Date:27/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/27/stories/2008092759730800.htm

Tamil Nadu

Exclusion of DVAC from RTI Act flayed

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu Coalition against Corruption has criticised the government’s move to exclude the State Vigilance Commission and the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption from the purview of the Right to Information Act.

In a release on Friday, the coalition, whose partners include Transparency International India – TN Chapter, said that exempting a key agency entrusted with fighting corruption was “tantamount to retreating behind closed doors and reverting to secret decision making.” The release calls into question the August 26 order of the government, which invoked Section 24 of the RTI Act, and stated that a need was felt to remove the organisations from the Act’s purview to prevent the possibility of prejudicing the investigation of corruption cases.