Service file on rti

You have asked for service record. They are talking of your service file. I think what you are asking for is neither the service record nor the service file. I think what you have in mind is a service certificate. A service certificate is a document which will give the dates from and to which you were employed, the capacity or designation under which you were employed, whether you got any reward or promotion during the period, whether there was any disciplinary action against you and the reason for your leaving the service. The service certificate should be signed by competent authority in the organisation, most probably the HRD officer. The certificate will occupy one or two sheets at the most. RTI is for matters which are in public interest. This is a matter of your personal interest only. The advantage of RTI is that they are bound to give you a reply. They have replied you because they did not know that the matter was covered under public interest  and not covered under RTI. You can maintain that position and claim. Under RTI  if you do not get a proper reply you can appeal to designated higher official. The reply which you have received would be giving the particulars of the appellate authority. You make a fresh application under RTI giving a list of the specific information which you want.