Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 27 (PTI) Keralam Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala on Tuesday said the exemption granted to two sections of the VACB from the RTI Act would not be used to deny information relating to corruption and human rights violations, but maintained that such details should be disclosed only after investigations are completed.
Replying to a question by CPI MLA K K Valsaraj in the Assembly, Chennithala said the government had no intention of weakening the RTI Act and that it aimed to ensure transparency without affecting the effectiveness of investigations. “The most important point is that we have no intention whatsoever of weakening the Right to Information Act,” he said. Responding to the concern, Chennithala said the government was prepared to provide such information but only after the investigation was completed. The minister said disclosing confidential details while an investigation was under way could benefit the accused and affect the collection of evidence. Information provided by informants and other sensitive details needed to be protected during the investigation, he said. Chennithala said the government had acted on a recommendation made by the Director of Vigilance during the previous government’s tenure. The minister said the exemption applied to a limited number of cases involving highly confidential matters. The minister also said several central agencies, including the Intelligence Bureau and the CBI, were exempt from the RTI Act.
