What changed
RBI issued a circular advising cooperative banks to comply with the Bankers' Books Evidence Act, 1891 when furnishing certified copies or computer printouts to courts. This follows a court observation in Maharashtra that banks must accompany such data with a certificate under Section 2A(a) and (b) of the Act.
What it means for you
Banks must now ensure that any computer-generated data submitted as evidence includes a certificate from the principal accountant or branch manager, plus a detailed certificate from the person in charge of the computer system. Non-compliance risks the court not admitting the document without further proof, potentially weakening legal cases.
What you must do
- Train branch managers and accountants on the certificate requirements under Section 2A of the Bankers' Books Evidence Act.
- Update internal procedures to always attach the prescribed certificate when submitting computer printouts to courts.
- Review current IT system safeguards and document them as per the nine points listed in Section 2A(b).
- Coordinate with legal teams to ensure all evidence submissions meet the Act's conditions.
Who it affects
State Co-operative Banks (StCBs), District Central Co-operative Banks (DCCBs), Branch managers and principal accountants, IT system administrators in cooperative banks
What happens if we submit a computer printout without the certificate?
The court is not obliged to admit the document as evidence without further proof, which could delay or weaken your case.
Who needs to sign the certificate under Section 2A?
Two certificates are needed: one by the principal accountant or branch manager, and another by the person in charge of the computer system detailing safeguards.