In harsh words, the CIC asked the RBI governor why he shouldn’t be facing the maximum penalty for “dishonouring” the SC verdict.
New Delhi| The RBI vs Govt cold war has not yet subsided while another blow has hit the institutions. The Central Information Commission has served a show-cause notice to the RBI Governor Urjit Patel in connection with the Supreme Court judgement on “wilful defaulters”. CIC, which works as a Right to Information body has sent the notice to Patel for allegedly “dishonouring” the Apex Court judgement.
The Supreme Court had ordered the disclosure of the names of individuals who have been designated as “wilful defaulters”. However, the RBI had been denying to provide any information about the borrowers who have taken bank loans up to rupees 50 crores and above. In harsh words, the CIC asked the RBI governor why he shouldn’t be facing the maximum penalty for “dishonouring” the SC verdict. “CIC orders and directs him to show cause why the maximum penalty should not be imposed on him for these reasons, before November 16, 2018,” Acharyulu said.
The Chief Information Commissioner Sridhar Acharyulu in a scathing tone noted, “The Commission feels that there is no match between what RBI Governor and Deputy Governor say and their website regarding their RTI policy, and great secrecy of vigilance reports and inspection reports are being maintained with impunity in spite of the Supreme Court confirming the orders of the CIC…” He further added that Central Public Information Officer or CPIO cannot be held responsible for the denial to issue information as he only acted on the instructions from the top authorities. “The Commission considers the Governor as deemed PIO responsible for non-disclosure and defiance of SC orders,” said the notice.
However, RBI governor Urjit Patel is not the only one facing the wrath of CIC. The RTI watchdog has also sent a letter to Prime Minister’s Office, the Finance Ministry to make public the list of “wilful defaulters” prepared by former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan.
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