RTI in Telangana: Dharani Land Records, TSSPDCL/TSNPDCL Electricity, and GHMC

Telangana has a general RTI landscape we have covered elsewhere. This article goes deeper into the three areas where citizens most frequently need RTI in Telangana: Dharani portal land records, TSSPDCL and TSNPDCL electricity disputes, and GHMC urban governance. For each, we explain the documents involved, the revenue and administrative hierarchy, precise sample RTI questions, and exactly where your second appeal goes.

Part 1: Dharani Portal and Land Records

What Dharani Is — and What Changed

The Dharani integrated land records and registration system was launched by the Telangana government in 2020. It replaced the older manual Pahani/Adangal system and, in one move, brought together land record management and land registration (sale, gift, partition, inheritance) under a single digital platform. Every agricultural land transaction in Telangana now goes through Dharani — from the registration of a sale deed to the updating of ownership in the revenue records after inheritance.

Before Dharani, a landowner would register a sale at the sub-registrar's office and then separately apply for mutation at the Mandal office. Dharani integrates both. But the integration has also produced a category of errors that did not exist before: entries made by the system that the landowner never applied for, survey number extents that do not match physical ground measurements, and classification changes — from agricultural to non-agricultural, or vice versa — that appeared without any notice or proceedings.

These errors cannot be corrected by speaking to the revenue inspector or by writing informal complaints. The formal legal route is either a revision petition through the revenue hierarchy or, where you need documented official records to support your case, an RTI application.

Key Documents in the Dharani System

Understanding which document to ask for is essential. Telangana uses specific terminology, and asking for the wrong document name will confuse the CPIO.

Pahani / Adangal: This is the field register — the most important day-to-day land record. It is maintained survey-number-wise and shows the survey number, sub-division, extent, owner's name (Pattadar), possessor's name (where different from owner), nature of possession, soil type, water source, crops cultivated (wet and dry), assessment, and any encumbrances or government annotations. Note: Telangana uses survey number, not "Khasra" — Khasra is the equivalent term used in northern states. Always refer to "survey number" when filing RTI in Telangana; using "Khasra" signals unfamiliarity and may cause the CPIO to ask for clarification.

Pattadar Passbook: This is the title document issued by the government to the agricultural landholder. It formally records the Pattadar's name, the survey numbers and extents held, and the basis of title (purchase, inheritance, grant). The passbook is what is updated when a mutation is recorded. If your Pattadar Passbook shows the wrong name after a sale, or shows an extent that does not match the registered sale deed, RTI for the passbook issuance records is the appropriate step.

LPM — Land Parcel Map / Field Measurement Sketch: This is the graphical map showing the boundaries of a specific survey number, prepared by the Survey and Settlement department. It shows the shape of the plot, its dimensions, and the adjacent survey numbers. LPM sketches are important in boundary disputes and when the recorded extent in the Pahani does not match the physical ground area. RTI for the LPM sketch for your survey number can be filed with the Survey department at the district level.

Mutation records: In Telangana, the process of updating the revenue records when land changes hands is sometimes called "Pahani updating" and is part of the broader mutation proceedings. Mutations are conducted at the Mandal Revenue Officer (MRO) level. All mutation proceedings — the application, the field inquiry, notices issued to interested parties, objections if any, and the final order — form an official file that you are entitled to access through RTI.

The Revenue Hierarchy in Telangana

Knowing the hierarchy tells you who the CPIO is for your specific query:

• Patwari (Village level) — maintains the day-to-day village records, Pahani entries, and the village map. Under Dharani, many Patwari functions have been digitalised, but the physical office at the village level still exists.
• Village Revenue Officer (VRO) / Revenue Inspector (RI) — supervises the Patwari, conducts field inquiries for mutations, and prepares reports that go up to the MRO.
• Mandal Revenue Officer (MRO) — the key RTI target for land record matters. The MRO is the revenue authority at the Mandal level (equivalent to the Tehsildar in other states — Telangana does not use the term Tehsildar; the MRO is the equivalent). Mutations, Pahani corrections, and passbook updates are all processed and ordered at MRO level. File your RTI with the MRO for any survey-number-level land record query.
• Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) — handles appeals against MRO orders and can be the CPIO for division-level records.
• District Collector — the apex revenue authority at the district level. File RTI with the District Collector for district-wide records, or when you need to escalate beyond the MRO.

All of these are Telangana State government bodies. Second appeals under Section 19(3) go to the Telangana Information Commission (TIC), not the CIC.

Common Disputes Requiring RTI

Wrong owner name in Dharani: Dharani entries have in several documented cases shown a different person's name against a survey number, sometimes without any mutation application having been filed by that person. RTI for the Pahani/Adangal as currently recorded, plus the mutation proceedings (if any) that led to the name change, is essential to document what happened officially.

Disputed survey number extent: Your sale deed says you purchased 1.20 acres but the Pahani shows 0.80 acres for the same survey sub-division. RTI for the LPM sketch, the survey settlement records, and the Pahani record will give you the official basis for the discrepancy.

Agriculture vs non-agriculture classification: Land classified as agricultural is subject to different restrictions and valuations than land classified as non-agricultural. If Dharani shows a change in classification without any conversion order, RTI for the order and the basis of classification is the first step.

Assigned Land encroachments: Telangana has a substantial amount of Assigned Land — land that was granted by the government to Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, or poor agricultural families. This land is non-transferable and non-alienable under the relevant state laws, but disputes about encroachment, illegal occupation, and purported sales of assigned land are common. RTI for the assignment order for a specific survey number, the conditions of assignment, and any complaint proceedings or enquiry reports about encroachment helps establish the legal status on paper.

Sample RTI Questions for Land Records

The following sample questions should be addressed to the Mandal Revenue Officer of the relevant Mandal:

1. Please provide a certified copy of the Pahani/Adangal for Survey Number X, Sub-division X (if applicable), Village X, Mandal X, District X, as currently maintained in the Dharani system, showing all columns including ownership, extent, encumbrances, and crop details.
2. Please provide certified copies of all mutation proceedings — including the application, Revenue Inspector's field inquiry report, any notices issued to interested parties, any objections received, and the final mutation order — relating to Survey Number X, Village X, Mandal X, District X, for the period from year to to year.
3. Please provide the Land Parcel Map (LPM) / field measurement sketch for Survey Number X, Village X, Mandal X, District X, as maintained by the Survey department.
4. Please state the current classification of Survey Number X, Village X, Mandal X (agricultural/non-agricultural/assigned/government/forest), and provide a certified copy of any order changing this classification from the original survey settlement classification.

Part 2: TSSPDCL and TSNPDCL — Electricity Complaints

Two Companies, One State

Telangana's electricity distribution is operated by two state government companies that were created when Andhra Pradesh's single distribution company was split after Telangana's formation:

TSSPDCL (Telangana State Southern Power Distribution Company Limited) serves Hyderabad and the southern districts of Telangana — Rangareddy, Nalgonda, Mahabubnagar/Jogulamba Gadwal, Nagarkurnool, and adjoining areas. If your electricity bill is issued by TSSPDCL, this is your company.

TSNPDCL (Telangana State Northern Power Distribution Company Limited) serves the northern districts — Warangal, Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Adilabad, and the districts in Telangana's northern and eastern belt.

Both TSSPDCL and TSNPDCL are state government companies incorporated under the Companies Act, substantially owned and controlled by the Government of Telangana. They are public authorities under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act. Second appeals for both go to the Telangana Information Commission (TIC), not the CIC.

TSERC (Telangana State Electricity Regulatory Commission) is the statutory regulator for Telangana's electricity sector — it sets tariffs, approves distribution licensees, and hears consumer grievances at the regulatory level. TSERC is also a state body; second appeals go to TIC.

When RTI Helps in Electricity Disputes

The electricity consumer grievance mechanism in India goes: complaint to division office → grievance officer → Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum (CGRF) → Ombudsman → TSERC. Many disputes, however, never get resolved at the lower levels because the consumer does not have documented proof of what the utility recorded internally.

RTI is the tool that produces that proof.

Billing disputes — actual vs estimated readings: Distribution companies are required to record actual meter readings. When estimated billing is used — as happens frequently in dense urban areas and rural zones — the consumer has no way of knowing whether the estimate was reasonable or inflated without access to the meter reading register. RTI for the meter reading register entries for your Consumer Number for the 12 months before the disputed bill gives you the documented comparison. If the previous 8 months show actual readings and then 3 months of estimates, the record speaks for itself.

New service connection delays: A new electricity connection application has a prescribed processing timeline under TSERC regulations. If your application has been pending for months without any action or explanation, RTI for: the application status, the current stage in the processing sequence, the officer responsible for the pending step, and the TSERC-prescribed timeline for your connection category. The documented gap between the prescribed timeline and the actual status is the basis for a consumer forum or TSERC complaint.

Agricultural connection waiting lists: In districts with heavy agricultural load — Nalgonda, Karimnagar, and others — LT agricultural pump connection applications can remain on waiting lists for years. RTI for the waiting list for your Sub-Division and feeder, including position and approximate date of application, helps you verify whether your application was registered correctly and gives documented proof for any representation or complaint.

Disconnection notice records: If you have received a disconnection notice and dispute the arrears amount, RTI for: certified copies of all bills issued for your Consumer Number for the preceding 24 months, the meter reading on which each bill was based, and the disconnection proceedings file including the reason for disconnection. This gives you the full evidentiary record.

Transformer breakdown complaint status: When a transformer serving your area breaks down and is not replaced for weeks, RTI for: the complaint log for transformer ID number or feeder name for the period from date to to date, the date on which a complaint/breakdown report was logged, the replacement order (if any), and the current status. This is particularly useful in rural areas where transformer replacements are delayed for months.

Sample RTI Questions for TSSPDCL / TSNPDCL

Address to the Consumer Number's division office CPIO:

1. Please provide the meter reading register entries for Consumer Number XXX for each month from Month/Year to Month/Year, stating for each month whether the reading was actual or estimated, the reading recorded, and the name/designation of the meter reader.
2. Please provide the application details, current processing stage, and the officer responsible at each pending stage for new service connection application bearing reference number XXX dated date, applied for at premises address.
3. Please provide the billing history for Consumer Number XXX for the period from to to, including the monthly units consumed, tariff category applied, and total amount billed in each month.
4. Please provide the details of the disconnection notice issued to Consumer Number XXX dated date, including the arrears amount calculation, the meter reading on which the arrears are based, and the officer who authorised the notice.

Part 3: GHMC — Hyderabad's Urban Governance Authority

GHMC's Jurisdiction and RTI Status

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation covers the entire Hyderabad urban agglomeration — it is among the largest urban local bodies in India by area and population. GHMC handles building plan approvals, layout regularisation, occupancy and completion certificates, property tax assessment, trade licences, birth and death certificates, and enforcement actions against unauthorized constructions.

GHMC is a Telangana State body under the Telangana Municipal Corporations Act. Second appeals go to the Telangana Information Commission (TIC).

HMDA (Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority) covers layouts and development in the broader Hyderabad Metropolitan Area (HMA) — the ring of peri-urban areas around the GHMC zone. HMDA is also a Telangana State body; second appeals go to TIC.

High-Value RTI Use Cases for GHMC

Building plan approval status: This is the single most important RTI use in the real estate context. If you are buying a property in Hyderabad, RTI to GHMC for the approved building plan — including the sanctioned number of floors, FAR (Floor Area Ratio), setbacks, and any special conditions — is the most reliable way to verify whether the structure you are purchasing matches its approvals. Ask specifically for: the sanctioned plan drawing reference number, the conditions of sanction, and the date of approval for the plot address.

Occupancy Certificate (OC) verification: Builders routinely tell buyers that the OC is "in process" or "applied for." An RTI to GHMC for whether an Occupancy Certificate was issued for the specific building, and if so the date of issue and the officer who issued it, gives you a definitive answer within 30 days. If the OC was never issued, you now have documented proof — which may affect your home loan, your property registration, and your RERA rights.

Unauthorized construction complaints and action taken: If a neighbouring property has built beyond sanctioned limits, or if construction without a valid building plan is underway, citizens can file a complaint with GHMC. But GHMC's response to such complaints is often invisible to the complainant. RTI for: whether a complaint was received about unauthorized construction at address, the date it was received, the name of the officer who inspected, the inspection report, and the action taken or the reason no action was taken — creates documented proof of either GHMC action or inaction.

Encroachments on Nalas and FTL buffers: Hyderabad has a documented history of construction on Rajakaluwe (storm water drainage channels / nalas) and within the Full Tank Level (FTL) / buffer zone of Hussain Sagar and other lakes. These are public land encroachments with serious flooding and environmental consequences. RTI for: the surveyed width and alignment of the nala / storm drain adjacent to specific location, any encroachment removal orders issued for this stretch, and the status of enforcement — gives citizen groups and affected residents documented evidence for legal proceedings or media disclosures.

Property tax assessment records: GHMC's property tax database is used for many secondary purposes — establishing ownership for utility connections, verifying the occupant of record. If the GHMC tax records show the previous owner or an incorrect occupant, RTI for the property tax assessment history for the plot / door number address, including the name of the assessee in each year, gives you the official record to support a correction request.

Sample RTI Questions for GHMC

Address to the relevant GHMC Zonal or Circle CPIO:

1. Please provide certified copies of the building plan approval for the plot bearing Municipal Door Number / Plot Number, Colony/Area, Circle/Zone, Hyderabad, including the sanctioned plan drawing, number of floors approved, FAR permitted, setback conditions, and the date of approval.
2. Please state whether an Occupancy Certificate (OC) or Completion Certificate has been issued for the building at address, and if so, provide the certificate number, date of issue, and the designation of the officer who signed it.
3. Please provide copies of all complaints received by GHMC about alleged unauthorized construction at address during the period date range, the date of inspection if any, the name and designation of the inspecting officer, the inspection report, and the action taken or the reasons no action was taken.
4. Please provide the width of the storm water drain (Rajakaluwa) running along specific road/area, the recorded alignment, and details of any show-cause or demolition notices issued for structures encroaching on this drain from date to date.

Central Bodies in Telangana: These Go to CIC, Not TIC

A critical distinction: several major institutions based in or serving Telangana are Central Government bodies. Their RTI applications go on rtionline.gov.in and second appeals go to the Central Information Commission (CIC), not the Telangana Information Commission.

Frequently confused: TSGENCO (Telangana State Power Generation Corporation) is a Telangana State body — second appeal goes to TIC, not CIC. The fact that it is in the power sector does not make it central. Similarly, TSERC is the Telangana state electricity regulator — TIC, not CIC.

APERC (Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission) was the combined regulator for the erstwhile undivided AP. After bifurcation, it split into TSERC (Telangana) and APSERC (Andhra Pradesh). Both are state bodies under their respective state governments; second appeals go to TIC and AP Information Commission respectively — not CIC.

Practical Filing Tips for Telangana

For Dharani/land RTI: Always include the Survey Number (not Khasra), the Village Revenue Village name, the Mandal name, and the District. Where relevant, include the Khata Number. Ambiguous applications that say "my land in village" without a survey number cannot be processed — the CPIO has no way to identify the specific record.

For TSSPDCL/TSNPDCL electricity RTI: Always lead with your Consumer Number (printed on every bill). Include the billing period for billing disputes, and the application reference number for connection delays. These are the identifiers the CPIO uses to pull records from the utility's systems.

For GHMC building and OC RTI: Include the full municipal address including the Zone or Circle (GHMC is divided into four zones: LB Nagar, Kukatpally, Serilingampally, and Charminar), the plot number or door number, and the survey number if available. Building plan records are filed zone-wise and circle-wise; an incomplete address means the CPIO cannot locate the file.

BPL applicants: Under Section 7(5) of the RTI Act, citizens who are BPL cardholders are exempt from all fees. State this clearly in the body of the application and attach a copy of your BPL card.

Missed deadline: Under Section 7(1), the CPIO must respond within 30 days. If 30 days pass without any response, you are entitled under Section 7(5) to receive the information free of charge. More importantly, a non-response is the ground for your First Appeal under Section 19(1) — file it within 30 days of the expiry of the response deadline. Do not wait months hoping for a response.

Section 19(3) second appeal timing: If your First Appeal is also not decided, or if the First Appellate Authority's decision is unsatisfactory, your Second Appeal to the Telangana Information Commission under Section 19(3) must be filed within 90 days of the date of the First Appellate Authority's decision (or 90 days from the date the First Appeal should have been decided if no decision was given).

Section 20 penalties: The TIC can impose a penalty of ₹250 per day on the PIO personally, up to a maximum of ₹25,000, for unjustified failure to respond or for providing false information. Mention this provision explicitly in your First Appeal if the CPIO's conduct was clearly obstructive — it incentivises a response at that stage.

Whether you are dealing with a Dharani portal error that has incorrectly recorded someone else's name on your survey number, a TSSPDCL bill that seems wildly inflated, or a GHMC building approval that no one can confirm or deny — RTI is the documented, legal route to get official answers on paper. RTISathi.com can help you structure and draft RTI applications for Central Government bodies in Telangana. For Telangana State bodies — MRO, TSSPDCL, TSNPDCL, GHMC, HMDA, and others — the guidance in this article and the Telangana government's official RTI portal are your starting points. The facts you need already exist in an official file; RTI is your legal right to see them.