RTI Application for Complaint Status: Sample Letter and Appeal Wording (2026)

• Your written complaint has not been disposed of within 10 to 20 days
• You have a complaint or diary number but no action-taken response
• The Citizens' Charter time-frame has been crossed
• You want to know which officer is sitting on the file

• If you have not yet filed the underlying complaint (file the complaint first; RTI is to know the status after filing)
• If your dispute is sub judice in a court or tribunal (RTI for records is fine, but adjudication is for the court)
• If you are asking the PIO to express an opinion or interpret rules (Section 2(f) covers records, not opinions)

To,
The Public Information Officer
[Name of Public Authority]
[Full Address, Pin Code]

Sub: Request for information under Section 6(1) of the RTI Act, 2005,
     regarding the action taken on my complaint dated ____________.

Sir / Madam,

I lodged a written complaint with your office regarding [brief
subject of complaint]. The complaint has not been disposed of within
the time-frame of your Citizens' Charter or any reasonable period.
I therefore seek the following information.

Details of complaint:
  Office where filed: ____________
  Date of complaint: ____________
  Complaint / diary number: ____________
  Subject: ____________

Information sought:

[1] Certified copy of the note sheet of the file showing notings of
    all officials and the decision, if any, of the competent
    authority on my above-mentioned complaint dated ____________.

[2] Certified copy of any investigation report or feedback obtained
    on the grievances raised in my complaint.

[3] Certified copy of the action-taken report and any letter sent
    to me, if any, on the complaint.

[4] The names, designations and office addresses of officers
    responsible for dealing with my complaint.

[5] The time-frame prescribed in the Citizens' Charter or service
    norms for disposal of such complaints.

[6] The reasons in writing for non-disposal of my complaint within
    the prescribed time-frame.

[7] The names and designations of officers from whom assistance is
    sought by the PIO under Section 5(4) of the RTI Act.

Application fee of Rs 10 is enclosed in the form of Indian Postal
Order. Please send the information by registered post to the address
below.

Yours faithfully,
[Signature]
[Name]
[Address, Pin Code]
[Phone, email]
[Date]

[Date]
To,
The First Appellate Authority
[Public Authority Name]
[Address]

Sub: First appeal under Section 19(1) of the RTI Act, 2005, against
     the order of the PIO dated [____] / against deemed refusal
     under Section 7(2), in respect of my RTI dated [____].

Sir / Madam,

1. I had filed an RTI application dated [____] seeking the
   information described in the enclosure (Annexure A).
2. The PIO has [refused / not replied / partly replied] vide letter
   dated [____]. The reply does not satisfy the requirements of
   Sections 7(8) and 8 of the RTI Act, 2005, for the reasons set
   out below.
3. Grounds of appeal:
   (a) The reply does not record reasons for refusal, contrary to
       Section 7(8) and Section 19(5).
   (b) The PIO has not applied Section 8(2) public-interest
       balancing.
   (c) Severable parts under Section 10 have not been supplied.
   (d) [add specific factual grounds].
4. Prayer: I pray that the FAA may be pleased to direct the PIO to
   supply the information sought, free of cost under Section 7(6),
   and to record findings on PIO conduct.

Yours faithfully,
[Name and signature]
[Address, phone, email]

No. File the complaint first and wait at least the time-frame in the Citizens' Charter. Then file an RTI asking for the status. The complaint number you receive is essential for the RTI.

No. The PIO supplies records. The PIO is not the disposal authority. Use the RTI to expose delay and to identify the officer responsible.

If CPGRAMS shows the complaint as closed but you have not received a satisfactory response, an RTI for the disposal note is the right next step. The action-taken report is a record.

• Guide for RTI applicants
• All sample RTI applications
• AI RTI Drafter
• PIO RTI Reply Guide
• FAA guide
• PIO reply after DPDP Rules 2025
• RTI for grievance status
• Section 4 disclosure duty

1. The Right to Information Act, 2005 (Sections 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 19)
2. The Right to Information (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2012
3. The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, Section 44(3)
4. DARPG, Public Grievance Redressal Mechanism, https://pgportal.gov.in
5. Section 4(1)(b)(iv) Citizens' Charter requirement, RTI Act 2005
6. Central Information Commission orders on grievance redressal at https://cic.gov.in

Last reviewed: 9 May 2026. Sources verified: statutory references and portal links cross-checked on 9 May 2026.