Tamil Nadu government rescinds RTI exemption for the Public Law and Order Department after CPI(M) criticism, reaffirming transparency while citing security limits.

Tamil Nadu government withdrew its order exempting the Public (Law and Order) Department from the Right to Information Act on Thursday, after criticism from opposition parties, including the Communist Party of India (Marxist).

Background

The original order, issued earlier this year, classified the department as an intelligence and security organisation, thereby shielding its records from public scrutiny under the RTI Act. Critics argued that the exemption undermined accountability and set a dangerous precedent for other state agencies.

Political reaction

CPI(M) leader K. Anbazhagan called the exemption "an affront to democratic transparency" and urged the chief minister to reverse the decision immediately. Several opposition legislators echoed the sentiment, demanding that the department remain subject to RTI provisions.

Minister's statement

Public (Law and Order) Minister R. Mani assured that the withdrawal would not impede "freedom of expression," but he warned that certain operational limits would remain. "There will be no obstacle to free speech, but the department must protect sensitive security information," the minister said.

Implications

The reversal restores the department's liability to RTI requests, allowing journalists and citizens to seek information on internal procedures, staffing and resource allocation. Legal experts note that the move aligns the department with the broader framework of transparency that the Supreme Court has upheld in similar cases.

Opposition leaders hailed the decision as a victory for civil society, while the minister emphasized that the government would continue to balance openness with legitimate security concerns. The state government has not indicated any further policy changes regarding other agencies that might seek similar exemptions.

Observers will watch how the department implements the new compliance requirements and whether any pending RTI applications will be processed promptly.