📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Michael Gäbler
Politics
Tamil Nadu Govt Withdraws RTI Exemption for Law and Order Department After Public Outcry
✍️ The Hindu
🗓 27 Sep 2026, 07:33 PM
👁 10
The Tamil Nadu government has retracted a directive that had exempted its Public (Law and Order) Department from the Right to Information Act following widespread criticism from civil society and political parties.
On Thursday, the Tamil Nadu government announced the withdrawal of a government order that had exempted the Public (Law and Order) Department from the Right to Information Act. The directive, issued earlier this year, had sparked protests from journalists, activists and opposition parties who argued that it undermined transparency in a critical public service.
The decision comes after a wave of criticism on social media and in the press, with many pointing out that the exemption contravened the spirit of the RTI Act, which seeks to promote accountability across all government departments. The government said it had taken the step to restore public confidence and to align with the central government’s stance on information disclosure.
The Public (Law and Order) Department, which handles police and emergency services, will now be required to comply with RTI requests. The government has assured that it will issue a revised order clarifying the department’s obligations under the Act.
The move is seen as a win for transparency advocates, though some officials argue that certain sensitive information must remain confidential for security reasons. The government has pledged to review the exemption on a case‑by‑case basis in the future.
The decision comes after a wave of criticism on social media and in the press, with many pointing out that the exemption contravened the spirit of the RTI Act, which seeks to promote accountability across all government departments. The government said it had taken the step to restore public confidence and to align with the central government’s stance on information disclosure.
The Public (Law and Order) Department, which handles police and emergency services, will now be required to comply with RTI requests. The government has assured that it will issue a revised order clarifying the department’s obligations under the Act.
The move is seen as a win for transparency advocates, though some officials argue that certain sensitive information must remain confidential for security reasons. The government has pledged to review the exemption on a case‑by‑case basis in the future.