Table of Contents
Section 12 — Constitution of the Central Information Commission
In one line: Section 12 creates the Central Information Commission (CIC) — one Chief Information Commissioner and up to ten Information Commissioners, appointed by the President on recommendation of a Committee comprising the Prime Minister (Chair), Leader of Opposition, and a Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the PM.
Key points
- 12(1) — Commission constituted.
- 12(2) — One Chief + up to 10 Information Commissioners.
- 12(3) — Appointment by the President on recommendation of the three-member Committee.
- 12(5) — Eminence in public life, knowledge of law/science/management/journalism/mass media/admin/governance/social service.
- 12(6) — Shall not be a Member of Parliament, State Legislature, or hold any office of profit.
Legislative history
No amendments to Section 12 itself. Tenure and service conditions moved to rules by RTI (Amendment) Act, 2019.
Rulings and references
- Namit Sharma v. UoI, (2013) 1 SCC 745 — qualifications for ICs.
- Anjali Bhardwaj v. UoI, (2020) 11 SCC 345 — SC directions on timely filling of vacancies.
Practical note
The CIC's composition affects appeal outcomes. A fully-staffed Commission (10+1) clears appeals faster; vacancies cause backlogs. The December 2025 full-strength restoration (Chief IC Raj Kumar Goyal + 10 ICs) was the first in 9 years — see 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 12.
- 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