Tamil Nadu Government Revokes RTI Exemption for Law Department

The Government of Tamil Nadu revoked a controversial order on September 27, 2026, that had exempted the Public (Law and Order) Department from the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005. The original order, issued on September 21 by the Human Resources Management Department, used Section 24(4) of the Act to classify the department as an Intelligence and Security Organisation.

This classification would have shielded sensitive data from public disclosure, including reports on police custody deaths, torture, communal and caste clashes, and security-related detentions. The administration initially defended the move as a necessary measure to protect sensitive information, but reversed the decision hours after it became public on September 27.

The reversal followed immediate backlash from opposition leaders and political allies of Chief Minister Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam-led government. Congress MP Karti Chidambaram and VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan criticized the move as a threat to transparency and human rights. BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan also condemned the order as undemocratic, suggesting the government feared legal procedures and public scrutiny.

Minister for Energy Resources and Law C.T.R. Nirmal Kumar confirmed the withdrawal of the notification via social media. The incident sparked accusations from figures such as AMMK founder T.T.V. Dhinakaran, who claimed the government betrayed its promises of transparent governance.