TN Rolls Back RTI Exemption After Public & Political Outcry!
TN Rolls Back RTI Exemption After Public & Political Outcry!
Big win for transparency! Tamil Nadu's TVK government rescinds controversial RTI exemption for Public (L&O) Dept. after strong opposition & ally pressure. What does this mean for public access to info?
Tamil Nadu's Vijay-led TVK government has reversed a controversial decision to exempt its Public (Law and Order) Department from the Right to Information (RTI) Act. The order, which temporarily classified the department as an Intelligence and Security Organisation, was initially issued on September 21 but was withdrawn just six days later.
The swift rollback came after a wave of criticism from various political fronts, including opposition parties and even the TVK's own ally, the Congress. Congress MP Karti Chidambaram was vocal in his opposition, arguing that such a move could severely limit public access to crucial information and called for stronger RTI provisions to ensure accountability.
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) also joined the chorus of critics, accusing the government of attempting to restrict transparency.
The government had initially defended its decision to grant the exemption, suggesting it was necessary for operational reasons.
However, the intense public and political pressure seemingly led to a change of heart.
Interestingly, the government has not yet provided a public explanation for why the order was ultimately withdrawn, leaving many to speculate about the motivations behind both the initial exemption and its subsequent repeal.
This episode highlights the ongoing battle for transparency and public accountability within governance.
