RTI for Telangana Housing Board and HMDA — Plot Allotment, 2BHK Scheme and Possession Records

Owning a government-allotted plot or flat in Hyderabad and across Telangana has been an aspiration for hundreds of thousands of families — and for many of those families, the path has been through the Telangana Housing Board (THB), the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA), or, more recently, the Telangana State Housing Corporation (TSHCO) through the state's flagship 2BHK Government Housing Scheme. These public institutions control access to residential land and constructed housing through allotment registers, lottery draws, waitlists, possession orders, and scheme beneficiary lists. Yet the very opacity that has surrounded these processes — lottery draws conducted without independent oversight, 2BHK allotments where political connections appear to influence selection, HMDA plot records that are difficult to access, possession certificates withheld for years after full payment — has driven a growing number of Telangana residents to the Right to Information Act, 2005 as the most accessible tool to demand documented answers.

THB, HMDA, and TSHCO are public authorities under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act, 2005. Every allotment register, lottery draw record, 2BHK beneficiary list, PMAY-U disbursement record, payment ledger, possession order, and policy circular held by these bodies is legally accessible to any citizen for a filing fee of ₹10. This guide explains the institutional structure of Telangana's housing administration, the major schemes it operates, the most common problems that drive citizens to RTI, what information RTI can obtain, how to file at rti.telangana.gov.in, and how to pursue First and Second Appeals all the way to the Telangana State Information Commission (TSIC) if needed.

Telangana's Housing Administration: THB, HMDA, TSHCO, and the HUDA Legacy

Telangana Housing Board (THB)

The Telangana Housing Board traces its institutional lineage directly to the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh Housing Board (APHB), which was constituted under the AP Housing Board Act to develop and allot residential plots and flats across the undivided state. When Telangana was carved out of Andhra Pradesh in June 2014 under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, the assets, liabilities, staff, and pending scheme commitments of the APHB were divided between the two successor states. The Hyderabad-headquartered housing board operations were reconstituted as the Telangana Housing Board (THB), which continues to function under the Housing Department, Government of Telangana.

THB's mandate covers developing and allotting residential layouts (plotted colonies) and constructed housing units across Telangana's cities and towns, categorised by income group:

• EWS (Economically Weaker Section): Small plots and housing units for the lowest income households, often cross-subsidised within the same layout.
• LIG (Low Income Group): Plots for lower-income families.
• MIG (Middle Income Group): Mid-size plots for middle-income households.
• HIG (High Income Group): Larger plots at near-market pricing.

Allotment under THB's category-based layouts is by seniority-based waiting list or periodic lottery draw, with sub-category reservations for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, ex-servicemen, women, and persons with disabilities. THB is headquartered at Huda Complex, Saifabad, Hyderabad-500004, and its CPIO is the first point of contact for RTI applications relating to THB schemes, allotments, and possession records.

Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) and the HUDA Legacy

HUDA — the Hyderabad Urban Development Authority — was established under the Andhra Pradesh Urban Areas (Development) Act, 1975. Over three decades, HUDA developed some of Hyderabad's most recognisable residential colonies: Kukatpally Housing Board Colony, Miyapur, Uppal, Bandlaguda, Kompally, Nizampet, and dozens of other layouts across the city and its periphery. These are today commonly known as "HUDA colonies," and their allotment records, layout plans, and scheme registers were maintained by HUDA.

In 2008, with the urban agglomeration of Greater Hyderabad expanding far beyond HUDA's original jurisdiction, the Government of the erstwhile undivided Andhra Pradesh constituted the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) under the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority Act, 2008. HMDA absorbed HUDA and expanded the metropolitan planning boundary to encompass the entire Hyderabad Metropolitan Region — Hyderabad, Secunderabad, the GHMC area, and periurban zones across parts of Hyderabad, Rangareddy, Medchal-Malkajgiri, Sangareddy, and Vikarabad districts.

After Telangana's formation, HMDA continued under the Government of Telangana as the metropolitan planning and development authority for the Hyderabad region. All legacy HUDA records — allotment orders, layout plans, plot registers, possession orders — passed to HMDA and are now under its custody. For any RTI about a legacy HUDA plot or an HMDA layout, the CPIO at HMDA, Hyderabad, is the correct authority. The popular reference to "HUDA" in everyday speech is historical — the legal entity today is HMDA.

HMDA's functions relevant to RTI include: approving residential layouts and issuing layout permissions, developing plotted colonies under its own schemes, maintaining allotment registers and possession records for HMDA-developed plots, and planning oversight for the metropolitan region. HMDA is headquartered in Hyderabad and is a public authority under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act, 2005.

Telangana State Housing Corporation (TSHCO)

The Telangana State Housing Corporation (TSHCO) is the principal implementing agency for the 2BHK Government Housing Scheme — the Government of Telangana's flagship urban and rural housing programme — and for several PMAY-Urban components. TSHCO also functions as the nodal body for affordable housing construction, implementing government-funded group housing and coordinating with Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) for beneficiary identification and possession. For RTI concerning 2BHK scheme allotments, PMAY-U beneficiary lists, subsidy disbursement records, and construction progress of government group housing projects, TSHCO is the appropriate authority.

The 2BHK Government Housing Scheme

Scheme Overview

The 2BHK Government Housing Scheme — named for its two-bedroom, hall, and kitchen floor plan — is one of the most ambitious government housing programmes launched by the Government of Telangana. The scheme aims to provide pucca (permanent, weather-proof) housing free of cost to eligible economically weaker section families who are without a pucca house. The scheme targets urban and rural poor across Telangana through a large-scale construction programme operated by TSHCO and the Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department.

Announced in the early years after Telangana's formation, the 2BHK scheme has been implemented in multiple phases and batches, with different target numbers across different years and constituencies. Units are constructed in designated housing colony locations, with amenities such as internal roads, water supply, and electricity connections intended to be provided along with the dwelling unit. On completion and possession, the unit is transferred to the beneficiary family.

Eligibility and Selection

The eligibility criteria for the 2BHK scheme have been specified by the Government of Telangana and are subject to periodic revision. The principal conditions include:

• The family must not own a pucca house in the name of any member.
• The family must not have previously been a beneficiary under PMAY-Urban, PMAY-Gramin, Indira Awas Yojana, or any prior government housing allotment scheme.
• Annual family income must fall below the prescribed ceiling, placing the applicant in the EWS or lower-income category.
• Aadhaar-linked residence in Telangana must be established, typically through residency records verified at the Mandal and Ward levels.

Applications are registered online through the government-designated portal. Verification is conducted by local revenue officials (Patwari/Village Revenue Officer) and municipal/ward officials who confirm residency, land ownership status, and household income. Beneficiary lists are prepared at the Mandal or constituency level by designated committees and are approved through Gram Sabhas (in rural areas) and Ward Committees (in urban areas). Final allotment is made by lottery draw or approved beneficiary list processing through TSHCO.

Common 2BHK Issues Driving RTI

Exclusion from beneficiary list despite eligibility: Many eligible families have found themselves excluded from the 2BHK scheme beneficiary list despite meeting all stated criteria. Without access to the scheme's selection records, there is no way to identify whether the exclusion was administrative error, data mismatch, or irregular omission. RTI to TSHCO or the relevant ULB can produce the beneficiary list, the eligibility verification records, and the selection committee proceedings.

Allotted unit not constructed or possession not delivered: Some 2BHK beneficiaries who received allotment letters have been waiting for years for the unit to be completed and possession given. Construction has been delayed in several schemes due to contractor defaults, land acquisition delays, funding gaps, or administrative backlog. RTI can obtain the construction status report, the name and details of the contractor appointed, extension of time orders, and the revised possession timeline.

Unit location changed without notice: In some cases, the location of the 2BHK unit initially indicated at the time of selection was changed — sometimes significantly — without adequate notice to the beneficiary. RTI can reveal whether any government order or authority approved such a location change and on what grounds.

Irregular allotments to ineligible persons: Beneficiary lists for the 2BHK scheme have been disputed in several constituencies, with allegations that persons owning pucca houses or previously allotted under other schemes were included. RTI to obtain the constituency-wise beneficiary list, along with the eligibility verification records, gives citizens the factual basis to identify irregularities and file complaints with the Housing Department, the vigilance wing, or the TSIC.

PMAY-Urban in Telangana

The Government of Telangana implements Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana — Urban (PMAY-U) through TSHCO and Urban Local Bodies, with Central and State government funding. The four operational components have been:

Beneficiary-Led Construction (BLC): EWS households who own land but live in a kutcha or inadequate structure are provided financial assistance to construct a new pucca unit. Subsidy is disbursed in instalments linked to construction milestones verified by a designated officer. RTI is useful when subsidy instalments are not credited despite milestone completion, or when the BLC application status is unknown.

Affordable Housing in Partnership (AHP): Government-constructed group housing complexes are developed and allotted to EWS/LIG beneficiaries. TSHCO or ULBs act as implementing agencies. RTI can reveal your beneficiary status, the selection process, unit allotment records, and construction completion percentage.

Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme (CLSS): Interest subsidy on home loans for EWS, LIG, and MIG borrowers. This component was closed by the Central Government in March 2022 but legacy cases from earlier years may still be pending subsidy credit. RTI to the ULB or TSHCO can trace the disbursement records for pending CLSS claims.

In-Situ Slum Redevelopment (ISSR): Redeveloping occupied slum land to provide pucca housing to eligible slum dwellers. ISSR involves complex land, legal, and construction coordination. RTI can obtain project status, beneficiary selection records, and construction timelines.

PMAY-U beneficiary selection records, fund utilisation statements, and construction progress reports held by TSHCO and ULBs are all disclosable under the RTI Act. Beneficiary lists under PMAY-U are public records reflecting public expenditure and cannot be withheld on grounds of personal privacy of the allottees.

Why RTI Matters: Common Issues in Telangana Housing

2BHK Allotment Irregularities

The 2BHK scheme has been implemented at significant scale and speed, creating conditions where transparency in beneficiary selection is difficult to monitor through ordinary complaint mechanisms. When an eligible family is excluded but their neighbour — who owns a house — appears on the list, RTI is the tool to obtain the documentary evidence of what happened during selection. Without such records, a complaint to the Housing Department or the Vigilance Commission cannot be substantiated.

HMDA Plot Sale Transparency

HMDA develops and sells residential plots in several major schemes and colonies. The lottery draws and direct allotments through which these plots are distributed have not always been fully transparent. Citizens who apply for HMDA plots — and who are not allotted despite years of waiting — have used RTI to obtain the complete draw proceedings, the allottee list, and the category-wise allocation ratios. This information is particularly valuable in schemes where HMDA sells plots at prices significantly below the surrounding market rate, creating strong incentives for irregular allotments.

Lottery Manipulation and Irregular Allotments

Both THB and HMDA have conducted lottery draws for plot and flat allotment that applicants have challenged as lacking transparency or being manipulated in favour of connected individuals. Unlike private transactions, a government lottery draw is a public function — its proceedings, the supervising officer's identity, the allottee list, and the methodology used are all public records under Section 2(h) and are disclosable on request. RTI is the formal mechanism to obtain these records.

PMAY-U Beneficiary List Irregularities

In PMAY-Urban schemes implemented through Telangana's ULBs and TSHCO, disputes about beneficiary selection have arisen in multiple cities. In some cases, families who already own pucca houses appear on the PMAY-U beneficiary list while genuinely homeless families are excluded. RTI to the concerned ULB or TSHCO can obtain the beneficiary list, the eligibility verification records, and the Aadhaar-seeding data — the documents needed to support a formal complaint to the TSIC or the Central Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs for PMAY-related irregularities.

Possession Withheld After Full Payment

THB allottees who have paid all instalments — sometimes over a decade — but have not received possession certificates are among the most aggrieved RTI filers in Telangana's housing sector. When THB does not issue a possession order, the allottee cannot register the property, take bank loans against it, construct on it, or legally defend it from encroachment. RTI forces THB to produce, in writing, the official reason for withholding possession — whether it is construction incompletion, pending approvals, unresolved title issues, or administrative inertia.

HMDA Layout Change and Encroachment Records

In some HMDA colonies, the layout plan that was sanctioned at the time of allotment has been modified — roads have been realigned, open spaces have been converted to plots, or adjoining structures have encroached on allotted plots. RTI can obtain the approved original layout plan and any subsequent modification orders, enabling the allottee to legally establish their plot's correct boundaries.

What Information RTI Can Obtain

Allotment Status and Waiting List Records

• The current status of your application number — allotted, waitlisted, cancelled, or under review — for a specific THB or HMDA scheme or layout.
• Your current seniority number (serial position) in the waiting list within your income category and sub-category, and the total number of applicants ahead of you.
• A certified copy of any allotment order issued in your name, specifying plot/flat number, area, layout/scheme name, category, and date of allotment.
• Confirmation of whether your application remains active or has been cancelled, with grounds for cancellation and copies of any cancellation notice issued.

Lottery Draw Records

• The complete lottery draw proceedings for any THB or HMDA scheme — the date, venue, methodology, supervising officers, and whether an independent observer was present.
• The full list of allottees by application number and income category, with sub-category reservations applied, for any scheme or layout.
• The ratio of units available to eligible applications, and the total number of registered applicants in each category at the time of the draw.
• Any official report certifying that the lottery draw was conducted in accordance with the prescribed methodology.

2BHK Scheme Records

• The complete beneficiary list for the 2BHK Government Housing Scheme for a specified Mandal, constituency, or district, including application numbers, names, income category, and beneficiary status.
• The eligibility criteria applied and the selection methodology followed for a specific scheme batch or phase, and copies of the selection committee's proceedings.
• The construction status of your allotted 2BHK unit — completion percentage, estimated possession date, and contractor details.
• Fund utilisation records for the 2BHK scheme in a specified area, including construction costs sanctioned and disbursed.

PMAY-U Records

• Your PMAY-Urban application status — whether approved, rejected, or under processing — for a specific component (BLC/AHP/CLSS/ISSR).
• The subsidy disbursement record for your PMAY-BLC application, including amounts credited to your account and the bank through which subsidy was processed.
• The PMAY-U beneficiary list for your municipality or Mandal for any component, including the number of applications received versus beneficiaries selected and reasons for rejection.
• Construction progress records for any PMAY-AHP group housing project in your city, including the contractor's name, contract amount, current completion status, and revised possession timeline.

Payment and Possession Records

• A complete statement of all instalments due, paid, and outstanding for your THB or HMDA allotment, including any interest or penalty charges added to the account.
• The official reason for any delay in issuing a possession certificate, with the date from which possession was due and any revised timeline.
• The current construction status (completion percentage) for any THB multi-storey project, as per the latest engineer's inspection report.
• Copies of any occupancy certificate applications, completion certificates, or engineer inspection reports for the project or layout.

Layout Plans and Title Records

• The approved layout plan for any HMDA or HUDA colony or THB layout showing your plot's boundaries, dimensions, road adjacencies, and reserved areas.
• Whether any title disputes, encumbrances, or court orders are recorded against a specific plot in any HMDA or THB layout.
• Any layout modification orders issued after the original sanction, and the authority that approved the modification.

Where to File RTI in Telangana Housing Matters

Telangana Housing Board (THB), Saifabad

For RTI on THB-scheme plots and flats — allotment status, waitlist position, lottery draw records, payment ledger, possession delays, registry matters, and scheme beneficiary lists — address the application to the CPIO, Telangana Housing Board, Huda Complex, Saifabad, Hyderabad-500004. For matters specific to a divisional office or a particular scheme's site, you may also address the divisional office CPIO, but the head office CPIO at Saifabad is the correct starting point.

Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA)

For RTI on HMDA-approved layouts, legacy HUDA colony allotments, HMDA plot development schemes, and layout plan records — address the application to the CPIO, HMDA, Hyderabad. HMDA's principal offices are in Hyderabad city. For scheme-specific records, the relevant HMDA Division Office (Hyderabad, Secunderabad, or the relevant periurban zone office) may hold the records.

Telangana State Housing Corporation (TSHCO)

For RTI on the 2BHK Government Housing Scheme allotments and beneficiary lists, PMAY-Urban group housing and BLC records, and government housing construction projects — address the application to the CPIO, Telangana State Housing Corporation (TSHCO), Hyderabad. For scheme matters at the Mandal or municipality level, you may also file with the CPIO at the concerned ULB (Municipal Commissioner's office) and include a Section 6(3) request if the records span both TSHCO and the ULB.

Housing Department, Government of Telangana

For policy-level documents — government orders sanctioning schemes, Housing Department directives to THB or TSHCO, budgetary allocations, or scheme guidelines — file with the SPIO at the Housing Department, Government of Telangana, Secretariat, Hyderabad.

When in Doubt: Section 6(3) Transfer

If you are uncertain which office holds the specific records you need, file with the most local or most directly relevant authority and include a Section 6(3) request: "If any of the information sought in this application is not held by this public authority, I request that the application be transferred to the appropriate public authority under Section 6(3) of the RTI Act, 2005 within five working days." The CPIO is then legally obligated to transfer the application and inform you of the transfer — you do not need to reapply or pay again.

Step-by-Step: How to File RTI at rti.telangana.gov.in

Step 1: Identify Your Specific Information Need

The most common reason an RTI application produces an unhelpful or evasive response in housing board matters is insufficient specificity. Before drafting, answer these questions:

• Which authority holds the records — THB, HMDA, or TSHCO?
• What is your application number, scheme name, layout name, or 2BHK allotment reference?
• What specific gap are you trying to fill — allotment status, lottery draw records, waitlist rank, possession delay reason, beneficiary list, payment confirmation, or subsidy disbursement?
• Do you want certified copies of specific documents, or written factual information?
• For which time period are the records relevant?

Frame each query as a numbered, targeted question. Avoid open-ended requests such as "provide all documents about my application" — these will typically produce a response that the information "cannot be identified" or is "too vague to respond to." Instead, write: "Please provide the current waitlist serial number for application number XXXX under Scheme Name within the LIG income category as maintained by THB, and the total number of applications ahead of this application as on the date of this RTI."

Step 2: Draft Your Application

Use the numbered sample RTI questions in this guide as your starting template. Select only those queries directly relevant to your situation. Insert your specific application number, scheme name, plot/flat number, Mandal, constituency, or district as appropriate. Add your full name, complete postal address, phone number, and email address. Sign and date the application.

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

The Government of Telangana operates a dedicated RTI online portal at rti.telangana.gov.in. To file:

1. Register on the portal with your mobile number and email address.
2. Log in and navigate to "Submit Application."
3. Select the correct public authority — Telangana Housing Board, HMDA, or TSHCO, as applicable.
4. Paste your numbered questions into the application text field.
5. Pay the ₹10 fee using the portal's online payment gateway.
6. Record the registration number generated — this is your application tracking reference for all future correspondence and for filing appeals.

Online filing via rti.telangana.gov.in is strongly recommended because it generates an immediate acknowledgement with a registration number, the ₹10 payment is recorded digitally, and the portal provides automatic tracking of the 30-day response deadline.

Step 4: File by Post

If you prefer to file by post, send a written application addressed to the CPIO at the relevant office by registered post with acknowledgement due. Attach a ₹10 Indian Postal Order (IPO) payable to the relevant public authority. BPL cardholders are fully exempt from the ₹10 fee — include a photocopy of your BPL ration card and state the exemption clearly in the application. Mark the envelope "Application under the Right to Information Act, 2005" to ensure correct routing.

Step 5: Track the 30-Day Response Window

Under Section 7(1) of the RTI Act, 2005, the CPIO must furnish the requested information within 30 days of receipt. Where the information concerns the life or liberty of a person, the proviso to Section 7(1) requires the response within 48 hours. Track your application via the portal's tracking function or your postal acknowledgement.

First Appeal: Section 19(1)

If the CPIO does not respond within 30 days, or provides a response that is incomplete, evasive, factually incorrect, or amounts to an unjustified denial without citing a valid exemption under Section 8 or Section 9 of the RTI Act, file a First Appeal under Section 19(1) of the RTI Act, 2005.

The First Appeal must be filed within 30 days of the date of the CPIO's decision or the expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable. No fee is required at the First Appeal stage.

Address the First Appeal to the First Appellate Authority (FAA) within the relevant public authority:

• For THB: The Secretary or the senior officer designated as FAA within the Telangana Housing Board.
• For HMDA: The designated FAA, typically a senior officer above the CPIO at HMDA headquarters.
• For TSHCO: The Managing Director or designated senior officer above the CPIO within TSHCO.

In the First Appeal, include:

• Your original RTI application registration number and date of submission.
• The information you sought.
• A precise description of the deficiency — no response received within 30 days, or a response received that was partial, evasive, factually incorrect, or denied without citing any RTI Act exemption.
• A copy of your original RTI application and any response received.
• A clear request directing the CPIO to furnish the complete information without further delay.

The FAA must dispose of the First Appeal within 30 days of receipt, extendable to 45 days only where reasons are recorded in writing.

Second Appeal: Telangana State Information Commission (TSIC)

If the FAA does not respond within the prescribed period, or the FAA's order is unsatisfactory, file a Second Appeal under Section 19(3) of the RTI Act, 2005 with the Telangana State Information Commission (TSIC). The Second Appeal must be filed within 90 days of the FAA's order or the expiry of the FAA's response period.

The TSIC is constituted under Section 15 of the RTI Act, 2005 and is the exclusive second appellate body for all Telangana state public authorities — including THB, HMDA, TSHCO, and every other body functioning under the Government of Telangana. This is a critical point: the Central Information Commission (CIC) has no jurisdiction over Telangana state public authorities. Filing a second appeal with the CIC against a THB, HMDA, or TSHCO RTI will result in it being rejected as not maintainable, and your 90-day window at the TSIC may lapse in the meantime.

The TSIC has the power to:

• Direct THB, HMDA, or TSHCO to furnish the information that was denied or unjustifiably delayed.
• Under Section 20 of the RTI Act, impose a penalty of ₹250 per day on the CPIO personally, up to a maximum of ₹25,000, for unjustified denial, delay, or provision of false or misleading information.
• Recommend disciplinary action against the CPIO to the competent authority within the relevant public body.
• Award compensation to the applicant in appropriate cases.

When filing the Second Appeal with the TSIC, attach:

• Your original RTI application and the portal acknowledgement or postal proof of receipt.
• The CPIO's response (or evidence that no response was received — for example, the delivery confirmation of registered post with no reply within 30 days).
• Your First Appeal and the FAA's order (or evidence that no order was received within the statutory period).
• A clear statement identifying what information remains outstanding and why the responses received at each stage were deficient.
• If applicable, a specific request that the TSIC consider imposing a Section 20 penalty where the CPIO failed without reasonable cause at both stages.

Second appeals may be filed through the rti.telangana.gov.in portal or by post to the TSIC office in Hyderabad.

Practical Tips for an Effective RTI in Telangana Housing Matters

Always cite your exact application number and scheme name. THB and HMDA administer dozens of schemes across Telangana. An RTI without an application number or scheme name will typically produce a generic response or an "information cannot be identified" reply. Specificity is the single most important factor in getting a useful response.

For 2BHK scheme matters, include your Mandal, constituency, and district. The 2BHK scheme is implemented at the constituency or Mandal level, and the records are maintained locally. An RTI that does not specify the geographical unit will be difficult for the CPIO to act on.

Ask for certified copies of specific documents. Certified copies of your allotment order, the 2BHK beneficiary list, the lottery draw proceedings, or the construction inspection report have evidentiary value before the TSIC, consumer forums, and courts. A general narrative response does not have the same weight.

For lottery disputes, request the full draw proceedings and the supervising officer's designation. Irregularities in THB or HMDA lottery draws — such as allottees appearing ahead of longer-registered applicants, or draws without independent witnesses — can only be established from the official draw records. These records must be disclosed.

For possession delays, ask for the construction progress report and contractor details. A construction completion report showing that the project is only 40% complete when possession was due two years ago establishes the factual basis for a TSRERA complaint, a consumer forum complaint, or an approach to the High Court.

For 2BHK irregularities, compare the beneficiary list against the eligibility criteria. Once you obtain the constituency-wise 2BHK beneficiary list through RTI, it can be compared against the published eligibility criteria — names of people who own pucca houses or who are listed under other schemes may appear, forming the basis for a complaint to the Vigilance Commission or the Housing Department.

File online via rti.telangana.gov.in for a fully traceable record. The portal generates an instant registration number, enables digital fee payment, and provides automatic deadline tracking. When the 30-day window closes without a response, the portal also facilitates First Appeal filing against the same application.

Do not confuse HUDA with HMDA. In everyday speech, Hyderabad citizens still refer to HMDA-maintained colonies as "HUDA colonies" — but the legal entity is HMDA. Always address your RTI to the CPIO, HMDA, not HUDA. An application addressed to "HUDA" may be returned or delayed as HUDA no longer exists as a separate legal entity.

Include a Section 6(3) transfer request if uncertain. If you are unsure whether the records you need are held by THB, HMDA, TSHCO, or the ULB, add a line asking the CPIO to transfer the application under Section 6(3) to the correct public authority if the records are not held there. This ensures the application reaches the right office without requiring you to re-apply and pay again.

RTI Act Provisions Reference

• Section 2(h) — Definition of "public authority." THB, HMDA, and TSHCO qualify as public authorities as bodies constituted under or controlled by the Government of Telangana; they are fully bound by the RTI Act's disclosure obligations.
• Section 6 — Procedure for filing RTI application with the CPIO of the relevant public authority. Fee: ₹10 (free for BPL cardholders).
• Section 6(3) — The CPIO must transfer the RTI application to the correct public authority within five working days if the information requested is held by another public authority.
• Section 7(1) — The CPIO must furnish the requested information within 30 days of receipt of the RTI application.
• Section 7(1) proviso — Where the request concerns the life or liberty of a person, the CPIO must respond within 48 hours.
• Section 19(1) — First Appeal to the First Appellate Authority within the public authority, to be filed within 30 days of the date of the CPIO's decision or the expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable.
• Section 19(3) — Second Appeal to the Telangana State Information Commission (TSIC), to be filed within 90 days of the FAA's order or expiry of the FAA's response period. The TSIC — not the CIC — is the correct second appeal body for all Telangana state public authorities including THB, HMDA, and TSHCO.
• Section 20 — Penalty of ₹250 per day (up to ₹25,000) imposed personally on the CPIO for unjustified denial, delay, or misleading response; TSIC may also recommend disciplinary proceedings against the CPIO.

Government housing in Telangana — whether through THB's income-category plots, HMDA's metropolitan layouts, the 2BHK scheme's free housing for the poor, or PMAY-Urban's subsidy programmes — represents some of the most significant public expenditure and the most direct government intervention in the lives of the state's citizens. Transparency in how these schemes are designed, how beneficiaries are selected, how funds are spent, and how possession is handed over is not optional — it is a legal obligation under the RTI Act, 2005. When these institutions are not responsive to ordinary complaints, RTI backed by the enforcement power of the Telangana State Information Commission is the most effective tool available to any citizen, regardless of resources or connections, to demand a documented, legally accountable answer.