📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Michael Gäbler
Politics
Tamil Nadu Government Rolls Back RTI Provisions, Faces Opposition Outcry
✍️ indiatoday.in
🗓 27 Sep 2026, 07:38 PM
👁 11
The Tamil Nadu administration announced a rollback of certain Right‑to‑Information rules, prompting sharp criticism from opposition parties and a policy reversal by minister TVK.
Chennai, Sept 27 — The Tamil Nadu state government issued an order this week to scale back specific provisions of the Right‑to‑Information (RTI) Act that had been in force for several years. The amendment seeks to limit the scope of information that can be requested by citizens, citing administrative efficiency and the need to protect sensitive data.
Opposition parties in the state assembly immediately condemned the move, labeling it an erosion of transparency and a step back for democratic accountability. Leaders staged protests outside the legislative building and demanded that the amendment be withdrawn.
In a surprising development, senior minister T.V. K., who had earlier supported the rollback, announced a reversal of his stance, saying the government would reconsider the changes after consulting civil‑society groups. The minister’s U‑turn has added pressure on the chief minister’s office to revisit the policy.
The state’s RTI commissioner has called for a meeting with stakeholders to discuss the practical impact of the proposed changes. Meanwhile, legal experts warn that any dilution of the RTI framework could be challenged in court.
The episode underscores the ongoing tussle between the ruling party’s reform agenda and opposition demands for greater openness in governance.
Opposition parties in the state assembly immediately condemned the move, labeling it an erosion of transparency and a step back for democratic accountability. Leaders staged protests outside the legislative building and demanded that the amendment be withdrawn.
In a surprising development, senior minister T.V. K., who had earlier supported the rollback, announced a reversal of his stance, saying the government would reconsider the changes after consulting civil‑society groups. The minister’s U‑turn has added pressure on the chief minister’s office to revisit the policy.
The state’s RTI commissioner has called for a meeting with stakeholders to discuss the practical impact of the proposed changes. Meanwhile, legal experts warn that any dilution of the RTI framework could be challenged in court.
The episode underscores the ongoing tussle between the ruling party’s reform agenda and opposition demands for greater openness in governance.