JK Bank Recruitments: Polarisation supercedes transparency

The row over the appointment of Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in the Jammu & Kashmir Bank not only courted a political controversy forcing the bank top brass to put it on hold but also brought to light a brazen attempt made to subvert transparency in the recruitment of 1250 posts of probationary officers, banking associates and clerks obviously just for the purposes of executing a dangerous polarization plan in Jammu & Kashmir in the post article 370 abrogation scenario. As regards the appointment of the Chief Financial Officer (FO) at the bank, the unrefutable fact is that the bank sought the confirmation of the appointment of a non resident of Jammu & Kashmir as Chief Finance Officer (CFO) from Stock Exchange Board Of India (SEBI) only after central government’s announcement of a new domicile law for Jammu & Kashmir last month. So seeking confirmation after the application of new domicile and giving a clarification that J&K Bank has no plans to violate the new domicile law is an indefensible defence. As such a tactical cover up of deliberate attempt to bring a non resident of Jammu & Kashmir at a top key position in Jammu & Kashmir bank demands no explanations from either the government or the bank top brass but a prompt and immediate action against the Chairman Bank presently holding the twin positions of Chairman and Managing Director on post retirement extension of 3 months is the only way for New Delhi to show its zero tolerance against violation of new domicile law.
While the government put on hold the appointment of a non resident of Jammu & Kashmir as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) only after Apni Party Chief Altaf Bukhari raised questions on the application of domicile law in J&K bank, but the silence of two former Chief Ministers Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah commanding and controlling the oldest and biggest political party in the Jammu & Kashmir over key institutional issues is shocking , insulting and humiliating . Abdullahs’ may be satisfied with their statements over the return of stranded Kashmiris from outside Jammu & Kashmir and release of PSA detainees but unrefutable fact is that key institutional interests are dearer to Kashmir more than their own lives.
Though bank has put on hold the appointment of a non resident of Jammu & Kashmir as Chief Finance Officer, but unfortunately the cancellation of the recruitment process for 1250 posts of probationary officers, banking associates and clerks carried out by country’s premier banking recruitment agency the IBPS (Institute of Banking personnel Selection) too is brewing up deepening public resentment both against the government and as well as the bank. Cancellation of the recruitment of 1250 posts is by all standards of understandabilities tantamount to questioning the transparency of the selection process of the country’s key recruiting agency IBPS headed by Chief of Union Bank of India with Executive Director RBI, Chairman SBI, OSD from Finance Ministry, NABARD Chairman and heads of several other public banks holding the positions of members. So government has to either blacklist the IBPS for bank recruitments at the national level or execute the recruitment process for 1250 posts almost finalized with the completion of viva voice. Though cancellation of J&K Bank selections is likely to be challenged by thousands of candidates most of whom could loose the last job opportunity for the fear of crossing upper age limit in next 2-3 years. Obviously the cancellation of the J&K bank selections is an attempt to scrap the policy of district wise selections and invoke a policy for selection on division basis by floating a fresh advertisement for the posts. Days before the row over new domicile law, the three top key appointments ordered for the positions of Executive President saw polarizing tendencies taking roots in the Jammu & Kashmir Bank as two non muslims from Jammu division and only one muslim officer from Kashmir valley were tipped for the positions of Executive President. While the government put on hold the appointment of a non resident of Jammu & Kashmir as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) only after Apni Party Chief Altaf Bukhari raised questions on the application of domicile law in J&K bank, but the silence of two former Chief Ministers Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah commanding and controlling the oldest and biggest political party in the Jammu & Kashmir over key institutional issues is shocking , insulting and humiliating . Abdullahs’ may be satisfied with their statements over the return of stranded Kashmiris from outside Jammu & Kashmir and release of PSA detainees but unrefutable fact is that key institutional interests are dearer to Kashmir more than their own lives.