New Delhi: 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.
No time limit or target has been prescribed for disposal of second appeals and complaints by the Central Information Commission (CIC) under the RTI Act, 2005.
As per the Annual Report of CIC, the following are the details of RTI first appeals received & disposed by Public authorities under the Central Government during the previous three years:-
| Year | Appeals received | Appeals disposed | % of disposal |
| 2013-14 | 94945 | 72098 | 76% |
| 2014-15 | 86944 | 83476 | 96% |
| 2015-16 | 110035 | 106556 | 97% |
Further, as on 01.04.2016, the number of second appeals pending before CIC was 34,982 which has come down to 21,287 as 19.12.2017
The existing officers designated as First Appellate Authorities dispose off the First Appeal and no additional staff is sanctioned for this purpose.
Out of total 160 sanctioned posts in various categories in the Central Information Commission (CIC), 59 posts have been filled up by regular officers and staff through deputation and direct recruitment. Balance posts have been filled-up on outsourced basis and through contractual appointments till such time regular recruitments are made.
This was stated by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in a written reply to question in the Rajya Sabha today.
