If an RTI is filed with the public authority (PIO/APIO), it is possible that the required answers are not obtained on the first time, and in some cases, information is not received at all. In such cases, First appeal is to be filed to receive the required information to the satisfaction of the citizen . As per the RTI Act, an appeal shall be disposed off within 30 days on the receipt of the appeal by the First Appellate Authority or within such extended period not exceeding a total of 45 days from the date of filing thereof, as the case may be, for reasons to be recorded in writing.

Anybody who is unhappy or dissatisfied with the decision of the First Appellate Authority can file Second Appeal to the Information Commission. As per the RTI Act, an appeal shall be disposed off within 30 days on the receipt of the appeal by the First Appellate Authority or within such extended period not exceeding a total of 45 days from the date of filing thereof, as the case may be, for reasons to be recorded in writing. An appeal to the Central/ State Information Commission is required to be filed as per Section 19 (3) of the RTI Act against the decision of First Appellate Authority and, therefore, can be filed only after the decision of FAA or after stipulated time limit(45 days) for such decision by FAA has elapsed, as per provisions under Section 19(3) of the RTI Act. The Act, however, does not prescribe time limit or target for disposal of 2nd appeal/complaint.