(a) whether the Government is aware of the news item captioned `banks
taking a tough stand on right to information law` appearing in Economic
Times dated the October 24th, 2005 ;
(b) if so, the details of the facts reported therein ;
(c) whether the Government proposes to amend the Act to protect banks
from banking secrecy & client confidentiality ;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) if not, the reasons therefor ?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI S.S.PALANIMANICKAM)
(a)&(b) : Yes, Sir. The Government has seenjthe News Item captioned `banks
taking a tough stand on right to information law` which appeared in Economic
Times dated 24th October, 2005. The news item, inter alia, states that banks
would not be sharing information with just anybody. The person seeking
information would have to establish the purpose. The news item also states
that banks will resist providing information if such information violates the
age-old practice of banking secrecy and client confidentiality ;
(c) (d) 8s (e) : Keeping in view the fact that the `Right to Information Law` has
come into force only recently, it would be pre-mature to consider amending the
Act as of now to protect the banks from banking secrecy and client,confidentiality.