Step 1 — The original RTI

Date you filed the RTI * PIO / public authority addressed

e.g. "Public Information Officer, Office of the Commissioner of Police, Delhi"

PIO diary / reference number (if any) Your original RTI questions (as you worded them)

Paste or list. The builder uses these to phrase the appeal's "relief sought" section.

Step 2 — What the PIO did (or didn't) do

Did the PIO reply?

Yes — reply received Partial / deficient reply No reply at all (deemed refusal)

Step 3 — Grounds of appeal

Detected grounds (tick the ones you want to include)

Add your own ground

Relief sought

Direction to furnish the requested information; if the adjusted Section 7 time limit was breached, furnish it free under Section 7(6).

Apply Section 10 — sever any genuinely exempt content and release the rest.

Direction to pass a fresh, reasoned order under Section 7(8)(i).

Step 4 — Your details and the generated appeal

Your full name * Your full address (with PIN code) * Mobile number First Appellate Authority (FAA) — address (if known)

The FAA is usually a senior officer within the same public authority. If unknown, leave blank — the appeal can address "The First Appellate Authority, [same public authority]".

Your First Appeal letter

What to do next

Print or fair-copy the letter. Sign every page.
First-appeal fees vary by jurisdiction. For example, Maharashtra charges ₹20 under its 2026 Rules. Check the current rule before filing.
Section 19(1) generally allows 30 days from the applicable decision/deemed-refusal point, but APIO, fee-intimation and other exceptions can change that point; late admission is possible for sufficient cause.
Send by Speed Post with Acknowledgement Due to the FAA's office, and keep a copy.
The FAA must decide within 30 days (+ 15 days with reasons) — see First Appeal timelines.
If the FAA denies or doesn't decide, file a Second Appeal under §19(3) — see appellate-review checklist.
Need more depth? All 10 grounds for rejection.