Right to Information Wiki - templates

Template: FAA speaking order on a first appeal

anonymous@undisclosed.example.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 06:22:05 +0000

2026/04/19 13:32	current
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	+	====== Template: FAA speaking order on a first appeal ======
	+
	+	//Base template for a disposal order by the First Appellate Authority under Section 19(6) of the Right to Information Act, 2005. Structured as a judicial-style speaking order to reduce the scope of the second appeal before the Information Commission. Notes on state variants appear at the end.//
	+
	+	===== When to use this =====
	+
	+	This template is used by the First Appellate Authority to dispose of a first appeal under Section 19(1) of the Act. The order must be passed within thirty days of the receipt of the appeal, or within a further period of fifteen days for reasons to be recorded in writing, the total period not exceeding forty-five days.
	+
	+	A well-reasoned first appellate order serves two purposes. First, it disposes of the appeal on the merits, either by upholding the decision of the Central Public Information Officer, or by modifying it, or by setting it aside. Second, it narrows the points for consideration at the second appeal, by recording findings on the specific grounds urged in the first appeal. A well-reasoned order reduces the scope of litigation before the Central Information Commission or the State Information Commission.
	+
	+	The Act does not prescribe a format for the first appellate order. Good practice, however, is to follow a judicial-style structure. The template below reflects that practice.
	+
	+	===== The template =====
	+
	+	<code>
	+	[Letterhead of the Public Authority]
	+
	+	In the matter of First Appeal No. [number] / [year] under Section 19(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005.
	+
	+	[Full name of the appellant],
	+	[Full address of the appellant]. . . . Appellant
	+
	+	Versus
	+
	+	The Central Public Information Officer,
	+	[Name of the Public Authority],
	+	[Full address]. . . . Respondent
	+
	+	Order of the First Appellate Authority
	+
	+	Present: [Name and designation of the First Appellate Authority]
	+	Date of hearing: [Date, if a hearing was held]
	+	Date of order: [Date of the order]
	+
	+	1. The present appeal is preferred under Section 19(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005 against the [decision / non-decision] of the Central Public Information Officer of [name of the public authority] dated [date], on the RTI application of the appellant dated [date].
	+
	+	Brief facts
	+
	+	2. The appellant, by an application dated [date] under Section 6(1) of the Act, sought the information specified therein from this public authority. The application was received on [date] and the prescribed fee of ten rupees was tendered therewith. A copy of the application is on record.
	+
	+	3. By a communication dated [date], the Central Public Information Officer [rejected the application / partly rejected the application / furnished incomplete information / demanded further fee under Section 7(3) / did not communicate any decision within the period of thirty days prescribed under Section 7(1)]. The specific reasoning in the communication was that [set out the reasoning briefly].
	+
	+	4. Aggrieved by the aforesaid decision or non-decision, the appellant has preferred the present first appeal, received in this office on [date].
	+
	+	Grounds of appeal
	+
	+	5. The grounds urged in the first appeal are as follows.
	+
	+	a. [Ground A, reproduced in brief.]
	+	b. [Ground B.]
	+	c. [Ground C.]
	+
	+	Submissions of the Central Public Information Officer
	+
	+	6. The Central Public Information Officer, on notice, has submitted that [set out the submissions, whether received in writing, orally, or through a representation filed by the Officer]. The specific points made by the Officer are that [summarise].
	+
	+	Consideration and findings
	+
	+	7. The First Appellate Authority has considered the appeal, the grounds urged therein, the submissions of the Central Public Information Officer, and the record. The findings on each ground are recorded below.
	+
	+	On ground (a) — [brief description of ground]
	+
	+	8. [Set out the reasoning. Identify the issue. Identify the applicable provision of the Act. Apply the provision to the facts. Record a finding. The finding should be specific: whether the ground is accepted or rejected, in whole or in part.]
	+
	+	On ground (b) — [brief description of ground]
	+
	+	9. [Repeat the structure.]
	+
	+	On ground (c) — [brief description of ground]
	+
	+	10. [Repeat the structure.]
	+
	+	On the public interest question under Section 8(2)
	+
	+	11. [Where the matter engages Section 8(2) of the Act, the First Appellate Authority records the proportionality reasoning. The reasoning should engage the specific public interest asserted, the specific protected interest asserted, and the balance struck between them. Where Section 8(1)(j) is engaged, the reasoning must be read in the light of the amendment effected by the Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025, and the fundamental right to privacy affirmed in Justice K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (2017) 10 SCC 1.]
	+
	+	On severability under Section 10
	+
	+	12. [Where the record contains both exempt and non-exempt information, the First Appellate Authority records whether severability has been applied by the Central Public Information Officer, and whether the severability applied is satisfactory. Where severability has not been applied, the Authority records whether it ought to have been, and directs the Officer accordingly.]
	+
	+	Operative order
	+
	+	13. In view of the findings recorded above, the present first appeal is [allowed / partly allowed / dismissed].
	+
	+	14. [Where the appeal is allowed, wholly or in part:] The decision of the Central Public Information Officer dated [date] is [set aside / modified to the extent indicated above]. The Central Public Information Officer is directed to furnish the information sought in the application dated [date], in the form requested, within [number] days of the receipt of this order, [subject to the payment of such further fee as may be intimated under Section 7(3) of the Act / at no further fee].
	+
	+	15. [Where the appeal is dismissed:] The decision of the Central Public Information Officer dated [date] is upheld. The appellant is at liberty to prefer a second appeal under Section 19(3) of the Act to [the Central Information Commission / the State Information Commission], within ninety days from the date of the receipt of this order.
	+
	+	16. [If applicable:] The attention of the Central Public Information Officer is drawn to the [specific lapse, such as the failure to record reasons, the failure to consider Section 10, or the failure to consider Section 8(2)]. The Officer is advised to apply the correct procedure in future matters. A copy of this order is forwarded to the Head of the Department for information and necessary action.
	+
	+	17. A copy of this order is issued to the appellant, to the Central Public Information Officer, and [where applicable] to the third party heard under Section 11.
	+
	+	[Signature]
	+	[Name of the First Appellate Authority]
	+	[Designation]
	+	[Date]
	+	[Place]
	+	</code>
	+
	+	===== Legal basis =====
	+
	+	* Section 19(1) of the Act confers the right of first appeal on any person aggrieved by a decision of the Central Public Information Officer, or on any person who has not received a decision within the time specified in Section 7(1).
	+	* Section 19(5) of the Act places the onus of proving that a denial was justified on the Officer.
	+	* Section 19(6) of the Act requires the disposal of the first appeal within thirty days of its receipt, extendable to forty-five days for reasons to be recorded in writing.
	+	* Section 7(8)(i) of the Act requires reasons to be recorded for any rejection.
	+	* Section 8(2) of the Act provides the public interest override.
	+	* Section 10 of the Act provides for severability.
	+	* Justice K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (2017) 10 SCC 1 and its proportionality framework apply where the right to privacy is asserted as a restriction on the right to information.
	+
	+	===== Common mistakes =====
	+
	+	* Passing an order that does not engage the specific grounds urged in the first appeal. A speaking order must record findings on each ground. An order that dismisses the appeal in general terms is vulnerable at the second appeal.
	+	* Failing to record findings on Section 8(2) where public interest is material. The Information Commission expects the First Appellate Authority to have applied its mind to Section 8(2) where the matter engages public interest. An order that omits this consideration is often remanded.
	+	* Failing to record findings on severability under Section 10. Similar considerations apply to Section 10. A blanket upholding of a denial, without engaging severability, is vulnerable.
	+	* Passing the order beyond the forty-five-day limit. Section 19(6) imposes a firm outer limit. Orders passed beyond forty-five days are liable to be treated as non-orders, and the second appeal in those cases is on the ground of non-disposal.
	+	* Failing to distinguish between the reasoning and the operative directions. Good practice is to number the consideration and findings separately from the operative order. This makes the order easier to implement and easier to challenge or defend on appeal.
	+	* Directing the Officer to furnish the information "in accordance with law" without specifying what is to be furnished. A direction that is too general imposes no real compliance obligation on the Officer and leads to a further round of litigation. The direction should specify the information, the form, and the timeline.
	+
	+	===== Related pages =====
	+
	+	* [[guide:guidelines-for-first-appellate-authority\|Guide for First Appellate Authorities]]
	+	* [[explanations:justification-for-denial-under-rti\|Justification for denial is mandatory]]
	+	* [[explanations:severability\|Severability]]
	+	* [[explanations:grounds-for-rejection\|Grounds for rejection]]
	+	* [[blog:dpdp-rules-2025-amendment-to-rti-act\|DPDP Rules 2025 and the amendment to Section 8(1)(j)]]
	+	* [[templates:first-appeal\|Template: first appeal]]
	+	* [[templates:pio-reply-standard\|Template: standard reply within thirty days]]
	+
	+	===== Notes on state variants =====
	+
	+	* Section 19(6) is applied uniformly. The thirty-day and forty-five-day timelines are the same across Central and State jurisdictions.
	+	* Cause title. Some State conventions prefer "Order of the Appellate Authority" or "Decision of the First Appellate Authority". Use the convention in force in the public authority.
	+	* Forwarding of the order. Central practice is to forward the order by registered post with acknowledgement due, or by email where the appellant has provided an email address, or both. Some State Rules require a specific mode. Check the applicable Rules.
	+
	+	===== Last reviewed =====
	+
	+	19 April 2026
	+
	+	{{tag>rti templates faa section-19 speaking-order 2026}}

Template: First appeal

anonymous@undisclosed.example.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 10:38:22 +0000

2026/04/19 13:32	current
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	+	====== Template: First appeal ======
	+
	+	<WRAP center round tip 95%>
	+	If your RTI was rejected. See [[why-rti-gets-rejected\|Why RTI Applications Get Rejected in India — and How to Avoid It]]. Five reasons, the exact fix for each, and two case studies.
	+	</WRAP>
	+
	+	//Base template for an appeal under Section 19(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005, addressed to the First Appellate Authority. Notes on state variants appear at the end.//
	+
	+	===== When to use this =====
	+
	+	A first appeal lies to the First Appellate Authority of the public authority in three situations.
	+
	+	- The applicant has received a decision of the Central Public Information Officer under Section 7, and the applicant is aggrieved by that decision.
	+	- The applicant has not received a decision of the Officer within the period specified in Section 7(1) — thirty days from the receipt of the complete application, or forty-eight hours where the matter concerns the life or liberty of a person.
	+	- The applicant has received information the applicant considers incomplete, misleading, or false.
	+
	+	The first appeal must be filed within thirty days from the date of receipt of the decision of the Officer, or within thirty days from the date on which the decision ought to have been received. The First Appellate Authority may admit a delayed appeal if the appellant shows sufficient cause.
	+
	+	===== The template =====
	+
	+	<code>
	+	To,
	+	The First Appellate Authority,
	+	[Name of Public Authority],
	+	[Full address of the Public Authority],
	+	[City, PIN].
	+
	+	Subject: First appeal under Section 19(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005, against the decision / non-decision dated [date] of the Central Public Information Officer.
	+
	+	Sir / Madam,
	+
	+	1. I, [full name of the appellant], son / daughter of [father's or mother's name], resident of [full residential address], am a citizen of India and the applicant in the RTI application referred to in the following paragraph.
	+
	+	2. I had made an application dated [date of original application] under Section 6(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005, seeking the information specified therein from the public authority. A photocopy of the application, together with the proof of the prescribed fee, is enclosed as Annexure A.
	+
	+	3. [Select one or more of the following paragraphs and strike out the rest.]
	+
	+	3(a). [Where the Officer has rejected the application wholly or partly.] The Central Public Information Officer, by a communication dated [date], has [rejected the application / partly rejected the application / furnished incomplete information / furnished misleading information / furnished false information]. A photocopy of the communication is enclosed as Annexure B.
	+
	+	3(b). [Where the Officer has not replied within time.] The Central Public Information Officer has not furnished the information within the period of thirty days prescribed under Section 7(1) of the Act, which expired on [date]. The application is deemed to have been refused under Section 7(2) of the Act.
	+
	+	3(c). [Where the fee demanded is unreasonable.] The Central Public Information Officer has, by a communication dated [date], demanded further fee in a sum the appellant considers not to be in accordance with the Rules. A photocopy of the communication is enclosed as Annexure B.
	+
	+	4. The appellant is aggrieved by the aforesaid decision or non-decision on the following grounds.
	+
	+	a. The information sought does not attract any of the exemptions under Section 8 or Section 9 of the Act. [Amplify with reference to the specific exemption invoked in the order under appeal, and the reason why the exemption does not apply on the facts.]
	+
	+	b. The Officer has not recorded reasons for the decision as required by Section 7(8)(i) of the Act. A denial without reasons is not a denial in law. [Cite the relevant communication.]
	+
	+	c. Section 8(2) of the Act has not been considered by the Officer. [Where the matter concerns the utilisation of public funds, the conduct of a public servant in the course of duty, or other matters of public interest, state the ground expressly.]
	+
	+	d. Severability under Section 10 of the Act has not been considered. Where a record contains both exempt and non-exempt information, the non-exempt part must be severed and furnished. [Cite the relevant communication.]
	+
	+	e. [Any other ground on which the appeal is preferred.]
	+
	+	5. The appellant, accordingly, prays that the First Appellate Authority may be pleased to:
	+
	+	a. set aside the decision of the Central Public Information Officer dated [date], and
	+
	+	b. direct the Officer to furnish the information sought in the application, in the form requested, within the period specified in the order of the First Appellate Authority, and
	+
	+	c. pass such further or other orders as the First Appellate Authority may deem fit in the circumstances of the case.
	+
	+	6. The appellant certifies that this appeal is being preferred within the period of thirty days from the date of receipt of the decision of the Officer / the date on which the decision ought to have been received.
	+
	+	Yours faithfully,
	+
	+	[Signature of the appellant]
	+	[Full name of the appellant, typed or printed]
	+	[Date]
	+	[Place]
	+
	+	Enclosures:
	+	1. Annexure A: Photocopy of the application under Section 6(1) dated [date].
	+	2. Annexure B: Photocopy of the communication under appeal, dated [date]. [If applicable.]
	+	3. [Any other document on which the appellant relies.]
	+	</code>
	+
	+	===== Legal basis =====
	+
	+	* Section 19(1) of the Act provides that any person who does not receive a decision within the time specified in Section 7(1), or who is aggrieved by a decision of the Central Public Information Officer, may within thirty days from the expiry of such period or from the receipt of such a decision, prefer an appeal to such officer who is senior in rank to the Central Public Information Officer in each public authority.
	+	* Section 19(5) of the Act provides that in any appeal proceedings, the onus to prove that a denial of a request was justified shall be on the Officer who denied the request.
	+	* Section 19(6) of the Act provides that an appeal under Section 19(1) shall be disposed of within thirty days of the receipt of the appeal, or within such extended period not exceeding a total of forty-five days, for reasons to be recorded in writing.
	+	* Section 7(2) of the Act provides that if the Officer fails to give a decision on the request for information within the period specified in Section 7(1), the Officer shall be deemed to have refused the request.
	+	* Section 7(8) of the Act provides that where a request is rejected, the Officer shall communicate to the person making the request the reasons for the rejection, the period within which an appeal against the rejection may be preferred, and the particulars of the appellate authority.
	+
	+	===== Common mistakes =====
	+
	+	* Appealing before the thirty-day period under Section 7(1) has expired. An appeal under Section 19(1)(b) on the ground of non-decision lies only after the statutory period has elapsed. An appeal filed on the twenty-ninth day is premature.
	+	* Filing the appeal with the Central Public Information Officer. The correct addressee is the First Appellate Authority of the public authority, who is an officer senior in rank to the Officer whose decision is under appeal. A first appeal wrongly addressed to the Officer himself is treated as a representation and not as a first appeal under the Act.
	+	* Failure to engage Section 8(2). After the amendment to Section 8(1)(j) effected by the Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025, the public interest reasoning that earlier operated within clause (j) now operates through Section 8(2). A first appeal that fails to engage Section 8(2) expressly, in a matter where public interest is material, loses a line of attack that the appellant may need before the Information Commission at second appeal.
	+	* Failure to plead the ground of severability under Section 10. Where the public authority has denied the whole record, the appellant should plead that the non-exempt portions ought to have been severed and furnished. The Appellate Authority can and does grant partial relief on this ground.
	+
	+	===== Related pages =====
	+
	+	* [[explanations:justification-for-denial-under-rti\|Justification for denial is mandatory]]
	+	* [[explanations:severability\|Severability]]
	+	* [[explanations:grounds-for-rejection\|Grounds for rejection]]
	+	* [[blog:dpdp-rules-2025-amendment-to-rti-act\|DPDP Rules 2025 and the amendment to Section 8(1)(j)]]
	+	* [[guide:applicant\|Guide for applicants]]
	+
	+	===== Notes on state variants =====
	+
	+	* Time limit for disposal by the First Appellate Authority. Section 19(6) of the Act applies uniformly across jurisdictions. State RTI Rules in some States prescribe a fee for preferring a first appeal. Central Government practice does not require a fee at the first appeal stage. Check the applicable State RTI Rules.
	+	* Designation of the First Appellate Authority. In Central public authorities, the First Appellate Authority is the officer designated as such under the Notification of the authority. In several State departments, the office of the First Appellate Authority is held ex-officio by a senior officer identified in a State Government notification. Practitioners are advised to ascertain the correct designation before filing.
	+
	+	===== Last reviewed =====
	+
	+	19 April 2026
	+
	+	{{tag>rti templates applicant first-appeal section-19 2026}}

Template: First RTI application

anonymous@undisclosed.example.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 10:38:22 +0000

2026/04/19 13:32	current
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	+	====== Template: First RTI application ======
	+
	+	<WRAP center round tip 95%>
	+	If your RTI was rejected. See [[why-rti-gets-rejected\|Why RTI Applications Get Rejected in India — and How to Avoid It]]. Five reasons, the exact fix for each, and two case studies.
	+	</WRAP>
	+
	+	//Base template for an application under Section 6(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005, addressed to a Central Public Information Officer. Notes on state variants appear at the end.//
	+
	+	===== When to use this =====
	+
	+	This template is used to seek information from a public authority for the first time. It is the starting point of every RTI matter. It is addressed to the Central Public Information Officer of the concerned public authority. Where the applicant does not know the correct Central Public Information Officer, the application may still be sent to the public authority, and the Officer who receives it is under a duty under Section 6(3) to transfer it to the appropriate Officer within five days.
	+
	+	The applicant is not required to state the reason for the request. The Officer is not entitled to ask for the reason. Citizenship, however, is a pre-condition and must be declared on the face of the application.
	+
	+	===== The template =====
	+
	+	<code>
	+	To,
	+	The Central Public Information Officer,
	+	[Name of Public Authority],
	+	[Full address of the Public Authority],
	+	[City, PIN].
	+
	+	Subject: Application for information under Section 6(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005.
	+
	+	Sir / Madam,
	+
	+	1. I, [full name of the applicant], son / daughter of [father's or mother's name], resident of [full residential address], am a citizen of India.
	+
	+	2. Under Section 6(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005, I seek the following information held by or under the control of your public authority.
	+
	+	a. [State the information sought. Be specific. Identify the record, the period, the department, and the subject-matter. Number each item of information separately.]
	+
	+	b. [Second item of information, if any.]
	+
	+	c. [Third item of information, if any.]
	+
	+	3. I have enclosed the prescribed application fee of ten rupees by way of [Indian Postal Order No. ________ dated ________ / Demand Draft No. ________ dated ________ / cash receipt dated ________ issued by the cashier of the public authority], drawn in favour of the Accounts Officer of the public authority.
	+
	+	4. I request that the information be furnished in the following form: [photocopy of the record / inspection of the record on a mutually convenient date / certified copy / electronic form by email to the address below / any other form].
	+
	+	5. Under the proviso to Section 7(1), I request that the information be furnished within forty-eight hours if the matter concerns the life or liberty of a person. [Include this clause only if the matter concerns life or liberty. Strike out if not applicable.]
	+
	+	6. I am willing to pay the further fee, if any, leviable under the Rules for photocopies or other forms of information, on receipt of the intimation under Section 7(3).
	+
	+	7. For the purposes of communication, the Officer may use the following details.
	+
	+	Postal address: [full postal address of the applicant]
	+	Email: [email address of the applicant, if available]
	+	Telephone: [telephone number of the applicant, if available]
	+
	+	Yours faithfully,
	+
	+	[Signature of the applicant]
	+	[Full name of the applicant, typed or printed]
	+	[Date]
	+	[Place]
	+
	+	Enclosures:
	+	1. Indian Postal Order / Demand Draft / Cash receipt for ten rupees.
	+	2. [Any supporting document, such as a photocopy of an earlier communication to which the present application relates.]
	+	</code>
	+
	+	===== Legal basis =====
	+
	+	* Section 6(1) of the Act provides the statutory right to make a request for information. The request is to be made in writing or through electronic means, in English, Hindi, or the official language of the area.
	+	* Section 6(2) of the Act provides that the applicant shall not be required to give any reason for requesting the information or any personal detail except those necessary for contacting the applicant.
	+	* Section 6(3) of the Act provides that where an application is made to a public authority requesting information which is held by another public authority, or the subject-matter of which is more closely connected with the functions of another public authority, the public authority shall transfer the application or the relevant part of it to that other public authority within five days and inform the applicant of the transfer.
	+	* Section 7(1) of the Act provides that the Central Public Information Officer, on receipt of a request under Section 6, shall as expeditiously as possible, and in any case within thirty days of the receipt of the request, either provide the information on payment of the prescribed fee or reject the request for any of the reasons specified in Sections 8 and 9.
	+	* The proviso to Section 7(1) provides that where the information sought concerns the life or liberty of a person, it shall be provided within forty-eight hours of the receipt of the request.
	+	* The Right to Information (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005 prescribe the application fee of ten rupees for Central Public Authorities.
	+
	+	===== Common mistakes =====
	+
	+	The following are the most common grounds on which Central Public Information Officers reject applications. Practitioners are advised to avoid these while drafting.
	+
	+	* Seeking opinion, advice, or an answer to a question. The Act provides access to information held by the public authority. It does not require the Officer to create information, offer an interpretation, or answer a hypothetical question. An application that asks "why did the authority do X" is liable to be rejected. The correct form is "the record of the decision taken by the authority in respect of X".
	+	* Seeking information in voluminous or omnibus form. An application that asks for "all files" or "all records" of a department is likely to attract Section 7(9) (disproportionate diversion of resources). The correct form identifies the record, the period, and the subject.
	+	* Failure to tender the fee. An application without the prescribed fee is not a complete application. The time under Section 7(1) begins to run from the receipt of the complete application.
	+	* Failure to declare citizenship. Only a citizen of India may make a request under the Act. The declaration of citizenship on the face of the application avoids a preliminary objection.
	+	* Addressing the application to a named officer by designation other than the Central Public Information Officer. The correct addressee is the Central Public Information Officer by office, not by name. A change of incumbent does not invalidate the application.
	+
	+	===== Related pages =====
	+
	+	* [[explanations:citizen-under-rti-act\|Citizenship under the RTI Act]]
	+	* [[explanations:information\|What is information under the RTI Act]]
	+	* [[explanations:public-authority\|Public authority]]
	+	* [[explanations:disproportionate-diversion-resources\|Disproportionate diversion of resources]]
	+	* [[guide:applicant\|Guide for applicants]]
	+
	+	===== Notes on state variants =====
	+
	+	* Fee amount. Central Government rules prescribe ten rupees. State rules vary. Several States prescribe twenty rupees, fifty rupees, or one hundred rupees. A handful of States have notified different amounts for different categories of public authorities. Check the applicable State RTI Rules before completing the fee block.
	+	* Mode of payment. Central rules permit an Indian Postal Order, a Demand Draft, a banker's cheque, or cash against receipt. Some States require a Court Fee Stamp affixed to the application. Some States prescribe a payment in cash at the counter with a receipt in a specific form. The mode of payment is the single most common ground on which a State-level application is rejected on a technicality.
	+	* The addressee. In several States, the designated officer is not styled "Central Public Information Officer" but "State Public Information Officer" or "Public Information Officer". Use the correct designation for the jurisdiction.
	+
	+	===== Last reviewed =====
	+
	+	19 April 2026
	+
	+	{{tag>rti templates applicant section-6 2026}}

Template: PIO partial disclosure with severability

anonymous@undisclosed.example.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 06:22:05 +0000

2026/04/19 13:32	current
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	+	====== Template: PIO partial disclosure with severability ======
	+
	+	//Base template for a reply applying Section 10 of the Right to Information Act, 2005, where a record contains both exempt and non-exempt information. This is a variant of the standard PIO reply, focused on the severability reasoning that appellate forums expect to see. Notes on state variants appear at the end.//
	+
	+	===== When to use this =====
	+
	+	Section 10 of the Act provides that where a record contains information which is exempt from disclosure and information which is not, the Officer must provide access to that part of the record that does not contain any information that is exempt.
	+
	+	This template is used where the Officer has determined that a record engages one or more exemptions under Section 8 or Section 9, but the exempt information can be severed from the record, and the remainder furnished to the applicant.
	+
	+	A reply that invokes Section 10 must demonstrate on its face that the Officer has applied the mind to three questions. First, what are the specific portions that are exempt? Second, what is the specific exemption engaged, and why? Third, can the exempt portions be severed without distorting the record or defeating the purpose of the application? The answers to these three questions are the reasoning that appellate forums examine.
	+
	+	===== The template =====
	+
	+	<code>
	+	[Letterhead of the Public Authority]
	+
	+	No. [File number] / [Year] [Date]
	+
	+	To,
	+	[Name of the applicant],
	+	[Full address of the applicant].
	+
	+	Subject: Your RTI application dated [date of application] — reply under Section 7(1) read with Section 10 of the Right to Information Act, 2005.
	+
	+	Sir / Madam,
	+
	+	1. I refer to your application under Section 6(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005 dated [date of application], received in this office on [date of receipt], and to the prescribed application fee of ten rupees tendered therewith.
	+
	+	2. The information sought in your application is held by this public authority. Certain portions of the record engage the exemption(s) specified in paragraph 4 below. Under Section 10 of the Act, the non-exempt portions of the record have been severed and are furnished as under.
	+
	+	Item [number]: [Item of the application, reproduced briefly.]
	+
	+	Reply: [Furnish the non-exempt information. Where the reply is a record, attach the redacted record as Annexure 1. Indicate the total number of pages, the pages on which redactions have been made, and the nature of the redactions in general terms.]
	+
	+	3. [If multiple items of information are covered by this reply, repeat paragraph 2 for each item.]
	+
	+	4. The reasons for the partial disclosure are set out below, as required by Section 7(8)(i) of the Act and in compliance with the Officer's duty to record reasons.
	+
	+	a. The record of item [number] contains information relating to [describe the nature of the exempt information in general terms]. This information is exempt from disclosure under Section [cite specific clause, such as 8(1)(a), 8(1)(e), 8(1)(j), or Section 9] of the Act. The facts engaging the exemption are that [set out the specific facts, with reference to the information without disclosing it].
	+
	+	b. Public interest in disclosure under Section 8(2) of the Act has been considered. On the facts of the case, the public interest in disclosure does not outweigh the protected interest, for the following reasons: [set out the proportionality reasoning briefly, with reference to Justice K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (2017) 10 SCC 1 where the matter engages Section 8(1)(j)].
	+
	+	c. The exempt portions can be and have been severed from the non-exempt portions of the record. Severance does not defeat the purpose of the application, as the non-exempt portions, taken as a whole, address the substance of the information sought.
	+
	+	5. You are advised that if you are aggrieved by the decision communicated in this reply, you may prefer a first appeal under Section 19(1) of the Act within thirty days of the receipt of this reply. The first appeal lies to the First Appellate Authority of this public authority, whose particulars are as follows.
	+
	+	Name and designation: [Name and designation of the First Appellate Authority]
	+	Office address: [Full postal address]
	+	Email: [Email address]
	+	Telephone: [Telephone number]
	+
	+	6. A Second Appeal, if any, will lie to [the Central Information Commission, New Delhi / the State Information Commission, (name of the State)] under Section 19(3) of the Act, within ninety days from the date on which the decision of the First Appellate Authority ought to have been made or was actually received.
	+
	+	Yours faithfully,
	+
	+	[Signature]
	+	[Name of the Central Public Information Officer]
	+	[Designation]
	+	[Telephone number]
	+	[Email]
	+
	+	Enclosures:
	+	1. Annexure 1: Redacted record of item [number], in [number] pages, with redactions marked on page [x], page [y], and page [z].
	+	2. [Any other annexure.]
	+	</code>
	+
	+	===== Legal basis =====
	+
	+	* Section 10 of the Act provides that where a request for access to information is rejected on the ground that it is in relation to information which is exempt from disclosure, then, notwithstanding anything contained in the Act, access may be provided to that part of the record which does not contain any information which is exempt from disclosure under the Act and which can reasonably be severed from any part that contains exempt information.
	+	* Section 7(8)(i) of the Act requires the Officer to communicate the reasons for any rejection.
	+	* Section 8(2) of the Act provides the public interest override, through which public interest reasoning now operates after the amendment to Section 8(1)(j) effected by the Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025.
	+	* Justice K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (2017) 10 SCC 1 affirms the right to privacy as a fundamental right and lays down the proportionality test that applies when the right to privacy is asserted as a restriction on the right to information.
	+
	+	===== Common mistakes =====
	+
	+	* Failing to identify the exempt portions with particularity. A bare assertion that the record contains exempt information is not enough. The Officer must identify, in general terms, the nature of the exempt information, and the specific exemption engaged. Appellate forums cannot assess severability without this detail.
	+	* Refusing the entire record. Where severability is possible, a refusal of the entire record is liable to be set aside. The statutory duty under Section 10 is to sever and furnish the non-exempt portions.
	+	* Failing to record the proportionality reasoning under Section 8(2). After the amendment to Section 8(1)(j), public interest reasoning operates through Section 8(2). Where the matter engages public interest, the Officer must address Section 8(2) on motion, and record why the public interest does or does not outweigh the protected interest.
	+	* Using redaction to conceal the extent of the record. Practitioners are advised to state, on the face of the reply, the total number of pages in the redacted record and the pages on which redactions have been made. Concealing the scale of the record is a ground on which appellate forums remand the matter.
	+	* Inconsistent redaction. Where the same category of information is redacted in one place and disclosed in another, the Officer's reasoning becomes vulnerable. A consistent approach to redaction across the record is essential.
	+
	+	===== Related pages =====
	+
	+	* [[explanations:severability\|Severability]]
	+	* [[explanations:grounds-for-rejection\|Grounds for rejection]]
	+	* [[explanations:justification-for-denial-under-rti\|Justification for denial is mandatory]]
	+	* [[explanations:privacy\|Privacy under the RTI Act]]
	+	* [[blog:dpdp-rules-2025-amendment-to-rti-act\|DPDP Rules 2025 and the amendment to Section 8(1)(j)]]
	+	* [[templates:pio-reply-standard\|Template: standard reply within thirty days]]
	+
	+	===== Notes on state variants =====
	+
	+	* Section 10 is applied uniformly across Central and State jurisdictions. There is no State variation in the statutory text.
	+	* Format of redaction. Central practice is to use a black rectangle over the redacted text in a photocopy of the record. Some States use a covering sheet with the item heading and a description of the redacted content. Either method is acceptable, so long as the extent of redaction is apparent on the face of the record.
	+	* Annexure numbering. Central practice numbers annexures in Arabic numerals. Some State practice uses Roman numerals. Follow the convention of the public authority.
	+
	+	===== Last reviewed =====
	+
	+	19 April 2026
	+
	+	{{tag>rti templates pio section-10 severability 2026}}

Template: PIO standard reply within thirty days

anonymous@undisclosed.example.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 06:22:05 +0000

2026/04/19 13:32	current
Line 1:	Line 1:
	+	====== Template: PIO standard reply within thirty days ======
	+
	+	//Base template for a reply by the Central Public Information Officer under Section 7(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005. Covers full disclosure, partial disclosure, fee intimation, and rejection. Notes on state variants appear at the end.//
	+
	+	===== When to use this =====
	+
	+	This template is the standard reply by the Central Public Information Officer to an application under Section 6(1). It is used within thirty days of the receipt of the complete application. Where the matter concerns the life or liberty of a person, the reply must issue within forty-eight hours.
	+
	+	The template has four modes. The Officer selects the applicable mode or combines modes where the application covers multiple items of information. Where the reply communicates a rejection in whole or in part, the Officer must record reasons. A denial without reasons is not a denial in law.
	+
	+	===== The template =====
	+
	+	<code>
	+	[Letterhead of the Public Authority]
	+
	+	No. [File number] / [Year] [Date]
	+
	+	To,
	+	[Name of the applicant],
	+	[Full address of the applicant].
	+
	+	Subject: Your RTI application dated [date of application] — reply under Section 7(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005.
	+
	+	Sir / Madam,
	+
	+	1. I refer to your application under Section 6(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005 dated [date of application], received in this office on [date of receipt], and to the prescribed application fee of ten rupees tendered therewith.
	+
	+	2. [Select one or more of the following paragraphs, as applicable. Strike out the rest.]
	+
	+	MODE A — Full disclosure.
	+
	+	3(A). The information sought in your application is furnished as under.
	+
	+	a. [Item 1 of the application]. [Reply to item 1, either reproduced in the body of the letter, or attached as Annexure 1 where the information is in the form of a record.]
	+
	+	b. [Item 2]. [Reply.]
	+
	+	c. [Item 3]. [Reply.]
	+
	+	MODE B — Partial disclosure with severability under Section 10.
	+
	+	3(B). The information sought in your application is furnished in part. The record contains information which is exempt from disclosure under Section [cite the specific clause of Section 8 or Section 9] of the Act. Under Section 10 of the Act, the non-exempt portions have been severed and furnished as under.
	+
	+	a. [Item on which severability has been applied.] [Furnish the non-exempt portions.]
	+
	+	b. [Other item.] [Furnish the non-exempt portions.]
	+
	+	The portions that have been redacted relate to [state the nature of the redacted information in general terms, without disclosing it]. The reasons for the redaction are that [set out the specific exemption and the facts engaging the exemption]. Public interest under Section 8(2) of the Act has been considered and is not found to outweigh the protected interest on the facts of the case.
	+
	+	MODE C — Rejection in full.
	+
	+	3(C). The request for information is rejected in full on the following grounds.
	+
	+	a. The information sought is exempt from disclosure under Section [cite the specific clause] of the Act, in that [set out the specific facts engaging the exemption]. Public interest under Section 8(2) of the Act has been considered and is not found to outweigh the protected interest on the facts of the case.
	+
	+	b. [Any other ground of rejection, as applicable.]
	+
	+	MODE D — Intimation of further fee under Section 7(3).
	+
	+	3(D). The information sought is held by this public authority and is available for disclosure. Under Section 7(3) of the Act and Rule 4 of the Right to Information (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005, further fee is payable at the rate of two rupees per page of A4 or A3 size paper for photocopies of the record, in addition to the actual cost of any larger-size paper or any form other than photocopy. The estimate of the further fee payable for the information sought is [amount in rupees], computed as per the working filed at Annexure 1.
	+
	+	You are requested to tender the said further fee within [number] days of the receipt of this communication, in the form of [Indian Postal Order / Demand Draft / Banker's Cheque] drawn in favour of the Accounts Officer of this public authority. On receipt of the further fee, the information will be furnished to you in the form requested. The period between the intimation of further fee and the receipt of the fee shall be excluded for the purposes of Section 7(1) of the Act.
	+
	+	Common paragraphs (applicable to all modes).
	+
	+	4. If you are aggrieved by the decision communicated in this reply, you may prefer a first appeal under Section 19(1) of the Act within thirty days of the receipt of this reply. The first appeal lies to the First Appellate Authority of this public authority, whose particulars are as follows.
	+
	+	Name and designation: [Name and designation of the First Appellate Authority]
	+	Office address: [Full postal address]
	+	Email: [Email address]
	+	Telephone: [Telephone number]
	+
	+	5. A Second Appeal, if any, will lie to [the Central Information Commission, New Delhi / the State Information Commission, (name of the State)] under Section 19(3) of the Act.
	+
	+	Yours faithfully,
	+
	+	[Signature]
	+	[Name of the Central Public Information Officer]
	+	[Designation]
	+	[Telephone number]
	+	[Email]
	+
	+	Enclosures:
	+	1. [List the annexures, if any.]
	+	</code>
	+
	+	===== Legal basis =====
	+
	+	* Section 7(1) of the Act provides that the Officer shall, as expeditiously as possible, and in any case within thirty days of the receipt of the request, either provide the information on payment of the prescribed fee or reject the request for any of the reasons specified in Section 8 or Section 9.
	+	* The proviso to Section 7(1) provides that where the information sought concerns the life or liberty of a person, it shall be provided within forty-eight hours of the receipt of the request.
	+	* Section 7(3) of the Act provides that where a decision is taken to provide the information on payment of any further fee representing the cost of providing the information, the Officer shall send an intimation to the applicant specifying the details of the further fee together with the calculation made to arrive at the amount.
	+	* Section 7(8) of the Act provides that where a request has been rejected, the Officer shall communicate the reasons for the rejection, the period within which an appeal may be preferred, and the particulars of the appellate authority.
	+	* Section 8 of the Act sets out the exemptions from disclosure.
	+	* Section 8(2) of the Act provides that notwithstanding anything in the Official Secrets Act or any of the exemptions in Section 8(1), a public authority may allow access to information if public interest in disclosure outweighs the harm to the protected interests.
	+	* Section 9 of the Act provides for the rejection of a request where a copyright subsisting in a person other than the State would be infringed by disclosure.
	+	* Section 10 of the Act provides for severability where a record contains information which is exempt from disclosure and information which is not.
	+	* Rule 4 of the Right to Information (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005 prescribes the further fee for providing information.
	+
	+	===== Common mistakes =====
	+
	+	* Failure to record reasons. A rejection without reasons attracts adverse observations in appeal and supports the imposition of a penalty under Section 20. The Officer must state the specific clause of Section 8 or Section 9 invoked and the facts engaging that clause.
	+	* Citing Section 8 generally, without the sub-clause. Appellate forums treat a generic citation as non-application of mind. Cite the specific sub-clause.
	+	* Failure to consider Section 8(2) on matters of public interest. After the amendment to Section 8(1)(j) effected by the Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025, the public interest test that earlier operated within clause (j) now operates through Section 8(2). Where the matter engages public interest, the Officer must address Section 8(2) expressly, on its motion.
	+	* Failure to consider Section 10 on partial disclosure. The Officer is under a statutory duty to consider severability. A blanket denial of a record that contains non-exempt portions is liable to be set aside.
	+	* Failure to intimate further fee correctly. The calculation of further fee must be set out on the face of the intimation. A demand of further fee without a working invites an appeal on the ground of unreasonable demand.
	+	* Failure to furnish the particulars of the First Appellate Authority. Section 7(8) requires the particulars to be communicated. A reply that omits the particulars of the appellate authority is deficient on its face.
	+
	+	===== Related pages =====
	+
	+	* [[explanations:grounds-for-rejection\|Grounds for rejection]]
	+	* [[explanations:severability\|Severability]]
	+	* [[explanations:justification-for-denial-under-rti\|Justification for denial is mandatory]]
	+	* [[explanations:suo-moto-disclosure-under-rti\|Suo motu disclosure]]
	+	* [[blog:dpdp-rules-2025-amendment-to-rti-act\|DPDP Rules 2025 and the amendment to Section 8(1)(j)]]
	+	* [[guide:guidelines-for-public-information-officer\|Guide for Public Information Officers]]
	+
	+	===== Notes on state variants =====
	+
	+	* Further fee rates. Central rules prescribe two rupees per page of A4 or A3 size paper. State rules vary. The Officer must apply the rates in force in the jurisdiction of the public authority.
	+	* Mode of payment. Where the applicant is required to tender further fee, the mode of payment prescribed by the applicable Rules must be stated. Where the Rules permit electronic payment, the Officer may indicate the facility.
	+	* Designation of the Officer and of the Appellate Authority. In Central public authorities, the officer is styled "Central Public Information Officer". In State public authorities, "State Public Information Officer" or "Public Information Officer". Use the correct designation.
	+
	+	===== Last reviewed =====
	+
	+	19 April 2026
	+
	+	{{tag>rti templates pio section-7 reply 2026}}

Template: Third-party notice under Section 11

anonymous@undisclosed.example.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 06:22:05 +0000

2026/04/19 13:32	current
Line 1:	Line 1:
	+	====== Template: Third-party notice under Section 11 ======
	+
	+	//Base template for a notice by the Central Public Information Officer to a third party under Section 11(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005, and the subsequent communication under Section 11(3) after hearing the third party. Notes on state variants appear at the end.//
	+
	+	===== When to use this =====
	+
	+	Section 11(1) of the Act applies where the Officer intends to disclose information, or a record, or part thereof, on a request made under the Act, and the information or record has been supplied by a third party and has been treated as confidential by that third party. In such a case, the Officer is under a statutory duty to give a notice to the third party, inviting the third party to make a submission on whether the information should be disclosed.
	+
	+	The Section 11 procedure has three stages.
	+
	+	- Stage one. Within five days of the receipt of the application, the Officer issues a notice under Section 11(1) to the third party, intimating that the information has been requested and inviting the third party to make a submission within ten days from the date of the receipt of the notice.
	+	- Stage two. The Officer considers the submission of the third party, if any, and makes a decision on whether to disclose the information.
	+	- Stage three. The Officer communicates the decision to the applicant and to the third party. If the decision is to disclose, the third party has thirty days to prefer an appeal under Section 19 before the disclosure actually takes place.
	+
	+	This template covers stage one and stage three. The Officer adapts the appropriate variant based on the stage.
	+
	+	===== Part A — Template for notice under Section 11(1) =====
	+
	+	<code>
	+	[Letterhead of the Public Authority]
	+
	+	No. [File number] / [Year] [Date]
	+
	+	To,
	+	[Name of the third party],
	+	[Full address of the third party].
	+
	+	Subject: Notice under Section 11(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005, in respect of RTI application dated [date of application] made by [name of the applicant].
	+
	+	Sir / Madam,
	+
	+	1. This public authority has received an application dated [date of application] under Section 6(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005, from [name of the applicant], seeking the information specified in the annexed extract of the application (Annexure 1).
	+
	+	2. The information sought relates to [describe the nature of the information in general terms, without disclosing the substance]. The said information was supplied to this public authority by you vide [reference to the communication, document, or submission by which the third party supplied the information], and was treated as confidential by you at that time.
	+
	+	3. The Central Public Information Officer is of the preliminary view that the said information [may be / may not be / may be in part] disclosed to the applicant on the ground that [state the preliminary reasoning briefly, with reference to the statutory framework].
	+
	+	4. In terms of Section 11(1) of the Act, you are hereby invited to make a submission in writing, on whether the information should be disclosed to the applicant, within ten days from the date of the receipt of this notice. Your submission may be addressed to the undersigned at the office address given below.
	+
	+	5. Your submission should engage, to the extent you consider relevant, the following matters.
	+
	+	a. Whether the information was furnished by you to this public authority in confidence, and the basis of that confidence.
	+	b. Whether the information attracts any of the exemptions under Section 8 or Section 9 of the Act, with specific reference to the sub-clause.
	+	c. Whether public interest in disclosure, under Section 8(2) of the Act, would or would not outweigh the possible harm to you from disclosure.
	+	d. Whether the information can be severed under Section 10 of the Act, such that the non-exempt portions can be disclosed while the portions specific to you are withheld.
	+	e. Any other matter that, in your view, bears on the question of disclosure.
	+
	+	6. If no submission is received from you within the said period of ten days, the Central Public Information Officer shall decide the matter on the material on record.
	+
	+	7. It is clarified that notwithstanding anything in Section 11(1), disclosure may be allowed if the public interest in disclosure outweighs any possible harm to your interests. You are accordingly advised to engage the public interest question in your submission.
	+
	+	Yours faithfully,
	+
	+	[Signature]
	+	[Name of the Central Public Information Officer]
	+	[Designation]
	+	[Office address]
	+	[Telephone number]
	+	[Email]
	+
	+	Enclosures:
	+	1. Annexure 1: Extract of the RTI application dated [date], setting out the items of information sought.
	+	</code>
	+
	+	===== Part B — Template for communication of decision under Section 11(3) =====
	+
	+	<code>
	+	[Letterhead of the Public Authority]
	+
	+	No. [File number] / [Year] [Date]
	+
	+	To,
	+	[Name of the third party],
	+	[Full address of the third party].
	+
	+	Copy to: [Name of the applicant], [Full address of the applicant].
	+
	+	Subject: Decision under Section 11(3) of the Right to Information Act, 2005, in respect of RTI application dated [date of application] made by [name of the applicant], and the notice under Section 11(1) dated [date] issued to you.
	+
	+	Sir / Madam,
	+
	+	1. Reference is invited to the notice issued to you under Section 11(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005, dated [date], in respect of the above-mentioned RTI application.
	+
	+	2. [If the third party has made a submission:] Your submission dated [date] has been received and considered. The submission is summarised at Annexure 1. [If the third party has not made a submission:] No submission has been received from you within the period of ten days prescribed under Section 11(1). The Central Public Information Officer has considered the matter on the material on record.
	+
	+	3. The Central Public Information Officer has decided to [disclose / decline to disclose / disclose in part after severance under Section 10] the information sought, for the following reasons.
	+
	+	a. [Set out the specific reasoning. Identify the exemption considered, the submission of the third party, and the conclusion. Where Section 8(2) has been invoked, record the proportionality reasoning. Where Section 10 has been invoked, record the severability reasoning.]
	+
	+	4. [If the decision is to disclose, wholly or in part, the following paragraph is included:]
	+
	+	Under Section 11(4) of the Act, the disclosure shall not take place until the expiry of thirty days from the date of this communication, or until the disposal of an appeal preferred by you under Section 19 of the Act, whichever is earlier. You are hereby informed that you may prefer an appeal under Section 19(2) of the Act within thirty days from the date of the receipt of this communication, to the First Appellate Authority of this public authority, whose particulars are as follows.
	+
	+	Name and designation: [Name and designation of the First Appellate Authority]
	+	Office address: [Full postal address]
	+	Email: [Email address]
	+	Telephone: [Telephone number]
	+
	+	5. [If the decision is to decline disclosure, the relevant paragraph is:]
	+
	+	The applicant is informed of the decision and may, if aggrieved, prefer an appeal under Section 19(1) of the Act.
	+
	+	Yours faithfully,
	+
	+	[Signature]
	+	[Name of the Central Public Information Officer]
	+	[Designation]
	+	[Office address]
	+	[Telephone number]
	+	[Email]
	+
	+	Enclosures:
	+	1. Annexure 1: Summary of the submission of the third party. [If applicable.]
	+	</code>
	+
	+	===== Legal basis =====
	+
	+	* Section 11(1) of the Act provides that where a Central Public Information Officer intends to disclose any information or record, or part thereof, on a request made under the Act, which relates to or has been supplied by a third party and has been treated as confidential by that third party, the Officer shall, within five days from the receipt of the request, give a written notice to such third party of the request and of the fact that the Officer intends to disclose the information or record or part thereof, and invite the third party to make a submission in writing or orally, regarding whether the information should be disclosed, and such submission of the third party shall be kept in view while taking a decision about disclosure of information.
	+	* Proviso to Section 11(1) provides that except in the case of trade or commercial secrets protected by law, disclosure may be allowed if the public interest in disclosure outweighs in importance any possible harm or injury to the interests of such third party.
	+	* Section 11(2) of the Act provides that where a notice is served by the Officer under Section 11(1) to a third party in respect of any information or record, the third party shall, within ten days from the date of receipt of such notice, be given the opportunity to make a representation against the proposed disclosure.
	+	* Section 11(3) of the Act provides that notwithstanding anything contained in Section 7, the Officer shall, within forty days after receipt of the request under Section 6, if the third party has been given an opportunity to make representation under Section 11(2), make a decision as to whether or not to disclose the information or record, or part thereof, and give in writing the notice of his decision to the third party.
	+	* Section 11(4) of the Act provides that a notice given under Section 11(3) shall include a statement that the third party to whom the notice is given is entitled to prefer an appeal under Section 19 against the decision.
	+	* Section 19(2) of the Act provides that where an appeal is preferred against an order made by the Officer under Section 11 to disclose a third-party information, the appeal by the concerned third party shall be made within thirty days from the date of the order.
	+
	+	===== Common mistakes =====
	+
	+	* Delay in issuing the notice under Section 11(1). The statutory period is five days from the receipt of the application. A delayed notice complicates the thirty-day timeline under Section 7(1) and the forty-day timeline under Section 11(3).
	+	* Failure to describe the information with sufficient particularity. The third party cannot engage the Section 11 process meaningfully if the notice does not identify the information in general terms. A description that is so vague as to prevent a reasoned submission is a due-process failure.
	+	* Treating the third-party submission as determinative. The submission of the third party is to be "kept in view" by the Officer. It is not binding. The Officer is under a duty to decide the matter independently, including on public interest grounds under the proviso to Section 11(1).
	+	* Failing to observe the thirty-day stay on disclosure where the decision is to disclose. Section 11(4) read with Section 19(2) creates a thirty-day window in which the third party may appeal. Disclosure within the thirty-day period defeats the remedy.
	+	* Applying Section 11 to all personal information of the third party, without confidentiality. Section 11 applies only where the information has been treated as confidential by the third party. Information in the public domain, or information furnished without a confidentiality claim, is not within the scope of Section 11 and is to be decided under Section 8 and Section 10 directly.
	+
	+	===== Related pages =====
	+
	+	* [[explanations:third-party\|Third party under the RTI Act]]
	+	* [[explanations:severability\|Severability]]
	+	* [[explanations:privacy\|Privacy under the RTI Act]]
	+	* [[explanations:fiduciary-relationship\|Fiduciary relationship]]
	+	* [[blog:dpdp-rules-2025-amendment-to-rti-act\|DPDP Rules 2025 and the amendment to Section 8(1)(j)]]
	+	* [[templates:pio-reply-standard\|Template: standard reply within thirty days]]
	+
	+	===== Notes on state variants =====
	+
	+	* Section 11 is applied uniformly across Central and State jurisdictions. The statutory text is the same. The procedure, the timelines, and the right of appeal are identical.
	+	* Designation. The notice is issued by the Public Information Officer of the public authority. Use "Central" or "State" per the jurisdiction.
	+	* Mode of service. Central practice is to serve the notice by registered post with acknowledgement due, or by email where the third party has provided an email address. Some State Rules prescribe specific modes. Check the applicable State RTI Rules.
	+
	+	===== Last reviewed =====
	+
	+	19 April 2026
	+
	+	{{tag>rti templates pio section-11 third-party 2026}}

Template: Second appeal

anonymous@undisclosed.example.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 10:38:22 +0000

2026/04/19 13:32	current
Line 1:	Line 1:
	+	====== Template: Second appeal ======
	+
	+	<WRAP center round tip 95%>
	+	If your RTI was rejected. See [[why-rti-gets-rejected\|Why RTI Applications Get Rejected in India — and How to Avoid It]]. Five reasons, the exact fix for each, and two case studies.
	+	</WRAP>
	+
	+	//Base template for an appeal under Section 19(3) of the Right to Information Act, 2005, addressed to the Central Information Commission. Substitute "State Information Commission" and the applicable State for State jurisdictions. Notes on state variants appear at the end.//
	+
	+	===== When to use this =====
	+
	+	A second appeal lies to the Central Information Commission from the decision of the First Appellate Authority, or from the non-decision of the First Appellate Authority within the period of thirty or forty-five days prescribed under Section 19(6).
	+
	+	The second appeal must be filed within ninety days from the date on which the decision of the First Appellate Authority ought to have been made, or was actually received. The Commission may admit a delayed appeal if the appellant shows sufficient cause.
	+
	+	A second appeal is the last stage within the Act. Thereafter, the remedy lies in writ jurisdiction before the appropriate High Court.
	+
	+	===== The template =====
	+
	+	<code>
	+	Before the Central Information Commission, New Delhi
	+
	+	Second Appeal No. _______ of 2026 [to be allotted by the Commission]
	+
	+	In the matter of:
	+
	+	[Full name of the appellant],
	+	son / daughter of [father's or mother's name],
	+	resident of [full residential address]. . . . Appellant
	+
	+	Versus
	+
	+	The Central Public Information Officer,
	+	[Name of Public Authority],
	+	[Full address of the Public Authority]. . . . Respondent No. 1
	+
	+	The First Appellate Authority,
	+	[Name of Public Authority],
	+	[Full address of the Public Authority]. . . . Respondent No. 2
	+
	+	Appeal under Section 19(3) of the Right to Information Act, 2005, against the order dated [date] of the First Appellate Authority / against the non-decision of the First Appellate Authority within the period prescribed under Section 19(6) of the Act.
	+
	+	May it please the Commission,
	+
	+	1. The appellant, a citizen of India, most respectfully begs to submit as follows.
	+
	+	2. The appellant had made an application dated [date of original application] under Section 6(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005, seeking the information specified therein from the public authority. A photocopy of the application, together with the proof of the prescribed fee, is filed as Annexure A.
	+
	+	3. By a communication dated [date], the Central Public Information Officer of the public authority [rejected the application / partly rejected the application / furnished incomplete information / did not furnish the information within the prescribed period]. A photocopy of the communication is filed as Annexure B. [Omit if the Officer did not communicate at all.]
	+
	+	4. Aggrieved by the decision or non-decision of the Central Public Information Officer, the appellant preferred a first appeal dated [date] under Section 19(1) of the Act to the First Appellate Authority of the public authority. A photocopy of the first appeal is filed as Annexure C.
	+
	+	5. By an order dated [date], the First Appellate Authority [dismissed the first appeal / partly allowed the first appeal / did not pass any order within the period of thirty or forty-five days prescribed under Section 19(6)]. A photocopy of the order is filed as Annexure D. [Omit if the First Appellate Authority did not pass any order.]
	+
	+	6. Aggrieved by the order or non-order of the First Appellate Authority, the appellant prefers the present second appeal under Section 19(3) of the Act on the following grounds.
	+
	+	GROUNDS
	+
	+	A. The Central Public Information Officer has denied the information sought without recording reasons as required by Section 7(8)(i) of the Act. A denial without reasons is not a denial in law.
	+
	+	B. The First Appellate Authority has [not passed a speaking order / not considered the grounds urged in the first appeal / passed an order that does not deal with the specific grounds of appeal / not disposed of the appeal within the time prescribed by Section 19(6)].
	+
	+	C. The information sought does not fall within any of the exemptions under Section 8 or Section 9 of the Act. [Amplify with reference to the specific exemption, if any, invoked in the orders under appeal.]
	+
	+	D. Where Section 8(1)(j) of the Act has been invoked, the Officer and the First Appellate Authority have not considered Section 8(2) of the Act. Public interest in disclosure, where engaged, operates through Section 8(2). [Amplify with the specific public interest on the facts of the case.]
	+
	+	E. Severability under Section 10 of the Act has not been considered. Where a record contains both exempt and non-exempt information, the non-exempt portions must be severed and furnished.
	+
	+	F. The onus of establishing that the denial was justified lies on the Officer under Section 19(5) of the Act. This onus has not been discharged.
	+
	+	G. [Any other ground on which the appeal is preferred.]
	+
	+	7. In the circumstances aforesaid, the appellant most respectfully prays that this Honourable Commission may be pleased to:
	+
	+	a. set aside the order of the First Appellate Authority dated [date] and the decision of the Central Public Information Officer dated [date];
	+
	+	b. direct the Central Public Information Officer to furnish the information sought in the application dated [date], in the form requested, within the period specified in the order of the Commission;
	+
	+	c. impose a penalty on the Central Public Information Officer under Section 20 of the Act, for denying the information without reasonable cause;
	+
	+	d. recommend disciplinary action against the Central Public Information Officer under Section 20(2) of the Act; and
	+
	+	e. pass such further or other orders as the Commission may deem fit in the circumstances of the case.
	+
	+	Place: [Place]
	+	Date: [Date]
	+
	+	[Signature of the appellant]
	+	[Full name of the appellant, typed or printed]
	+
	+	Verification
	+
	+	I, [full name], the appellant named above, do hereby verify that the contents of the foregoing appeal are true and correct to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief, and that nothing material has been concealed therein.
	+
	+	Place: [Place]
	+	Date: [Date]
	+
	+	[Signature of the appellant]
	+
	+	List of enclosures:
	+	1. Annexure A: Photocopy of the application under Section 6(1) dated [date], with proof of fee.
	+	2. Annexure B: Photocopy of the decision of the Central Public Information Officer dated [date].
	+	3. Annexure C: Photocopy of the first appeal under Section 19(1) dated [date].
	+	4. Annexure D: Photocopy of the order of the First Appellate Authority dated [date].
	+	5. [Any other document on which the appellant relies.]
	+	6. Index of documents filed.
	+	</code>
	+
	+	===== Legal basis =====
	+
	+	* Section 19(3) of the Act provides that a second appeal against the decision under Section 19(1) shall lie within ninety days from the date on which the decision should have been made or was actually received, with the Central Information Commission or the State Information Commission.
	+	* Section 19(5) of the Act casts the onus of proving that a denial was justified on the Officer who denied the request.
	+	* Section 19(7) of the Act provides that the decision of the Central Information Commission or the State Information Commission shall be binding.
	+	* Section 20(1) of the Act empowers the Commission to impose a penalty of two hundred and fifty rupees per day, subject to a maximum of twenty-five thousand rupees, on a Central Public Information Officer who, without reasonable cause, refuses to receive an application, does not furnish information within the time specified, malafidely denies the request, knowingly gives incorrect or incomplete information, destroys information, or obstructs the furnishing of information.
	+	* Section 20(2) of the Act empowers the Commission to recommend disciplinary action against a Central Public Information Officer under the service rules applicable to the Officer.
	+	* The Central Information Commission (Management) Regulations, 2007 prescribe the procedure for filing a second appeal, including the format, the documents to be enclosed, and the verification.
	+
	+	===== Common mistakes =====
	+
	+	* Failure to implead the First Appellate Authority. The second appeal lies from the order of the First Appellate Authority. The First Appellate Authority is a proper party to the appeal and ought to be impleaded as Respondent No. 2. An appeal that impleads only the Officer is often returned for amendment.
	+	* Failure to attach the first appeal and the order of the First Appellate Authority. The Commission requires the full record of the matter below. A second appeal that does not annex the first appeal or the order in first appeal is liable to be returned.
	+	* Filing after ninety days without an application for condonation of delay. The Commission may condone delay on showing sufficient cause. The delay must be explained on affidavit. An appeal that is delayed and does not seek condonation is liable to be returned.
	+	* Failure to engage Section 8(2) where public interest is material. After the amendment to Section 8(1)(j) effected by the Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025, public interest reasoning operates through Section 8(2). Many second appeals continue to be drafted as if the earlier public interest override within clause (j) still applies. This is an error.
	+	* Failure to verify the appeal. The Regulations require the appeal to be verified in the prescribed form. An unverified appeal is returned for compliance.
	+
	+	===== Related pages =====
	+
	+	* [[explanations:justification-for-denial-under-rti\|Justification for denial is mandatory]]
	+	* [[explanations:severability\|Severability]]
	+	* [[blog:dpdp-rules-2025-amendment-to-rti-act\|DPDP Rules 2025 and the amendment to Section 8(1)(j)]]
	+	* [[blog:raj-kumar-goyal-chief-information-commissioner\|Raj Kumar Goyal sworn in as CIC]]
	+	* [[blog:rti-at-twenty-commission-report-card-2025\|RTI at twenty: report card for 2024-25]]
	+	* [[templates:first-appeal\|Template: first appeal]]
	+
	+	===== Notes on state variants =====
	+
	+	* State Information Commission. In matters arising from a State public authority, the second appeal lies to the relevant State Information Commission, not the Central Information Commission. Each State Information Commission has its own Regulations and its own filing procedure. The cause title and the governing Regulations must be adapted accordingly.
	+	* E-filing. The Central Information Commission supports online filing through its portal. Several State Commissions have operational e-filing portals. A few require physical filing only. Check the Commission's notice for the current position.
	+	* Court fee. Neither the Act nor the Regulations prescribe a court fee for a second appeal. Some State legal practitioners attach a nominal court fee out of abundant caution. It is not a requirement under the Act.
	+
	+	===== Last reviewed =====
	+
	+	19 April 2026
	+
	+	{{tag>rti templates applicant second-appeal section-19 2026}}

Templates

anonymous@undisclosed.example.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 10:38:03 +0000

2026/04/19 13:32	current
Line 1:	Line 1:
	+	====== Templates ======
	+
	+	<WRAP center round tip 95%>
	+	If your last RTI was rejected. See [[why-rti-gets-rejected\|Why RTI Applications Get Rejected in India — and How to Avoid It]]. Five reasons, the exact fix for each, and two case studies of rejected RTIs corrected on appeal.
	+	</WRAP>
	+
	+	//Ready-to-use drafts for applicants, Public Information Officers, and First Appellate Authorities. Each template is written for Central Government use. Notes on state variants follow each draft. Practitioners are advised to read the linked explanations pages before adapting a template for a specific matter.//
	+
	+	===== For applicants =====
	+
	+	* [[templates:first-rti\|First RTI application]]. An application under Section 6(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005. Covers fee treatment, the address block, and the standard phrasing that avoids common grounds of rejection.
	+	* [[templates:first-appeal\|First appeal]]. An appeal under Section 19(1) to the First Appellate Authority. Covers the grounds most often accepted by Information Commissions when the matter progresses to the second appeal.
	+	* [[templates:second-appeal\|Second appeal]]. An appeal under Section 19(3) to the Central Information Commission or the State Information Commission. Covers the prescribed format, the supporting documents checklist, and the grounds that engage Section 8(2) after the 2025 amendment.
	+
	+	===== For Public Information Officers =====
	+
	+	* [[templates:pio-reply-standard\|Standard reply within thirty days]]. A clean reply under Section 7(1) of the Act. The base template for full disclosure, partial disclosure, and fee intimation.
	+	* [[templates:pio-reply-partial-denial\|Partial disclosure with severability]]. A reply applying Section 10 where the record contains both exempt and non-exempt information. Includes the reasoning the First Appellate Authority expects to see.
	+	* [[templates:pio-third-party-notice\|Third-party notice]]. A notice under Section 11(1) where disclosure of the information may affect a person other than the public authority. Includes the consequent communication under Section 11(3) after hearing the third party.
	+
	+	===== For First Appellate Authorities =====
	+
	+	* [[templates:faa-speaking-order\|Speaking order on a first appeal]]. A disposal order under Section 19(6) of the Act. Structured as a judicial-style order to reduce the scope of the second appeal.
	+
	+	===== How to use these templates =====
	+
	+	Each template follows the same structure. Read the //When to use this// note at the top. Read the template itself. Note the [SQUARE-BRACKET] placeholders, which are the fields a practitioner must fill in. Read the //Legal basis// section to understand the statutory foundation of each clause. Read //Common mistakes// before finalising.
	+
	+	Templates are starting points, not final drafts. They do not replace legal advice. Where a matter engages a contested legal question or a sum of money in the control of a public authority, practitioners are advised to consult a qualified person.
	+
	+	===== Notes on state variants =====
	+
	+	The fee structure, the mode of payment, and the office of the First Appellate Authority differ by jurisdiction. Central Government rules prescribe a fee of ten rupees in the form of a demand draft, an Indian Postal Order, or a cash receipt. State rules vary. Practitioners in State jurisdictions are advised to consult the applicable State RTI Rules before adapting the fee block in any applicant template.
	+
	+	For a consolidated reference to the rules in force, see [[rules:start\|RTI Rules]].
	+
	+	===== Sources =====
	+
	+	* The Right to Information Act, 2005 (Act 22 of 2005).
	+	* The Right to Information (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005.
	+	* The Central Information Commission (Management) Regulations, 2007.
	+
	+	===== Last reviewed =====
	+
	+	19 April 2026
	+
	+	{{tag>rti templates reference 2026}}