Yes. In India, a person can generally use the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005 to obtain information and records held by a public authority relating to a property dispute. However, RTI is mainly a way to obtain existing government records and information; it does not itself decide who legally owns the property or settle a title dispute.
Key points:
Land and ownership records: You can seek copies of available revenue records, land records, record-of-rights, khata/khasra details, and other property-related documents maintained by the concerned department.
Mutation details: You may request information about mutation applications, orders, dates, file notings, notices issued, and the action taken by the revenue authority, subject to applicable exemptions.
Registration records: Information and copies of documents available with the registration department, such as registration details, document numbers, dates, and records of registered transactions, may be requested where legally accessible.
Survey and measurement records: You can seek available survey reports, maps, measurement records, demarcation reports, and related official documents maintained by the department.
Action taken by officials: RTI can be used to ask what action was taken on a particular application or complaint, when it was received, which officer handled it, and the current status of the matter.
Certified copies: Where available under the applicable rules, requesting certified copies of relevant records can be useful for keeping an official record for further proceedings.
RTI does not prove ownership: Information received through RTI may help clarify what the government records contain, but the RTI process generally cannot determine whether a person has a valid title. A title dispute may need to be resolved through the appropriate revenue authority or civil court.
Information already held by the department: RTI is generally meant to provide access to information that exists in the records of the public authority. An applicant cannot normally require an officer to create a new opinion, explanation, or legal interpretation that is not already recorded.
How it can help:
The documents obtained through RTI can help a person compare revenue and registration records, identify discrepancies in mutation or survey entries, determine whether officials acted on earlier applications, and gather documentary evidence for a complaint, revenue proceeding, or court case.
Conclusion:
RTI can be a useful tool in a property-record dispute because it allows a person to obtain relevant information and government records. However, obtaining records through RTI does not by itself establish ownership or resolve the dispute. If the records reveal conflicting entries or a serious title dispute, the person may need to approach the appropriate revenue authority or court with the documents obtained.
