Can You File RTI in Your Regional Language? Hindi, Tamil, Bengali, and More

One of the least-discussed aspects of the Right to Information Act, 2005 is also one of its most democratic: the language you file in is not fixed. The law does not require you to know English. It does not require you to write in Hindi if you live in a state where another language is official. The RTI Act makes a deliberate choice to meet citizens where they are, linguistically — and understanding exactly what that means in practice can make the difference between filing an application yourself or not filing at all.

This guide covers the statutory basis for regional language filing, what it means state by state, where the practical limits are, what to do when a PIO refuses a legitimately filed application, and how oral applications work for citizens who cannot read or write.

The Statutory Basis: Section 6(1) of the RTI Act

The right to file in a regional language comes directly from Section 6(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005. The provision reads, in relevant part:

"A person, who desires to obtain any information under this Act, shall make a request in writing or through electronic means in English or Hindi or in the official language of the area in which the application is being made, to the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be..."

Three languages — or rather, three categories of language — are authorised:

1. English — always acceptable to any public authority anywhere in India
2. Hindi — always acceptable to any public authority anywhere in India
3. The official language of the area — acceptable at public authorities in that area

The third category is the one that opens the door to Tamil, Bengali, Marathi, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, Odia, Gujarati, Punjabi, and the other scheduled languages where they are official languages in their respective regions.

The fee is ₹10 under the RTI (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005, payable in any of these languages — filing language does not affect the fee. BPL cardholders are exempt from all fees regardless of the language they file in.

The Constitutional and Legislative Framework Behind Language Rights

Section 6(1) does not exist in a vacuum. It draws on a wider constitutional and legislative framework that recognises language plurality as a fact of Indian governance.

Articles 345 and 346 of the Constitution give state legislatures the power to adopt one or more languages in use in their state as the official language for official purposes of that state. Nearly every state has exercised this power. Tamil Nadu has adopted Tamil; West Bengal has adopted Bengali; Maharashtra has adopted Marathi; Karnataka has adopted Kannada; Andhra Pradesh has adopted Telugu; Kerala has adopted Malayalam; Odisha has adopted Odia; Gujarat has adopted Gujarati; Punjab has adopted Punjabi.

The Official Languages Act, 1963 governs the use of Hindi and English for Central Government purposes. Under this Act, Hindi and English are the official languages of the Union for official communication. However — and this is the part the RTI Act's Section 6(1) makes explicit — when a citizen is communicating with a government body in a particular region, the official language of that region has a legitimate place in the interaction.

This means Section 6(1) is not a special concession or an administrative policy that can be reversed by the government of the day. It is grounded in the Constitution's recognition of India's linguistic diversity.

What "Official Language of the Area" Means in Practice

This phrase — "official language of the area" — is where interpretation matters.

For state public authorities (government of Tamil Nadu, government of West Bengal, BMC Mumbai, TANGEDCO, KSEB, etc.), the official language of the area is clearly the state's official language. A Tamil Nadu state body must accept an RTI application in Tamil. A West Bengal state body must accept one in Bengali. This is straightforward.

For Central Government public authorities located in those states, the position is more nuanced. Central bodies — ministries in Delhi, Income Tax department offices, EPFO regional offices, Railway Zones, central PSUs, and so on — operate primarily in Hindi and English under the Official Languages Act, 1963. The RTI Act's Section 6(1) allows filing in "the official language of the area," but a Central Government office in Chennai would have a reasonable basis for contending that its official languages for operations are Hindi and English.

However, many Central Government regional offices located in non-Hindi-speaking states do, in practice, accept applications in the state language — particularly district-level offices and regional offices that interact closely with the local population. The legal right is clearer for state bodies; for Central bodies, the practical position varies by office and by state. When in doubt, filing in Hindi is the safer choice for Central bodies outside Delhi, because Hindi is explicitly recognised in Section 6(1) as always acceptable.

Within Delhi: The official language of Delhi is Hindi (Delhi Official Language Act, 2000 recognises Hindi as the state language and Punjabi and Urdu as second official languages). Applications in Hindi, English, Urdu, or Punjabi are therefore appropriate for Delhi state bodies.

Tamil Nadu: Filing RTI in Tamil

Tamil has been the official language of Tamil Nadu since well before the RTI Act came into force. Under Section 6(1), RTI applications to Tamil Nadu state public authorities — the state government, TANGEDCO, CMDA, Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board, state police, revenue department, Registrar of Cooperative Societies, and all other state bodies — can and should be accepted in Tamil.

The Tamil Nadu Information Commission and its predecessor body have recognised this right. If you are more comfortable drafting your application in Tamil and your query concerns a Tamil Nadu state authority, there is no legal requirement to write in English.

For Central Government offices in Tamil Nadu — the Chennai Regional Passport Office, Income Tax Department offices, Chennai Customs, Southern Railway Zone, and so on — Hindi or English is the more reliable choice, though many district-level Central offices do accept Tamil.

Practical tip for Tamil Nadu: If filing at rtionline.gov.in for a Central body, the portal accepts applications in Tamil script. The CPIO is required to respond — though some Central offices may respond in Hindi or English even if the query is in Tamil.

West Bengal: Filing RTI in Bengali

Bengali (Bangla) is the official language of West Bengal. RTI applications to West Bengal state authorities — the state secretariat, KMC, WBSEDCL, WBHIDCO, district magistrate offices, state police, land records authorities — may be filed in Bengali.

The West Bengal Information Commission conducts its proceedings and accepts appeals in Bengali. For most West Bengal state body RTI applications, Bengali is entirely appropriate and the CPIO is required to respond substantively to the application regardless of its language.

For Central bodies in West Bengal — the Eastern Railway, Kolkata Customs, EPFO regional offices in Kolkata — Hindi or English remains the more reliable choice.

Maharashtra: Filing RTI in Marathi

Marathi is the official language of Maharashtra. RTI applications to Maharashtra state bodies — MHADA, BMC, MSEDCL, the Revenue Department, Maharashtra Police, District Collector offices — may be filed in Marathi.

Maharashtra's RTI rules recognise Marathi as a filing language, and the Maharashtra State Information Commission routinely handles Marathi-language applications and appeals. If you are a resident of Maharashtra filing against a state authority, Marathi is a fully legitimate choice.

For Central bodies based in Maharashtra — offices of ministries, Central Railways, Western Railways — English or Hindi is more reliable.

Karnataka: Filing RTI in Kannada

Kannada is the first official language of Karnataka under the Karnataka Official Language Act, 1963. RTI applications to Karnataka state bodies — BBMP, BDA, BESCOM, state police, Revenue Department, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike — may be filed in Kannada.

The Karnataka Information Commission (KIC) accepts petitions and appeals in Kannada. For state-level RTI matters in Karnataka, Kannada is a fully supported language.

Andhra Pradesh and Telangana: Filing RTI in Telugu

Telugu is the official language of both Andhra Pradesh (post-bifurcation) and Telangana. RTI applications to state bodies in either state — the Revenue Department, state electricity boards, GHMC, housing boards, state police — may be filed in Telugu.

After bifurcation in 2014, each state has its own State Information Commission: the Andhra Pradesh Information Commission and the Telangana State Information Commission. Both recognise Telugu as the appropriate language for state-level RTI matters.

Kerala: Filing RTI in Malayalam

Malayalam is the official language of Kerala under the Kerala Official Language Act, 1969. RTI applications to Kerala state bodies — Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB), state police, Revenue Department, local self-government bodies — may be filed in Malayalam.

The Kerala State Information Commission accepts Malayalam-language appeals and issues orders in Malayalam. For citizens in Kerala filing against state authorities, Malayalam is entirely appropriate.

Odisha: Filing RTI in Odia

Odia — also written as Oriya — is the official language of Odisha and holds the distinction of being a Classical Language of India recognised by the Government of India. RTI applications to Odisha state bodies may be filed in Odia.

The Odisha Information Commission accepts Odia-language materials. Given the high proportion of rural citizens in Odisha who are more comfortable in Odia than in English, this provision has practical importance for access to government information in the state.

Gujarat: Filing RTI in Gujarati

Gujarati is the official language of Gujarat under the Gujarat Official Language Act, 1979. RTI applications to Gujarat state bodies — RERA, state electricity boards, AMC, district authorities — may be filed in Gujarati.

The Gujarat Information Commission (GIC) accepts Gujarati-language applications and appeals. For state-level RTI matters in Gujarat, Gujarati is fully supported.

Punjab: Filing RTI in Punjabi

Punjabi (in Gurmukhi script) is the first official language of Punjab. RTI applications to Punjab state bodies — Punjab Police, Revenue Department, PSPCL, Punjab RERA, housing boards — may be filed in Punjabi.

The Punjab State Information Commission accepts Punjabi-language materials. Note the important distinction that Chandigarh is a Union Territory, not a state, and Chandigarh UT bodies are Central Government bodies — RTI with Chandigarh UT authorities goes to the CIC, not the Punjab SIC, and Hindi or English is the more reliable language choice.

Filing RTI in Hindi for Central Government Bodies: The Recommended Choice for Rural Applicants

For any RTI application directed at a Central Government public authority — central ministries, EPFO, Income Tax, Passport Offices, Railway Zones, NTA, SEBI, RBI, CGHS, and all bodies under the Union government — Hindi is explicitly authorised by Section 6(1) and is always accepted.

This is particularly important for applicants from north and central India who are comfortable in Hindi but not in English. There is no reason to write in English if Hindi is your stronger language. The RTI Act was intentionally written to include Hindi as an alternative to English precisely so that citizens across the Hindi belt — Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Uttarakhand — could file without needing to write in a second language.

The rtionline.gov.in portal supports Hindi input in Devanagari script. When you type your application on the portal, you can switch to Devanagari input using the language toggle. The 3,000-character limit on the portal applies to all languages equally.

A sample opening line for an RTI application in Hindi might read:

"मैं भारत का एक नागरिक हूं और सूचना का अधिकार अधिनियम, 2005 की धारा 6(1) के अंतर्गत आपसे निम्नलिखित जानकारी मांगता/मांगती हूं।"

Transliteration: "Main Bharat ka ek nagarik hoon aur Soochna ka Adhikar Adhiniyam, 2005 ki dhara 6(1) ke antargat aapse nimnlikhit jaankari mangta/mangti hoon."

Translation: "I am a citizen of India and seek the following information from you under Section 6(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005."

The fee of ₹10 is the same whether you write in Hindi, English, Tamil, Bengali, or any other Section 6(1) authorised language. For postal filing in Hindi, a postal order (IPO) of ₹10 made out to the Accounts Officer of the public authority is the standard method. For online filing in Hindi, the rtionline.gov.in payment gateway accepts UPI, debit cards, credit cards, and net banking.

What Happens When a PIO Refuses a Validly Filed Regional Language Application

This is where things sometimes go wrong in practice — and knowing your legal position matters.

If a PIO refuses to accept, process, or respond to an RTI application that is filed in a language authorised by Section 6(1) — because the PIO "doesn't understand" the language, or because the office "only processes applications in English," or because no reason is given at all — that refusal is itself a violation of the RTI Act.

The CPIO cannot refuse to accept an application in a legally permitted language. The obligation to arrange for translation or to refer the application to an officer who can process it lies with the public authority, not with the citizen.

Your remedies are:

First Appeal under Section 19(1): File a First Appeal with the First Appellate Authority (FAA), who is an officer senior to the CPIO within the same public authority. In your First Appeal, state that the application was filed in a language authorised by Section 6(1) of the RTI Act, 2005, and that the CPIO's refusal to process it is a statutory violation. The FAA can direct the CPIO to process the application. The First Appeal must be filed within 30 days of the date of the CPIO's decision or, if the CPIO simply did not respond, within 30 days of the expiry of the 30-day response period.

Complaint under Section 18 to CIC/SIC/DIC: If the PIO refused to accept the application in the first place (as opposed to processing and then wrongly refusing information), Section 18 of the RTI Act empowers the Central Information Commission or the relevant State Information Commission to inquire into the complaint. Refusing to accept an application is one of the Section 18(1) grounds for a direct complaint. For Central bodies, this goes to the CIC; for Delhi state bodies, to the DIC; for other state bodies, to the relevant SIC.

Second Appeal under Section 19(3): If the First Appeal does not resolve the matter, escalate to a Second Appeal — to the CIC for Central bodies, or the relevant State Information Commission for state bodies, within 90 days of the FAA's decision or the date the FAA should have decided.

The Central Information Commission has, in several decisions, made clear that PIOs cannot refuse to process applications on the basis of language where the language is authorised by Section 6(1). State Information Commissions in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, and West Bengal have similarly upheld the right to file in the respective state languages.

Section 20 penalty: Where a PIO's refusal to process a valid application is found to be without reasonable cause, the CIC or SIC may impose a personal financial penalty on the PIO of ₹250 per day of default, up to a maximum of ₹25,000. This penalty is paid from the PIO's own salary, not from public funds.

Oral Applications: Section 6(3) and Filing Without Writing

Section 6(1) requires an application "in writing or through electronic means." But the RTI Act makes an important exception for citizens who cannot read or write.

Section 6(3) provides:

"Where an applicant is unable to make a request in writing, the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer shall render all reasonable assistance to the person making the request orally to reduce the same in writing and in such case, the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, shall give a copy of the reduced request to the applicant."

This is a significant provision. It means that if you visit the CPIO's office in person and explain orally what information you want — in your language — the CPIO is legally required to reduce your request to writing, read it back to you, and give you a copy of what has been written.

The oral application procedure matters for:

• Illiterate citizens who cannot write in any language
• Elderly applicants unfamiliar with forms and written procedures
• Rural applicants who may know exactly what information they need but lack the formal literacy to write an application

The key limitation of the oral application provision is that it requires you to physically visit the CPIO's office. This is not possible through online portals or by post. For citizens who cannot visit in person but can find a literate helper — a local NGO, a legal aid volunteer, a common service centre (CSC) worker — getting the application written in their language and then filed is the practical alternative.

Practical Tips for Filing in Different Language Situations

If you are filing against a state body in your state: File in the state's official language with confidence. You have a clear legal right, and the State Information Commission will accept appeals in the same language. Attach a ₹10 IPO or pay online, state your questions clearly, and include your name and postal address.

If you are filing against a Central Government body and Hindi is your comfortable language: File in Hindi. Use rtionline.gov.in's Devanagari input option. This is faster, cheaper, and avoids the need for translation assistance. The portal is set up for exactly this use case.

If you are filing against a Central Government body in a non-Hindi, non-English state and want to use the state language: You have a reasonable argument under Section 6(1). However, be prepared for the possibility that the CPIO responds in Hindi or English (which they are permitted to do under the Official Languages Act, 1963 for Central bodies). The useful question to ask yourself is: do I need to file quickly and reliably, or do I specifically want to establish the language right? If reliability is the priority, Hindi or English is safer. If your goal is partly to assert the language right for state language speakers, file in the state language and be prepared to use the First Appeal and Section 18 complaint routes if the CPIO resists.

If you are not comfortable in any written language: Go to the nearest CPIO office and invoke Section 6(3). Ask the officer to help you write down your request, read it back to you, and give you a copy with the date of submission. You are within your legal rights to make this request.

If you live far from the CPIO's office: Many states have been directed to designate Sub-Divisional Magistrates, Block Development Officers, and other officers as APIOs (Assistant Public Information Officers) under Section 5(2) of the RTI Act. An APIO is required to accept your application and forward it to the correct CPIO within five days. You can submit an application in your language to the APIO. Common Service Centres (CSCs) under the PMGDISHA programme in many states also assist with RTI filing.

Language Rights and RTI Accessibility: The Bigger Picture

The language provisions of the RTI Act are not administrative fine print. They reflect a deliberate policy choice: a law about the right to know cannot simultaneously require citizens to know a language they were never educated in. Section 6(1)'s three-track language framework — English, Hindi, or the official language of the area — acknowledges that India's 700 million plus citizens who are not comfortable in English should not be excluded from the right to information on that basis alone.

The practical reality is that under-use of the regional language provision is widespread. Many citizens in Tamil Nadu, Bengal, Karnataka, Kerala, and Odisha file their RTI applications in English when they do not need to, because they do not know the law allows otherwise. Many rural citizens in Hindi-speaking states file in awkward, error-prone English when their natural language is Hindi and the portal supports Devanagari.

Knowing this right exists is the first step. Using it is the second.

Need Help Filing an RTI Application in Your Language?

At RTI Sathi, we help citizens across India draft, file, and follow up on RTI applications with Central Government and Delhi State government bodies. Whether you want your application drafted in Hindi or English, or you need help identifying the right authority for a state-level matter, we handle the paperwork so you can focus on the information you need.

Visit RTISathi.com to describe your situation and get started.