On 21 September 2026, the Tamil Nadu Government issued GO Ms. No. 57, classifying the Public (Law and Order) Department as an “Intelligence and Security Organisation” under Section 24(4) of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005, thereby exempting it from RTI disclosures.
The Public (Law and Order) Department is not a typical intelligence agency. It deals with issues such as:
- Communal and caste-related clashes
- Political protests and agitations
- Preventive detentions under security laws
- Police firing incidents
- Custodial deaths and allegations of police torture
- References from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)
Critics feared that if the department was exempt from RTI, citizens, journalists, activists, and families affected by these incidents might find it much harder to obtain information and hold authorities accountable.
Political parties, civil society organisations, transparency advocates, and media groups criticised the order, stating that it could restrict public access to information on law-and-order and human rights issues, thereby reducing transparency and public oversight of government actions.
In response, the Government revoked the order on 27 September 2026, restoring the department’s coverage under the RTI Act. The reversal reaffirmed access to information, government accountability, and the role of public scrutiny in safeguarding transparency mechanisms. It constitutes a positive example of civic engagement influencing public policy, may encourage greater scrutiny of future attempts to expand RTI exemptions, and could strengthen public expectations regarding transparency and accountability in governance. While the immediate impact is confined to Tamil Nadu, the development may contribute to wider national discussions on the protection of information rights and open government.