Central Information Commission
Shashank Deo Sudhi vs Reserve Bank Of India on 16 May, 2024
के ीय सूचना आयोग
Central Information Commission
बाबा गंगनाथ माग ,मुिनरका
Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka
नई द ली, New Delhi - 110067
ि तीय अपील सं या / Second Appeal No. CIC/RBIND/A/2023/602809
Shashank Deo Sudhi ... अपीलकता /Appellant
VERSUS
बनाम
CPIO: RBI, Mumbai
... ितवादीगण/Respondent
Relevant dates emerging from the appeal:
RTI : 02.09.2022 FA : 19.10.2022 SA : 16.01.2023
CPIO : 07.10.2022 FAO : 22.12.2022 Hearing : 15.05.2024
Date of Decision: 16.05.2024
CORAM:
Hon'ble Commissioner
_ANANDI RAMALINGAM
ORDER
1. The Appellant filed an RTI application dated 02.09.2022 seeking information on the following points:
(i) "Please provide Private Bank wise information in respect of JAN-DHAN Accounts opened in the private Banks.
(ii) Please provide the Bank wise information about the total numbers of JAN-DHAN Accounts in Nationalized Bank across the country.Page 1 of 4
(iii) Please provide the Nationalized Bank wise information, that are having collaboration with the private players in Credit Card or Insurance Business, having the shareholding/equity with those private players.
(iv) Please provide the total number of complaints received in respect of transactional frauds through the online mode of transaction in last five years.
(v) Please provide the Bank wise Information about the total Non-Performing Assets (NPA) in its value in rupees various banking institution in last five years."
2. The CPIO replied vide letter dated 07.10.2022 and the same is reproduced as under:-
"Point (i), (ii) & (iii) - Information sought is not available with us.
Point (iv) - We do not have specific information regarding 'fraud through online mode of transaction' However, the number of complaints under the following categories received in the Offices of the RBI Ombudsmen for the period from April 01, 2017 till September 28, 2022 is 1,27,934.
a. unauthorized transactions through ATM/CDM/Debit Card / Credit Card / Mobile/Electronic Transactions (or) b. Debit in account without use or details of the card (or) c. Use of stolen or cloned cards.
The number of complaints under the following categories received in the Consumer Education and Protection Cells (CEPCs) of RBI from July 01, 2019 to September 28, 2022 under the following categories is 1484.
a. unauthorized transactions through ATM/CDM/Debit Card / Credit Card / Mobile/Electronic Transactions (or) b. Debit in account without use or details of the card (or) c. Use of stolen or cloned cards Page 2 of 4 Information for period prior to July 01, 2019 is not readily available in compiled form. The compilation of this information would disproportionately divert the resources of the Bank. Hence, exemption is sought in terms of Section 7(9) of the Right to Information Act, 2005.
Point (v) - Applicant may refer to data on 'Gross NPAs' of Scheduled Commercial Banks, which is available in public domain on our DBIE website (RBI's Data Warehouse). The path to access the reports is:
https://dbie.rbi.org.in/DBIE/dbie.rbi?site=home (Home > Statistics > Financial Sector > Banking Performance Indicators-> Variables to be published Bank and Bank Group wise (For Public Access) Select Bank Name/s, Period and Units (Multiple banks may be selected at a time) Asset Quality. Data is available till 31 December 2021."
3. Dissatisfied with the response received from the CPIO, the Appellant filed a First Appeal dated 19.10.2022. The FAA vide order dated 22.12.2022 upheld the reply given by the CPIO.
4. Aggrieved with the FAA's order, the Appellant approached the Commission with the instant Second Appeal dated 16.01.2023.
5. The Appellant was present during the hearing in person and on behalf of the Respondent, Mayank Meena, Manager & Rep. of CPIO along with Ayan Sharma, Legal Officer attended the hearing through video conference.
6. The Appellant reiterated the contents of the instant RTI Application and the FAA's order to allege that the FAA has not appreciated the fact that RBI is empowered to conduct inspection of banks and regulating and monitoring the banks under the Banking Regulation Act, 1949. He further harped at length that several Supreme Court judgments have emphasized on the right to access information of such nature and that he is merely asking the CPIO to provide such information that is readily available.
7. The Respondent reiterated the reply provided to the Appellant.
Page 3 of 48. The Commission after adverting to the facts and circumstances of the case, and perusal of records, observes that considering the nature of the information sought for by the Appellant i.e. being largely unspecific and conjecture based, the CPIO's reply warrants no intervention as the CPIO has provided factual replies as well as ample clarifications in keeping with the letter and spirit of the RTI Act.
9. Having observed as above, the Commission finds no scope of action in the matter.
10. The Appeal is disposed of accordingly.
Copy of the decision be provided free of cost to the parties.
Sd/-
आनंदी राम लंगम)
(Anandi Ramalingam) (आनं म
सूचना आयु )
Information Commissioner (सू
दनांक/Date: 16.05.2024
Authenticated true copy
Col S S Chhikara (Retd) (कन ल एस एस िछकारा, ( रटायड ) Dy. Registrar (उप पंजीयक) 011-26180514 Addresses of the parties:
1. The CPIO Reserve Bank of India, CPIO, Central Office, Department of Supervision, Centre -1, World Trade Centre, Mumbai- 400005
2. Shashank Keo Sudhi Page 4 of 4 Recomendation(s) to PA under section 25(5) of the RTI Act, 2005:-
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