PSU banks (SBI, PNB, etc.) and LIC are public authorities under §2(h). After RBI v. Jayantilal Mistry (SC, 2015), the §8(1)(e) fiduciary defence is confined to the strict-classical sense and does not protect inspection reports, defaulter lists, or customer's own records. Insurance regulator IRDAI is also a public authority.

• RTI Act, 2005 §6, §7(1), §8(1)(d) (commercial confidence — narrow), §8(1)(e) (fiduciary).
• RBI v. Jayantilal Mistry (SC, 2015) — fiduciary defence is strict-classical; inspection reports + defaulter lists disclosable.
• Banking Regulation Act, 1949 §35 (RBI inspection).
• IRDAI Act, 1999 + Insurance Act, 1938.

To:
The Public Information Officer (PIO),
[Office name + address].

Subject: RTI under §6 — Banking & Insurance query

Sir/Madam,

Under the RTI Act, 2005, kindly provide:

1. Status of my loan / claim / refund application No. [NUMBER] dated [DATE].
2. Reason for delay beyond Citizen Charter timeline.
3. Daily file movement (file noting) of my application.
4. List of documents pending and from whom.
5. Branch Head + Zonal Office contact for grievance escalation.
6. Citizen Charter compliance status and action on prior complaint No. [NUMBER].

Rs. 10 IPO enclosed.

Yours faithfully,
[Name]
[Address + phone + email]
[Date]

• Day 31 — First Appeal.
• Day 76 — Second Appeal to CIC.
• Parallel — Banking Ombudsman (RBI) for bank grievances.
• Parallel — Insurance Ombudsman / IRDAI for insurance grievances.

• RBI v. Jayantilal Mistry (SC, 2015) — Fiduciary defence narrowed; bank records on customer disclosable to customer.
• Bhagat Singh v. CIC (Delhi HC, 2007) — Speaking-reasons doctrine — refusal must be reasoned.

• Asking for other customers' data — §8(1)(j) blocks.
• Filing to wrong branch (must be the branch holding your account).
• Confusing Banking Ombudsman with RTI — both are parallel routes.

No — only PSU banks. Private banks are subject to RBI Banking Ombudsman, not RTI.

Yes — bank must disclose reason for rejection of loan application.

• Hospital negligence RTI
• Banking RTI — PIO playbook
• File RTI online — 12 steps
• RTI — 25 questions answered

• RTI Act, 2005 — full text.
• Citation chain in body.
• Citizen Charter of the relevant authority.
• Case-law database at /cases/search.

Last reviewed: 23 April 2026.