Published Sep 27, 2026 | 3:03 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 27, 2026 | 3:06 PM
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay.
Amid political backlash, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)-led government in Tamil Nadu on Sunday, September 27, withdrew its controversial order exempting the Public (Law and Order) Department from the purview of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005.
According to the order, issued on September 21, under Section 24(4) of the RTI Act, 2005, the Public (Law and Order) Department was declared an “Intelligence and Security Organisation” and thereby exempted from the RTI Act, subject to exceptions.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (4) of section 24 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 (Central Act 22 of 2005), the Governor of Tamil Nadu hereby specifies the Public (Law and Order) Department being an Intelligence and Security Organization established by the Government of Tamil Nadu for which the said Act shall not apply,” the order said.
The Public (Law and Order) Department deals with sensitive matters such as communal and caste clashes, political agitations and preventive detention cases under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act (COFEPOSA) and the National Security Act (NSA). It deals with representations and habeas corpus petitions filed by the detenus or on their behalf in the High Court and Supreme Court. It also examines enquiry reports into police firing incidents, custodial deaths, custodial torture and deaths of remand prisoners.
Reacting to the revocation of the order, Congress MP Karti P. Chidambaram wrote on X, “Glad this has been revoked. My unsolicited & friendly advice to the @TVKVijayHQ Government & @CMOTamilnadu don’t let bureaucrats set the tone, tenor & direction of the administration.”
Glad this has been revoked. My unsolicited & friendly advice to the @TVKVijayHQ Government & @CMOTamilnadu don’t let bureaucrats set the tone, tenor & direction of the administration. https://t.co/LbMgZvSdVy
— Karti P Chidambaram (@KartiPC) September 27, 2026
Chidambaram was one of the political leaders who sharply reacted to the government’s decision, stressing that it “does not set a good precedent.”
“The Law and Order Department handles crucial matters such as examining inquiry reports on police firing, custodial deaths, torture, and deaths of remand prisoners, security-related detention cases, communal and caste clash reports, requests for withdrawal of politically sensitive cases and matters relating to sanction of prosecution for defamatory articles, news items, and speeches. This crucial information is now being shielded from the public,” he wrote in an earlier post on X.
“Such rollbacks are not in line with transparent governance. RTI must be expanded, not restricted,” he added.
CPI(M) MP Su. Venkatesan also criticised the move, describing it as part of an “overt attempt to turn Tamil Nadu into a police state” and called for its immediate withdrawal.
“Government officials are ordering surveillance of leftist organizations. Custodial deaths are occurring. The education department has been ordered to suppress student protests. The police are entering college campuses and arresting students. Struggles for legitimate rights are being suppressed through violence. In this context, exempting law and order matters from the Right to Information Act is deserving of severe condemnation,” he wrote in a post on X.
Meanwhile, Electricity and Law Minister CTR Nirmal Kumar had earlier said that the decision would be withdrawn if the public is not happy with it.
“If the general public expresses discomfort, we will take it to the Chief Minister for further action,” Kumar said, reported NDTV.
(Edited by Fayisa CA)
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