SBI denies RTI activist information on guidelines issued to its branches on electoral bonds
New Delhi: The State Bank of India (SBI) has refused to provide Right To Information (RTI) Act activist Anjali Bhardwaj information on its Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for sale and redemption of electoral bonds under the government scheme.
While activist Anjali Bhardwaj had sought to know the SOPs issued by the bank authorities to the branches, SBI Deputy General Manager M Kanna Babu pointed out on behalf of the bank that the SOPs were internal guidelines of the bank. Information about them did not fall under the purview of Section 8(1)(d) of the RTI Act, which relates to "information including commercial confidence, trade secrets or intellectual property, the disclosure of which would harm the competitive position of a third party, unless the competent authority is satisfied that larger public interest warrants the disclosure of such information," he has added, reports NDTV.
Bhardwaj countered the statement by accusing the SBI of evoking the exemption clause without clearing explaining how the disclosure of the SOPs would harm the competitive position of a third party, as given in the clause. She has also stated that she would counter the denial by the SBI in court.
The SBI has refused to divulge information on the SOPs to the RTI activist only a few weeks after it was severely criticized by the Supreme Court for failing to provide complete information on the electoral bonds.
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Bengaluru: Tension at railway station over consignment of meat
Bengaluru, Jul 26: Tension prevailed at the Bengaluru City Railway Station when a consignment of meat weighing about three tonnes loaded in about 150 cartons reached here from Jaipur in a train on Friday night, railway sources said.
Puneeth Kerehalli, a cow vigilante, earlier jailed on murder charge, claimed it was dog meat. However, meat dealer Abdul Razzaq, who had ordered the meat, dismissed the charge.
The consignment was ordered legally and it is not dog meat but sheep meat, he said.
"We have legal documents to prove it. One can see the tail of the animal that was slaughtered. It's sheep and not dog," the meat trader said.
He alleged that Kerehalli wanted to make money by levelling false accusation.
Due to the commotion, a large number of people gathered there, and seeing the situation, police have been deployed.
