How to File RTI with Delhi Cantonment Board for Property Tax, Trade Licence and Civic Services

The Delhi Cantonment Board (DCB) is a statutory municipal body established under the Cantonments Act, 2006 (which replaced the Cantonments Act, 1924), under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India. It provides civic services — property tax, trade licences, building permissions, water and sanitation, roads and street lighting, and birth/death certificates — to residents within the Delhi Cantonment area, which covers parts of South-West Delhi including Delhi Cantt, Shankar Vihar, and Dhaula Kuan.

DCB is a Central Government public authority under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act, 2005. It is not under the Government of NCT of Delhi (GNCTD) and is not connected to NDMC or MCD. This distinction has practical consequences for residents filing RTI applications and for the appeals process.

Important: The Delhi Cantonment Board is a Central Government body under the Ministry of Defence. Second appeals go to the Central Information Commission (CIC), not the Delhi Information Commission. Do not file your RTI at rti.delhi.gov.in — use rtionline.gov.in.

What the Delhi Cantonment Board Governs

DCB is the local authority for all civic needs of residents within cantonment limits:

Cantonment Land Classification: Who Controls What

Land within a cantonment is classified into distinct categories under the Cantonments Act, and who administers it — DCB or the military — depends on this classification. This is one of the most important and often misunderstood aspects of living in a cantonment area.

Practical guidance: If you are a resident wanting to know about your property tax, trade licence, or civic services — RTI goes to DCB. If you want to know about the allotment or use of defence land (Class A), military accommodation, or matters managed by the Military Estates Officer — RTI goes to the MEO or Cantonment Executive Officer, who are also Central Government bodies under the Ministry of Defence (file at rtionline.gov.in under Ministry of Defence).

DCB vs NDMC vs MCD vs DDA: Which Body for Which Area?

Delhi has multiple local authorities with overlapping but distinct jurisdictions. Residents often confuse these bodies, especially because the cantonment covers a contiguous geographic area within Delhi:

If your address is in Delhi Cantt, Shankar Vihar, or Dhaula Kuan, your civic authority is DCB. Property tax, building permissions, and trade licences in these areas are DCB's domain — not MCD's, not NDMC's.

Where to File Your RTI

Since DCB is a Central Government body under the Ministry of Defence, file your RTI at:

rtionline.gov.in — Select: Ministry of Defence → Delhi Cantonment Board

Do not file at rti.delhi.gov.in, which is the Delhi Government portal for GNCTD bodies (MCD, Delhi Jal Board, etc.). Filing there for DCB will result in a transfer or rejection.

Pay the ₹10 fee online. BPL cardholders are exempt from the fee (attach a copy of the BPL card).

How to File: Step by Step

Step 1: Identify Your Specific Matter

• For property tax: have your property number, ward, and the assessment year in question
• For trade licence: have your application number and submission date
• For building permission: have your application number, plot number, and submission date
• For water/sewerage connection: have your connection application reference
• For civic complaint: have the complaint reference number and date of filing
• For land classification: have your plot number and survey details

Step 2: Draft Your Application

Be specific. Cite the property number, application number, or complaint reference number. Ask for the specific reason for delay or rejection — not just a general update. The sample draft above covers all major DCB use cases and can be adapted to your situation.

Step 3: File Online and Pay Fee

File at rtionline.gov.in under Ministry of Defence → Delhi Cantonment Board. Pay ₹10 online. Note your registration number — you will need it to track the application and to file an appeal if needed.

Step 4: Track and Appeal if Necessary

Track your application on rtionline.gov.in using the registration number. DCB must respond within 30 days under Section 7(1) of the RTI Act, 2005, or within 48 hours if the matter concerns life or liberty.

If there is no response within 30 days, or the response is incomplete or unsatisfactory, file a First Appeal under Section 19(1) of the RTI Act with the First Appellate Authority (FAA) at DCB within 30 days of the date of the decision or the expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable. If the FAA's response is also absent or unsatisfactory, file a Second Appeal with the Central Information Commission (CIC) under Section 19(3) within 90 days.

What Specific Information Can You Ask For?

Property tax:

1. The Annual Rateable Value (ARV) fixed for property No. XXX for assessment year YYYY–YY, the basis and methodology for arriving at the ARV, and the applicable tax rate and category
2. Whether the ARV was revised in the last three years, and if so, the reason for the revision and the date of the revision order
3. Whether any outstanding dues or arrears are pending on the property and the period to which they relate

Trade licence:

1. Current status of trade licence application No. XXX submitted on DD/MM/YYYY
2. If rejected: the specific provision of the DCB bye-laws or rule under which the rejection was made, and whether an appeal mechanism is available
3. If pending beyond the prescribed timeline: the name and designation of the officer responsible for the application and the reason for the delay

Building permission:

1. Current status of building permission application No. XXX for plot/property No. XXX and the name of the officer reviewing the application
2. Whether any objection, deficiency notice, or query was raised on the application — and if so, its details and the date it was communicated
3. The prescribed timeline for building permission approval under DCB rules and the reason for delay if the application is beyond that timeline

Water/sewerage connection:

1. Status of water/sewerage connection application submitted on DD/MM/YYYY for property No. XXX, and the expected date of completion
2. Whether any dues or technical objections are preventing the connection, with details

Civic complaint:

1. Action taken on complaint reference No. XXX submitted on DD/MM/YYYY regarding e.g., broken road / open drain / garbage collection
2. Name and designation of the officer assigned to the complaint and current status of remedial work
3. The standard response timeline for this category of complaint under DCB's internal procedures

Land and lease matters:

1. The classification (Class A / Class B / Class C) of plot/property No. XXX, survey number, and the name of the body responsible for its administration
2. Details of any lease or grant of cantonment land at location — the lessee/grantee name, the purpose of the lease, the lease period, and the annual lease amount
3. Whether any encroachment or unauthorised construction has been reported or recorded on plot XXX

Appeals: First Appeal and Second Appeal

First Appeal (Section 19(1), RTI Act 2005): File with the First Appellate Authority at the Delhi Cantonment Board within 30 days of the date of the decision or the expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable.

Second Appeal (Section 19(3), RTI Act 2005): File with the Central Information Commission (CIC) within 90 days of the First Appellate Authority's decision or the expiry of the First Appeal response period.

The CIC can impose a penalty of up to ₹250 per day (maximum ₹25,000) on the CPIO for unjustified delay or denial of information under Section 20 of the RTI Act, and can also recommend disciplinary action.

Do not file a second appeal with the Delhi Information Commission. The DIC has jurisdiction only over Delhi State (GNCTD) bodies such as MCD, Delhi Jal Board, Delhi Transport Corporation, and Delhi Government hospitals. DCB, as a Central Government body under the Ministry of Defence, falls exclusively under the CIC's appellate jurisdiction.