I need a trade licence for my business in Delhi but I am not sure which authority issues it — MCD, DTTE, or the local body. Who should I RTI?

Trade licences in Delhi are issued by different authorities depending on the location and type of business. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) issues trade licences for most commercial and industrial establishments in its jurisdiction. The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) issues licences for businesses in the Lutyens' Delhi / Connaught Place area. The Delhi Cantonment Board issues licences in the cantonment area. The Department of Trade and Taxes (DTTE), GNCTD is involved in VAT/GST-related business registration and certain regulatory approvals, but MCD is the primary trade licence authority for most of Delhi. For Shops and Establishments Act registration (mandatory for all commercial establishments in Delhi), the Department of Labour, GNCTD is the authority. If your trade licence is through MCD, file RTI with MCD through rti.delhi.gov.in; if it is in the NDMC area, file at online.ndmc.gov.in/rti.

My trade licence renewal is pending for months and I am operating without a valid licence. What RTI questions help most?

Ask for: (1) the current status of renewal application Reference No. [XXX] — stage and reason for delay; (2) whether an inspection was conducted and the inspector's findings; (3) whether there is a notice of objection against the renewal and what it says; (4) the prescribed timeline for processing trade licence renewals under the applicable rules; (5) the name and designation of the officer currently holding the file. A renewal that has been pending beyond the prescribed timeline without a formal rejection or notice gives you grounds to file a writ petition in the Delhi High Court for mandamus — directing the authority to decide your application. The RTI response establishing the timeline and the absence of any decision is the key evidence for that petition.

Can RTI help me find out if competitors in my area have been granted licences for the same trade that I was denied?

Yes, with some limitations. You can ask through RTI: (1) the number of trade licences granted in [locality / ward] for [type of trade] in the last financial year; (2) whether there is a cap on licences for this trade type in this area and whether it has been reached; (3) the specific eligibility criterion or land use restriction that led to rejection of your application. Note: asking for specific competitors' names and their licence details is possible if these are public records (trade licences are typically public), but the authority may claim confidentiality for third-party personal/commercial information under Section 8(1)(j). Focus on the policy-level questions (caps, land use zones, eligibility criteria) rather than individual competitor details — these are more reliably disclosed.

My Shops and Establishments registration was rejected because the address is not in a commercial area. Can RTI clarify the zoning rules?

Yes. The Delhi Shops and Establishments Act, 1954 requires every commercial establishment (shop, restaurant, hotel, eating house, cinema, etc.) to be registered. If your registration was rejected on zoning or land use grounds, RTI to the Department of Labour, GNCTD can confirm: (1) the specific provision of the Act or the applicable Delhi Master Plan 2041 land use classification that restricts this business activity at your address; (2) whether the inspection report specifically cited a land use violation; (3) whether any application for a similar business at a similar address in your locality has been approved. Land use for the specific address is determined under the Delhi Master Plan, which is administered by DDA — if the RTI reveals a zoning issue, you may need a separate inquiry with DDA about the permitted land use for the plot.

What if the Delhi DTTE or Labour Department does not respond to my RTI within 30 days?

File a First Appeal under Section 19(1) of the RTI Act with the First Appellate Authority (FAA) at the relevant department (DTTE or Department of Labour, GNCTD) within 30 days of the date of decision or expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable. If the FAA's response is absent or unsatisfactory, file a Second Appeal with the Delhi Information Commission (DIC) under Section 19(3) within 90 days. DTTE and the Department of Labour are Delhi State government bodies — second appeal is always DIC (established under Section 15 of the RTI Act), not the Central Information Commission.

Home/Guides/How to File RTI with Delhi DTTE for Trade Licence, Shops and Establishments Registration

Delhi State

How to File RTI with Delhi DTTE for Trade Licence, Shops and Establishments Registration

Step-by-step guide to file an RTI with the Department of Trade and Taxes (DTTE) or the Department of Labour, GNCTD for trade licence application delays, rejection reasons, renewal status, and Shops and Establishments Act registration queries in Delhi. Includes a ready-to-use sample RTI draft.

Updated 24 May 2026

Quick Facts

MinistryGovernment of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD)

Address RTI ToPIO, Department of Trade and Taxes / Department of Labour, GNCTD

Application Fee₹10 under RTI (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005. Free for BPL cardholders.

Response Time30 days from receipt (Section 7(1), RTI Act 2005). 48 hours if the matter involves life or liberty.

File Online Athttps://rti.delhi.gov.in

All information on this page is based on the Right to Information Act, 2005 (Act No. 22 of 2005) and the RTI (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005. First Appeal: Section 19(1). Second Appeal to CIC/SIC: Section 19(3).

Trade licences in Delhi are issued by the local body with jurisdiction over the business location — primarily the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) for most of Delhi, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) for the central Delhi area, and the Delhi Cantonment Board for the cantonment zone. Shops and Establishments Act registration is handled by the Department of Labour, GNCTD. The Department of Trade and Taxes (DTTE), GNCTD handles VAT/GST business registration and certain other regulatory approvals.

All of these bodies are public authorities under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act, 2005, and RTI can be used to identify the precise bottleneck in a pending application, obtain the legal basis for a rejection, and confirm the eligibility criteria applicable to a business type and location.

Which Authority Issues What

Document	Issuing Authority	RTI Portal	Second Appeal
Trade Licence (most of Delhi)	MCD (Municipal Corporation of Delhi)	rti.delhi.gov.in	DIC
Trade Licence (NDMC area — Connaught Place, Lutyens' Delhi)	NDMC	online.ndmc.gov.in/rti	CIC
Trade Licence (Cantonment area)	Delhi Cantonment Board	State/Central portal	CIC
Shops and Establishments Registration	Department of Labour, GNCTD	rti.delhi.gov.in	DIC
VAT/GST business registration	DTTE, GNCTD	rti.delhi.gov.in	DIC
FSSAI State Licence or Registration (food businesses)	FSSAI / State Food Safety, GNCTD	rti.delhi.gov.in (State)	DIC

This guide covers DTTE and Department of Labour matters. For MCD trade licence issues, refer to the MCD RTI guide.

What Can You Achieve with RTI?

Identify the exact stage and bottleneck in a pending trade licence or Shops and Establishments registration
Obtain the inspection report prepared after a site visit and the specific deficiencies noted
Get the legal basis for a rejection — the provision of the DMC Act, the Delhi S&E Act, or the Delhi Master Plan land use classification
Confirm the prescribed processing timeline and whether the authority has exceeded it
Verify the eligibility criteria and documentation requirements for your specific business type and locality
Establish a written record for a Delhi High Court writ petition if the authority refuses to decide your application

Where to File

This is a Delhi State function. File at rti.delhi.gov.in:

Select Department of Trade and Taxes (for DTTE/VAT registration matters) or Department of Labour (for Shops and Establishments Act registration)
For MCD trade licence matters, select Municipal Corporation of Delhi
Draft your questions — include your application reference number, business address, and the type of trade
Pay ₹10 online. BPL cardholders are exempt
Submit and note your registration number

What Specific Information Can You Ask For?

Application status:

Current status of trade licence / S&E registration application No. XXX — stage and reason for delay
Prescribed processing timeline for this licence/registration category and whether it has been exceeded
Name and designation of the officer currently holding the file

Inspection: 4. Whether a site inspection was conducted — date, inspector's name, and copy of the inspection report 5. Specific deficiency or non-compliance noted in the inspection

Rejection: 6. Copy of the rejection order with reasons stated — the legal provision cited 7. Whether any notice or opportunity for hearing was given before rejection

Eligibility and criteria: 8. Permitted business activities (land use classification) for address / locality under Delhi Master Plan 2041 9. Documentation requirements and eligibility criteria for type of trade at this location

Appeals

First Appeal (Section 19(1)): File with the FAA at the relevant department within 30 days of the date of decision or expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable.

Second Appeal (Section 19(3)): File with the Delhi Information Commission (DIC) within 90 days. DTTE and the Department of Labour are Delhi State government bodies — second appeal is DIC (established under Section 15 of the RTI Act), not the CIC.

Sample RTI Application Draft

To,
The Public Information Officer (PIO),
[Department of Trade and Taxes (DTTE), GNCTD / Department of Labour, GNCTD]
[Office Address, Delhi]

Subject: Application under the Right to Information Act, 2005 — Trade Licence / Shops and Establishments Registration Status

Sir/Madam,

I, [Your Full Name], [Proprietor / Partner / Director] of [Business Name], at [Business Address, Delhi], submit this application under Section 6 of the Right to Information Act, 2005, to seek the following information:

Business / application details:
  Business Name: [Name]
  Type of Business / Trade: [e.g., retail shop / restaurant / warehouse / factory / coaching centre]
  Business Address: [Full address including ward, zone, district]
  Application / Reference Number: [Application No. from the Delhi Trade Portal / e-portal]
  Trade Licence Number (if existing): [Licence No., if renewal or complaint]
  Date of Application: [DD/MM/YYYY]

Information sought:

1. The current status of the trade licence application / renewal application bearing Reference No. [XXX], submitted on [DD/MM/YYYY] for [Business Name] at [Address] — specifically whether the application is under processing, pending inspection, pending document verification, or held for any other reason.

2. If the licence has not been issued or renewed — the specific reason(s) for delay or non-issuance, any deficiency in documentation or site condition noted, the name and designation of the officer currently handling the file, and the prescribed timeline for processing this category of trade licence.

3. Whether a physical inspection of the business premises at [Address] was conducted — if yes, the date of inspection, the name and designation of the inspecting officer, and a copy of the inspection report / site visit report prepared.

4. If the application was rejected — the specific provision of the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act / Delhi Shops and Establishments Act / relevant law under which rejection was made, and a copy of the rejection order.

5. [For Shops and Establishments] The current status of the Shops and Establishments Act registration application for [Business Name] at [Address], submitted on [DD/MM/YYYY] — whether the registration certificate has been issued and if not, the reason.

6. The eligibility criteria (permitted land use, zone restrictions, documentation requirements) applicable to a [type of trade / business activity] in the area of [locality / ward / zone] under the applicable trade licence rules in Delhi.

I am enclosing the application fee of Rs. 10 [via online payment; Reference No.: [Payment Ref]].

I request the above information within 30 days as required under Section 7(1) of the RTI Act, 2005.

Yours sincerely,

[Your Full Name]
[Your Complete Address]
Phone: [Your 10-digit Mobile Number]
Email: [[email protected]]
Date: [DD/MM/YYYY]

Replace all text in [square brackets] with your actual details before filing. Do not include the brackets in your submission.

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