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
(b) 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 Govemor on the recommendation of a committee consisting of—
(i) the Chief Minister, who shall be the Chairperson of the committee;
(ii) the Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly; and
(M) a Cabinet Minister to be nominated by the Chief Minister.
Erplanation.—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 Commissioner 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.
Legal Commentary & Landmark Judgments: Section 15
Section 15 mandates the constitution of State Information Commissions across all States, establishing their autonomous institutional framework, composition, gubernatorial appointment committee, and strict political disqualifications.
When challenging the validity of a State Information Commission appointment, verify whether the Selection Committee under Section 15(3) was properly constituted and whether the Leader of the single largest opposition group was invited. If the state executive bypassed the opposition leader or nominated active political party office-bearers in breach of Section 15(6), challenge the appointment by filing a writ of quo warranto before the High Court under Article 226.