After backlash, Vijay government withdraws Law and Order department’s RTI exemption

The Tamil Nadu government, led by C Joseph Vijay, has withdrawn an order that exempted the Public (Law and Order) Department from the Right to Information (RTI) Act following backlash from allies and transparency activists. The government order, dated September 21, 2026, specifying the exemption under Section 24 of the RTI Act, has been revoked.

Critics, including CPI(M) MP Su Venkatesan, argued that the exemption is absurd and contradicts the government's anti-corruption campaign. The department, which deals with police conduct, civil liberties, political activity, and government accountability, had been exempted under Section 24(4) of the RTI Act, 2005. Activists criticized the move, stating that it is improper to classify all information held by the department as intelligence-related.

The government has not publicly described the RTI episode as a reversal, but insiders suggest that contentious decisions are sometimes allowed to be publicly known before gauging public response.