RTI in Chhattisgarh: Bhuiyan Land Records, CSPDCL, Forest Rights, and the Chhattisgarh Information Commission

Chhattisgarh was carved out of Madhya Pradesh in November 2000 and has since become one of India's most resource-rich and socially complex states. Its vast tribal belts, dense forests, enormous mineral deposits, and large rural population create an environment where public information — about land rights, forest entitlements, mining leases, electricity connections, and welfare scheme disbursements — is simultaneously some of the most contested and most necessary information in the country.

The Right to Information Act, 2005 is the legal mechanism that makes this information accessible. But filing RTI in Chhattisgarh effectively requires understanding the most important structural rule that governs the entire process: the two-track system.

Track 1: Chhattisgarh state government bodies — the Revenue Department and land records administration, CSPDCL (the state power distribution company), the Forest Department, CGPSC (the state public service commission), CG Vyapam (CGVYAPAM), the Chhattisgarh Police, Nagar Palikas, Gram Panchayats, and all other bodies established under or substantially funded by the state government — are state public authorities under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act, 2005. RTI applications for these bodies go through the Chhattisgarh state RTI mechanism (always verify the current portal URL on the official CG government website before filing), and any Second Appeal under Section 19(3) goes to the Chhattisgarh Information Commission (CGIC) at Raipur.

Track 2: Central Government bodies physically located in Chhattisgarh — the Income Tax Department, EPFO regional offices, South East Central Railway (headquartered in Bilaspur), SAIL's Bhilai Steel Plant, South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL — a Coal India subsidiary), NIT Raipur, IIT Bhilai, BSNL — are Central Government public authorities. RTI applications for these bodies are filed on the Central Government portal (rtionline.gov.in), and Second Appeals go to the Central Information Commission (CIC) in New Delhi.

The geographic fact that an office is located in Raipur, Bilaspur, or a remote Chhattisgarh district has no bearing on which track it belongs to. The question is always: which government — Parliament or the Chhattisgarh Legislature — established and controls this public authority?

This guide focuses in depth on the bodies that generate the most RTI activity in Chhattisgarh: the land records system, forest rights, mining, the state power company, state recruitment boards, and both state and central bodies that CG residents regularly need to approach.

The Chhattisgarh Information Commission (CGIC)

The Chhattisgarh Information Commission was established under Section 15 of the RTI Act, 2005, which mandates every state government to constitute a State Information Commission. The CGIC is headquartered in Raipur and has jurisdiction over all Chhattisgarh state public authorities.

Its role in the RTI machinery is specific. CGIC handles:

• Second Appeals under Section 19(3): When a citizen is unsatisfied with the First Appellate Authority's decision, or when the First Appellate Authority gave no decision, the citizen can file a Second Appeal before the CGIC within 90 days of that decision (or expiry of the response period).
• Complaints under Section 18: Where the CPIO denied receipt of an application, charged excessive fees, failed to respond within 30 days, or gave demonstrably incomplete information — the citizen can go directly to the CGIC with a complaint.

First Appeals under Section 19(1) do not go to the CGIC. They go to the First Appellate Authority (a senior officer designated within the same public authority), filed within 30 days of receiving the CPIO's response, or within 30 days of the expiry of the 30-day response period under Section 7(1) if no response was received.

Where a PIO or First Appellate Authority of a CG state body fails to respond, obstructs access, gives misleading information, or destroys records subject to a request, the CGIC can impose a personal penalty on the Public Information Officer under Section 20 of the Act: ₹250 per day of delay up to a maximum of ₹25,000. This personal financial penalty — not institutional — is an important accountability mechanism. The CGIC can also recommend departmental action against the errant officer.

For Central Government bodies operating within Chhattisgarh, the CGIC has no jurisdiction whatsoever. Those second appeals go to the CIC.

Filing Fee and CG RTI Rules

Under Section 28 of the RTI Act, state governments have the authority to frame their own rules governing the fee and procedure for RTI applications to state public authorities. The Chhattisgarh government has framed such rules. Always verify the current fee amount and accepted payment modes on the official Chhattisgarh government website before filing, as these details can be revised by state notification and this guide cannot guarantee it reflects the latest version.

For Central Government bodies in Chhattisgarh, the fee is ₹10 under the RTI (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005, payable through rtionline.gov.in.

Under Section 7(5) of the RTI Act, persons who hold a valid BPL (Below Poverty Line) card are exempt from paying any fee for any RTI application — both the initial application fee and the cost of providing information. This exemption applies to both Central and state RTI applications, and it comes from the parent Act itself and cannot be overridden by state rules. If you hold a BPL card, attach a self-attested copy and explicitly claim the exemption in your application.

Under Section 7(1), the public authority must respond within 30 days of receiving the application. Where the information sought concerns the life or liberty of a person, the proviso to Section 7(1) requires a response within 48 hours. If no response is received within 30 days, the application is deemed refused and you can file a First Appeal under Section 19(1) immediately.

Bhuiyan: Chhattisgarh's Land Records System

Land records are among the most practically important and most contested documents in Chhattisgarh. The state's Revenue Department maintains these records through the Bhuiyan portal — the digital land records system for CG. Before drafting an RTI application about land, understanding what records exist and what each contains will help you ask the right questions.

B1 Khasra: The Landowner's Extract

The B1 (also written as B-1 or Bhuiyan B1) is the landowner's extract — a document that pulls together all the Khasra entries for a given owner within a village into a single consolidated statement. It shows: the owner's name, the list of all plots held by that owner in the village, the area of each plot, and the land classification (irrigated, unirrigated, forest, waste, etc.). The B1 is derived from the Khasra register and is the most commonly requested certified copy for loan applications, property transactions, partition proceedings, and court litigation.

Khasra: The Field-Level Register

The Khasra is the field-level land record maintained at the village level by the Patwari (the lowest level Revenue Department official). Each Khasra entry corresponds to a specific survey number (Khasra number) and records: the boundaries of that plot, the area in the prescribed measure, the land classification, the name of the recorded rights-holder, the cultivator or occupant's name if different from the owner, and seasonal crop details (kharif and rabi). The Khasra is organised by survey number — it is the field register of what exists on the ground.

Naksha: The Field Map

The Naksha (sometimes called Bhunaksha) is the field map that corresponds to the Khasra — the graphical representation of survey numbers within a village, showing plot boundaries, dimensions, and spatial relationships. The Naksha is particularly important in boundary disputes, encroachment cases, and verification of plot shape or access.

Revenue Administration Hierarchy

The Revenue administration in Chhattisgarh runs: Patwari (village level — maintains day-to-day records, Khasra, B1, Naksha) → Tehsildar (tehsil level — handles mutations, corrections, and appeals against Patwari decisions) → Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) → Collector (district level). For most land-related RTI applications, the relevant CPIO is at the Tehsil Revenue Office (for tehsil-level records) or the District Collector's office (for district-level records or escalated matters).

When to Use RTI for CG Land Records

When records are wrong: The Bhuiyan portal provides online access to B1 and Khasra data. If the portal shows an incorrect name, wrong area, or wrong land classification, the portal view is drawn from the Revenue Department's official records. An RTI asking for the actual Khasra entry for survey number X, village Y, tehsil Z, district W — including the date of the last correction and who authorised it — can establish the official position and form the basis for a formal correction application.

When a mutation (Naama) is stuck: Mutation is the process of updating revenue records to reflect a change in ownership after sale, inheritance, gift, or court decree. Mutations can sit undecided for months or years. An RTI to the Tehsildar asking for the status of mutation case number X, the date of submission, the current stage, and the reasons for any delay — creates a timestamped paper trail and frequently accelerates action.

When you need certified copies of historical records: For older land transactions, family partition records, or litigation, you may need certified copies of historical Khasra or B1 entries that are not on the Bhuiyan portal. An RTI to the Tehsil Revenue Office asking for a certified copy of the Khasra/B1 entry for survey number X, village Y, tehsil Z, district W, for year year can produce documents that are not otherwise publicly accessible.

When verifying encroachment or unauthorised possession: RTI can produce the official record of who is recorded as holding rights over a plot — which can be compared to physical possession on the ground.

Drafting your land RTI: Always include the four elements that identify the specific record: survey number (Khasra number), village name, tehsil name, and district name. Without these four, the Revenue office cannot locate the specific record and has legitimate grounds to seek clarification, adding another 30-day cycle. If you have a mutation case number, include it. Address the application to the CPIO of the relevant Tehsil Revenue Office.

The Revenue Department and Bhuiyan records are CG state bodies. Second appeals go to the CGIC. Always verify the current Bhuiyan portal URL on the official CG government website before accessing it — do not rely on third-party links.

Forest Rights Act RTI: FRA 2006 and Tribal Entitlements

Chhattisgarh has some of India's most extensive forest areas and a substantial tribal population. The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 (FRA 2006) was enacted to recognise and vest the forest rights of Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers who have been occupying forest land for generations.

FRA 2006 provides for two categories of rights: Individual Forest Rights (IFRs) — the right of a forest-dwelling household to hold and live on forest land that they occupy — and Community Forest Rights (CFRs) — community rights over community forest resources within traditional boundaries.

The FRA process is administered through a three-tier structure: the Gram Sabha's Forest Rights Committee (FRC) at the village level, the Sub-Divisional Level Committee (SDLC) at the sub-division level, and the District Level Committee (DLC) chaired by the District Collector. The state government's Tribal Welfare (also called Adivasi Vikas) Department is the nodal department at the state level.

RTI is one of the most effective tools for tribal forest rights claimants in Chhattisgarh, because the administrative process is poorly documented and claimants frequently receive no reason for rejection, no communication about their file's status, and no response to verbal inquiries.

RTI Use Cases under FRA in CG

Title deed status: If you filed an FRA claim (IFR or CFR) and have not received a title deed or a formal rejection, an RTI asking for: the current status of your claim (FRC reference number), the stage at which it is pending (FRC, SDLC, or DLC), the date it was received by each committee, and whether any decision was taken — creates a formal record and compels the office to acknowledge the file.

Reasons for rejection: FRA 2006 requires that rejections be communicated with reasons, and the claimant must be given an opportunity to respond. In practice, many claims are rejected without reasons or without proper procedure. An RTI asking for the reasons recorded for rejection of claim number X, the written order of rejection, and the minutes of the committee meeting at which the decision was taken — gives you the documentation needed to appeal the rejection under FRA's internal appeal process or to approach the Collector.

FRC and Gram Sabha proceedings: The Gram Sabha and its FRC are the first point of processing. If a Gram Sabha resolution was passed for or against a claim, RTI can obtain: the Gram Sabha resolution, the FRC's recommendation, the attendance record of the Gram Sabha meeting, and the meeting minutes. These are formal government records held by the Gram Sabha and Sub-Division office.

FRA statistics: Asking the District Collector's office or the Tribal Welfare Department for: the total number of individual FRA claims filed in a given district, the number granted, the number rejected, the number pending, and the area covered — gives community-level transparency data. This statistical request does not identify individuals and is straightforwardly disclosable.

District Collector's FRA orders: The DLC (chaired by the Collector) is the final decision-making body under FRA for IFRs and has a supervisory role for CFRs. RTI applications for DLC orders, minutes of DLC meetings at which your area or your claim was discussed, and correspondence between the SDLC and DLC regarding your claim — can all be requested.

The FRA process is administered by the CG Tribal Welfare Department and the Revenue / Forest Departments — all state bodies. RTI applications go through the CG state mechanism. Second appeals go to the CGIC.

PESA 1996: Gram Sabha Consent for Land Acquisition in Scheduled Areas

Chhattisgarh has a significant portion of its territory designated as Scheduled Areas under the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution. In these areas, the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA 1996) gives Gram Sabhas significant powers, including the requirement to be consulted before land acquisition, resettlement, or displacement, and the right to mandatory consultation before granting prospecting licences or mining leases for minor minerals.

Citizens in Scheduled Areas can use RTI to ask:

• Whether the Gram Sabha was consulted before a land acquisition notification was issued for a specific plot or area.
• The minutes of any Gram Sabha meeting at which the land acquisition or mining proposal was placed.
• Whether the Gram Sabha passed a resolution consenting to or objecting to the acquisition.
• The correspondence between the Collector and the Gram Sabha regarding consent.

This information is relevant in land acquisition challenges and in public interest work around PESA compliance. These are state government records held by the Revenue Department, Panchayat and Rural Development Department, and local Gram Sabha offices. Second appeals go to the CGIC.

Mining in Chhattisgarh: Leases, Clearances, and Land Acquisition

Chhattisgarh is one of India's largest mineral-producing states — a major source of coal, iron ore, limestone, dolomite, bauxite, and other minerals. Mining operations in the state involve an extensive layer of government records: lease grants, environmental clearances, land acquisition for mining projects, and compensation disbursements to affected communities.

CG Department of Geology and Mining is the state body responsible for granting mining leases for minerals under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, as amended, for those minerals over which the state has jurisdiction. It is a CG state body. RTI applications go through the CG state mechanism. Second appeals go to the CGIC.

RTI use cases for mining:

• Mining lease records: Asking for the terms of a specific mining lease — the lessee, the area in hectares, the duration, the minerals covered, and the royalty structure — is a straightforward public records request. Lease details are administrative records held by the Department of Geology and Mining.
• Environmental clearance (EC) status: For large mining projects, an Environmental Clearance from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) is required. MoEFCC is a Central Government body — RTI for the EC would go on rtionline.gov.in to the MoEFCC CPIO. For the state-level forest clearance or forest diversion approval (where the project requires diversion of forest land), the state Forest Department and the MoEFCC Regional Office are both involved — verify which body holds the specific record you need and file accordingly.
• Land acquisition for mining: Where private agricultural or community land has been acquired for a mining project or related infrastructure, the land acquisition records — notification, award, compensation calculation, and disbursement — are held by the Revenue Department and the District Collector's office. These are state records. Second appeals go to the CGIC.
• CSR and rehabilitation records: Large mining companies operating in CG are required under various regulations to make CSR contributions and provide rehabilitation packages to displaced communities. The monitoring of these obligations involves both state and central agencies depending on the company's ownership.

Coal mines in Chhattisgarh are primarily operated by South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) — a subsidiary of Coal India Limited, which is a Central Government PSU. SECL is a Central public authority. RTI applications to SECL are filed on rtionline.gov.in. Second appeals go to the CIC, not the CGIC.

CSPDCL: Chhattisgarh State Power Distribution Company

Electricity distribution in Chhattisgarh is primarily handled by CSPDCL (Chhattisgarh State Power Distribution Company Limited) for most of the state. The broader power sector in CG also includes generation and transmission companies — CSPGCL (Chhattisgarh State Power Generation Company Limited) and CSPTCL (Chhattisgarh State Power Transmission Company Limited).

All three — CSPDCL, CSPGCL, and CSPTCL — are CG state public sector undertakings under the state government. RTI applications go through the CG state mechanism. Second appeals go to the CGIC.

RTI Uses for CSPDCL

Billing disputes: If your electricity bill shows consumption figures that appear incorrect or implausibly high, an RTI to CSPDCL asking for: the meter readings recorded for your consumer number for each billing cycle over the past 12 months, the dates of meter readings, the consumption recorded, and the bill amounts — gives you the raw data to identify whether there is a billing error, a faulty meter, or an unexplained spike. Many billing disputes that the consumer helpline does not resolve get corrected after an RTI.

Meter testing records: If you believe your meter is faulty or running fast and have applied for meter testing, an RTI asking for the meter test report, the date of testing, the testing methodology used, and the findings as recorded by the testing engineer — can confirm whether the testing was actually conducted and what it found.

New connection application status: New electricity connection applications can sit in processing for months without explanation. An RTI asking for the current status of application number X, the date of receipt, the stage at which it is pending, the officer currently responsible, and the reasons for any delay — creates a paper trail and frequently prompts action.

Transformer fault and outage history: Residents in areas with recurring power outages or transformer failures can ask for the maintenance log for the transformer serving a specific feeder or area, the fault history, the dates of outages, the restoration times, and the scheduled maintenance calendar. This is particularly relevant in rural areas of CG where outages are frequent.

Subsidy application status: Applicants for agricultural connections or subsidised domestic connections can ask for the status of their application and the documents or approvals that remain pending.

CGPSC: Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission

The Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission (CGPSC) is the constitutional body established under Article 315 of the Constitution, constituted by the CG state government, and responsible for conducting the state civil services examination and other Group A and B recruitment examinations for the CG state government.

CGPSC is a CG state public authority. RTI applications go through the CG state mechanism. Second appeals go to the CGIC.

RTI uses for CGPSC:

• Marks in Preliminary and Mains exams: Candidates have consistently and successfully used RTI to obtain their marks or scores in CGPSC examinations. Include your roll number, the full name of the examination, and the year it was conducted.
• Interview marks and criteria: For candidates who reach the interview stage, RTI can be used to ask for the marks awarded at the interview, the criteria applied by the interview board, and the aggregate score. Interview marks are frequently the deciding factor at the final selection stage.
• Answer key and question paper: After an exam is declared and results are out, asking for the official final answer key (post-challenge) and the question paper is a routine and valid RTI request.
• Merit list and category-wise cut-offs: The final merit list, the number of vacancies advertised and filled, and the cut-off marks for each category (General, SC, ST, OBC) are public process information.

CGVYAPAM: Chhattisgarh Professional Examination Board

The Chhattisgarh Professional Examination Board (CG VYAPAM or CGVYAPAM) conducts recruitment examinations for a range of state government posts — including lower-division and upper-division clerical posts, police constable and sub-inspector recruitment, teacher eligibility tests (TET), and various other para-medical and technical cadre examinations.

CGVYAPAM is a CG state public authority. RTI applications go through the CG state mechanism. Second appeals go to the CGIC.

RTI uses are the same as for CGPSC: marks obtained, answer key, merit list, selection list, normalisation methodology where applicable. Always include your roll number and the full name and year of the examination.

Chhattisgarh Police

Chhattisgarh Police is a state police force constituted under CG state law and under the administrative control of the CG Home Department. It is entirely a state body. RTI applications go through the CG state mechanism. Second appeals go to the CGIC.

This is different from Central Armed Forces (CRPF, BSF, CISF) that are deployed in Chhattisgarh — those are Central Government bodies and follow the central track.

RTI uses for CG Police:

• FIR copy: Use Section 154(2) of the CrPC first — the informant has a direct legal right to a free copy of the FIR at the time of registration. If that right is denied, or the police claim no FIR was registered, escalate through RTI: ask whether an FIR was registered, the FIR number, and request a certified copy.
• Action taken on a complaint: If you filed a written complaint at a police station and received an acknowledgment, an RTI asking for the current status and action taken puts the response on the record.
• Charge sheet filing status: Once investigation concludes — whether by charge sheet or closure report — the final stage and date can be confirmed through RTI.

The key caveat is Section 8(1)(h) of the RTI Act, which exempts information that would impede an ongoing investigation or prosecution. Case diary contents for a live investigation are generally not disclosable. However, the FIR itself, the administrative status (open or closed), and records relating to concluded proceedings are not protected by this exemption.

MGNREGS and PMAYG: Central Schemes at the Gram Panchayat Level

A source of confusion for many citizens in Chhattisgarh involves welfare schemes like MGNREGS (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme) and PMAYG (Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana — Gramin). These are Central Government schemes — funded from the Central budget and governed by Ministry of Rural Development guidelines. The implementing agencies are Gram Panchayats and state/district level rural development officials.

For RTI purposes, the Gram Panchayat implementing a Central scheme is considered to be acting in the capacity of a body substantially funded by the Central Government when discharging functions under that scheme. In practice, many citizens file RTI at the Gram Panchayat level — asking for MGNREGS muster rolls, job cards, work completion records, PMAYG allotment lists, and fund disbursement records. The RTI is filed with the Gram Panchayat Secretary or the Block Development Officer (BDO), who functions as the CPIO for scheme-related records at that level.

For second appeals on MGNREGS/PMAYG matters at the Gram Panchayat level in Chhattisgarh, the appellate commission is typically the CGIC in practice, since the implementing body is located within CG's administrative hierarchy. However, if the subject of the RTI is a Ministry of Rural Development office or a Central Government body's own records (rather than the local Gram Panchayat's scheme implementation records), the CIC track applies. When in doubt, file with the body that actually holds the record, and check its own Section 4 disclosures for the designated CPIO and appellate authority.

Central Government Bodies in Chhattisgarh: File on rtionline.gov.in, Appeal to CIC

The following types of bodies, even if physically located in Chhattisgarh, are Central Government public authorities. Their RTI applications are filed on rtionline.gov.in. Second appeals go to the CIC:

• Income Tax Department (all offices under the Principal CIT, Raipur / Bilaspur)
• EPFO Regional Office in Raipur and other CG locations — under Ministry of Labour and Employment
• South East Central Railway (SECR) headquartered in Bilaspur — Indian Railways is a Central Government body
• NIT Raipur (National Institute of Technology Raipur) — Centrally funded technical institution under Ministry of Education
• IIT Bhilai — established under the Parliament; Central Government institution
• SAIL — Bhilai Steel Plant: Steel Authority of India Limited is a Central Government PSU. The Bhilai Steel Plant, located in Durg district, is one of India's largest integrated steel plants and is a major Central public authority in CG. RTI applications to BSP go on rtionline.gov.in. Second appeals go to the CIC.
• SECL (South Eastern Coalfields Limited): A subsidiary of Coal India Limited, a Central Government Navratna PSU. SECL operates extensive coal mines across Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. RTI applications go on rtionline.gov.in. Second appeals go to the CIC.
• BSNL (Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited): Central Government PSU — CIC for second appeals.
• Customs and CBIC offices (GST commissionerates and customs units) — under Ministry of Finance
• Central Coalfields / Ministry of Coal offices involved in coal block allocation — Central track

A common mistake is filing an RTI for SECL, SAIL-BSP, or South East Central Railway through the CG state mechanism or appealing to the CGIC. The CGIC has no jurisdiction over these bodies. Filing on the wrong track delays your application and wastes your appeal opportunity.

Quick Reference: Key CG Bodies, Track, and Appeal

Always verify the current CG state RTI portal URL on the official Chhattisgarh government website before filing — do not rely on third-party links or search results. Portal infrastructure can change, and using an outdated URL may mean your application goes nowhere.

Section Numbers to Know When Filing in CG

A well-grounded RTI application cites the relevant statutory provisions. Here are the sections that apply to RTI work in Chhattisgarh:

• Section 2(h): Defines "public authority" — every body in the tables above qualifies.
• Section 6: The filing provision — how you formally request information.
• Section 7(1): The 30-day response window for the public authority.
• Section 7(1) proviso: 48-hour response where information concerns the life or liberty of a person.
• Section 7(5): BPL cardholders are exempt from all RTI fees.
• Section 8(1)(h): Exemption for ongoing investigation or prosecution — relevant for police-related RTI applications.
• Section 15: Statutory basis for state information commissions — the authority under which the CGIC was established.
• Section 19(1): First Appeal within 30 days of the date of decision or expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable.
• Section 19(3): Second Appeal to the CGIC (for CG state bodies) or CIC (for Central bodies), filed within 90 days of the First Appellate Authority's decision or expiry of the First Appeal response period.
• Section 20: Penalty on the PIO — ₹250 per day, up to ₹25,000 — imposable by the information commission.
• Section 28: Authority of state governments to frame their own RTI fee rules.

Two external statutes also matter for Chhattisgarh-specific RTI work:

• FRA 2006 (Forest Rights Act): The substantive law for forest rights claims. RTI under the RTI Act is the tool to access the administrative records generated under the FRA 2006 process.
• PESA 1996 (Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas Act): The statutory basis for Gram Sabha consent requirements in Scheduled Areas. RTI can produce the government-held records about whether PESA compliance was observed.

Practical Tips for CG RTI Applications

For land records (Revenue Department): Always include all four identifying elements — survey number (Khasra number), village name, tehsil name, and district name. Without these, the CPIO has legitimate grounds to seek clarification, adding a 30-day cycle. Include mutation case numbers if you have them.

For FRA forest rights claims: Include your FRA claim number (if issued), the name of the village, tehsil, and district, and the name of the Gram Sabha. Specify clearly which level of the committee (FRC, SDLC, or DLC) you believe holds the record. If you do not have a claim number, describe the year you filed and the type of claim (individual or community).

For mining-related RTI: Distinguish clearly whether you are asking about a lease held by a state-level concessionaire (CG state track, CGIC) or a Coal India subsidiary like SECL (Central track, CIC). The Department of Geology and Mining is the relevant state body for non-coal minerals. For coal, SECL and the Ministry of Coal are Central bodies.

For CSPDCL: Always include your consumer account number (or service connection number), the specific billing period in question, and any application reference numbers you have (for new connections, meter testing requests). The CPIO cannot locate your file without these identifiers.

For CGPSC/CGVYAPAM: Include your roll number, the full name of the examination, and the year it was conducted. Without the roll number, a request for your marks is unanswerable.

For CG Police: Include the police station name, district, date of the complaint or incident, and any complaint number or FIR number given. Be specific about what you are asking for — FIR copy, action taken report, or stage of investigation — because these may be held by different officers.

On portal URLs: The CG state RTI portal URL must be verified on the official Chhattisgarh government website (cgstate.gov.in or the relevant department site) before filing. Do not use links from search results or third-party sources. Similarly, always verify that the CPIO you are addressing is correctly designated for the body you are filing against.

On the penalty mechanism: When you file a Second Appeal or complaint before the CGIC, build the case for Section 20 penalty imposition by including: the date of your original application, proof of payment (postal receipt or online payment acknowledgment), the date of any response (or its absence), your First Appeal submission, and the First Appellate Authority's response (or its absence). The stronger your paper trail, the stronger your case for a personal penalty on the PIO.

About RTISathi: RTISathi.com specialises in helping citizens file RTI applications with Central Government bodies and Delhi State Government bodies. If your RTI relates to a Central Government body in Chhattisgarh — SECL (Coal India subsidiary), SAIL Bhilai Steel Plant, South East Central Railway, NIT Raipur, IIT Bhilai, EPFO, Income Tax, or BSNL — RTISathi can help you file correctly on rtionline.gov.in with the appeal going to the CIC.

For RTI applications to Chhattisgarh state bodies — Bhuiyan land records, CG Forest and Tribal Welfare Department, CSPDCL, CGPSC, CGVYAPAM, CG Police, CG Geology and Mining, and other CG state authorities — you will need to use the official CG state RTI portal. Verify the current portal URL on the official CG government website before filing. The process and appeal chain (to the CGIC) are distinct from the Central Government track, and filing on the wrong portal delays your application entirely.

Whether your RTI sits on the Central track or the CG state track, the 30-day clock under Section 7(1), the First Appeal right under Section 19(1), and the Second Appeal right under Section 19(3) apply equally. Know your track, file on the right portal, and follow through to the commission if needed.

RTISathi.com — helping citizens navigate Central Government and Delhi State RTI applications.