Act Comparison
RTI vs PIL
An RTI application under the RTI Act, 2005 costs ₹10, goes to a Public Information Officer, and must be answered within 30 days — use it to obtain specific government records. A PIL is filed in a High Court or the Supreme Court under Article 226 or 32 to challenge government action or inaction, and runs for months to years.
| Aspect | RTI (Right to Information) | PIL (Public Interest Litigation) |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Obtain specific information from govt | Challenge govt action/inaction in public interest |
| Filed At | Public Information Officer (then CIC/SIC) | High Court or Supreme Court |
| Cost | ₹10 application fee | Court filing fees (minimal for PIL) |
| Lawyer Required | No | Advisable (or can file yourself) |
| Outcome | Information disclosure (or rejection) | Court orders, policy changes, systemic relief |
| Timeline | 30 days (or 48 hrs in urgent cases) | Months to years |
| Use When | You need specific documents or data | You want to challenge a systemic issue |
| Governing Law | RTI Act, 2005 | Article 226/32 of the Constitution |