commission — https://infocomm.punjab.gov.in
• Central Information Commission — cic.gov.in