Archive · 28 Sep 2026
Tamil Nadu Withdraws Law-and-Order RTI Exemption After Backlash
Tamil Nadu’s government made a rule that would have kept many law-and-order records away from people using the RTI law.
The rule treated the Public (Law and Order) Department like an intelligence and security organisation.
Critics worried that people could not ask for information about police actions, custodial deaths, protests or communal clashes.
They said this could make it harder to check whether the government and police were doing their jobs properly.
Several political parties, including government allies, opposed the rule.
A transparency group also said it was wrong to classify all law-and-order information as intelligence-related.
A minister defended the idea by saying freedom of expression would remain protected, but should have limits.
The government then cancelled the rule after the backlash.
Tamil Nadu revoked an order exempting its Public (Law and Order) Department from the Right to Information Act, 2005.
The September 21 notification invoked Section 24(4) to classify the department as an “Intelligence and Security Organisation.”
Critics said the exemption could have restricted access to records on custodial deaths, police firings, communal clashes, protests and security detentions.
Congress, VCK, DMK, CPI(M), PMK, AIADMK, AMMK and transparency advocates criticized the proposed blanket exemption.
The TVK-led government withdrew the order on Sunday after opposition from allies, opposition leaders and civil-society groups.
- Who
- The Tamil Nadu government led by C. Joseph Vijay; political allies, opposition parties and transparency advocates challenged the order.
- What
- The government revoked an order exempting the Public (Law and Order) Department from the Right to Information Act, 2005.
- When
- The original notification was dated September 21, 2026, and the withdrawal was announced on Sunday, September 27.
- Where
- Tamil Nadu; the notification was issued by the state Human Resources Management (R) Department.
- Why
- The order was withdrawn after critics said it would reduce transparency and restrict access to sensitive law-and-order records.
Transparency Critics
Government Defense
Public access to law-and-order records
Transparency Critics
Critics argued that exempting the entire department could block information about custodial deaths, police firings, communal and caste clashes, protests, security detentions and politically registered cases.
Government Defense
The notification relied on Section 24(4) and classified the department as an intelligence and security organisation, thereby excluding it from the RTI framework described in the reports.
Human rights and accountability
Transparency Critics
VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan warned the move could suppress human rights. CPI(M), PMK and other critics called the blanket exemption unacceptable and harmful to accountability.
Government Defense
School Education Minister A. Rajmohan said freedom of expression would not be affected, but that its “Lakshman Rekha,” or limits, should be respected.
Transparency policy
Transparency Critics
Critics, including Congress MP Karti Chidambaram and DMK MP Kanimozhi, said RTI should be expanded rather than restricted and accused the government of trying to conceal failures.
Government Defense
The administration ultimately reversed the measure after the political and public backlash, ending the proposed exemption.
- Original notification
- A Human Resources Management (R) Department order dated September 21.
- Legal provision
- Sub-section (4) of Section 24 of the Right to Information Act, 2005.
- Proposed classification
- The Public (Law and Order) Department was designated an “Intelligence and Security Organisation.”
- Potentially restricted records
- Information concerning police torture, custodial and remand-prisoner deaths, police firings, communal and caste clashes, protests and security-related detentions.
- Critics
- Congress, VCK, DMK, CPI(M), PMK, AIADMK, AMMK and Arappor Iyakkam opposed the move.
- Government action
- The government revoked the notification, identified in one report as GO Ms. No. 57.
Sources
TN govt revokes controversial order exempting Law and Order dept from RTI Act after backlash
After backlash from Oppn & allies, Vijay govt revokes RTI exemption for law & order department
Tamil Nadu’s Vijay government revokes order exempting Law and Order department from RTI ambit
Tamil Nadu revokes RTI exemption for law and order dept after backlash
TN govt revokes controversial RTI move amid backlash
