CIC issues notice to RBI governor
The Central Information Commission (CIC) has issued a show-cause notice to Reserve Bank of India governor Urjit Patel for “dishonouring” a Supreme Court judgment on disclosure of the wilful defaulters’ list. The CIC has also asked the PMO, the finance ministry and the RBI to make public the letter of former Reserve Bank governor Raghuram Rajan on the issue of bad loans.
Irked over the denial of information on disclosure of names of wilful defaulters who have taken bank loans of ~50 crore and above by the RBI in spite of a Supreme Court order, the CIC has asked Patel to explain why a maximum penalty should not be imposed on him for “dishonouring” the court verdict.
The court had earlier upheld a decision taken by then information commissioner Shailesh Gandhi, calling for disclosure of names of wilful defaulters.
Patel, speaking at the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) on September 20, had said the guidelines on vigilance, issued by the CVC, were aimed at achieving greater transparency, promoting a culture of honesty and probity in public life, and improving the overall vigilance administration in the organisations within its purview, the CIC pointed out.
“The commission feels that there is no match between what RBI governor and deputy governor say and their website regarding their RTI policy, and a great secrecy of vigilance reports and inspection reports is being maintained with impunity, in spite of the Supreme Court confirming the orders of the CIC in the Jayantilal case,” information commissioner Sridhar Acharyulu said. He concluded that it would not serve any purpose to punish the central public information officer (CPIO) for this defiance, because he acted under the instructions of the top authorities.
“The commission considers the governor as the deemed PIO responsible for non-disclosure and defiance of Supreme Court orders and CIC orders, and directs him to show cause why a maximum penalty should not be imposed on him for these reasons,before November 16,” Acharyulu said.