Guide · Right to Information Act, 2005 · Haryana

How to File an RTI Application in Haryana — Time Limits, Appeals and Drafting for Faridabad Offices

Last updated: 2 October 2026 · Reflects the BNS/BNSS, 2023 · By Advocate Manish Sharma · General legal information, not legal advice

In short: An RTI application to a Haryana or Faridabad office goes to that office's Public Information Officer with the prescribed fee, and must be answered within 30 days, or 48 hours where life or liberty is involved. A first appeal lies within 30 days to the First Appellate Authority, and a second appeal within 90 days to the Haryana State Information Commission. Advocate Manish Sharma advises on RTI in property and service matters.

This guide covers who to address, time limits, how to word questions so they are answered, the exemptions, and the appeal route, with uses in property, police and service matters.

Who should the application be addressed to?

A Public Information Officer is an officer designated in each public authority to receive RTI applications and supply information. Address the PIO of the office that holds the record: the municipal corporation for building and property tax records, the Tehsil for revenue records, the development authority for plot files, or the police for the status of a complaint. If you address the wrong office, the PIO must transfer it within five days under Section 6(3).

What are the time limits?

Step	Time limit	Provision
Reply by the PIO	30 days; 48 hours where life or liberty is involved	Section 7(1)
First appeal to the First Appellate Authority	30 days from the reply or the deadline	Section 19(1)
Second appeal or complaint to the State Information Commission	90 days	Section 19(3)

Information not supplied within the time must be given free of charge under Section 7(6), and the Commission can impose a penalty on the PIO under Section 20.

How should the questions be worded?

Ask for copies of specific records, such as "certified copy of file noting dated…", not opinions or reasons.
Number each request, and give file numbers, dates and plot or case numbers.
Ask for inspection of a file where you do not know which papers exist.
Keep the postal or online receipt; the deadline runs from receipt.

What information can be refused?

An exemption is a ground under Section 8 on which information may be withheld, such as information that would impede investigation, or personal information with no public interest. Third-party information involves a notice to that person under Section 11. Partial disclosure, with exempt parts removed, is allowed under Section 10.

Where is RTI most useful in Faridabad matters?

Plot allotment and transfer files in property disputes, action taken on police complaints, and promotion and pay records in service matters. Documents received under RTI can be filed in court as evidence.

How to choose an advocate for this matter in Faridabad

Enrolment: ask for the enrolment number and State Bar Council. Under Section 30 of the Advocates Act, 1961 an enrolled advocate may appear in any court in India.
Forum presence: check appearances before the court concerned on the eCourts portal.
Candour: a reliable advocate tells you the weak points of the file, not a promised result.
Written terms, stage by stage; costs are explained in the lawyer fees guide.

Rule 36 of the Bar Council of India Rules forbids any advocate from claiming to be the "best", "top" or "No. 1" in Faridabad. Those words in a search are best answered by the tests above.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a Haryana office have to reply to an RTI application?

30 days under Section 7(1) of the RTI Act, or 48 hours where the information concerns the life or liberty of a person.

What if I get no reply to my RTI?

File a first appeal to the First Appellate Authority within 30 days of the deadline, and then a second appeal to the Haryana State Information Commission within 90 days.

Can RTI be used to get a copy of my plot file?

Yes. Ask the development authority's PIO for certified copies of the specific file and notings, or for inspection of the file.

Can RTI information be used in court?

Yes. Certified copies supplied under the RTI Act can be filed as documentary evidence, subject to proof in the ordinary way.