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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Navdeep Singh's silver upgraded to gold in men's javelin throw F41 at Paralympics
Paris, Sep 7: India's Navdeep Singh's silver medal was upgraded to gold after Iran's Beit Sayah Sadegh was disqualified following a dramatic men's javelin throw F41 final at the Paris Paralympics on Saturday.
This is India's first-ever gold medal in the men's javelin F41 category.
Starting the competition with a foul, the 23-year-old para-athlete from Haryana, who had finished fourth at the Tokyo Games three years ago, came up with a throw of 46.39 metres in his second attempt, propelling him to the second place. But it was his third throw that electrified the stadium.
With a monstrous throw of 47.32 metres, Navdeep shattered the Paralympic record and surged into lead, only for Sadegh to better the Indian's mark and clinch the gold with a record-breaking effort of 47.64 metres in his fifth attempt.
However, the Iranian was disqualified some time after the end of the final, leading to the Indian athlete taking the top spot.
The F41 category is for athletes, who are of short stature.
