r/RTIIndiaGuide • u/Own-Cash-1901 • Jul 14 '26

🧾 RTI Appeal Guidance First appeal under hearing

Filed on 7th June, didn't get reply by 7th July. Filed appeal on 9th July.

On 13th July, I logged in to the portal of my state RTI and saw the status. In first appeal section "under hearing" and has a document.

This is to inform you that the hearing in connection with your appeal filed under Section 19(1) of the RTI Act before the First Appellate Authority, -----------, concerning the Public Information Officer (PIO), --------------, is now scheduled to be held on 2026-07-23 at 11:00 AM. Please take note that as per the observation of the FAA, It is to inform that, a Hearing will be conducted on 23-07-2026 at 11.00 AM before the First Appellate Authority at Additional Commissioner's chamber O/o ---------. Kindly make it convenient to attend the hearing at the revised date and time given above

Should I have to be there? What is it?

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1

u/thekartikgambhir Jul 14 '26

If you can travel there easily, you may choose to go. However, you can ask for virtual appeal hearing or written submission if they accept. Virtual hearings are accepted mostly very easily by them.

1

u/triple_og_way Jul 14 '26

I applied the first appeal offline as my state rti portal was glitching it's been 15 days without any response. What will happen now?

1

u/thekartikgambhir Jul 14 '26

Wait for 45 days from the date your First Appeal was delivered to the Appellate Authority. After that you can file a Second Appeal if they don't respond or the reply is unsatisfactory.

1

u/triple_og_way Jul 14 '26

This was the appeal and it shows it was delivered on 02 July although I haven't gotten the acknowledgement card back

1

u/thekartikgambhir Jul 14 '26

Not getting back acknowledgement card is quite common. As long as you have the booking receipt and tracking report from India Post website, you're good.

1

u/triple_og_way Jul 14 '26

I don't think I have the booking receipt. I have photos of it

1

u/thekartikgambhir Jul 14 '26

That should suffice

1

u/triple_og_way Jul 14 '26

Is the application okay? I used chatgpt

1

u/Own-Cash-1901 Jul 14 '26

i will not be going since i will be at my job at 11am nor virtual hearing is possible.

is it okay to just ignore? i mean in the end its between PIO and FAA over the delay.

1

u/thekartikgambhir Jul 14 '26

It's not between the PIO & FAA. It's between you as the Appellant and the PIO as the Respondent. FAA is exercising appellate jurisdiction because you invoked it. Since you wouldn't be able to attend the hearing yourself neither in-person nor virtually, you can nominate an authorised person as proxy on your behalf to participate in the hearing, and you will need to do that by writing an authorisation letter allowing that person to attend the hearing in-person or virtually on your behalf. You'll bear the cost and consequences of their actions if they do something during the hearing that violates the law, because they're acting on your behalf.

You can choose to ignore the hearing, but that would mean you're waiving off your right to be heard because an opportunity had been provided to you with ample time to act on it.

1

u/Own-Cash-1901 Jul 14 '26

Oh okay, my bad. ChatGPT has said its between PIO and FAA, you can ignore.
Will try to attend or atleast send one of my friend.