How to File RTI with Delhi Lokayukta — Corruption Complaint Status and Anti-Corruption Proceedings

The Delhi Lokayukta is an independent statutory ombudsman constituted under the Delhi Lokayukta and Up-Lokayuktas Act, 1995, to investigate allegations of maladministration and corruption against public servants of the Government of NCT of Delhi. It is a public authority under Section 2(h) of the Right to Information Act, 2005, and is bound by the RTI Act's disclosure obligations.

Filing an RTI with the Delhi Lokayukta is one of the most direct ways for Delhi residents to track whether a corruption or maladministration complaint against a Delhi Government official has been received, registered, and acted upon. This guide explains what you can realistically obtain, who the correct authority is, and how to file correctly.

What Can You Achieve with an RTI to Delhi Lokayukta?

An RTI to the Delhi Lokayukta can help you in several concrete ways:

Tracking your complaint's status. If you filed a complaint with the Delhi Lokayukta — online, by post, or in person — but did not receive an acknowledgement or a substantive response, an RTI can confirm whether the complaint was received and registered, the stage of proceedings, and whether any preliminary enquiry has been initiated.

Obtaining recommendations in concluded matters. Once the Lokayukta concludes an inquiry and makes a recommendation to the Government of NCT of Delhi, that recommendation becomes an administrative record. For concluded matters, RTI can be used to obtain a copy of the Lokayukta's recommendation or a summary of the findings, subject to exemptions under Section 8 of the RTI Act.

Confirming whether a notice or summons was issued. In matters where the Lokayukta has taken cognisance, it may issue notices or summons to the concerned public servant or department. RTI can confirm whether such action has been taken in connection with a named complaint.

Verifying action taken by the government on Lokayukta recommendations. The Lokayukta can recommend action against a Delhi Government official, but compliance ultimately rests with the executive. If you believe the government has not acted on a Lokayukta recommendation, file a separate RTI with the concerned department or the General Administration Department (GAD) of GNCTD asking what action was taken on the recommendation and why.

Accessing aggregate data and annual reports. For research, advocacy, or public interest purposes, RTI can be used to obtain data on the total number of complaints received, enquiries initiated, cases disposed of, and recommendations made in a given financial year — information that may not always be comprehensively available on the Lokayukta's public website.

What RTI cannot provide: RTI will not give you the detailed contents of an ongoing investigation. Under Section 8(1)(h) of the RTI Act, information whose disclosure would impede the process of investigation or prosecution is exempt. This means that while you can confirm that an inquiry is underway and ask about its stage, you cannot demand the inquiry report, witness statements, or documents gathered during an active investigation.

Where to File: The Right Authority

Understanding the Delhi Lokayukta's jurisdiction is essential before filing an RTI. Filing with the wrong authority will cost you time and produce no useful result.

Delhi Lokayukta's Jurisdiction

The Delhi Lokayukta has jurisdiction over public servants serving under the Government of NCT of Delhi, which includes:

• Officers and employees of the Delhi Government (all departments and directorates under GNCTD)
• Employees of Delhi Government Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) — such as Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC), Delhi State Industrial & Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIIDC), and Delhi Tourism
• Employees of local bodies under the GNCTD — such as the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) and Delhi Development Authority (DDA) in so far as DDA functions fall under GNCTD control

What the Delhi Lokayukta Does NOT Cover

Delhi Police is a Central Government force under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Despite being physically located in Delhi and serving Delhi residents, Delhi Police is not under the GNCTD's administrative control. Complaints against Delhi Police officers go to the Lokpal of India (for Central Government public servants), not the Delhi Lokayukta.

Central Government offices in Delhi — such as offices of Central Ministries, Central autonomous bodies, or Central PSUs headquartered in Delhi — are not under GNCTD's jurisdiction. An RTI for those bodies goes to the relevant Central Ministry's CPIO and, on second appeal, to the Central Information Commission (CIC).

Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) employees may fall under a separate administrative track depending on the nature of the complaint. MCD is a local body — consult the Lokayukta's office directly or file an RTI to confirm whether a specific MCD matter falls within its jurisdiction.

Delhi Lokayukta vs Lokpal of India — A Critical Distinction

This distinction matters for your RTI as well: if you file RTI with the Delhi Lokayukta about a Central Government matter (for example, a Delhi Police officer), you will get a nil response or a transfer of your application to the correct Central authority. Always identify the employer of the public servant concerned before deciding where to file.

Delhi Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) — A Separate Track

The Delhi Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) is an investigating police agency of the GNCTD. It investigates criminal offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 against Delhi Government officials. The Lokayukta, by contrast, is a statutory ombudsman — it investigates maladministration and misconduct complaints and makes recommendations to the government. An RTI filed with the Lokayukta's office covers Lokayukta proceedings only; a complaint registered with the ACB is a separate criminal investigation track. If you wish to track ACB proceedings, file a separate RTI with the ACB's SPIO at the Delhi Police Headquarters/ACB office.

How to File: Step by Step

Step 1 — Confirm the Correct Public Authority

Before drafting your RTI, confirm that the public servant or department you are complaining about is a GNCTD entity. Check whether the department appears on the GNCTD website (delhi.gov.in) or whether the concerned employee is on GNCTD's payroll. If in doubt, state in your RTI that you believe the matter falls within the Lokayukta's jurisdiction and request confirmation.

Step 2 — Gather Reference Details

Assemble all available reference information before filing:

• Your complaint registration number (if the Lokayukta issued one when you filed the original complaint)
• The date you filed the original complaint
• The name or designation of the public servant or department complained against
• Any acknowledgement letter or receipt issued by the Lokayukta's office

Even if you do not have a registration number, you can file an RTI with the approximate date of complaint and other identifying details.

Step 3 — Draft Your RTI Application

Use the sample RTI draft provided in this guide as the basis for your application. Be specific but concise:

• State each piece of information sought as a separate numbered point
• Refer to Section 6 of the RTI Act, 2005 in the opening paragraph
• Mention the payment of ₹10 fee and the payment reference number
• Close by requesting a response within 30 days under Section 7(1) of the RTI Act, 2005

Step 4 — File on rti.delhi.gov.in

The designated online portal for RTI applications to Delhi Government public authorities is rti.delhi.gov.in:

1. Register on the portal using your mobile number and email address
2. Select "Delhi Lokayukta" (or the Office of the Lokayukta of Delhi) as the public authority from the department list
3. Complete the online form — paste your application text in the designated field
4. Pay the ₹10 fee online via net banking, debit/credit card, or UPI. BPL cardholders are exempt from the fee — select the BPL exemption option and attach a self-attested copy of your BPL ration card
5. Submit and save the registration number and acknowledgement for tracking

If online filing is not possible, you can file by post or in person at the Lokayukta's office, attaching a demand draft or Indian Postal Order of ₹10 in favour of the Accounts Officer, Delhi Lokayukta.

Step 5 — Track, Receive Response, and Appeal If Needed

The SPIO must respond within 30 days of receiving your application (Section 7(1), RTI Act 2005). If the matter involves the life or liberty of a person, the response must be provided within 48 hours.

If you do not receive a response within 30 days, or the response is incomplete, inadequate, or unsatisfactory:

• First Appeal (Section 19(1)): File a First Appeal with the First Appellate Authority (FAA) at the Office of the Delhi Lokayukta within 30 days of the date of decision or expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable. Address it to the FAA at the same office.
• Second Appeal (Section 19(3)): If the FAA's response is also absent or unsatisfactory, file a Second Appeal with the Delhi Information Commission (DIC) — constituted under Section 15 of the RTI Act — within 90 days. The Delhi Lokayukta is a Delhi State body, so second appeals go to the DIC and not the Central Information Commission (CIC).

What Specific Information Can You Ask For?

Complaint Registration and Status

1. Whether your complaint bearing Registration No. XXXXX / filed on date against public servant/department has been received and registered by the Delhi Lokayukta — and the date of registration
2. The current stage of proceedings in respect of the above complaint — whether at the screening stage, preliminary enquiry stage, or inquiry stage
3. Whether a preliminary enquiry or investigation has been initiated, and if so, the date of initiation and the name or designation of the inquiry officer

Notices, Summons, and Procedural Steps

4. Whether any notice or summons has been issued to the concerned public servant or department in connection with your complaint, and the date of issuance
5. Whether the concerned public servant or department has submitted a reply or explanation to the Lokayukta in the above matter

Recommendations and Reports in Concluded Matters

6. If the Lokayukta has concluded proceedings in your matter or in any proceeding involving named public servant/department, a copy of the recommendation or report made by the Lokayukta (subject to exemptions under Section 8 of the RTI Act)
7. Whether the Government of NCT of Delhi has been directed or requested to take any action in accordance with the Lokayukta's recommendation in a concluded matter — and if so, the nature of that direction

Action Taken by Government on Lokayukta Recommendations

8. (File this RTI with the concerned GNCTD department, not the Lokayukta's office) What action was taken by your department on the recommendation made by the Delhi Lokayukta in case/year, and the reasons for any non-compliance

Aggregate Data and Annual Reports

9. The total number of complaints received by the Delhi Lokayukta in the financial year XXXX-XX, the number in which preliminary enquiries were initiated, the number in which full inquiries were conducted, the number disposed of, and the number in which recommendations were made to the government
10. Whether the Delhi Lokayukta has published an Annual Report for the years XXXX-XX and XXXX-XX — and if so, how those reports can be accessed by the public

Complaints Against a Named Department (Aggregate)

11. The total number of complaints received by the Delhi Lokayukta against officers/employees of named department — e.g., Delhi Jal Board / Delhi Transport Corporation in the last three financial years, and the number disposed of, without disclosing the identity of individual complainants

Appeals

First Appeal (Section 19(1)): File with the First Appellate Authority at the Office of the Delhi Lokayukta within 30 days of the date of decision or expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable. Address your appeal to the FAA and quote your original RTI registration number.

Second Appeal (Section 19(3)): If the First Appeal does not yield a satisfactory result, file a Second Appeal with the Delhi Information Commission (DIC) — the State Information Commission for Delhi, constituted under Section 15 of the RTI Act, 2005. The Delhi Lokayukta is a public authority under the Government of NCT of Delhi; all second appeals for GNCTD public authorities go to the DIC, not the CIC. The DIC can be approached within 90 days of the FAA's decision (or the date on which such decision should have been made).

Handling Section 8(1)(h) rejections: If the SPIO rejects your request on the ground that disclosure would impede investigation (Section 8(1)(h)), examine whether the specific information you sought actually relates to an ongoing investigation or whether the matter has been concluded. Concluded matters — where the Lokayukta has already submitted its recommendation to the government — carry a significantly weaker claim to exemption under Section 8(1)(h). Raise this distinction in your First Appeal or DIC Second Appeal, specifying that you are seeking information about a concluded proceeding and not details of an active investigation.