Himachal Pradesh excludes ACB, vigilance bureau from RTI purview

The Congress government in Himachal Pradesh has excluded the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and the Vigilance Bureau from the ambit of the RTI Act, 2005, drawing criticism from the opposition BJP.

An order issued on Thursday said the move was aimed at safeguarding sensitive information during investigations. State chief secretary Sanjay Gupta said the decision was similar to exemptions granted to central agencies such as the CBI and the Intelligence Bureau under the RTI framework.

With the order, citizens will not be able to seek information on the ACB and the state Vigilance Bureau through RTI applications, except for limited disclosures in specific cases.


The BJP criticised the decision. "It is extremely unfortunate, undemocratic and against the basic spirit of the Constitution. It clearly shows that the chief minister fears transparency and is attempting to hide growing corruption in the state," former chief minister Jairam Thakur told ET.

"Congress leaders roam around the country with a copy of the Constitution. But when they come to power they themselves disregard constitutional norms and public accountability," he added.