Table of Contents
Section 15 — Constitution of the State Information Commission
In one line: Section 15 is the State-level mirror of Section 12. Each State constitutes its own State Information Commission (SIC) — State Chief IC + up to 10 State ICs, appointed by the Governor on recommendation of a committee comprising the Chief Minister (Chair), Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly, and a State Cabinet Minister.
Key points
- Same qualification standard as Section 12(5).
- Same office-of-profit restrictions as Section 12(6).
- State rules govern working conditions.
Legislative history
No amendments to Section 15 itself. Tenure moved to rules by 2019 amendment (Section 16).
Rulings and references
- Namit Sharma, (2013) — State ICs' qualifications subject to same standards.
- Anjali Bhardwaj, (2020) — directions apply to State Commissions; many SICs had large vacancies at the time of judgment.
Practical note
Every State SIC has a different backlog and quality. Kerala and Tamil Nadu SICs are faster; Bihar and UP SICs have multi-year pendency. See the SIC performance notes on the Live Tracker.
Call to action
For drafting RTIs or appeals engaging this section, use the First RTI template or the First Appeal template. See How to fill an RTI application for structural help.
Related
Sources
- Right to Information Act, 2005, Section 15.
- RTI (Amendment) Act, 2019 (where applicable).
- DPDP Rules, 2025, notified 14 November 2025 (where applicable).
- Department of Personnel and Training, Guide on the RTI Act, 2005.
Last reviewed on: 21 April 2026
Discussion