Module 05 — Appeal strategy + lawyer workflow

anonymous@undisclosed.example.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:07:45 +0000

2026/05/03 10:18	current
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	+	{{htmlmetatags>metatag-keywords=(journalists module 05, appeal strategy + lawyer workflow)&metatag-description=(RTI for Journalists — Investigative Filing Course — Module 05: Appeal strategy + lawyer workflow. Run appeals tactically when stories depend on disclosure.)}}
	+
	+	====== Module 05 — Appeal strategy + lawyer workflow ======
	+
	+	{{ :social:auto:journalists-module-05.png?direct&1200 \|RTI for Journalists — Investigative Filing Course Module 05}}
	+
	+	<WRAP center round info 95%>
	+	Goal: Run appeals tactically when stories depend on disclosure.
	+	</WRAP>
	+
	+	===== Appeal as a deadline lever =====
	+
	+	Often the FIRST APPEAL is more important than the original RTI. The FAA is a senior officer who has career incentive to avoid a CIC penalty — a strong First Appeal often gets the disclosure where the PIO refused.
	+
	+	Tactical first appeal: file even if the PIO partially complied — to push for the rest. Costs nothing (no fee for First Appeal). Adds a second lever.
	+
	+	===== CIC/SIC and the 90-day Second Appeal =====
	+
	+	Second Appeal is a longer game (3-12 months). Use only when:
	+	- The story can wait
	+	- The information is central to the story (not nice-to-have)
	+	- The PIO/FAA refusal is so weak that CIC will likely overturn (good odds for §8(1)(d)/(j) overreach)
	+
	+	A Second Appeal hearing also creates a public-interest record at the Commission — the order itself becomes citable.
	+
	+	===== §20 penalty + §19(8)(b) compensation =====
	+
	+	Both are journalistic levers:
	+	- §20: PIO can be personally fined ₹250/day (per-month cap per CIC Shailesh Gandhi 19-Mar-2026). The fine itself is news.
	+	- §19(8)(b): applicant can claim compensation for loss caused by delay/refusal. Useful if the delay killed your story window.
	+
	+	Both must be claimed in the Second Appeal pleadings — don't add them later.
	+
	+	===== Lawyer brief, when needed =====
	+
	+	For PSU-related RTIs, defamation-risk RTIs, or those touching the judiciary:
	+	- 30-min brief with a media lawyer before filing the RTI is cheap insurance.
	+	- Lawyer's role: sanity-check phrasing for §8 vulnerability, advise on whether the story is publishable based on RTI alone, draft Second Appeal if needed.
	+	- Cost: ₹3,000-10,000 for a one-shot consult.
	+
	+	===== Story-craft: writing the RTI-led piece =====
	+
	+	- Lead with the finding, not the RTI process. "₹47 crore in unspent CSR funds at [PSU]" — not "Following an RTI by [reporter], it was revealed that…"
	+	- Cite the RTI in the second-or-third paragraph, with the date + PIO + ref no.
	+	- Reproduce the relevant excerpt as an inline quote or sidebar.
	+	- Link to the full PIO reply PDF at the bottom — readers and other journalists value sourcing.
	+	- Comment requests: include verbatim non-response or denial.
	+
	+	===== ✅ Quiz =====
	+
	+	Quiz available from your [[:courses:journalists:app\|course dashboard]].
	+
	+	===== Next =====
	+
	+	* [[:courses:journalists:start\|← Course overview]]
	+	* Next: [[:courses:journalists:final]]
	+
	+	//Last reviewed: 24 April 2026.//
	+
	+	{{tag>course journalists module-05}}

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Module 05 — Appeal strategy + lawyer workflow