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Sunita files an application with a Central Government department seeking records of how a welfare grant to a society was spent. The Public Information Officer does not respond. Under the Right to Information Act, 2005, what is the correct sequence of her remedy and the normal time limit for reply?

The Public Information Officer must normally respond within 30 days. If there is no reply, the applicant files a first appeal with a senior officer in the same public authority and then a second appeal to the Information Commission. She does not go directly to a court.

  1. AReply is due within 30 days; she may file a first appeal with the senior officer within the public authority, and then a second appeal to the Information CommissionCorrect
  2. BReply is due within 90 days; she must go directly to the High Court
  3. CReply is due within 7 days; she must file a second appeal first
  4. DReply is due within 30 days; she may appeal only to the Information Commission, skipping the departmental appeal

Explanation

The PIO must ordinarily reply within 30 days. Non-response allows a first appeal to the officer senior to the PIO in the same authority, then a second appeal to the Central or State Information Commission. Going straight to a High Court or skipping the first appeal is not the prescribed route.

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