Tamil Nadu Government Rolls Back RTI Exemption for Law and Order Department After Backlash
The Tamil Nadu government has rescinded its notification that exempted the Public (Law and Order) Department from the purview of the Right to Information (RTI) Act. The rollback came just hours after the initial state Gazette notification classified the department as an 'Intelligence and Security Organisation', sparking swift political criticism.
The Tamil Nadu government on Sunday withdrew its decision to exempt the Public (Law and Order) Department from the Right to Information (RTI) Act, hours after the notification triggered criticism from opposition parties, political allies and others. The rollback came on the same day the exemption was reported and notified in the state Gazette, TOI reported.
What Was the Original Order?
The Human Resources Management Department had issued Government Order Ms No. 57 on September 21, classifying the Public (Law and Order) Department as an “Intelligence and Security Organisation” under Section 24(4) of the RTI Act. The provision allows state governments to exempt organisations designated as intelligence or security bodies from the RTI framework. Tamil Nadu CM Joseph Vijay Meets DMK President MK Stalin After Taking Oath As MLA (See Pics).
The proposed exemption would have affected access to records concerning matters such as communal and caste clashes, political agitations, police action, custodial deaths, police firing inquiries and other law-and-order-related proceedings.
Government Revokes Notification
Following the criticism, the Human Resources Management (R) Department issued a fresh order revoking the September 21 notification. The government order stated that the earlier exemption of the Public (Law and Order) Department under Section 24(4) of the RTI Act “stands revoked”. With the withdrawal, the department is no longer covered by the newly introduced exemption. The government has not publicly provided a detailed explanation for why the exemption was initially introduced or why it was subsequently withdrawn. Tamil Nadu CM Joseph Vijay Takes Oath As MLA at Chennai Secretariat.
Political Criticism
The original decision drew criticism from several political quarters, including Congress MP Karti P Chidambaram and BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan. Chidambaram said the move would restrict public access to information involving police firing, custodial deaths, communal clashes and politically sensitive matters. After the rollback, he welcomed the decision and described his comments as “friendly advice” to the Tamil Nadu government.
The issue also drew criticism from members of parties associated with the ruling coalition, according to reports. The objections focused on transparency and public access to information concerning law-and-order administration.
What Section 24 of RTI Act Says
The RTI Act provides exemptions for specified intelligence and security organisations. However, the exemption is not absolute. Section 24 preserves access to information relating to allegations of corruption and human-rights violations, subject to the procedure prescribed under the law.
The rollback means the Public (Law and Order) Department will continue to remain within the regular RTI framework, subject to the other exemptions available under the Act.
Decision Comes After Brief Controversy
The government's reversal came within hours of the notification attracting public and political criticism. The episode has put the focus on the balance between confidentiality in sensitive law-and-order matters and citizens' statutory right to access information held by public authorities.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 27, 2026 07:17 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
