Supreme Court rules that private cooperative banks’ records under Registrar's control are subject to disclosure under RTI Act, reinforcing transparency.
SC Holds Private Co-op Bank Records Accessible Under RTI
The Supreme Court has ruled that records of private cooperative banks are accessible under the Right to Information Act, 2005, when they are under the control or supervision of the Registrar of Cooperative Societies.
The Court held that despite their private character, cooperative banks function as public authorities due to pervasive state regulation, statutory oversight, and public interest in financial transparency. Where the Registrar has statutory authority to inspect, direct, or supersede management, such entities fall within the ambit of Section 2(h) of the RTI Act.
The decision enhances accountability in the cooperative banking sector. Practitioners can now file RTI applications for audit reports, governance records, and inspection findings. Authorities withholding information on grounds of private ownership must justify refusal under specific exemptions.
Citations
- Right to Information Act, 2005, Section 2(h)
