RTI First Appeal

BEFORE THE FIRST APPELLATE AUTHORITY [appellate_authority] FIRST APPEAL UNDER SECTION 19(1) OF THE RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT, 2005 1. PARTICULARS OF THE APPELLANT Name : [appellant_name] Address : [appellant_address] 2. PARTICULARS OF THE ORIGINAL APPLICATION RTI application dated : [rti_date] Reference number : [rti_reference] Addressed to : [pio_name], Public Information Officer 3. INFORMATION SOUGHT [information_sought] 4. GROUNDS OF APPEAL [grounds_of_appeal] 5. FURTHER GROUNDS 5.1 That under Section 7(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005, the Public Information Officer is required to dispose of a request as expeditiously as possible, and in any case WITHIN THIRTY DAYS of its receipt. 5.2 That where information is refused, the Public Information Officer is obliged under Section 7(8) to communicate the reasons for the refusal, the period within which an appeal may be preferred, and the particulars of the appellate authority. The reply received does not meet these requirements. 5.3 That under Section 7(2), where the Public Information Officer fails to give a decision within the period specified, the request is DEEMED TO HAVE BEEN REFUSED. 5.4 That the information sought is not exempt from disclosure under Section 8 or Section 9 of the Act, and no valid ground for withholding it has been made out. 5.5 That the information sought relates to a matter of legitimate concern to the Appellant, and its disclosure serves the public interest that the Act exists to advance. 6. RELIEF SOUGHT The Appellant therefore prays that the First Appellate Authority may be pleased to: (a) Direct the Public Information Officer to furnish the information sought, completely and without further delay; (b) Direct that the information be furnished FREE OF COST, the prescribed period having expired, as provided under Section 7(6) of the Act; (c) Record its findings on the conduct of the Public Information Officer and initiate such action as may be warranted; and (d) Pass such other orders as may be just and proper. Place: ______________ Date: [appeal_date] [appellant_name] APPELLANT ENCLOSURES 1. Copy of the original RTI application dated [rti_date] 2. Proof of payment of the application fee 3. Copy of the reply received from the Public Information Officer, if any 4. Proof of dispatch and delivery of the original application TIMELINES UNDER THE RTI ACT — WORTH KNOWING - The Public Information Officer must respond within THIRTY DAYS. Where the information concerns the life or liberty of a person, within FORTY-EIGHT HOURS. - A FIRST APPEAL under Section 19(1) must be filed within THIRTY DAYS of the decision, or of the expiry of the period within which a decision ought to have been made. The Appellate Authority may condone delay for sufficient cause. - The First Appellate Authority must dispose of the appeal within THIRTY DAYS, extendable to FORTY-FIVE DAYS for recorded reasons. - A SECOND APPEAL lies to the Central or State Information Commission within NINETY DAYS of the first appellate order. - NO FEE is payable for a first appeal. - Where the prescribed period has been exceeded, the information must be provided FREE OF CHARGE under Section 7(6).