📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Ministry of Home Affairs
Politics
Kerala government shields two vigilance divisions from RTI, minister defends decision
✍️ India Today
🗓 25 Oct 2026, 06:04 PM
👁 17
The Kerala cabinet has excluded two vigilance sections from the Right to Information Act, sparking criticism, while the state’s vigilance minister argues the move is necessary for effective investigations.
In a recent order, the Kerala government announced that two sections of the state vigilance department will be exempted from the Right to Information (RTI) Act. The exemption means that requests for information pertaining to those sections cannot be filed under the transparency law.
The decision has triggered a sharp row in the state legislature and among civil‑society groups, who argue that shielding any part of the bureaucracy undermines the spirit of the RTI Act and reduces public accountability. Opposition parties have demanded a reversal, warning that the move could conceal irregularities.
Vigilance Minister P. Rajeev, who defended the policy, said the exemption is intended to protect the integrity of ongoing investigations and prevent the leakage of sensitive details that could compromise cases. He maintained that the measure is temporary and limited to specific functions that require confidentiality.
Legal experts note that while state governments can frame exemptions, they must align with the Supreme Court’s interpretations of the RTI Act. The controversy may lead to petitions in the Kerala High Court, testing the balance between transparency and investigative secrecy.
The decision has triggered a sharp row in the state legislature and among civil‑society groups, who argue that shielding any part of the bureaucracy undermines the spirit of the RTI Act and reduces public accountability. Opposition parties have demanded a reversal, warning that the move could conceal irregularities.
Vigilance Minister P. Rajeev, who defended the policy, said the exemption is intended to protect the integrity of ongoing investigations and prevent the leakage of sensitive details that could compromise cases. He maintained that the measure is temporary and limited to specific functions that require confidentiality.
Legal experts note that while state governments can frame exemptions, they must align with the Supreme Court’s interpretations of the RTI Act. The controversy may lead to petitions in the Kerala High Court, testing the balance between transparency and investigative secrecy.