TN Govt U-Turns on RTI Exemption After Public Outcry! 🤯

Chennai witnessed a swift and dramatic reversal as the Tamil Nadu government withdrew its controversial order attempting to exempt the Public (Law and Order) Department from the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005. The move came after significant protests from political parties, allies, and transparency activists, highlighting the continuous struggle for openness in governance.

The initial Government Order (G.O.), issued on September 21, sought to classify the department as an “intelligence and security organisation” under Section 24 (4) of the RTI Act, which would effectively shield it from public scrutiny. Alarmingly, the G.O. began impacting RTI applicants as early as September 22, with authorities citing it to deny information, even before the order publicly surfaced on September 27.

This quick implementation, before public knowledge, raised serious questions about the government's commitment to transparency. State Law Minister C.T.R. Nirmalkumar initially defended the unilateral decision, claiming it was not a sweeping exemption but aimed at preventing the sharing of sensitive information related to district-level inquiries into incidents like communal clashes.

However, facing mounting pressure and a political storm, the government swiftly announced the G.O.'s withdrawal, though without offering a detailed explanation for the sudden change of heart. While the rollback is a welcome development, the incident has once again brought to light a prevalent issue: the political class's tendency to maintain secrecy in administrative affairs. Critics pointed out that Chief Minister C.

Joseph Vijay, who had promised a fresh approach, should have been more mindful of the implications.

The existing RTI Act already contains extensive provisions under Section 8 to exempt information that could harm national security or public order, making this new G.O. seem redundant and ill-intended. Moreover, the episode underscores broader challenges to transparency.

Information officers often delay responses or deny requests citing vague reasons. There are also growing concerns that the Digital Personal Data Protection Act could further dilute the power of the RTI Act.

Adding to these woes, the Satark Nagrik Sangathan's 2024-25 report revealed that the Tamil Nadu State Information Commission (TNSIC) has a backlog of over 41,000 appeals and complaints as of last June, while operating with only half of its sanctioned Information Commissioners and lacking a Chief Information Commissioner. Instead of creating hurdles for citizens seeking information, the Tamil Nadu government would serve its people better by strengthening the TNSIC and ensuring its efficient functioning.

True change, as many argue, comes from an administration that embraces, rather than fears, transparency.

#RTIAct #TamilNaduPolitics #TransparencyMatters #RTIrollback