Is There a Fee for a Second Appeal at CIC?

Last reviewed: 1 September 2026.

One of the most important — and underused — features of the RTI Act is that the entire appeal process costs nothing. The ₹10 you pay to file the original RTI is the only point where money changes hands. After that, the government bears the cost of your appeals all the way to CIC.

“No fee is required to be paid alongwith the second appeal/complaint.” — CIC FAQ Q12
“As per RTI Act, no fee has to be paid for first appeal.” — rtionline.gov.in FAQ Q8

Original RTI application: ₹10 for citizens who are not BPL. Nil for BPL applicants (RTI Act 2005, §7(5), with BPL certificate required).

Additional fee for information: If the CPIO determines you need physical copies, inspection time, or diskettes, they may charge additional fees per the RTI Rules — typically ₹2 per page for photocopies. These are prescribed in the Right to Information (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005 and the Right to Information Rules, 2012.

First appeal: Free. RTI Act 2005, §19(1) does not prescribe any fee.

Second appeal/complaint at CIC: Free. RTI Act 2005, §19(3) and §18 do not prescribe any fee.

If the CPIO sends you an intimation about additional fees (for copies or inspection time), this is legitimate under §7(3). You can pay this via View Status on the portal. Challenge it at first appeal if you believe the fee calculation is excessive or unauthorized.

If a CPIO asks you to pay any fee for filing an appeal itself — at any stage — that is illegal and grounds for a complaint to CIC.

1. File your first appeal at no cost: through rtionline.gov.in or by post/in-person at the First Appellate Authority.
2. File your second appeal or complaint at CIC at no cost: through cic.gov.in or physically at CIC Bhawan, Munirka, New Delhi-110067.
3. Reject any demand for fee: if any official asks you to pay a fee to file a first appeal, second appeal, or complaint, note it and mention it in your filing as a ground of complaint.

Under Central RTI Rules, ₹2 per page for A4/A3 photocopies; actual cost for pages larger than A3; ₹50 per diskette or floppy; actual cost for samples or models; inspection of records free for the first hour, then ₹5 for each subsequent hour (or fraction thereof). Check your state's RTI rules for state authority costs.

No. The RTI system is designed for self-filing. Many citizens appear in person or send written submissions. Legal representation is allowed but not required.

Not necessarily. CIC offers video conferencing at most district NIC centers (CIC FAQ Q25). You can attend your hearing from your district headquarters.

No. CIC orders are provided free of cost to all parties and are also published on the CIC website (CIC FAQ Q37).

• First Appeal Builder — generate a free first appeal draft
• Complaint vs Second Appeal — which to file
• All CIC FAQs index
• Central Information Commission — file online
• The RTI Playbook