के (cid:574)ीय सूचना आयोग Central Information Commission बाबा गंगनाथ माग१,मुिनरका

Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka नई िद(cid:671)ी, New Delhi – 110067 ि(cid:554)तीय अपील संূा / Second Appeal No. CIC/SBIND/A/2024/634815 Anjali Bhardwaj … अपीलकता१/Appellant VERSUS बनाम CPIO:

State Bank of India, …ঋितवादीगण/Respondents Mumbai Relevant dates emerging from the appeal:

RTI : 04.03.2024 FA : 25.04.2024 SA : 12.08.2024 CPIO : 30.03.2024 FAO : 17.05.2024 Hearing : 27.10.2025 Date of Interim Order:30.10.2025 CORAM:

Hon’ble Commissioner _ANANDI RAMALINGAM O R D E R

1. The Appellant filed an RTI application dated 04.03.2024 seeking information on the following points:

(i) Please provide a copy of all the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) issued by SBI to authorised branches with regard to Sale and Redemption of Electoral Bonds since April 2017 till date.

2. The CPIO replied vide letter dated 30.03.2024 and the same is reproduced as under:-

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) of Electoral Bond Scheme- 2018 issued to Authorised Branches from time to time are internal guidelines with regard to Sale and Redemption of Electoral Bonds (meant for internal circulation only), which is exempted under Section 8(1)(d) of the Right to Information Act, 2005.

3. Dissatisfied with the response received from the CPIO, the Appellant filed a First Appeal dated 25.04.2024 alleging that the information provided was incomplete, false and misleading. The FAA vide order dated 17.05.2024 upheld the reply given by the CPIO adding that the SOP was also an intellectual property of the Bank.

4. Aggrieved with the FAA’s order, the Appellant approached the Commission with the instant Second Appeal dated 12.08.2024.

5. The appellant appeared in person and on behalf of the respondent Mr. Kabula, DGM attended the hearing through video/audio conference.

6. The appellant inter alia submitted that she sought copy of all the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) issued by the respondent bank to authorized branches with regard to Sale and Redemption of Electoral Bonds since April 2017 till date and the same were denied U/s 8(1)(d) of the RTI Act. The appellant further submitted the reasoning given by the respondent, that the sought SOP is meant for internal circulation, cannot be ground to deny the information. Also, the exemption claimed by the respondent exempts information involving commercial confidence which would harm competitive position of the third- party and in view of the fact that the Electoral Bonds Scheme has been struck down by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, the said exemption is not relevant.

7. The respondent while defending their case inter alia submitted that the sought SOP is meant for internal circulation only and hence denied U/s 8(1)(d) of the RTI Act. Written submission dated 15.10.2025 filed by the respondent is taken on record. When queried by the Commission on the details containing commercially sensitive information and what has been considered as intellectual property, the respondent failed to give any submissions.

Since the respondent could not assist the bench, the Commission directs the respondent to send the sought SOP from April, 2017 with all relevant updates till the date of filing the RTI Application in a sealed cover letter directly addressed to the Central Information Commissioner Ms. Anandi Ramalingam for the Commission’s perusal to adjudicate on the instant appeal within 15 days of receipt of this order. Accordingly, the appeal is reserved for further orders.

Copy of the decision be provided free of cost to the parties.

Sd/-

(Anandi Ramalingam) (आनंदी रामिलंगम Information Commissioner (सूचना आयु(cid:389))

िदनांक/Date: 30.10.2025 Authenticated true copy O. P. Pokhriyal (ओ.पी. पोखौरयाल)

Dy. Registrar (उप पंजीयक)

011-26180514 Addresses of the parties:

1. The CPIO, Deputy General Manager, TB-CCG/PD, State Bank of India, Transaction Banking - Marketing, Corporate Centre, Mafatlal Centre, 2nd Floor, Nariman Point, Mumbai – 400021

2. Anjali Bhardwaj Recomendat