The response given by the Finance Ministry on an RBI report about the introduction of Sharia banking in India cannot be disclosed, the central bank has said. The RBI was asked to give the copy of the letter sent to it by the ministry on the recommendation of its Inter Departmental Group (IDG) regarding Islamic banking. The central bank had sought response from the Department of Financial Services (DFS) under the finance minister whether their letter can be disclosed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. “In this regard we have been advised by the DFS, Government of India that the letter is exempt under Section 8 (1) (c),” the RBI said in response to an RTI application filed by PTI. The Section bars disclosure of information ‘which would cause a breach of privilege of Parliament or the state legislature’.
