SC directs RBI to disclose bank inspection reports under RTI
New Delhi, : The Supreme Court on Friday granted another opportunity to Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to comply with its order to disclose the inspection reports of banks under the Right To Information (RTI) Act.
A bench, headed by Justice L Nageswara Rao, directed the central bank to review its policy to disclose information relating to banks under the RTI, saying “it is duty bound under the law”.
“We warn RBI, that any further violations of apex court’s order will result in serious contempt of court proceedings,” the bench said.
The court was hearing contempt petitions of RTI activists — Girish and Subhash — who had moved the top court for contempt action against the RBI, as it was not complying with the court’s direction to disclose information under the RTI Act.
The Supreme Court had said the RBI’s non-disclosure policy was violation of its judgment in 2015.
In December 2015, the petitioner under the RTI Act had sought certain information which included copies of inspection reports of ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, HDFC Bank and State Bank of India from April 2011 till date.
In March this year, the apex court had reserved its order for April 26.
(UNI)