Himachal exempts State Vigilance, ACB from ambit of RTI Act.

Tribune India: Shimla: Friday, March 13, 2026.

State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau will no longer be required to share information sought through Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005.

In an interesting move, the Himachal Pradesh government on Thursday excluded the State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (SV & ACB) from the ambit of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005.

As a result, the bureau will no longer be required to share information sought through the act.

Significantly, the bureau is headed by Ashok Tewari, who is also the officiating Director General of Police (DGP).

An official notification regarding this has been issued by the Chief Secretary, Sanjay Gupta.

The notification reads, “In exercise of the power conferred under section 24 (4) of the RTI Act, the Governor, Himachal Pradesh, is pleased to exclude the SV & ACB from the ambit of the RTI Act.”

In an interesting move, the Himachal Pradesh government on Thursday excluded the State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (SV & ACB) from the ambit of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005.

As a result, the bureau will no longer be required to share information sought through the act.

Significantly, the bureau is headed by Ashok Tewari, who is also the officiating Director General of Police (DGP).

An official notification regarding this has been issued by the Chief Secretary, Sanjay Gupta.

The notification reads, “In exercise of the power conferred under section 24 (4) of the RTI Act, the Governor, Himachal Pradesh, is pleased to exclude the SV & ACB from the ambit of the RTI Act.”

Section 24 (4) of the RTI Act exempts the intelligence and security organisation established by the state government from the purview of the act.

However, the government should specify via a notification that information about the allegations of corruption and human rights violations shall not be excluded. Also, information should be provided within 45 days from the date of receipt of the request in the case of information sought that is in respect of allegations of violation of human rights. The information should only be provided after the approval of the State Information Commission.