No, a practising lawyer cannot file an RTI application on behalf of a client.

According to rulings by the Central Information Commission (CIC) and various High Courts, an advocate is not permitted to use the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005 to gather information or evidence for cases they are handling professionally.

Key Legal Principles

  • Citizenship Right: The RTI Act is a citizen-centric law meant to empower individuals directly. A lawyer acts as an intermediary or proxy, which the law does not intend to facilitate for litigation purposes. [1, 2]
  • Precedent: In a prominent ruling reported by The Hindu, Information Commissioner Sudha Rani Relangi upheld that filing an RTI on behalf of a client is “not permissible”. The CIC cited a landmark Madras High Court judgment warning that allowing lawyers to do so would turn the transparency law into a professional tool to promote legal practice rather than its actual public objective. [1, 2]
  • Alternative Legal Routes: If a lawyer needs documents or records for an active or upcoming lawsuit, they must use standard judicial mechanisms—such as seeking certified copies, court summons, discovery procedures, or inspection of records. RTI cannot be used as a shortcut to bypass court-regulated discovery. [1, 2]

Can a lawyer ever file an RTI?

Yes, but only in their personal capacity as an individual Indian citizen. If an advocate files an RTI requesting public information for themselves (without associating it with a client’s case or acting as counsel), the application is perfectly valid and maintainable. [1, 2]

The Simple Solution

If information is required for a case, the client themselves should file the RTI application in their own name as a citizen. The lawyer can guide the client on what information to draft or ask for, but the applicant’s name and signature must be that of the client. [1, 2]

Method 1: Online via the RTI Portal (Fastest)

If the information is required from a Central Government department or ministry:

  1. Go to the official portal: rtionline.gov.in.
  2. Click on Submit Request and accept the guidelines.
  3. Select the relevant Ministry, Department, or Public Authority from the dropdown menu.
  4. Fill in your client’s personal details (Name, Address, Email, Phone Number).
  5. Paste the text of the RTI application into the text box (up to 3,000 characters). You can also upload a supporting PDF document.
  6. Pay the application fee of ₹10 online using Internet Banking, a Credit/Debit Card, or a UPI application.
  7. Submit the form and save the unique RTI Request Registration Number for tracking.

Note: For State Government departments (e.g., Maharashtra, Karnataka, Delhi), your client will need to use the specific state’s RTI portal, as the central portal only handles central ministries.

Method 2: Offline via Post (Traditional)

If the department does not accept online applications or if it belongs to a state government without a stable online portal:

  1. Print the Application: Type out the application using the template below on plain white paper. Ensure your client signs it.
  2. Attach the Fee: Attach a ₹10 Postal Order (IPO) or Demand Draft (DD) made out to the “Accounts Officer” of the concerned public authority. (Some states also accept court fee stamps).
  3. Send the Mail: Send the application via Registered Post or Speed Post to the Public Information Officer (PIO) of the targeted department. Keep the postal tracking receipt safe.

Standard RTI Drafting Template

You can copy this format and customize the bracketed fields for your client to sign:

To,
The Central Public Information Officer / Public Information Officer
[Name of the Department / Office / Ministry]
[Full Address of the Office]

Subject: Request for Information under Section 6(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005.

  1. Name of the Applicant: [Client’s Full Name]
  2. Address: [Client’s Postal Address for communication]
  3. Citizenship: Indian
  4. Particulars of Information Required:
    Please provide the following information/documents:
    (a) [Clearly specify the first document or question, including dates or reference numbers if known]
    (b) [Specify the second document or question]
    (c) [Specify the third document or question]
  5. Period to which the information relates: [e.g., 01 April 2024 to 31 March 2025]
  6. Application Fee Details:
    I have attached the application fee of Rs. 10/- vide Indian Postal Order / Demand Draft No. _______________ dated ___________ drawn in favour of the Accounts Officer, [Name of Department].
    (Or, if online: Paid Rs. 10/- online via transaction ID _______________).
  7. Declaration:
    I am a citizen of India. I request you to provide this information at the address mentioned above. If the requested information falls under the domain of another public authority, please transfer this application under Section 6(3) of the RTI Act within the mandated 5 days.

Date: DD/MM/YYYY
Place: [City Name]

[Signature of the Applicant]
Name: [Client’s Name]

Golden Rules for Writing the Questions

  • Ask for Records, Not Arguments: Do not ask “Why did the department take this action?” Ask for the documents instead: “Provide a copy of the file notings, minutes of the meeting, or official correspondence regarding the action taken on [Date/Subject].”
  • Be Specific: Keep the query narrow. Vague requests like “Provide all files related to my property dispute” can be rejected for being too broad or burdensome. Use specific dates, project names, or reference numbers.
  • Keep it Clean: Do not mention the active court case, legal strategies, or the lawyer’s name anywhere in the application text to avoid unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles.

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