{"id":145,"date":"2026-09-09T04:31:06","date_gmt":"2026-09-09T04:31:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rtisupport.in\/blog\/understanding-the-rules-for-requesting-third-party-information-under-the-rti-act\/"},"modified":"2026-09-09T04:31:06","modified_gmt":"2026-09-09T04:31:06","slug":"understanding-the-rules-for-requesting-third-party-information-under-the-rti-act","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rtisupport.in\/blog\/en\/understanding-the-rules-for-requesting-third-party-information-under-the-rti-act\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding the Rules for Requesting ‘Third-Party Information’ Under the RTI Act"},"content":{"rendered":"

Understanding the Rules for Requesting ‘Third-Party Information’ Under the RTI Act<\/h1>\n

The Right to Information Act, 2005 (RTI Act, 2005) grants every Indian citizen the right to seek information from government departments. However, when it comes to information related to a ‘third party’<\/a> (any third individual or organisation), the rules become distinct and specific. This is referred to as ‘Third-Party Information’. Often, people face difficulty understanding how to request such information and the procedure involved. In this article, we will explain the rules for requesting Third-Party Information<\/strong> under the RTI Act in simple language.<\/p>\n

Who is a ‘Third Party’ in RTI? (Section 2(n))<\/h2>\n

Section 2(n) of the RTI Act clarifies the definition of a ‘Third Party’. According to this section, a ‘Third Party’ refers to any person or organisation other than the applicant and the Public Authority. For instance, if you request information related to a government officer’s promotion, transfer, or assets, that officer would be considered a ‘Third Party’. Similarly, if you seek information about a company that has entered into a deal with the government, that company will be deemed a ‘Third Party’.<\/p>\n

Procedure and Essential Rules for Requesting Third-Party Information<\/h2>\n

When third-party related information is sought through an RTI application, the Public Information Officer (PIO) or Assistant Public Information Officer (APIO) must follow a special procedure under Section 11:<\/p>\n

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    1. Initial Scrutiny by the CPIO\/SPIO<\/h3>\n

    When an RTI application requesting third-party information is received, the CPIO\/SPIO (Central\/State Public Information Officer) must first assess whether the disclosure of this information could harm the interests of the third party. If the information appears sensitive or related to the third party’s interests, the subsequent procedure is initiated.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    2. Notice to the Third Party<\/h3>\n

    Within 5 days of receiving your RTI application, the CPIO\/SPIO is mandated to send a written notice to the third party whose information has been sought. This notice must specify what information the applicant has requested and state the Public Authority’s intention to release that information. The third party is given 10 days to submit their objections.<\/p>\n

    Did you know?<\/strong> This notice also states that the third party can submit their objections in writing or orally in support of their stance.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    3. Third Party’s Response and Consideration<\/h3>\n

    The third party must register their objections within 10 days of receiving the notice. The CPIO\/SPIO carefully considers the objections raised by the third party. They must assess whether the third party’s interests are significant enough to warrant withholding the information from public disclosure.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    4. Final Decision on Disclosure or Withholding of Information<\/h3>\n

    After considering the third party’s response, the CPIO\/SPIO makes the final decision to disclose or withhold the information. This decision must be made within 40 days of receiving the RTI application (the usual 30 days + 10 days for third-party notice and response). The CPIO\/SPIO must communicate their decision to both the applicant and the third party.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    5. Right to Appeal<\/h3>\n

    If the CPIO\/SPIO decides to disclose the information, the third party has the right to appeal against this decision to the First Appellate Authority within 30 days. Similarly, if the applicant does not receive the information or is not satisfied with partial information, they can also file a first appeal.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    6. Disclosure of Information<\/h3>\n

    If the decision is made to disclose the information, and the third party does not appeal or their appeal is rejected, the information is usually provided to the applicant after the expiry of the first appeal period (30 days) or after the appeal is dismissed.<\/p>\n<\/ol>\n

    When Can Third-Party Information Be Disclosed, and When Can It Not?<\/h2>\n

    Information can be disclosed if:<\/strong><\/p>\n