Introduction
Some of the most powerful RTI victories happen far from courtrooms. Every day, people use the Act to break bottlenecks, correct mistakes, and push files forward. These are practical wins—exactly the kind that matter when your passport is stuck, your pension is delayed, or your electricity bill makes no sense.
Below are five real‑world scenarios, told simply. For each, we’ve also included the exact kind of questions you can ask in your own RTI to get results.
1) Delayed Passport → Issued
RTI asked for: current status and location of the file, name/designation of the officer handling it, reason for delay vs citizen charter, and the revised completion date.
Outcome: The office acknowledged a pending verification, expedited it, and dispatched the passport within a week.
- Present status and location of application file no. _______
- Name/designation/contact of the officer currently handling the file
- Reason for delay vis‑à‑vis the citizen charter and the revised completion date
2) Exam Answer Sheets → Error Corrected
RTI asked for: certified copies of evaluated answer sheets, marking scheme/model key used, and the re‑totalling procedure & timeline.
Outcome: The copies revealed a totaling mistake. Marks were corrected and admission secured.
- Certified copy of evaluated answer sheet(s) for paper(s) _______
- Copy of marking scheme/model key used
- Procedure and timeline for re‑totalling/re‑checking
3) Pension Delay → Released with Arrears
RTI asked for: status of the pension case, file movement history with dates, names of responsible officers, and the expected date of payment.
Outcome: Department processed the case within 30 days and released arrears.
- Present status of pension case no. _______
- File movement history with dates and officer names/designations
- Reasons for delay and date by which payment will be made
4) Inflated Electricity Bill → Corrected
RTI asked for: meter reading logs for last six cycles, tariff slab details, and the bill calculation sheet.
Outcome: A reading entry error was found; a corrected bill and refund were issued.
- Meter reading log for the past six billing cycles with dates & kWh
- Tariff slab applicable for consumer no. _______
- Bill calculation sheet for bill no. _______ and reason for abnormal spike
5) FIR Status → Action Taken Report
RTI asked for: certified copy of the FIR, sections invoked, current investigation status, name/designation of IO, and next action timeline.
Outcome: Station assigned an IO, shared the status, and the phone was eventually recovered.
- Certified copy of FIR no. _______ with sections invoked
- Current investigation status and steps taken to date
- Name/designation of Investigating Officer and next action timeline
FAQs on Everyday RTI Use
1. Can RTI speed up a delayed passport?
Yes. Ask for present status, the officer/desk handling it, reason for delay against the citizen charter, and a revised completion date.
2. Will RTI help with pension delays?
RTI compels a written, time‑stamped response identifying responsibility. That pressure often triggers internal movement and payment.
3. Can I use RTI for a wrong electricity bill?
Absolutely. Request meter logs, tariff slab, and calculation sheets; these reveal reading/calculation errors quickly.
Login With Google
Continue as Guest
Post a comment