Stories
Tamil Nadu Exempts Law & Order Department from RTI Act, Sparks Transparency Debate
N
News18•27-09-2026, 14:39
Tamil Nadu Exempts Law & Order Department from RTI Act, Sparks Transparency Debate
- •Tamil Nadu government has exempted its Public (Law & Order) Department from the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
- •The order, issued on September 27, 2026, invokes Section 24(4) of the RTI Act.
- •The department is now treated as an intelligence and security organisation, as notified through the Government Gazette.
- •This move has ignited a fresh debate regarding transparency and access to government information.
- •The Public (Law & Order) Department handles sensitive matters including communal clashes, custodial deaths, and security issues.
Key Questions Answered
The Tamil Nadu government invoked Section 24(4) of the RTI Act to exempt the Public (Law & Order) Department from its ambit by treating it as an intelligence and security organisation.
The department handles sensitive matters including communal and caste clashes, law-and-order reviews, preventive detention matters, police firing inquiries, custodial death-related reports, agitations, and security issues.
No, following widespread criticism and opposition from various political parties, the Tamil Nadu government subsequently announced the cancellation of the order that restricted obtaining law and order information through the RTI.
