Government revokes law-and-order notification within hours after criticism
Section 24(4)
Tamil Nadu state government withdraws its RTI order.
The announcement has been made within hours of making the notification.
The notification pertained to the Public (Law and Order) Department.
According to the notification, this department was treated as an intelligence agency.
Section 24(4) of RTI Act was used for justification.
Under the order, access to many records would be denied.
Such records included reports on police firings and deaths in custody.
Also, the records include torture by the police and protest issues.
Student and farmer protests are some of the issues covered.
Political parties and civil society have opposed the decision.
A CPM MP Su Venkatesan asked the withdrawal of the order.
Karti Chidambaram from Congress is against this order.
RTI should increase public accountability, according to him.
With the withdrawal of the order, people can now ask for information.
Department remains in the purview of RTI Act.
Nevertheless, exemptions under RTI Act remain applicable.
