RTI First Appeal — Checklist

Tick each line before you send. The First Appellate Authority (FAA) sits inside the same public authority but above the PIO.

1. Confirm you can file a first appeal

• 30 days have passed since you filed the RTI and you got no reply, OR
• You received a reply that is incomplete / wrong / refuses information.
• You are within 30 days from receipt of reply (or 30 days from the day reply was due).

2. Find the First Appellate Authority (FAA)

• Look on the public authority's website — usually under "RTI" / "Officers".
• The FAA is an officer senior in rank to the PIO.
• Confirm name, designation, and full address. Get the email if listed.

3. Draft the appeal — must contain

• Your name, address, mobile, email.
• RTI registration number, date of filing, name of the PIO.
• What you asked. What you got (or did not get).
• Specific grounds of appeal — pick from below.
• Relief sought — "kindly direct the PIO to provide the information at points 1, 3 and 5".

4. Common grounds (select what applies)

• No reply received within 30 days (deemed refusal).
• Reply does not address the questions asked.
• Information wrongly classified as exempt under Sec. 8 / 9.
• PIO claims information is "not held" without basis.
• Excessive fee demanded or fee structure not explained.
• Application transferred without intimation (Sec. 6(3)).

5. Attach

• Copy of the original RTI application + receipt.
• Copy of PIO's reply (if received).
• Any earlier reminder or representation.

6. Track it