Second Appeal (under RTI)
Section 19(3), RTI Act 2005
A Second Appeal is your final level of challenge under the RTI Act, filed to the Information Commission (CIC or SIC) within 90 days if the First Appeal also fails or the First Appellate Authority does not respond.
If the First Appellate Authority rejects your appeal or does not decide it, you can file a Second Appeal under Section 19(3) to the Information Commission — the CIC for central bodies, or the relevant SIC for state bodies.
The Second Appeal must be filed within 90 days of the FAA's decision (or of the date by which it should have decided). The Commission can order the information to be released, impose a penalty on the PIO under Section 20, and recommend disciplinary action. This is the stage where most evasive replies are finally forced open.
Key points
- Filed under Section 19(3) to the CIC (central) or SIC (state).
- Deadline: within 90 days of the First Appeal decision or lapse.
- The Commission can order disclosure and penalise the PIO.
- It is the final RTI remedy before the courts.
Related RTI terms
Free RTI Tools No login
Calculate your fee, draft your RTI, find the right PIO, and track every deadline — all free.
This is a plain-English summary of the Right to Information Act, 2005 for general understanding — educational, not legal advice. For a specific case, the exact wording of the Act and your facts matter.
Login / Sign up
Login With Google
Continue as GuestOr use your email Address
*We value your trust. Your information remains private and protected with FileMyRTI