Srinagar : A cross-section of serving and retired employees of J&K Bank has sought a review of disciplinary proceedings and cases involving withholding of terminal benefits, urging the bank’s top management to ensure that applicable rules and procedures are followed uniformly.
In a representation, the employees claimed that terminal benefits of more than 22 employees had been withheld in connection with vigilance and staff-accountability proceedings. They sought clarification on the legal and regulatory basis for withholding benefits such as gratuity, pension, provident fund, commutation and leave encashment.
The employees also sought a review of cases where charge-sheets were allegedly issued close to retirement, as well as cases in which departmental enquiries had reportedly concluded with findings favourable to the employees.
They said any decision by the competent authority to differ from an enquiry officer’s findings should be taken in accordance with applicable rules, with reasons recorded and an opportunity to respond provided wherever required.
The employees further sought clarification on the rules governing disciplinary proceedings against retired employees, including applicable limitation or prescribed periods for initiating or continuing such proceedings.
On staff accountability, they called for examination of cases where employees were allegedly held responsible for irregularities that came to light after they had been transferred from the concerned branches.
They said responsibility should be assessed on the basis of an employee’s actual role during the relevant period, documentary evidence, audit findings and the applicable Staff Accountability Policy.
The group has also raised concerns about what it described as perceptions of differential treatment among employees from different regions or communities. However, the employees said they were not making any definitive allegation of discrimination and instead sought an examination of relevant records to determine whether similarly placed cases had been dealt with consistently.
They also sought a review of cases reportedly referred to the Disciplinary Department by earlier Staff and Conduct authorities, including matters relating to the operational period of 2019-21.
At the same time, the employees said allegations of misconduct against any former or serving authority should also be examined under the same standards applicable to other employees if supported by credible material.
The employees maintained that their appeal was not against legitimate disciplinary action. They said allegations involving fraud, corruption, misappropriation or serious misconduct should be dealt with in accordance with the bank’s rules and applicable law.
Their concern, they said, was that employees should not face disproportionate or prolonged action where misconduct is not established through due process.
They have urged the Managing Director & CEO and Executive Director to review the pending cases, examine the regulatory basis for withholding terminal benefits and ensure that affected employees receive due notice, reasons and an opportunity to respond wherever required. The employees also called for a transparent mechanism to review pending disciplinary and terminal-benefit cases. The concerns and allegations raised by the employees could not independently be verified from the bank’s side immediately. The bank’s response to the representation was also not available at the time of filing this report.
