Section 15 – THE RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT, 2005

—(1) Every State Government shall, by
notification in the Official Gazette, constitute a body to be known as the (name of the State)
Information Commission to exercise the powers conferred on, and to perform the functions assigned to, it
under this Act.
(2) The State Information Commission shall consist of—
(a) the State Chief Information Commissioner, and
(h) such number of State Information Commissioners, not exceeding ten, as may be deemed
necessary.
(3) The State Chief Information Commissioner and the State Information Commissioners shall be
appointed by the Governor on the recommendation of a committee consisting of—
(i) the Chief Minister, who shall be the Chairperson of the committee;
12
(ii) the Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly; and
(iii) a Cabinet Minister to be nominated by the Chief Minister.
Explanation.—For the purposes of removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that where the Leader of
Opposition in the Legislative Assembly has not been recognised as such, the Leader of the single largest
group in opposition of the Government in the Legislative Assembly shall be deemed to be the Leader of
Opposition.
(4) The general superintendence, direction and management of the affairs of the State Information
Commission shall vest in the State Chief Information Commissioner who shall be assisted by the State
Information Commissioners and may exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things which may
be exercised or done by the State Information Commission autonomously without being subjected to
directions by any other authority under this Act.
(5) The State Chief Information Commissioner and the State 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 State Chief Information Conimissioner or a State Information Commissioner shall not be a
Member of Parliament or Member of the Legislature of any State or Union territory, 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 State Information Commission shall be at such place in the State as the
State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify and the State Information
Commission may, with the previous approval of the State Government, establish offices at other places in
the State