Vijay govt revokes RTI exemption for law and order department after backlash

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay’s government on Sunday revoked its order exempting the Public (Law and Order) Department from the Right to Information (RTI) Act, hours after the move triggered criticism from the Opposition and CPM, an ally of the ruling TVK.The Human Resources Management Department issued a fresh order, saying the exemption measure issued on September 21 under Section 24(4) of the RTI Act, “stood revoked”.

The earlier order had classified the Public (Law and Order) Department as an intelligence and security organisation, bringing it under the RTI exemption.The department handles matters including communal and caste clashes, political agitations, preventive detention, custodial deaths and allegations of police torture. Under Section 24 of the RTI Act, intelligence and security organisations specified by the government can be exempted from the law, subject to limited exceptions, including information relating to corruption and human rights violations.Education Minister Raj Mohan said he would study the matter and assured that there would be no hurdle to freedom of expression, while stressing that a 'Lakshman Rekha' (red line) also had to be considered."

Let me study it (the amendment) and there will not be any hurdle to freedom of expression. The 'Lakshman Rekha' of freedom of expression must also be considered. For one party’s sake, data should not be deliberately manipulated," Mohan said.CPM, DMK SLAM TVK OVER RTI EXEMPTION MOVEThe now-revoked RTI exemption drew stinging responses from the Opposition, with CPI(M) MP S Venkatesan alleging that it would shield law-and-order matters from public scrutiny, while DMK spokesperson Saravanan accused the government of seeking to prevent disclosure of crime figures."

The Right to Information Act exempts only public sector law and order matters from its purview. Government officials are ordering surveillance of leftist organisations. Custodial deaths are occurring. The education department has been ordered to suppress student protests," Venkatesan tweeted." 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. This is an overt attempt to turn Tamil Nadu into a 'police state'. The government must immediately withdraw this order," he said.Saravanan alleged that the move was aimed at preventing scrutiny of crime figures in the state." The only reason this draconian amendment in the RTI has come is to ensure that we do not ask for the number of crimes that have taken place in Tamil Nadu.

As the LOP @Udhaystalin says, 500 murders have so far taken place after TVK assumed office," he said.To prevent the actual numbers coming out, this amendment bars law and order from the purview of RTI. We will fight this," he added.Following Sunday's notification, the September 21 order has been withdrawn and the RTI exemption for the Public (Law and Order) Department no longer applies.- Ends