The C Joseph Vijay-led Tamil Nadu government has withdrawn an order that had exempted the Public (Law and Order) Department from the Right to Information Act, 2005. The move came after the notification drew criticism from political parties, transparency advocates and other groups over its potential impact on public access to information. The Human Resources Management (R) Department had issued Government Order Ms No. 57 dated September 21, 2026, under Section 24(4) of the RTI Act. The order classified the Public (Law and Order) Department as an “Intelligence and Security Organisation”, thereby bringing it under the exemption provision. The government subsequently revoked the order on September 27. Key Highlights Tamil Nadu has withdrawn its RTI exemption order for the Public (Law and Order) Department. The original order was issued on September 21 under Section 24(4) of the RTI Act. The department had been classified as an “Intelligence and Security Organisation”. The move faced criticism from opposition parties, allies and transparency advocates. The government revoked Government Order Ms No. 57 on September 27. What Was the RTI Exemption Order? The September 21 notification sought to exempt the Public (Law and Order) Department from the purview of the RTI Act by classifying it as an Intelligence and Security Organisation under Section 24(4). Such an exemption could have restricted access to information relating to several law-and-order matters handled by the department. Reports noted that the department deals with subjects including police firing inquiries, custodial deaths, allegations of police torture and other matters connected with public order. The order quickly became controversial, with critics raising concerns about transparency and access to government records. Tamil Nadu Government Revokes Order On September 27, the Human Resources Management (R) Department issued a fresh order cancelling the earlier notification. The government stated that Government Order Ms No. 57 dated September 21 “stands revoked.” The reversal followed criticism from several quarters, including political allies of the ruling coalition, opposition parties and transparency advocates. The CPM, which is an ally of the government, was among those reported to have criticised the move. Why Did the RTI Move Face Criticism? The controversy centred on concerns that the exemption could limit public access to records involving law and order and police-related matters. The Indian Express reported that critics were particularly concerned about access to records concerning police action, human-rights complaints and political protests. NDTV also reported that the department's areas of work include inquiry reports into police firing, custodial deaths and allegations of police torture, information that could have been outside the RTI framework under the withdrawn order. Vijay Government’s Latest Decision The withdrawal means the September 21 exemption order no longer remains in force. The decision also comes amid wider public and political discussion about transparency and accountability in government functioning. The Tamil Nadu government has not, in the sources reviewed here, announced a broader change to the RTI framework beyond revoking the specific Government Order. The episode has brought renewed attention to Section 24(4) of the RTI Act and the circumstances under which state governments can notify intelligence and security organisations for exemption under the law.
