Tamil Nadu government cancels order removing Law and Order department from RTI Act

UPDATE - follow-up to After backlash, Vijay government withdraws Law and Order department's RTI exemption: The C Joseph Vijay-led Tamil Nadu government has revoked its own order that kept the Public (Law and Order) Department outside the Right to Information Act. The government dropped the move on Sunday after facing strong criticism from allies and transparency activists over the decision, which had been issued under GO Ms.No.57 of the Human Resources Management Department. The original order had classified the wing as an intelligence and security organisation under Section 24 of the Act. Leaders including CPI(M) MP Su Venkatesan and VCK president Thol Thirumavalavan had publicly opposed the move, calling it shocking and warning it could suppress human rights. Anti-corruption group Arappor Iyakkam and a retired Director General of Police also condemned the exemption, noting that the wing handles sensitive matters such as police conduct, custodial deaths, caste clashes, and human rights complaints. This reversal follows a pattern where the TVK government reviews contentious decisions after gauging public reaction.