SBI refuses to disclose SOP for sale, redemption of electoral bonds in RTI reply - OrissaPOST
The State Bank of India recently rejected a request to disclose its internal standard operating procedures for electoral bond transactions, citing a clause that protects commercial confidence from public disclosure. This refusal occurred despite the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling that struck down the entire electoral bonds scheme as unconstitutional. The bank’s stance highlights a significant disconnect between judicial mandates for transparency and institutional practices that prioritize operational secrecy over public accountability. The activist challenging this decision argued that these internal guidelines are crucial for understanding how information was stored and maintained during the scheme’s operation. Although the Supreme Court explicitly ordered the disclosure of donor details, amounts, and redemption data to the Election Commission, SBI’s continued non-compliance raises serious concerns about the implementation of the court’s order. The bank’s reliance on exemption clauses suggests an ongoing resistance to fully opening up the mechanisms that facilitated anonymous political funding. This article is highly relevant to open data because it illustrates the tension between existing legal frameworks for transparency and corporate or governmental entities’ reluctance to release operational data. It underscores the necessity of robust open data policies that prevent institutions from using vague exemptions to withhold information that serves the public interest. For open data advocates, this case emphasizes the need for clear, enforceable standards that ensure government-linked financial processes remain accessible, verifiable, and free from opaque commercial justifications.
Source: orissapost.comPublished on 2024-04-03
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