RTI first appeal: what it must say, and the 30-day deadline
You filed an RTI, waited, and either heard nothing or got a reply that answered nothing: a "not available", a partial answer, or silence past the deadline. That is not where it ends. The RTI system has appeals built into it precisely because officers sometimes delay, and using them is straightforward.
When you can appeal
You can file a first appeal if:
- The deadline, generally 30 days, passed with no reply, or
- The information was refused and you believe wrongly, or
- The answer was incomplete, misleading or evasive.
You do not need a fresh reason. Being given a useless answer is reason enough.
How the first appeal works
- Address it to the First Appellate Authority, an officer senior to the Public Information Officer in the same body. Their details usually come with the reply, and you can ask for them.
- File within the time limit, commonly 30 days from the reply or from the missed deadline.
- State it plainly. Attach your original RTI and the reply, or note that there was none, and say clearly what was not answered and what you still want.
- Keep proof and note the date.
The second appeal, to the Information Commission
If the first appeal does not fix it, the next step is a second appeal to the Information Commission, central or state depending on the office. Commissions can order the information to be released, and can penalise officers who withheld it without cause. That is often what finally gets the information out.
Tell Miss Lucy Lite what your RTI asked and how they replied, and she will help you frame the appeal.
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