RTI in Delhi: DDA, Delhi Police, MCD, Delhi Jal Board, and the Two-Commission System Explained

Delhi is the most RTI-intensive jurisdiction in India. The National Capital Territory generates more RTI applications than any other single location — partly because of sheer population, partly because of the density of public institutions, and partly because Delhi residents interact daily with two layers of government in a way that is almost without parallel elsewhere in India. The city is simultaneously the seat of the Central Government and the base of the Government of NCT of Delhi (GNCTD), and dozens of major public bodies exist at both levels.

This creates Delhi's most important RTI problem: knowing which body belongs to which government, and therefore which Information Commission hears your second appeal. Getting this wrong is extremely common — and it is not entirely the citizen's fault. Delhi Police, DDA, and NDMC all feel like Delhi government bodies. They are not. Filing a second appeal with the Delhi Information Commission (DIC) for a Delhi Police matter, or for a DDA allotment dispute, will result in the commission declining jurisdiction. This guide exists to prevent that mistake.

Delhi Has a State Information Commission: The Delhi Information Commission (DIC)

Delhi (NCT of Delhi) is a Union Territory with a legislature — the Delhi Legislative Assembly — and an elected government (GNCTD) with limited powers under Article 239AA of the Constitution. Because Delhi has a legislature, it has its own State Information Commission, the Delhi Information Commission (DIC), established under Section 15 of the RTI Act.

DIC handles second appeals for GNCTD (Delhi government) bodies. CIC in New Delhi handles second appeals for Central Government bodies, even when those bodies are physically located in Delhi.

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

The Central-GNCTD Tension: What Article 239AA Means for RTI

Article 239AA of the Constitution gives Delhi's legislature power over all subjects in the State List and Concurrent List except three: public order, police, and land. These three are reserved for the Central Government (through the Lieutenant Governor). This has very direct RTI implications.

Delhi Police — responsible for public order and policing — is under the Central Government (Ministry of Home Affairs). Second appeals go to CIC.

Delhi's land administration — including DDA and most urban land — is under the Central Government. Second appeals for DDA and land authority bodies go to CIC.

In 2023, Parliament passed the Government of NCT of Delhi (Amendment) Act, which further expanded central government control over services and the bureaucracy in Delhi. This is an ongoing area of constitutional tension, and while it does not directly change the RTI appeal track for the bodies described in this guide, it underscores how complicated the Delhi governance structure is.

The practical RTI rule: if a Delhi body answers to the Lieutenant Governor and the Central Government for its primary function — rather than to the elected GNCTD — it is likely a central body. If it answers to the elected GNCTD, it is likely a GNCTD body.

Delhi Police: Central Government, CIC Track

Delhi Police is under the Home Ministry of the Central Government. It is a central body. Second appeals for Delhi Police RTIs go to CIC.

This is the most common misunderstanding in Delhi RTI. Residents assume that because they live in Delhi and the police station is in their neighbourhood, it is a "Delhi government" body. It is not — Delhi Police has been under central control since the reorganisation of Delhi under Article 239AA.

RTI for Delhi Police:

FIR-related:

• Certified copy of FIR number X/year, police station Y
• Status of complaint dated date filed at police station Y by name — whether an FIR has been registered and if not, the reasons recorded
• Action taken report (ATR) on FIR number X

Traffic:

• Records of accidents on road/stretch during period, including accident reports
• Fine collection records for challans issued under section X of the Motor Vehicles Act at location during period

Verification reports:

• Status of police verification for passport application/tenant verification initiated on date for name at address

Investigation:

• The name and designation of the investigating officer in FIR number X/year, police station Y
• Whether a charge sheet (Section 173 CrPC) has been filed in case number X and if so, the date of filing

File the RTI with the PIO of the relevant police station or police district. Second appeal: CIC.

DDA: Delhi Development Authority — Central Body, CIC Track

The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) is a statutory authority established under the Delhi Development Act, 1957 — a central law. DDA is under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India. It is a central body. Second appeals for DDA RTIs go to CIC.

DDA controls an enormous proportion of Delhi's land — it is the authority for flat allotment, plot allotment, land pooling, land acquisition, and the master plan. The most common RTI subjects for DDA are:

Flat and plot allotment:

• The current status of registration number X in the DDA Housing Scheme year/name
• My current position in the draw/waiting list for flat category, scheme
• Whether any flat/plot has been allotted to registration number X and, if not, the reason for non-allotment
• The number of flats allotted in category from the scheme name and the dates of allotment letters issued

Mutation and lease administration:

• The current name recorded in the conveyance deed or lease deed for flat number X, pocket Y, sector Z
• Status of mutation application number X filed on date and the officer holding the file
• Whether any sub-letting or unauthorised transfer notice has been issued for flat/plot address

Land acquisition and compensation:

• The details and amount of compensation awarded for the acquisition of land in Khasra number X, village Y under DDA notification dated date
• Whether the compensation amount has been deposited with the Land Acquisition Collector and the date of deposit
• Whether any enhanced compensation has been awarded under court order, and whether it has been disbursed

Master plan and zoning:

• The approved land use under the Master Plan for Delhi 2041 for Khasra number X, village Y
• Whether a change of land use has been approved for specific property/plot and, if so, the order number and date

All DDA RTIs: second appeals to CIC.

NDMC: New Delhi Municipal Council — Central Body, CIC Track

The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) governs the Lutyens' Delhi area — the central government zone including Connaught Place, India Gate environs, the diplomatic enclave, and central government residential areas. NDMC is a central government body established under the New Delhi Municipal Council Act, 1994. Second appeals for NDMC RTIs go to CIC.

NDMC has its own online RTI portal — the URL is at online.ndmc.gov.in/rti (not the general central government portal). Verify the current URL before filing.

RTI for NDMC: property tax records, building plan approvals in NDMC areas, maintenance of roads and parks in the NDMC jurisdiction, water and sewerage connections within NDMC limits.

MCD: Municipal Corporation of Delhi — GNCTD Body, DIC Track

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) (now unified into a single corporation after the trifurcation was reversed in 2022) is a GNCTD body — established under the DMC Act, which is a Delhi law. Second appeals for MCD RTIs go to DIC.

MCD governs the vast majority of Delhi's residential and commercial areas outside the NDMC and the cantonment. MCD matters are among the most common RTI subjects for Delhi residents.

Property tax:

• The assessment basis for property at address, including the unit area method calculation and the factors applied
• The complete tax demand history for the property from year to date
• Whether a self-assessment has been filed, and the date and amount
• Copies of any revised assessment notices issued for property address

Building plan sanctions:

• The current status of building plan application number X for address
• The approved plan on record for address, if a plan has been sanctioned
• Whether any notice of violation, show-cause notice, or demolition order has been issued for address, and copies thereof
• The names of officers who inspected the property on date(s)

Trade licence:

• The current status of trade licence application number X for the establishment at address
• Whether any objection has been received and from which authority

Sanitation and solid waste:

• The ward number and name of the safai karamchari/junior engineer responsible for area/ward under MCC/MCD
• Records of complaints about drainage/garbage/road received from area during period and actions taken

MCD RTIs: second appeals to DIC.

Delhi Jal Board (DJB) — GNCTD Body, DIC Track

Delhi Jal Board (DJB) is the entity responsible for water supply, sewerage, and drainage in Delhi. DJB is a GNCTD body — a statutory authority under Delhi law. Second appeals for DJB RTIs go to DIC.

RTI for DJB:

Water billing disputes:

• A copy of the meter reading register for consumer number X for the past 12 months
• Whether billing was based on actual meter readings or minimum charges due to non-availability of reading, and on what basis
• The date and reading recorded during the last physical meter inspection at the premises

New water connection:

• Status of application number X for a new connection at address, filed on date
• Whether any pipeline exists in the road adjacent to address, and whether any capacity constraint has been noted

Sewerage:

• Whether a sewer line exists in the road adjacent to address, and the current connection records for property
• Status of the sewer blockage complaint lodged on date for area/address

Tanker water supply: In many Delhi areas that lack piped water, DJB deploys water tankers. RTI for tanker supply schedules, contractor details, and number of trips allocated to an area is highly relevant for underserved areas.

DMRC: Delhi Metro Rail Corporation — Central Body, CIC Track

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is a joint venture company with equity held by both the Central Government (through the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs) and the GNCTD. Despite GNCTD being a shareholder, DMRC is treated as a central public authority for RTI purposes — the Central Government's role in its establishment and funding puts it on the CIC track. Second appeals for DMRC RTIs go to CIC.

RTI for DMRC:

• Details of land acquisition for phase/line and compensation paid to owners at location
• Tender and contract details for construction work/operations contract
• Procurement records for rolling stock/systems and the selection process
• Accident/incident reports for station/section during period

Delhi Government Schools vs. Central Schools

Delhi has a dual school system that is important for RTI purposes:

Delhi government schools — run by the Directorate of Education, Government of NCT of Delhi — are GNCTD bodies. Second appeals go to DIC.

RTI for Delhi government schools:

• Number of sanctioned versus filled teacher posts in school name, district
• List of beneficiaries of the free textbook or uniform scheme for year in school
• Infrastructure details — number of functional classrooms, toilets, drinking water points at school

Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVS) — run by the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, a central government body under the Ministry of Education — are central bodies. Second appeals go to CIC.

Navodaya Vidyalayas (NVS) — run by the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti, also a central body under Ministry of Education — are central bodies. Second appeals go to CIC.

CBSE — the Central Board of Secondary Education — is a central body under the Ministry of Education. Second appeals go to CIC.

Delhi Electricity: Private Companies and DERC

This is one of the most commonly misunderstood areas of Delhi RTI. Delhi's electricity distribution is managed by three private companies:

• BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd (South and West Delhi)
• BSES Yamuna Power Ltd (East and Central Delhi)
• Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd (TPDDL) (North Delhi)

Private companies are generally not public authorities under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act. The Supreme Court and CIC have consistently held that private distribution companies, even those operating under government licence, are not covered by RTI unless they are substantially financed by government.

You cannot file RTI against BSES or TPDDL for a billing dispute in the way you can for a government body.

However, there are two important exceptions:

Delhi Transco Limited: The state transmission company, a GNCTD entity. It is a public authority — second appeals go to DIC.

Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC): DERC is a regulatory body established under the Electricity Act, 2003 as a GNCTD body. It is a public authority. If your concern is about DERC's regulatory orders, consumer compliance procedures, or how DERC has handled a complaint you escalated about a private distribution company, you can file RTI with DERC. Second appeals for DERC RTIs go to DIC.

For billing disputes with BSES or TPDDL: the correct recourse is through the consumer grievance mechanism of the respective company and, escalating, through the DERC's consumer grievance redressal mechanism (CGRF and Ombudsman) — not RTI.

Land Records in Delhi: Jamabandi and Lal Dora Areas

Delhi's land records situation is complex because the city combines dense urban development with villages (including the historic "lal dora" areas) and rural/agricultural land on the periphery.

Rural and lal dora areas: The Revenue Department of GNCTD maintains Jamabandi (rights records) and other land records for Delhi's rural and lal dora areas. The Revenue Department is a GNCTD body — second appeals for Revenue Department RTIs go to DIC.

For a land records RTI:

• A copy of the Jamabandi entry for Khasra number X, village Y, tehsil Z
• The record of mutation (intkal) for Khasra number X showing the name changes and dates
• Whether any court injunction, government notification, or acquisition notification has been issued affecting Khasra number X

Urban land (DDA and planned areas): As noted above, DDA administers most planned urban land — this is a CIC track matter.

Property mutation at Revenue Sub-Division: Mutation of ownership in Delhi's lal dora and village areas is processed at the Revenue Sub-Division office under the GNCTD Revenue Department — GNCTD body, second appeals to DIC.

AIIMS, Central Universities, and Central Hospitals

AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences) New Delhi: A central autonomous institution established under the AIIMS Act, 1956. Under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. Central body — second appeals go to CIC.

Delhi University: A central university under the University Grants Commission and Ministry of Education. Central body — second appeals go to CIC. Note: affiliated colleges of Delhi University may be state-funded or privately funded — their RTI status varies. Government colleges affiliated to Delhi University that receive substantial state government grants can be public authorities.

Jamia Millia Islamia and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU): Both central universities. CIC track.

Safdarjung Hospital and Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital: Central government hospitals under the Ministry of Health. Central bodies — CIC track.

GTB Hospital (Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital): A Delhi government hospital under the Delhi Health and Family Welfare Department, GNCTD. GNCTD body — DIC track.

LNJP Hospital (Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital): Also a GNCTD hospital, administered by the Delhi State Health Mission. GNCTD body — DIC track.

DPSC and State Recruitment

Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board (DSSSB) and the Delhi Public Service Commission (DPSC) handle recruitment to GNCTD service posts. Both are GNCTD bodies — second appeals go to DIC.

RTI for DSSSB/DPSC:

• Marks scored in exam name, year, roll number
• The cut-off marks applied for each category
• The merit list for post name, notification number
• Whether the select list has been sent to the recruiting department, and if so, on what date

Comprehensive Body Table: DIC or CIC?

Key RTI Act Sections to Know

• Section 2(h): Definition of "public authority" — government-established or substantially government-funded bodies
• 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 free if PIO fails to respond in time; BPL cardholders exempt from fees
• Section 19(1): First Appeal to FAA within 30 days of PIO's decision or the expiry of the 30-day response period
• Section 19(3): Second Appeal to DIC (GNCTD 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 the Delhi Information Commission (DIC)

Practical Tips for Filing RTI in Delhi

The central vs. GNCTD test: For any Delhi body you are unsure about, ask: does it report to an elected minister of the GNCTD (Chief Minister's council), or does it report to the Lieutenant Governor and the Central Government? If the former, it is GNCTD — DIC. If the latter, it is central — CIC.

Police and land are central: No matter how local the matter feels — a neighbourhood police station, a piece of land in Gurgaon Gate — Delhi Police and DDA (land-related) are central bodies. Always CIC for their second appeals.

NDMC portal is different: NDMC has a dedicated online RTI portal at a separate URL from the general central government portal. Verify the current URL directly from NDMC's official website before filing.

Electricity billing: You cannot file RTI against BSES or TPDDL. For regulatory matters, DERC is the correct body and goes to DIC. For billing disputes, use the distribution company's consumer redressal mechanism and, if needed, escalate to DERC's Ombudsman.

Delhi government schools vs. KV/NV: Always confirm whether the school you are concerned about is a Delhi government school (DIC) or a central school (CIC) before filing. The school's name and management structure makes this clear — Kendriya Vidyalayas always have "Kendriya Vidyalaya" in their name.

AIIMS and central hospitals: For PGI-level hospitals in Delhi — AIIMS, Safdarjung, RML — these are always central bodies. DIC has no jurisdiction over them.

No portal URLs without verification: Delhi has multiple RTI filing pathways — one for central bodies, one for GNCTD bodies, and specific ones for bodies like NDMC. Always verify the current official URL before filing online.

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

The 48-hour rule: Under Section 7(1) of the RTI Act, if the information you seek concerns the life or liberty of a person — a missing person case, a prisoner's health condition, a hospital patient's treatment status — the PIO must respond within 48 hours. Cite this provision explicitly in your application if it applies.

RTISathi: File Your Delhi RTI

Delhi's RTI landscape is the most complex in India — two levels of government, dozens of shared institutions, and a set of critical distinctions that catch out thousands of filers every year. Knowing that Delhi Police is central (CIC), DDA is central (CIC), MCD is GNCTD (DIC), and DJB is GNCTD (DIC) is the essential starting point.

Whether you are dealing with a DDA flat allotment that has been pending for years, an MCD property tax dispute, a Delhi Police FIR follow-up, a water bill complaint with DJB, or a records request from AIIMS, RTISathi can help you identify the correct body, choose the correct appeal track, and file a focused application that gives you the best chance of a response.

Delhi citizens have used RTI to expose corruption in land allotment, track down missing compensation payments, force disclosure of school infrastructure deficits, and challenge arbitrary municipal action. The law works — but it works only if you file against the right body.