(PTI)
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has refused to share details of a decision to put the logo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pet project ‘clean India mission’ on the new Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 currency notes, citing security concerns among other reasons.
Replying to an RTI query, the central bank also did not give a copy of the guidelines on printing of advertisement — including promotion of central government-run initiatives — on the notes.
“The information on form, material, design and security features of bank notes, other than available in public domain, is exempt from disclosure in terms of Section 8 (1) (a) of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005,” the RBI said in response to the RTI application filed by a PTI correspondent.
The Section bars “information, disclosure of which would prejudicially affect the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security, strategic, scientific or economic interests of the state, relation with foreign State or lead to incitement of an offence”.
The central bank was asked to give a copy of the order, communication, letter or note sheet in which a decision regarding printing of Swachh Bharat or clean India mission’s logo (spectacle frame) and message of ‘Ek Kadam Swachhata Ki Aur’ (a step towards cleanliness) on Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 currency notes was taken.
