Tamil Nadu Rolls Back RTI Exemption After Opposition, Ally Congress Raise Transparency Concerns

Tamil Nadu’s Vijay-led TVK government has rolled back an order that temporarily classified the Public (Law and Order) Department as an Intelligence and Security Organisation, exempting it from the RTI Act. Issued on September 21, the order was withdrawn just six days later following criticism from opposition parties and even TVK’s ally, the Congress. Congress MP Karti Chidambaram argued that the move could limit public access to crucial information and called for stronger RTI provisions. The DMK also criticised the decision, accusing the government of restricting transparency. The government defended the exemption initially but did not publicly specify why the order was later withdrawn.