Central Information Commission: RTI second appeal and complaint
Updated 2026-10 · General information, not legal advice.
If you did not get a reply to your RTI, or the reply was wrong, the next steps are a first appeal inside the office and then a second appeal to the Information Commission. For central bodies, that is the Central Information Commission.
What it handles
- Second appeal after a first appeal fails or gets no reply
- Complaint when information is refused or an officer does not respond
- Matters of central government departments and public bodies
How to file
- 1
File the first appeal
Appeal to the First Appellate Authority named in the reply, normally within 30 days of the reply or of the date a reply was due.
- 2
Wait for the order
If the appeal is not decided in time, or you are unhappy with the order, a second appeal is open.
- 3
File the second appeal or complaint
Normally within 90 days of the appeal order or of the date it was due. Use the online option on the Commission website and attach your RTI, replies and first appeal.
- 4
Follow the hearing
Track the case number and attend the hearing, which can be by video.
Key facts
- State government offices go to the State Information Commission, not this one
- Do the first appeal first; the Commission normally expects it
- Keep copies of every letter and the dates
Read the full guide: How to file an RTI application online in India
Not sure this is the right place?
Tell us what happened. We show the right steps in the right order and draft the letters.
Common questions
Is there a fee for the second appeal?
The RTI Act does not set a fee for appeals to the Commission; check the portal for the current position.
What if my RTI was to a state office?
Use that state's Information Commission instead.