Module 09 — Section 19 — Appeals

Section 19 creates a two-tier appeal: First Appeal under Section 19(1) to the FAA within 30 days; Second Appeal under Section 19(3) to the Central or State Information Commission within 90 days. The FAA must decide within 30 days, extendable to 45 with written reasons. Section 19(5) places the burden of justifying refusal on the public authority.

Part of the PIO / FAA CPD Course · Full curriculum.

By the end of this module you will be able to:

• File or hear a First Appeal under §19(1) within 30 days
• Decide within 30+15 days per §19(6)
• Apply the §19(8) powers — disclosure, compensation, costs
• Write a speaking order that survives Second Appeal and writ review

Each link below takes you to the detailed practitioner article in the RTI Wiki knowledge base. Use these as your primary text for the module.

• First Appeal timelines
• FAA appellate-review checklist
• §19(8) FAA powers
• FAA speaking-order guide

FAA speaking-order — 3 variations: uphold PIO · remand for reasoned order · allow appeal.

Enrolled students receive the fillable Word / Google Docs version in the course dashboard.

Given a PIO reply that invokes §8(1)(d) with no third-party identification, write the FAA's speaking order on the First Appeal — including disclosure direction, compensation consideration, and costs.

• §19(1), §19(3), §19(6), §19(8)

• 12 multiple-choice questions, drawn from the reading above.
• Open-book. No time limit.
• You must score at least 70% to unlock the next module (quiz score contributes to the 30 CPD hours).
• Available on the course dashboard after enrolment.

• Previous: Module 08
• Next: Module 10
• Back to full curriculum

• CPD course landing
• How to start — free
• Certification
• Instructor

Last reviewed: 21 April 2026.