RTI for CGHB – Housing Plot & Flat Allotment in Chhattisgarh

The Chhattisgarh Griha Nirman Mandal (CGHB), commonly known as the Chhattisgarh Housing Board, is the premier statutory housing development body of Chhattisgarh. Established under state law and functioning under the Housing and Urban Development Department, Government of Chhattisgarh, CGHB has its headquarters in Raipur and operates regional offices across the state. Its mandate is to plan, develop, and deliver affordable and middle-income housing for citizens — acquiring land, developing residential colonies, constructing flats and plots under various categories, and allotting them to eligible applicants through transparent processes.

CGHB develops and administers schemes across Raipur, Bhilai, Durg, Bilaspur, Korba, Jagdalpur, Ambikapur, and other cities in Chhattisgarh. Its schemes span the full income spectrum — Economically Weaker Section (EWS), Low Income Group (LIG), Middle Income Group (MIG), and Higher Income Group (HIG) — as well as reserved categories including SC, ST, OBC, ex-servicemen, and government employees. Many CGHB schemes involve a draw-of-lots (lottery) system to allot units when applications exceed availability.

CGHB schemes are frequently oversubscribed, which means thousands of applicants face uncertainty about their allotment status, waitlist position, and whether their names appeared in the lottery results. Delays in possession after allotment, unresolved refund requests after cancellation, and concerns about construction quality are common grievances. As a state public authority under Section 2(h) of the Right to Information Act, 2005, CGHB is fully obligated to respond to RTI applications from citizens. RTI is one of the most direct and cost-effective tools available to track the status of your application, understand the reasons for any delay or cancellation, and build a documented record for further escalation.

What Information You Can Request from CGHB via RTI

The RTI Act, 2005, entitles citizens to inspect documents, take notes, and obtain certified copies of records held by public authorities. For CGHB, the following categories of information are obtainable through RTI:

Allotment Status and Registration Records

• The current status of your application — active, waitlisted, allotted, cancelled, or rejected — identified by your registration or application number and scheme name
• The reason for any status change, the date on which the change was recorded, and the name and designation of the officer who made that entry
• A certified copy of your allotment letter, if one has been issued, and any demand notice showing the total cost, instalment schedule, and due dates
• Certified copies of any cancellation order or revival notice issued in connection with your application or allotment
• The date on which your application was scrutinised, whether it was found valid or deficient, and the specific grounds for rejection if applicable

Lottery Results and Selection Process

• The complete results of the lottery draw for a specific CGHB scheme, including the date of the draw, the officer who conducted it, and the list of registration numbers selected in each category (EWS, LIG, MIG, HIG, SC, ST, OBC, etc.)
• The total number of applications received in each category and the total number of units offered
• The methodology used for the draw-of-lots — whether it was a manual draw, computerised draw, or random selection — and any official order describing the procedure
• Minutes of the allotment committee meeting that approved the selection list for a particular scheme
• Any waiting list generated after the primary allotment, including the waitlist serial numbers and the criteria used to rank waitlisted applicants

Waitlist Position and Priority

• Your current waitlist position or serial number for a specific scheme and category
• The number of waitlisted applicants ahead of you and the number of units that have become available for waitlist allotments
• The criteria or policy governing conversion of waitlisted applications to regular allotments — for example, whether forfeitures and cancellations trigger waitlist movement and on what timeline
• Records of waitlist revisions, if any, showing how your position changed and the reason for the change

Refund of Deposits and Earnest Money

• Whether a refund of your application fee, earnest money deposit, or instalments paid has been processed, the date of the refund order, the amount ordered to be refunded, and the mode of payment (cheque/NEFT/demand draft)
• The name and designation of the officer who authorised the refund and the file number under which the refund was processed
• If the refund has been delayed, internal correspondence or noting relating to the reason for the delay
• Any deduction made from your refund amount and the policy or circular under which the deduction was made

Possession Orders and Possession Delay

• The possession date committed in your allotment letter or the scheme brochure and the current actual status of possession
• The possession offer letter or possession order for your plot/flat, if issued, and the date of issuance
• Site progress reports, construction completion certificates, and engineer inspection reports for your building or block
• Internal MPHB correspondence, notes, and orders recording the reasons for possession delays beyond the committed date
• The revised schedule of completion and possession approved by CGHB, and the authority who approved the revision
• Whether an occupation certificate or completion certificate has been issued for your building by the local authority, and if so, a copy of the same

Construction Quality and Inspection Records

• Quality inspection reports and structural audit reports prepared for your building or colony from commencement of construction to the current date
• The names and qualifications of inspecting engineers or third-party consultants, inspection dates, findings, defects recorded, and actions taken
• Remediation orders issued by CGHB to contractors or maintenance units following quality failures, and the current compliance status
• Construction contracts applicable to your scheme — specifically the technical specifications, quality standards, and penalty clauses for defective work
• Complaints received from allottees in specific blocks or colonies about construction quality and the action taken on each complaint

Scheme Details and Eligibility Criteria

• The complete scheme brochure, eligibility conditions, income limits, priority criteria, and reservation breakdown for any CGHB scheme
• Any amendments to scheme terms issued after the original notification, and the authority who approved the amendment
• The schedule of costs applicable to your scheme, including the basis for any cost revision and the circular or order number authorising it
• Details of the registration fee, processing fee, and earnest money deposit applicable to the scheme and the policy for forfeiture or refund

Registered Sale Deed and Title Documents

• Whether the registered sale deed or conveyance deed for your plot/flat has been executed by CGHB, and if not, the reasons for the delay in execution
• The procedure, fees, and documents required by CGHB for execution of the registered sale deed in favour of an allottee
• Any encumbrance or government lien on your plot/flat that prevents registration, and the steps required to have it removed

How to File RTI with CGHB

Step 1: Identify the Correct PIO

CGHB may have PIOs at its headquarters in Raipur and at its regional or zonal offices in Bhilai, Bilaspur, Korba, and other cities. For matters relating to a specific scheme or colony managed from a regional office, address the RTI to the PIO at that regional office. For headquarters-level matters — scheme policy, overall allotment statistics, lottery results, or senior officer orders — address the RTI to the PIO at the CGHB Headquarters, Raipur.

If you are uncertain which office handles your scheme, address your application to the PIO at CGHB Headquarters. Under Section 6(3) of the RTI Act, the PIO is required to forward your application to the correct office if it relates to another unit, and must inform you of the transfer.

Step 2: Draft a Clear, Specific Application

Use the sample RTI application provided in the section above. Be precise: mention your scheme name, registration or application number, category (EWS/LIG/MIG/HIG/SC/ST/OBC/General), and the exact information you need. Frame each query as a numbered, specific request. Avoid vague language such as "provide all records of my case" — specific requests are harder to deflect and more likely to result in a complete response.

Always ask for certified copies of specific documents — allotment letters, cancellation orders, possession orders, inspection reports — rather than asking CGHB to "explain" a decision. Certified copies serve as admissible evidence before consumer forums and courts.

Step 3: File Online via rti.cg.gov.in

CGHB is a Chhattisgarh state public authority. File your RTI application through the Chhattisgarh government RTI portal at rti.cg.gov.in. The portal supports online application submission and online payment of the ₹10 fee. Select "Chhattisgarh Griha Nirman Mandal" from the department list and submit. You will receive an acknowledgement number to track your application.

Alternatively, submit a physical application by registered post or in person to the PIO at the relevant CGHB office in Raipur or the concerned regional office. Pay the ₹10 fee by Indian Postal Order or cash (if submitting in person), payable as directed by CGHB. BPL cardholders are exempt from the fee — attach a self-attested copy of your BPL ration card.

Step 4: Retain Proof of Filing

Keep your online acknowledgement number or postal tracking number carefully. The 30-day response clock runs from the date CGHB receives your application, not from the date you sent it. In case of a postal application, use speed post or registered post and retain the receipt.

Fee and Timeline

The RTI application fee is ₹10 under the RTI (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005. BPL cardholders are exempt from paying this fee and must attach a copy of their BPL ration card with the application.

The PIO must respond within 30 days of receiving your application (Section 7(1) of the RTI Act, 2005). If the information sought touches on the life or liberty of a person, the response deadline is 48 hours. If the PIO needs to consult a third party (under Section 11), the deadline extends to 40 days.

No fee is charged for the First Appeal or Second Appeal.

First Appeal under Section 19(1)

If CGHB's PIO does not respond within 30 days, or the response is incomplete, incorrect, misleading, or evasive, you can file a First Appeal under Section 19(1) of the RTI Act with the First Appellate Authority (FAA) designated within CGHB.

Key rules for the First Appeal:

• File within 30 days of the date of the decision (i.e., the date of the response) or the expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable.
• No fee is required for the First Appeal.
• Address the First Appeal to the FAA (an officer senior to the PIO, designated within CGHB).
• In your appeal, state your original RTI application number and date, the information you sought, the PIO's response or lack of response, and the specific grounds on which you are appealing (non-response, incomplete response, incorrect information, etc.).
• The FAA must dispose of the First Appeal within 30 days of receiving it (extendable to 45 days with written reasons).

Second Appeal to the Chhattisgarh State Information Commission (CSIC)

If the First Appellate Authority also fails to respond or gives an unsatisfactory reply, you can file a Second Appeal under Section 19(3) of the RTI Act with the Chhattisgarh State Information Commission (CSIC).

Key rules for the Second Appeal:

• File within 90 days of the FAA's decision or the expiry of the FAA's response period.
• No fee is required.
• CGHB is a state public authority under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act. The Central Information Commission (CIC) has no jurisdiction over CGHB or any other Chhattisgarh state public authority. Always address your second appeal to the CSIC, not the CIC.
• The CSIC can direct CGHB to furnish the information and can impose a penalty of ₹250 per day on the PIO personally (up to a maximum of ₹25,000) under Section 20 of the RTI Act if the PIO wilfully withheld or delayed information without reasonable cause.
• The CSIC can also recommend disciplinary action against the PIO and may award compensation to the applicant.

You may file the Second Appeal through the rti.cg.gov.in portal or by post to the CSIC's office in Raipur.

Penalty Clause: Section 20 of the RTI Act

Section 20 of the RTI Act empowers the Information Commission to impose a financial penalty on the PIO personally if information is wilfully withheld, if an incorrect or misleading response is given, or if the PIO obstructs the furnishing of information. The penalty is ₹250 per day of default, subject to a maximum of ₹25,000. The PIO bears this penalty from their own salary — it is not borne by CGHB as an organisation.

This penalty provision is a meaningful deterrent. When filing a Second Appeal with the CSIC, explicitly request that the Commission consider imposing the Section 20 penalty if the PIO's non-response or evasive response was unjustified.

Common Use Cases: When Citizens Use RTI with CGHB

Checking Lottery Outcome

CGHB schemes that are oversubscribed are decided by a draw of lots. If you registered under a scheme and did not receive any communication about the lottery result, file an RTI asking for the lottery draw results, the list of allottees in your category, and whether your registration number was part of the draw. If you were not selected, also ask for your waitlist position, the number of waitlisted applicants ahead of you, and the policy for waitlist progression.

Following Up on a Refund After Cancellation

If your allotment was cancelled — whether by CGHB or at your own request — and you have not received your refund of earnest money or instalments paid, file an RTI asking for the date of the refund order, the amount sanctioned, the mode of payment, and the name of the disbursing authority. If the refund has been delayed, ask for internal correspondence regarding the delay and the officer responsible for processing it. The RTI response creates an official record that you can use to follow up directly or escalate through a formal complaint.

Getting the Possession Date and Understanding Delay

If you have already been allotted a plot or flat but CGHB has not issued a possession offer despite the scheme's promised timeline, file an RTI asking for the current construction completion status of your block or colony, the site inspection reports prepared by CGHB's engineer, and the reasons for the delay. Ask for the revised possession schedule approved by CGHB and the authority who approved it. If an occupation certificate has been obtained from the local authority, ask for a copy. This documentation establishes the delay in writing and supports a formal complaint to the Housing and Urban Development Department or a consumer forum case.

Verifying Construction Quality Reports

Allottees who have received possession but found defects — cracks in walls, seepage, substandard finishing, or structural issues — can file an RTI asking for all quality inspection and structural audit reports prepared for their building or block. Ask for the construction contract applicable to your scheme, the quality specifications agreed with the contractor, and the action taken on any defect or deficiency reported. If no quality inspection was conducted, the RTI response to that effect is itself strong evidence of negligence, supporting a consumer forum complaint or a complaint to the Housing and Urban Development Department.

Verifying Allotment Cancellation and Seeking Revival

If CGHB has cancelled your allotment — perhaps for delayed payment — and you want to challenge the cancellation or seek revival, file an RTI asking for a certified copy of the cancellation order, the specific clause of the allotment letter or scheme rules under which the cancellation was made, and any internal correspondence between CGHB officers on the cancellation. This information helps you assess whether the cancellation was procedurally correct and gives you the basis for a formal objection or a legal challenge.

Tips for an Effective CGHB RTI Application

• Always mention your registration and application number. CGHB administers many schemes across multiple cities and categories. An RTI that does not identify your application by number may result in a response saying the information cannot be located.
• Specify the scheme name, year, and category. State the exact scheme name (e.g., "CGHB LIG Flat Scheme 2022, Raipur") and your category (EWS/LIG/MIG/HIG, SC/ST/OBC/General). This narrows the search and prevents CGHB from responding with general information that does not address your specific situation.
• Ask for certified copies of specific documents rather than requesting CGHB to "explain" or "clarify" a decision. Certified copies of allotment letters, cancellation orders, demand notices, lottery results, and possession orders are admissible before consumer forums and courts, and are harder for CGHB to deny or substitute with vague explanations.
• Specify the time period for requests about inspection reports, complaints, or correspondence. Unlimited time-period requests can result in CGHB citing excessive volume as a reason for delay or partial compliance.
• File online via rti.cg.gov.in for a traceable record with a confirmed timestamp. Physical applications by registered post are equally valid but require separate tracking.
• Follow up promptly. If you do not receive a response within 30 days, do not wait — file the First Appeal immediately. Delay in filing the First Appeal may give CGHB's non-responsive PIO an informal advantage.
• For construction quality concerns affecting your entire block, consider filing a single RTI covering all residents of the block and sharing the response with your neighbours. A collective follow-up is more likely to compel CGHB to address systemic quality failures than individual complaints treated in isolation.
• Combine RTI with the consumer forum if possession is delayed. RTI gives you the documented evidence — inspection reports, internal correspondence, revised schedules — that a consumer forum or RERA authority needs to adjudicate a compensation claim. The RTI response is not a substitute for the forum but is invaluable preparation for it.