Times of India: Thiruvananthapuram: Wednesday, 28 October
2026.
The exemption granted to two confidential units of the vigilance and anti-corruption bureau (VACB) from the purview of Right to Information (RTI) Act will not be used to conceal information relating to corruption cases or human rights violations, home minister Ramesh Chennithala told the assembly.
Such information would be
disclosed only after the completion of investigations, he said. Replying to a
question by CPI MLA K K Valsaraj, the minister said govt had no intention of
weakening the RTI Act. The objective was to ensure transparency while enabling
investigations to be conducted effectively, he added.
Chennithala pointed out that the disclosure of confidential information during an ongoing investigation could benefit the accused and adversely affect evidence collection. Information provided by informants and other crucial details relating to investigations needed to be kept confidential. Disclosure would be permitted only to the extent that it did not prejudice an investigation, he said.
The minister said the exemption had been granted based on a recommendation made by the vigilance director during the previous govt’s tenure. It would apply only to a limited category of cases involving highly confidential matters, he added.
Govt issued a notification exempting the T1 and T2 units of the VACB from the purview of the RTI Act. The order, published on Oct 22, was issued under Section 24(4) of the Act, which empowers state govts to exempt specified intelligence and security organisations from its provisions.
The two units primarily handle confidential reports relating to senior vigilance officials, annual confidential reports of officers, high-level vigilance inspections, intelligence inputs and information concerning informants.
The minister also pointed out that several central agencies, including Intelligence Bureau and CBI, were exempted from the RTI Act.
Govt’s decision to exempt the confidential vigilance units had earlier drawn criticism, with allegations that the move was intended to prevent information about political leaders and senior officials facing corruption charges from becoming public.
The exemption granted to two confidential units of the vigilance and anti-corruption bureau (VACB) from the purview of Right to Information (RTI) Act will not be used to conceal information relating to corruption cases or human rights violations, home minister Ramesh Chennithala told the assembly.
Chennithala pointed out that the disclosure of confidential information during an ongoing investigation could benefit the accused and adversely affect evidence collection. Information provided by informants and other crucial details relating to investigations needed to be kept confidential. Disclosure would be permitted only to the extent that it did not prejudice an investigation, he said.
The minister said the exemption had been granted based on a recommendation made by the vigilance director during the previous govt’s tenure. It would apply only to a limited category of cases involving highly confidential matters, he added.
Govt issued a notification exempting the T1 and T2 units of the VACB from the purview of the RTI Act. The order, published on Oct 22, was issued under Section 24(4) of the Act, which empowers state govts to exempt specified intelligence and security organisations from its provisions.
The two units primarily handle confidential reports relating to senior vigilance officials, annual confidential reports of officers, high-level vigilance inspections, intelligence inputs and information concerning informants.
The minister also pointed out that several central agencies, including Intelligence Bureau and CBI, were exempted from the RTI Act.
Govt’s decision to exempt the confidential vigilance units had earlier drawn criticism, with allegations that the move was intended to prevent information about political leaders and senior officials facing corruption charges from becoming public.
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