Should the investigation report on home loan sanctioned by the bank be provided under RTI?
1 Mar, 2013Background
The appellant filed an application under the Right to Information (RTI) Act with the Central Bank of India seeking information regarding an investigation report on alleged irregularities on home loan sanctions. The Public Information Officer (PIO) provided some information.
Proceedings
During the hearing before the Central Information Commission (CIC), the respondent stated that the housing loans have been given not by the Central Bank of India but by a subsidiary of the bank which is the Cent Bank Home Finance Limited. Hence, the RTI application should be sent to the organization which has given the housing loans. The appellant stated that a major fraud has been committed because loans were given to nonexistent borrowers and this came to light when he was approached by the Cent Bank Home Finance Limited officials to vacate the premises where he was residing. The appellant said that had taken the loan for his home from another bank and he was surprised to be approached by Cent Bank Home Finance Limited officials. The appellant alleged that the Cent Bank Home Finance Limited had given a loan for the same house and thus he had filed a complaint in a court of law. He also stated that he needed a copy of the enquiry report to prove the fraud.
View of CIC
The Commission directed the PIO to provide the copy of the enquiry report to the appellant.
Comments
Ordinarily, the information related to the bank accounts holders or borrowers is not liable to be provided as it is personal information which may have commercial significance and is held by the bank in fiduciary capacity.
Citation: Mr. Anil Deshmukh v. Central Bank of India in Decision No. CIC/SM/A/2011/002660/VS/02153
RTI Citation : RTIFI/2013/CIC/1086
Click here to view original RTI order of Court / Information Commission