A First Appeal under §19(1) of the RTI Act, 2005 is your statutory remedy when the Public Information Officer has refused, delayed, or only partly answered your RTI. The appeal goes to the First Appellate Authority (FAA) inside the same public authority. The format is a one-page letter with a stated ground of appeal. You have 30 days from the PIO's reply or the deemed-refusal date to file. No fee is payable for a First Appeal under the Central RTI Rules. The FAA must decide within 30 days, extendable by 15 days with written reasons under §19(6).
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File a First Appeal in any of these six situations:
Copy the block below. Replace text in [ ] with your details.
To,
The First Appellate Authority,
[Name of the Department / Office]
[Full postal address]
Subject: First Appeal under §19(1) of the Right to Information Act,
2005, against the order or non-reply of the PIO on RTI dated
[DD-MM-YYYY], Registration No. [RTI number].
Sir / Madam,
I, [Your full name], a citizen of India, residing at [Your address],
file this First Appeal under §19(1) of the Right to Information Act,
2005 against the order or non-reply of [Name of the PIO, with
designation], on my RTI application dated [DD-MM-YYYY], Registration
No. [number].
GROUNDS OF APPEAL:
1. [Specific ground, with reference to the PIO's reply paragraph.]
2. [Second ground, citing the section of the Act if relevant.]
3. [Third ground, with the information sought re-stated for clarity.]
RELIEFS SOUGHT:
i. Set aside the impugned order of the PIO.
ii. Direct the PIO to supply the information requested in my
application dated [DD-MM-YYYY], free of additional fee.
iii. Award costs for the delay, if any.
iv. Initiate proceedings under §20 of the Act against the PIO
for the unreasonable refusal or delay.
A copy of the original RTI application and the PIO's reply (if any)
is enclosed.
Yours sincerely,
[Signature]
[Printed name]
[Phone] · [Email]
Date: [DD-MM-YYYY]
Place: [City]
Enclosures:
1. Copy of the RTI application dated [DD-MM-YYYY].
2. Copy of the PIO's reply or proof of non-reply.
3. Proof of identity (Aadhaar / Voter ID / PAN).
Pick two to four of these grounds. Frame each one in the PIO's actual words from the reply, then state why the ground is wrong.
| Time limit to file | 30 days from PIO's reply OR the deemed-refusal date |
| Fee | No fee under the Central RTI Rules. Some State Rules charge a token fee. Check the UP Rules or AP Rules. |
| Where to file | First Appellate Authority of the same public authority, addressed to the named FAA under §19(1) |
| FAA's deadline | 30 days from receipt, extendable by 15 days under §19(6) |
| Hearing right | §19(5) gives the appellant a reasonable opportunity to be heard before the FAA's decision |
| Statutory base | §19(1) and §19(5) of the RTI Act, 2005 |
The hearing is usually offered in writing. Ask for an oral hearing in your appeal if the case is complex. The FAA must record reasons for refusing an oral hearing.
FAA silent or partial? Second Appeal goes to the CIC.
§19(3) of the RTI Act gives a Second Appeal to the Central Information Commission for Central Government records, or to the State Information Commission for State records. The Commission has powers under §19(8) to direct disclosure, set the fee, and impose costs.
Templates: RTI Application Format · First Appeal Format · Second Appeal Format
Stuck? Use the AI RTI Drafter for any of the three formats.
§19 does not prescribe a single format. The one-page letter with grounds and reliefs above is the working standard every FAA accepts. Some State Rules prescribe a form (the Bihar Rules at Bihar First Appeal Form are one example).
For Central Government bodies, no. Some states charge a token fee under their own RTI Rules. Check the rules for the state where you are filing. BPL applicants pay nothing under §7(5).
30 days from the date of receipt under §19(6), extendable by 15 days for reasons recorded in writing. Total cap: 45 days.
§19(5) gives the appellant a reasonable opportunity to be heard. Most FAAs decide on the papers. Ask for an oral hearing if the case is complex or you want to argue grounds.
The FAA is a senior officer in the same public authority who reviews the PIO's order. Under §19(6) the FAA has the same powers as the PIO to direct disclosure, set the fee, or refer the matter back.
Every public authority is required under §4(1)(b) to publish the name and address of its FAA on its website. If you cannot find it, address the appeal to “The First Appellate Authority, [Department]” and the office will route it.
No. The Second Appeal is a separate step. You file it with the Central Information Commission (for Central bodies) or the State Information Commission within 90 days of the FAA's order or the deemed refusal at 45 days.
Last reviewed: 27 May 2026, RTI Wiki editorial team.