My RTI application was rejected — how do I challenge it?
A rejected RTI is challenged by checking whether the refusal cites a valid Section 8 or 9 exemption with reasons, then filing a First Appeal within 30 days under Section 19(1) and, if needed, a Second Appeal to the Information Commission within 90 days under Section 19(3).
Anyone whose RTI application has been refused, partially denied, or rejected by a Public Information Officer.
A situation like yours
Anil asked his municipal corporation for the file notings on a stalled road-repair contract. The PIO rejected it in one line, claiming the information was "confidential."
Anil noticed the refusal named no exemption and gave no reasons — both required by law. He filed a First Appeal to the First Appellate Authority within 30 days, quoting Section 8 and pointing out the missing reasons. The FAA set aside the rejection and ordered the PIO to supply the records.
Representative example based on common cases — not a specific individual.
How to resolve it
- 1
Read the rejection carefully
Public Information Officer (PIO)In person / by postAllow ~3 daysA lawful refusal MUST cite the specific exemption (a clause of Section 8 or Section 9), give reasons, and tell you the name of the Appellate Authority and the appeal deadline. A one-line "rejected" or "confidential" with none of this is itself unlawful — note exactly what is missing.
- 2
File a First Appeal within 30 days
First Appellate Authority (FAA)File an appealAllow ~30 daysFile a First Appeal under Section 19(1) to the First Appellate Authority (a senior officer in the same public authority) within 30 days of the rejection. State why the refusal is wrong — missing reasons, no valid exemption, or wrongly applied Section 8. No fee is required for the appeal itself. Use the First Appeal builder to draft it.
- 3
File a Second Appeal to the Information Commission
Central / State Information Commission (CIC/SIC)File an appealAllow ~90 daysIf the FAA also rejects you or stays silent, file a Second Appeal under Section 19(3) to the Central Information Commission (CIC) for central bodies or your State Information Commission (SIC) for state bodies, within 90 days of the FAA's decision (or the date it was due).
- 4
Ask the Commission to penalise the PIO
Central / State Information Commission (CIC/SIC)File an appealAllow ~90 daysIn your Second Appeal, ask the Commission to impose a penalty under Section 20 if the PIO refused without reasonable cause or denied information malafidely. The penalty is Rs 250 per day, up to Rs 25,000, recovered from the PIO personally — a strong lever to get information released.
- 5
Reframe and refile with RTI help
Public Information Officer (PIO)File an RTIAllow ~30 daysAI RTI DraftSometimes a rejection is triggered by a vague or overly broad request. Reframe the application to ask for specific, dated records (file notings, inspection reports, copies of orders) that are harder to refuse, and refile fresh. Use the AI RTI draft tool to phrase it precisely.
Your legal rights
Sections 8 and 9, Right to Information Act, 2005
A PIO can refuse RTI information only under the specific exemptions listed in Section 8 and Section 9; everything not exempt must be disclosed, and partial access must be given where possible.
Source: India Code (Government of India) ↗Sections 7(8) and 19, Right to Information Act, 2005
Any rejection must give reasons and tell you the time limit and the details of the appellate authority. You can appeal to the FAA within 30 days under 19(1), then to the Information Commission within 90 days under 19(3).
Source: India Code (Government of India) ↗Section 20, Right to Information Act, 2005
If the PIO refuses without reasonable cause or denies a request malafidely, the Information Commission can impose a penalty of Rs 250 per day up to a maximum of Rs 25,000 on the PIO.
Source: Central Information Commission (Government of India) ↗Tools that help
Common questions
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