RTI in Arunachal Pradesh: ILP, Hydro Power, Land Records, and the Arunachal Pradesh Information Commission

Arunachal Pradesh is India's largest state by area in the Northeast — a region of extraordinary geographic diversity, enormous natural resources, and a constitutional framework that is unlike almost any other state in the country. The presence of the Inner Line Permit system, the dominance of community and tribal land ownership, the unmatched hydropower potential of the Brahmaputra basin, and the large footprint of the Indian Army all mean that citizens of Arunachal Pradesh encounter a distinctive set of public authorities in their daily lives.

The Right to Information Act, 2005 applies fully in Arunachal Pradesh. The Arunachal Pradesh Information Commission (APIC) handles second appeals for state government bodies, while the Central Information Commission (CIC) handles second appeals for central government bodies, including the Army, central power companies, and central universities. This guide covers how the two tracks work, which bodies fall on which track, and what to ask in the situations Arunachal residents most commonly encounter.

The Two-Track System: State vs. Central Bodies in Arunachal Pradesh

Under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act, a "public authority" includes bodies substantially financed directly or indirectly by the appropriate government — central or state. This determines which Information Commission hears your second appeal.

State bodies — Arunachal Pradesh government departments, the state PSUs, APPSC, Itanagar Municipal Corporation, state police — go to the Arunachal Pradesh Information Commission (APIC), established under Section 15 of the RTI Act.

Central bodies — the Indian Army and paramilitary forces, NHPC, NEEPCO, NIT Arunachal Pradesh, Rajiv Gandhi University, the Income Tax department, ONGC — go to the Central Information Commission (CIC) in New Delhi.

Your first appeal in both tracks goes to the First Appellate Authority (FAA) within the same public authority under Section 19(1), filed within 30 days of the PIO's decision or the expiry of the 30-day response period under Section 7(1). Second appeals go to APIC or CIC under Section 19(3).

The most common mistake made by first-time filers in Arunachal Pradesh is filing against NHPC or NEEPCO — central hydropower PSUs — and then taking the second appeal to APIC. Those bodies are firmly on the CIC track.

Inner Line Permit: A Unique RTI Subject

Arunachal Pradesh requires an Inner Line Permit (ILP) for all persons who are not permanent residents of the state, including other Indian citizens. This requirement flows from the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873 — a colonial-era law whose application has been maintained for the purpose of protecting the demographic character of the northeastern frontier.

The ILP system makes Arunachal Pradesh an unusual state for RTI purposes, because ILP grant and refusal decisions are administrative actions taken by state government authorities — specifically the Deputy Commissioner's offices and the Home Department — and these decisions are subject to RTI.

When ILP RTI is useful:

• If you have applied for an ILP and it has not been processed within a reasonable time, an RTI asking for the status of application number X and the officer holding the file can accelerate processing.
• If an ILP has been refused or cancelled, an RTI can be used to obtain the reasons for the decision (subject to any applicable exemptions under Section 8 of the RTI Act, though a simple administrative refusal does not typically carry a Section 8 basis).
• If you are a permanent resident of Arunachal Pradesh and have applied for a Permanent Resident Certificate (PRC) or Arunachali Status Certificate, RTI can be used to ask for the status of the application, the records consulted, and the basis for any delay or rejection.

The ILP is administered by the Home Department, Government of Arunachal Pradesh — a state body, so second appeals for ILP RTIs go to APIC.

Note on Article 371(H): The Constitution's special provision for Arunachal Pradesh under Article 371(H) gives the Governor special responsibility regarding law and order. This does not exempt the state government from RTI obligations — it is a governance provision, not an information exclusion. Do not let an RTI response cite Article 371(H) as a reason to deny information unless the information genuinely relates to internal security and falls within Section 8(1)(a) of the RTI Act.

Land Records in Arunachal Pradesh

Land ownership in Arunachal Pradesh is deeply tied to tribal and community structures, and the land records system reflects this.

The Arunachal Pradesh Land Settlement and Records Act, 2000

The Arunachal Pradesh Land Settlement and Records Act, 2000 governs the survey, settlement, and maintenance of land records in the state. The Land Settlement and Records Department is the primary custodian.

Most of Arunachal Pradesh's land is tribal or community-owned, and transfers of land to non-tribals are generally prohibited under state law. This means the land records system is less developed in rural areas compared to states with a long cadastral survey history, but permanent settlement areas — including Itanagar, Naharlagun, and other towns — have more complete cadastral records.

Patta and Land Records in Permanent Settlement Areas

In areas where permanent settlement has been completed, the primary ownership document is the patta — the land grant or ownership certificate issued by the Revenue/Land Settlement Department. The patta records:

• The name of the grantee
• The survey/plot number
• The area
• The category (residential, agricultural, commercial)
• Any conditions of grant

When to use RTI for patta records:

• If a patta application is pending: ask the Land Settlement and Records Department office for the status of application number X, the date of receipt, and the name of the officer holding the file.
• If you suspect that a patta has been issued incorrectly for land you hold: ask for the name of the current patta holder for plot number X, survey number Y, in area/town, and the date on which the current patta was issued.
• If there is a dispute over the area recorded in a patta versus the actual area: ask for the field measurement records (survey extract) for that plot number, and the survey date.

Rural and Tribal Land

For land outside permanent settlement areas, land use is governed by customary tribal law administered through traditional tribal institutions and, for formal purposes, the Deputy Commissioner at the district level. RTI for these matters is addressed to the District Land Records Office or the Deputy Commissioner's office:

• Ask for the record of any government notification or order affecting the land in village, circle, district
• For Forest Rights Act claims: ask for the status of the individual forest rights (IFR) or community forest rights (CFR) claim filed by name/village community under the Forest Rights Act, and whether the claim has been processed by the Forest Rights Committee

Forest Rights Act claims are processed through the tribal welfare machinery under the state government — APIC track. However, if the matter involves central protected forest notifications under the Indian Forest Act, the Forest Department (state) is still the relevant body.

APPDCL: Electricity in a Mountainous State

Arunachal Pradesh Power Distribution Corporation Limited (APPDCL) is the state government body responsible for power distribution in Arunachal Pradesh. It is a state body — second appeals go to APIC.

Given Arunachal Pradesh's mountainous terrain and ongoing rural electrification challenges, electricity-related RTIs most commonly cover:

Billing and metering disputes:

• A copy of the meter reading register or consumption record for consumer number X for the past 12 months
• Whether billing is based on actual meter readings or estimated consumption, and on what basis
• The date and reading of the last physical meter inspection at the premises

New connection delays:

• The status of application number X for a new connection at address, date of filing
• Whether a technical feasibility inspection has been conducted
• The name of the officer responsible for new connection applications in this subdivision/circle

Supply restoration:

• The number of days of unscheduled power outage recorded in area/village during period, and the reasons recorded for each outage
• Whether any Rural Electrification or DDUGJY/Saubhagya scheme work is sanctioned for village, and the current completion status

File with the PIO of the relevant APPDCL division or sub-division.

Hydropower Projects: Compensation, Displacement, and Environmental Compliance

Arunachal Pradesh has one of the largest hydropower potentials in the world, and the state has granted project licences to multiple developers. Two of the largest central PSUs with active operations in Arunachal Pradesh are:

• NHPC Limited — National Hydroelectric Power Corporation, a central PSU under the Ministry of Power
• NEEPCO — North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited, also a central PSU

Both are central bodies — second appeals for RTIs filed with NHPC or NEEPCO go to the CIC, not to APIC.

What to Ask NHPC or NEEPCO

Compensation for project-affected families (PAFs):

• A copy of the resettlement and rehabilitation (R&R) plan for project name, specifically the section relating to village/area
• The number of project-affected families identified and the number to whom compensation has been disbursed as of date
• Whether the household at address/plot number is listed as a project-affected family in the R&R records, and if not, the reason for exclusion

Dam safety and environmental compliance:

• The most recent dam safety inspection report for dam/project name
• The status of compliance with environmental clearance conditions as reported in the latest compliance report submitted to the Ministry of Environment
• A copy of the catchment area treatment plan, if any

Construction damage to downstream communities:

• Records of complaints received from downstream communities regarding flooding, erosion, or water quality changes attributed to the project name during period
• Actions taken in response

For state-assigned hydro projects being developed by Arunachal Pradesh government entities or state PSUs, second appeals go to APIC.

APPSC: Recruitment and Examination Records

The Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) is the constitutional body for state-level recruitment. It is a state body — second appeals go to APIC.

The most effective RTI uses for APPSC are:

• Your marks in each paper of the exam name, year against roll number X
• The cut-off marks applied for each category for the written examination and for inclusion in the final merit list
• The total number of candidates who appeared and the number included in the select list
• The current status of the select list and the number of vacancies reported by the recruiting department

For APPSC examinations where results have been delayed or a candidate expects to be on the list but has not been called for appointment, an RTI asking for the number of advices issued from the select list and the current vacancy position is often the fastest way to get clarity.

Itanagar Municipal Corporation and Urban Bodies

The Itanagar Municipal Corporation (IMC) is the primary urban local body for the capital region. It is a state body — second appeals go to APIC.

RTI is useful for IMC in the following situations:

Building plan approval: Ask for the status of application number X, the date of receipt, whether a site inspection has been conducted, and any objection raised.

Property tax: Ask for the assessment basis and records for property at address, the date of the most recent revision, and the total outstanding demand.

Infrastructure complaints: If you have filed a written complaint about drainage, roads, or sanitation, ask for the date of registration, the department assigned, and any action taken or scheduled.

Forest Rights and Tribal Welfare

Arunachal Pradesh has extensive forest cover — approximately 80 percent of its land area is under forest. The Forest Rights Act, 2006 gives tribal communities and other traditional forest dwellers rights over forest land they have cultivated and inhabited.

RTI can be a powerful tool for:

Individual forest rights (IFR) claims: Ask the Gram Sabha or District Level Committee for the current status of the claim filed by name for land in village under the Forest Rights Act. Ask whether the claim has been forwarded for verification, whether any field inspection has been conducted, and whether a decision has been made.

Community forest rights (CFR): Ask for the list of villages in district/circle for which community forest rights have been recognised, the area involved, and the date of recognition.

Forest Department at the state level handles implementation of the Forest Rights Act — state body, APIC track. The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) is a central body — CIC track for matters involving NTCA-notified protected areas.

State vs. Central Bodies at a Glance

Key RTI Act Sections to Know

• Section 2(h): Definition of "public authority" — the body you are filing against must be a public authority under this definition
• Section 6: How to file — in writing, to the PIO, on plain paper or prescribed form, with the applicable fee
• Section 7(1): PIO must respond within 30 days; within 48 hours if information concerns the life or liberty of a person
• Section 7(5): Information is provided free if the PIO fails to respond within the time limit; BPL cardholders are exempt from fees
• Section 19(1): First Appeal to the FAA within 30 days of the PIO's decision or the expiry of the 30-day response period
• Section 19(3): Second Appeal to APIC (state bodies) or CIC (central bodies)
• Section 20: Penalty of ₹250 per day, maximum ₹25,000, on the defaulting PIO
• Section 15: Establishment of State Information Commissions — the legal basis for APIC

Practical Tips for Filing RTI in Arunachal Pradesh

Identify the correct PIO: Arunachal Pradesh's administrative geography is organised by circle and district. For land record matters, the PIO is usually at the District Land Records Office or Deputy Commissioner's office. For service delivery (electricity, water), the PIO is usually at the divisional or sub-divisional level.

Language: RTI applications may be filed in English. Hindi applications are also generally accepted at state offices. Arunachal Pradesh does not have a single dominant regional language, and English is the official language — English-language applications are entirely appropriate at all levels.

Hydropower and central PSUs: Always check whether the organisation you are filing against is NHPC, NEEPCO, or another central PSU before choosing your appeal track. The PIOs for these organisations are at their respective project offices in Arunachal Pradesh, but second appeals go to CIC in Delhi.

Inner Line Permit: If you are not a permanent resident of Arunachal Pradesh, you need an ILP to be physically present in the state to file an RTI in person. However, RTI applications may be filed by post, and for central bodies, online filing through the central government's portal is available.

Forest and tribal matters: For matters involving the Forest Rights Act or TTAADC-type institutions, ensure you identify whether the body is state-administered or has a central government element. Most forest rights implementation is state-level, but national parks and tiger reserves may involve the NTCA (central).

No portal URLs without verification: Online portals change their structure and addresses. Always verify the current official URL before filing online — do not rely on links in unofficial guides.

Fee: ₹10 for central bodies under the RTI (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005. For state bodies, verify the applicable fee under Arunachal Pradesh's RTI rules. BPL cardholders are exempt under Section 7(5).

RTISathi: File Your Arunachal Pradesh RTI

Whether you are navigating an ILP dispute, tracking compensation from a hydropower project, resolving a land patta discrepancy, or checking your APPSC exam score, RTI is your legal right under the RTI Act, 2005. RTISathi can help you identify the correct PIO, draft a focused application, and manage the appeal process if the PIO fails to respond.

Arunachal Pradesh's unique geography, legal framework, and administrative complexity make it one of the most technically demanding states for RTI filings. Getting the body identification right — state or central, APIC or CIC — is the first essential step.