RTI for LDA Lucknow Development Authority Plot

Thousands of Lucknow residents wait years for basic facts about their LDA housing scheme applications — not because the information does not exist, but because no formal, legally enforceable mechanism has been used to demand it. The Right to Information Act, 2005 provides exactly that mechanism. The Lucknow Development Authority (LDA), which administers housing schemes, plot allotment, building plan sanctions, and urban development projects across Lucknow and its extended areas, is a public authority under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act. It is legally obligated to respond to RTI applications within 30 days.

An RTI application does not guarantee an allotment or force LDA to execute a registry on a particular day. What it does do is force LDA to place key facts on the official record: the lottery methodology, the allotment criteria, the status of your possession letter, the reason for your registry delay, the stage of your building plan sanction, and the details of any encroachment action on your plot. These documented facts are the foundation for every meaningful follow-up action — a departmental representation, a First Appeal, a Second Appeal to the Uttar Pradesh State Information Commission (UPSIC), a complaint to the UP RERA, or a case before the consumer forum.

What LDA Records Are Available Through RTI?

The Lucknow Development Authority holds a wide range of records relating to housing schemes, plot allotment, possession, registry, building plan approvals, and enforcement actions. The following categories of information are among the most commonly sought through RTI:

Plot allotment status in housing schemes: LDA has administered numerous residential schemes over the years — including Vasant Kunj Yojana, Gomti Nagar Extension, Janeshwar Mishra Park area schemes, LDA City, and various affordable housing projects. For each scheme, LDA holds records of the registration numbers of applicants, the category applied under (EWS, LIG, MIG, HIG, SC, ST, OBC, General, Ex-Serviceman), the draw of lots result, and the plot or flat allotted to each selected applicant. You can use RTI to confirm whether your registration number was correctly entered, what category and priority you were placed in, and whether the draw was conducted in accordance with the notified scheme rules.

Lottery results and allotment transparency: The draw of lots is the central event in most LDA housing schemes. LDA must record the date, venue, methodology, presiding officers, the number of units available, the number of participating applicants, and the registration numbers of selected allottees. These records are subject to RTI disclosure. Where the draw has been conducted through a computerised random selection process, RTI can also seek information about the software or process used.

Possession letters (kabza patra): After allotment and payment of instalments, LDA issues a possession letter (kabza patra) transferring physical possession of the plot or flat to the allottee. Delays in possession letter issuance are among the most common grievances. RTI can be used to find out whether the possession letter has been issued, the date of issue, or — if not issued — the specific reason for delay and the officer responsible.

Registry delays: Registry of the sale deed (regd. patta) by LDA involves multiple steps: payment clearance, possession, mutation, and execution of the conveyance deed before the Sub-Registrar. Each step generates internal records. RTI can surface where the file is stuck, what formality is pending on LDA's side, and whether the delay falls within or outside LDA's prescribed processing times. This is particularly valuable when allottees have completed all payments but are still waiting for registry after several years.

Map approval and building plan sanction: Before constructing a house on an LDA plot, allottees must get their building plan (naksha) sanctioned by LDA. LDA maintains records of every plan application: the date of receipt, the stage of processing, the officer handling the file, the reasons for any rejection or objection, and the sanctioned plan itself. RTI can document the status and expose unjustified delays, enabling escalation.

Encroachment notices and anti-encroachment action: LDA conducts anti-encroachment drives to remove illegal occupants from its plots and scheme areas. If your allotted plot is encroached upon — or if you have received an encroachment notice from LDA — RTI can help you access the relevant order, the action taken or planned, the status of any court proceedings, and the officer responsible for follow-up.

How to File RTI with LDA: Step by Step

Step 1: Gather Your Application Details

Before drafting the RTI, collect the following documents and information:

• Your LDA registration or application number under the housing scheme
• The exact name of the housing scheme and the category you applied under
• Any allotment letter, demand notice, or possession letter received from LDA
• Payment receipts or challans for all instalments paid
• The plot number, sector, and locality (for building plan and encroachment queries)
• Any previous correspondence with LDA (representations, reminders, receipts)

Specific, precise questions tied to your registration number and scheme name are far more likely to produce substantive responses than generic or vague queries.

Step 2: Draft Your Application

Use the sample RTI draft on this page as a template. Include only the numbered points that apply to your situation. Frame each question as a request for specific, verifiable facts — not as a complaint or a demand for action. RTI seeks information; it does not instruct LDA to resolve your grievance within the application itself. Attach the ₹10 fee (online payment or Indian Postal Order).

Step 3: File Online or by Post

File online at rtionlineup.up.nic.in, the official RTI portal of the Government of Uttar Pradesh. Register or log in, select "Lucknow Development Authority" as the public authority, fill in the application form, upload your draft, and pay the ₹10 fee. Save the registration number and acknowledgement — you will need this for tracking and for any First Appeal.

Alternatively, submit the application by registered post or in person at the LDA head office (LDA Colony, Kanpur Road, Lucknow – 226012), with a ₹10 Indian Postal Order drawn in favour of "Lucknow Development Authority" or cash where accepted at the counter. BPL cardholders may attach a self-attested copy of the BPL ration card to claim the fee exemption under Section 7(5) of the RTI Act.

Step 4: Track and Follow Up

After filing, track the status on the UP RTI portal using your registration number. LDA must respond within 30 days from the date the application is received. If the matter involves the life or liberty of a person, the response is due within 48 hours under the proviso to Section 7(1) of the RTI Act — though housing scheme and building plan matters rarely invoke this provision.

The Appeals Process: First Appeal and Second Appeal to UPSIC

First Appeal Under Section 19(1)

If LDA's SPIO does not respond within 30 days, or the response is incomplete, evasive, or incorrect, file a First Appeal with the First Appellate Authority (FAA) within LDA — a senior officer designated for this purpose. The First Appeal must be filed within 30 days of the date of the decision or the expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable. There is no fee for filing a First Appeal. Attach a copy of your original RTI application, proof of delivery or the online acknowledgement, and LDA's response (if any).

Second Appeal Under Section 19(3) to UPSIC

If the FAA also fails to respond or gives an unsatisfactory response, file a Second Appeal with the Uttar Pradesh State Information Commission (UPSIC), established under Section 15 of the RTI Act, 2005. The Second Appeal must be filed within 90 days of the date of the FAA's decision or the expiry of the FAA's response period.

The UPSIC can direct LDA to disclose the information sought and impose a penalty of ₹250 per day (up to ₹25,000) on the defaulting SPIO under Section 20 of the RTI Act, 2005, if the refusal or delay is found to be without reasonable cause. The Commission can also recommend departmental proceedings against the responsible officer.

LDA is a Uttar Pradesh state body. Do not file Second Appeals with the Central Information Commission (CIC) — that forum has no jurisdiction over Uttar Pradesh state public authorities.

What Specific Questions Get Results?

Scheme Allotment and Lottery Records

1. The complete eligibility criteria and allotment methodology adopted by LDA for Scheme Name — including any priority parameters (income, category, family size, existing ownership), the rules or scheme notification under which these criteria were approved, and the date of notification.
2. The date, venue, presiding officers, and methodology of the draw of lots for Scheme Name — including the number of units available in each category and the total number of applicants who participated.
3. The registration number range or list of selected allottees published after the draw for each category under Scheme Name.
4. Whether the draw proceedings were video-recorded or otherwise documented — and if so, how a copy may be obtained.

Possession Letter Status

1. Whether a possession letter (kabza patra) has been issued for allotment bearing registration number XXX under Scheme Name — if yes, the date of issue and the plot/flat number; if no, the specific reason for delay and the expected date.
2. The total number of allottees in Scheme Name who have been issued possession letters and those for whom possession is still pending, as on the date of this application.

Registry Delay

1. The specific reasons for delay in registry (sale deed execution) for registration number XXX — including which formalities have been completed and which are pending on LDA's side.
2. The name and designation of the officer responsible for processing the registry file, and the current stage of the file.
3. A certified copy of any internal file noting or communication relating to the registry delay for the above registration number, to the extent permissible under the RTI Act.

Building Plan Sanction

1. The date on which LDA received the building plan application for plot number XXX in Scheme Name, Sector/Colony, the current status (sanctioned / rejected / pending), and the stage of processing.
2. If rejected, the specific reasons and the rule or byelaw cited; if pending, the name and designation of the officer handling the file and the reason for delay beyond LDA's standard processing time.

Encroachment Notices and Records

1. Whether any encroachment notice was issued by LDA in respect of plot number XXX or the adjoining land in Scheme Name, Locality — the date, nature, and current status of any such notice.
2. The details of any anti-encroachment action taken, including the date of the drive, the officers who conducted it, and whether the encroachment has been removed.
3. Whether any court stay or legal proceeding is ongoing in relation to the encroachment on or near the above plot.