RBI denies action against Paytm Payments Bank over PIL allegation 

In response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) against Paytm Payments Bank Ltd postpaid service, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said that PIL could not be used as a weapon to challenge the financial decision taken by the central bank or the government.

RBI said that section 22 of the Banking Regulation Act empowers it to issue banking licence to a company to carry on banking business in India.

"These conditions along with the operating guidelines issued by the RBI, specify the broad contours within which a payments bank is required to operate, strictly adhering to the same," the central bank said in its response to the Delhi High Court.

It further sought actions against petitioner for misguiding the court.

"No action can be initiated solely on the baseless allegation of the petitioner. Hence, no relief should be granted to him," RBI added.

Paytm also opposed the allegation made in the PIL.

The postpaid facility is being provided by Clix Finance India, which is an NBFC and is in the business of providing loans or credit facility.

"On availing the Paytm postpaid facility, the disbursed amount is not credited to the customers' wallet or bank account, but it gets reflected in the loan

books of Clix as it is a facility being provided by Clix to its customers. This is explicitly clear that Paytm Payments Bank Ltd is not providing any

credit facilities/ loans to its customers," the company was quoted as saying by PTI report.

PPBL claims to share only the KYC Id with Clix and not any sensitive information of the customers.

In May, a PIL was filed against the Paytm Payments Bank for operating a postpaid credit facility allegedly in contravention of law which regulates such facility.

Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice Brijesh Sethi-led bench had issued a notice to the RBI and Paytm Payments Banks Limited (PPBL) asking them to clear their stand on the matter.

Abhijit Mishra, in a petition, has alleged that PPBL is operating postpaid wallets in defiance of Operating Guidelines for Payments and Guidelines for Licensing of Payments Banks as issued by the RBI.

The current guidelines do not permit lending facilities to customers by such entities without prior approval of the Central bank, the PIL further said.

Paytm ‘Post Paid’ is a credit facility being offered by the company to its customers. As part of this service, customers can recharge mobiles, book movie and travel tickets and also shop on Paytm and pay the following month at zero cost or interest. The facility is being offered to customers subject to verification of their creditworthiness as per the company’s assessment.

The PIL sought punitive action by the RBI against the directors, management and officers of the PPB for malpractice and violation of relevant banking acts.

Delhi High Court had asked Paytm and the RBI to respond to the allegations.