Case: SEBI vs Sahra. How long can a case take? What was common
knowledge, that Sahara was perhaps manipulating the regulator seemed not to know or was not
convincing. Machinations, ended up in prolonged
litigation. Now it is reported that the regulator says property does not match
title deeds. They seem unable to establish just about anything pertaining to
Sahara. How could one insubordinate , arrogant firm make a laughing stock of a team of about 30
brilliant regulator officials? Is it fear or indifference or incapability? Or
is it masterly inactivity? There is nothing in the laws that does not give the regulator teeth.
Case: RBI and India's NPAs: Since 1990s, public banks have
accumulated huge NPAs and these have been capital funded by the Central Government whenever there is capital erosion. There have
been Master Circular after Master Circular issued by the RBI. Supervision is with the regulator.
There have been speeches
after speeches on credit risk yet the
RBI has been reluctant to move beyond directions with some banks like, say the United
Bank of India. Since 1980s this bank has been under the radar of the supervisors for inefficiencies. It
added on Rs. 80073 million to its NPA kitty in
2014 and had a reduction of Rs.38531 million in 2014. Overall the gross NPA
figures rose to Rs.71180 million. (RBI's figures) Regulatory assessment of capital erosion
figures of such banks would be best known to the RBI. It is the public's money that is being used to
infuse capital at every fall of these banks. Yet the regulator seems hesitant to take severest and exemplary action.
There has to be some accountability ; at least greater
transparency at supervisory and regulatory failures. Or is it that because of political
appointments, regulators meekly follow hollow politics? Or is it that the regulators are afraid? Or is it that they are indulging in 'lazy regulatory action'? (borrowing from Mr. Mody's phrase of 'lazy banking'.
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