The Gujarat Governor today appointed the chief information commissioner and three information commissioners in exercise of the powers conferred under the Right to Information Act.

As per a notification issued by the General Administration Department (GAD) of state secretariat, Dr Subhashchandra Soni has been appointed the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC), while Nikhil Bhatt, Manoj Patel, and Subramaniam Iyer have been appointed Information Commissioners (ICs).

CIC Soni will replace IAS Amrut Patel, who was the state CIC since 2021.

The Right to Information (RTI) Act 2005 vests appointment of state CIC and ICs for general superintendence, direction, and management of the affairs of the State Information Commission (SIC). It addresses appeals, and complaints in relation with the RTI Act.

The Governor appoints the committee based on the recommendations of a panel that includes the chief minister as chairperson, the leader of the opposition in the Legislative Assembly, and a state cabinet minister nominated by the CM.