All Vigilance Probes Not Exempt From RTI Act: CM

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:  Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has termed as baseless reports that the government was attempting to exempt vigilance inquiries against the Chief Ministers and other ministers from the purview of the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

On the contrary, the government has taken steps to prevent harassment of the public for raising complaints against people holding high offices, a release from the Chief Minister’s office said.

KPCC president V M Sudheeran and Opposition Leader V S Achuthanandan had expressed reservations over the government’s alleged move to exempt Vigilance Department from the purview of RTI Act.

With a lot of misinformation being spread about exemption from RTI Act, the cabinet will meet on Wednesday and discuss the matter, Chandy said.

The government decided to exempt the secret ‘T’ branch of the Vigilance Department from the purview of RTI in the wake of repeated demands from the Vigilance and Anti Corruption Bureau.

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