Section 12 – THE RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT, 2005

—(I) The Central Government shall, by
notification in the Official Gazette, constitute a body to be known as the Central Information Commission
to exercise the powers conferred on, and to perform the functions assigned to, it under this Act.
(2) The Central Information Commission shall consist of—
(a) the Chief Information Commissioner; and
(b) such number of Central Information Commissioners, not exceeding ten, as may be deemed
necessary.
(3) The Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners shall be appointed by the
President on the recommendation of a committee consisting of—
(i) the Prime Minister, who shall be the Chairperson of the committee;
(ii) the Leader of Opposition in the LokSabha; and
(iii) a Union Cabinet Minister to be nominated by the Prime Minister.
Explanation.—For the purposes of removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that where the Leader of
Opposition in the House of the People has not been recognised as such, the Leader of the single largest
group in opposition of the Government in the House of the People shall be deemed to be the Leader of
Opposition.
(4) The general superintendence, direction and management of the affairs of the Central Information
Commission shall vest in the Chief Information Commissioner who shall be assisted by the Information
Commissioners and may exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things which may be exercised
or done by the Central Information Commission autonomously without being subjected to directions by
any other authority under this Act.
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(5) The Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners shall be persons of
eminence in public life with wide knowledge and experience in law, science and technology, social
service, management, journalism, mass media or administration and governance.
(6) The Chief Information Commissioner or an Information Commissioner shall not be a Member of
Parliament or Member of the Legislature of any State or Union telTitory, as the case may be, or hold any
other office of profit or connected with any political party or carrying on any business or pursuing any
profession.
(7) The headquarters of the Central Information Commission shall be at Delhi and the Central
Information Commission may, with the previous approval of the Central Government, establish offices at
other places in India.