The efforts of social activist Anjali Bhardwaj to bring into the public domain the SOP used by the State Bank of India concerning the electoral bonds have been thwarted once again by the Bank. The first appellate authority (FAA) of SBI under RTI refused to entertain her appeal.
On March 30, Ms. Bhardwaj was denied the information she sought through an RTI application dated March 4. She had requested a copy of the Standard Operating Procedure ( SOP) that SBI internally circulated to all its branches to follow for the sale and redemption of electoral bonds.
The key words in the denial to furnish details by the SBI and upheld by its appellate authority are “commercial confidence” and “intellectual property of the bank”. The bank said the guidelines were strictly meant for the staff. The Bank took refuge in Section 8(1)(d) of the RTI Act.
Ms. Anjali Bhardwaj has expressed her intention to appeal to the Central Information Commission (CIC) against the denial. She maintains that there is lack of clarity and transparency in theway the government bank maintained the electoral bonds data. She said it is important for the nation to know the mechanism of tracking of the bonds with the unique number.
On February 15, the five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme court, struck down the Centre’s electoral bond scheme unanimously. Pointing out the anonymous feature of the scheme, the apex court termed the electoral bonds “unconstitutional” and violative of the “right to information of voters”
“SBI continues to withhold crucial information,” Anjali Bhardwaj said. “The FAA has not weighed public interest in the matter” she added.
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