Public sector banks will remain open on Sunday, September 27, 2026, as per instructions received from the Government of India. The RBI has given permission to open bank branches on Sunday due to the upcoming three-day bank strike from September 28 to September 30, 2026. Amid this situation, bank employees are confused about what work will be carried out in branches tomorrow. To address this confusion, Sreenath Induchoodan, All India Assistant Secretary of AIBOC, has shared a set of FAQs that may be helpful for bank employees.
Disclaimer: This is a personal legal opinion of the undersigned, offered in the public interest and for officers’ awareness, in his capacity as legal advisor and not as a bank official, issued under the right to free speech (Article 19(1)(a)) and not binding on or a substitute for any bank’s official instructions. Officers must act only as directed in writing by their controlling authority.
What Transactions can be done in Banks on Sunday?
Yes. Section 25’s Explanation includes Sundays automatically, without need for any notification.
No. Section 25 only allows the Government to add extra holidays. It gives no power to remove Sunday’s holiday status.
No. That is an administrative approval to keep branches operational. It does not, and cannot, alter the day’s status under Section 25.
No. That directs the clearing system to stay available, an operational instruction, not a Section 25 notification. The legal position under Q1–Q2 is unaffected.
No. It only borrows the NI Act’s holiday definition for its own return-filing purposes. It doesn’t independently govern branch or cheque operations.
No. Presentment must be within “banking hours” (Section 65); a statutory holiday has none for this purpose.
No, at branch level. Same basis as in Q6.
No. It is still “presentment for payment” under Sections 64–65, regardless of whether external clearing is involved.
No. That runs on HO/RBI-NPCI system settings, not on individual branch action.
No. This is the highest-risk item – dishonour timelines feed into Section 138 proceedings. Do not action this on a day of contested status.
No. Section 25 applies directly and explicitly to bills of exchange.
No, as a precaution. Section 25 strictly covers maturity, not negotiation, but the same business-day concern applies to the bank’s handling of it.
No. Section 25 applies directly, as with bills of exchange.
Yes. Not a negotiable instrument transaction.
Yes. These are electronic transfers under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, not NI Act instruments.
Yes. Not an NI Act transaction.
Yes. Not an NI Act transaction.
Yes. Issuing an instrument is not presentment for payment.
No. A DD is a bill of exchange under Section 85A – same basis as Q6.
Inform them politely that cheque-related transactions cannot be processed today as it remains a public holiday under the NI Act, and ask them to return on the next working day.
Follow the written instruction. Do not act beyond what it specifically covers, and do not extend it to cheque returns/dishonour (Q10) unless expressly stated.
Decline politely, record the request and your response in the branch occurrence book, and report it to your Association representative the same day.
Never backdate or alter a presentment date, and never individually decide whether Section 25 applies to a transaction, refer upward.
Do not decide on your own. Refer it to your RO/ZO and act only as they direct in writing before acting.
