Karnataka accepts RTI at three levels: Central Government (rtionline.gov.in, Rs 10), State Government (Sakala / in-person at the department, Rs 10), and local bodies (BBMP, BDA, BWSSB, etc. — Rs 10-20 depending on corporation). The Karnataka State Information Commission (KSIC) sits at the MS Building, Bengaluru, with a regional bench in Dharwad. Kannada, Hindi and English are all accepted under §4(3). Average response time: 25-40 days.

• Main bench: MS Building, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Veedhi, Bengaluru-560001
• Regional bench: Dharwad (for North Karnataka cases)
• Website: https://kic.karnataka.gov.in (Kannada / English)
• Email for filings: ksic-ka@nic.in
• Second Appeal filing: 90 days from FAA decision; can be filed by post or in person

• Application fee: Rs 10 (State), Rs 10 (Central). BPL fully exempt.
• Copy fee: Rs 2 per A4 page.
• Inspection: first hour free; Rs 5 per 15 minutes thereafter.
• Larger-format documents: as per Karnataka RTI Rules.

• Kannada filing: §4(3) read with Karnataka Official Languages Act, 1963 — Kannada is fully accepted; no applicant-side translation needed.
• Sakala Mission: Karnataka's citizen-services programme includes some departments. Where Sakala tracks an RTI, you get SMS / email updates on progress.
• KPSC exam records: post UPSC v. Angesh Kumar (SC 2018), scaling methodology and mark-moderation are §8(1)(e) protected; answer scripts remain accessible post-evaluation.
• Cooperative societies: per Thalappalam (SC 2013) and Karnataka HC 2019, routine cooperatives are NOT public authorities without substantial State financing.

Template 1 — BBMP property-tax records

Kindly provide the following information under the RTI Act, 2005:

1. Copy of the property-tax assessment for [PID/Khata No.],
   [ward no.], BBMP for the assessment year [year].
2. Copies of any objections filed by the assessee.
3. The current tax-liability status and any arrears as on [date].
4. Copies of notices served in case of non-payment.

Template 2 — BDA allotment file

Kindly provide the following information under the RTI Act, 2005:

1. Copy of the allotment file for [site/plot no.] in [layout name],
   BDA, with all notings, correspondence and approvals.
2. Copy of the payment ledger showing all amounts paid and dues.
3. Current status of possession / sale deed execution.
4. Copies of any representations filed by the allottee.

Template 3 — Karnataka Government service / transfer records

Kindly provide the following information under the RTI Act, 2005:

1. Copy of the office order for my posting/transfer dated [date].
2. Copy of the criteria / transfer policy applied for this posting.
3. Statement of all transfers in [Department] of officers of rank
   [rank] during [period].
4. Copy of any representation files where these transfers were
   challenged.

1. First Appeal to the FAA (one rank above PIO) within 30 days.
2. Second Appeal to the Karnataka State Information Commission, Bengaluru, within 90 days of FAA decision.
3. Writ petition to the Karnataka High Court (main bench Bengaluru, benches at Dharwad and Kalaburagi) under Article 226.

• Cooperative societies — Karnataka HC 2019 — Thalappalam test applied
• Tender records post-award — Karnataka HC 2016 — §8(1)(d) commercial confidence
• Police complaint records — Karnataka SIC 2021 — complainant's own records disclosable

Q1: Can I file RTI in Kannada? Yes. §4(3) expressly permits local-language filing.

Q2: Is there a unified Karnataka RTI portal? Sakala tracks some department RTIs; there is no single state-wide portal yet. Many departments have their own online submission pages.

Q3: What is the average response time in Karnataka? 25-40 days for routine State RTIs. BBMP often takes 40-50 days. Police matters: 30-45 days.

Q4: Where does the Karnataka SIC sit? MS Building, Dr B.R. Ambedkar Veedhi, Bengaluru, with a regional bench in Dharwad for North Karnataka cases.

Q5: What's the Karnataka-specific RTI fee? Rs 10 for State and local-body RTIs. Rs 2 per copy page. BPL applicants are fully fee-exempt.

• Urban Co-operative Bank records — Karnataka HC 2024 — Co-op regulatory oversight is transparent; member data is fiduciary.
• Police complaint records — Karnataka SIC — Complainant entitled to complaint-status & closure reports; live investigation content protected under §8(1)(h).
• KERC tariff determination records — Karnataka HC — KERC tariff-hearing records + calculation worksheets: §4(1)(b) proactive disclosure.
• BMTC tender records — Karnataka HC — BMTC = §2(h); post-award tender summary OK; losing-bidder commercials §8(1)(d).
• Cooperative societies — Karnataka HC — Post-Thalappalam, cooperatives are public authorities only if directly financed or controlled by the State.
• Tender records post-award — Karnataka HC — Pre-award tender commercials are §8(1)(d) confidential; post-award evaluation records become disclosable.

Browse the full case-law database — 362 curated rulings and filter by court / section / keyword.

• Pan-India: File RTI online — 12-step guide
• RTI fees by State
• File RTI in Maharashtra
• PIO RTI Reply Guide

• Karnataka SIC: https://kic.karnataka.gov.in
• Sakala Mission: https://sakala.karnataka.gov.in
• BBMP: https://bbmp.gov.in

Last reviewed: 22 April 2026.