New Delhi, Apr 18 (PTI) The Central Information Commission (CIC) has refused to direct petroleum companies to reveal the basis for providing incentives to consumers using credit cards for buying petrol, saying oil majors were free to adopt strategies to promote their business.

"There is no justification for disclosing the details of basis for providing incentives to the consumers that are critical for promotion of business," Information Commissioner M M Ansari said, rejecting an RTI appeal.

Delhi resident Subhash Chandra Agrawal had sought details from the public sector oil companies for providing concessions for purchase of petrol through credit cards.

The Information Commissioner said oil companies are free to determine the extent of incentives and concessions that may be given to the consumers for promoting business and earning profit.

"They are free to conduct businesses in a manner that assure their competitiveness in the free market economy. For convenience, some companies have arrangements with financial institutions like banks for selling petrol through credit cards, which entitles the consumers of specific discounts," the CIC said.

It, however, directed the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) to reveal the list of banks with which they had an arrangement for selling oil through credit cards, giving consumers discounts up to five per cent.