Section 44. Obligation as to fidelity and secrecy

44. Obligation as to fidelity and secrecy.— (1) The[4] [National Housing Bank or the Reserve Bank, as the case may be,] shall not, except as otherwise required by this Act or any other law, divulge any information relating to, or to the affairs of, its constituents except in circumstances in which it is, in accordance with the law or practice and usage customary among bankers, necessary or appropriate for the 4[National Housing Bank or the Reserve Bank, as the case may be,] to divulge such information. 1. Subs. by Act 15 of 2000, s. 21, for "three months" (w.e.f. 12-6-2000). 2. The words, figures and letters ", without prejudice to the provisions of section 54AA of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934)," Omitted by Act 13 of 2018, s. 175 (w.e.f. 1-6-2018). 3. Ins. by Act 15 of 2000. s. 22 (w.e.f. 12-6-2000). 4. Subs. by Act 23 of 2019, s. 168, for "National Housing Bank" (w.e.f. 9-8-2019). (2) Every director, member of a committee, auditor, adviser, officer or other employee of the National Housing Bank or of the Reserve Bank, whose services are utilised by the National Housing Bank under the provisions of this Act, shall, before entering upon his duties, make a declaration of fidelity and secrecy in the form set out in the First Schedule to this Act. 1[(3) Nothing contained in this section shall apply to the credit information disclosed under the Credit Information Companies (Regulation) Act, 2005.]