Bank of Baroda Harassing Female Employees in Transfers, Employees Forced to Quit

The All India Bank of Baroda Officers’ Union (AIBOBOU), affiliated with the All India Bank Officers’ Association (AIBOA), has issued a strong letter to the Executive Director of Human Resources at Bank of Baroda. The union has raised serious concerns about the ongoing violations of the Inter-Zonal Transfer (IZT) Policy and other government guidelines, warning that such actions may lead to legal consequences, including contempt of court.

Background of the Dispute

The union has accused the bank management of ignoring key provisions of the updated IZT Policy dated April 24, 2025, and earlier guidelines issued by the Department of Financial Services (DFS). The officers’ union claims that the bank is forcibly transferring officers, even those affiliated with their union, without following due process. This includes ignoring the recent interim relief granted by the Rajasthan High Court, which directed the bank not to relieve any officer forcibly unless they voluntarily agree to the transfer.

Violations of the Grievance Redressal Process

AIBOBOU pointed out that Clause 14.3 of the IZT Policy outlines a specific Grievance Redressal Committee meant to fairly evaluate officers’ transfer-related grievances. This committee is supposed to consist of:

• A General Manager (not from HRM)
• Chief Liaisoning Officer
• A Deputy General Manager (not from HRM)
• A female officer of AGM rank
• One DGM/AGM from HRM

However, the union alleges that decisions are being made solely by the AGM-HR, bypassing the committee. Officers’ grievances are being summarily rejected or accepted without proper review or documentation by the designated committee, violating the policy and compromising fairness and transparency.

The union raised concerns about the role of the AGM-HR in Vadodara, who is reportedly routing all grievance submissions and making decisions unilaterally. AGM has also been accused of harassing female employees and allegedly forcing some to leave the bank. AIBOBOU believes this AGM should not be part of the grievance-handling process and demanded structural neutrality in decision-making.

System-Based Transfers Without Consent

The letter also mentions that HRMS (Human Resource Management System) IDs of many officers have been transferred to new zones in the system, even before those officers physically joined or consented to such transfers. This not only violates policy but also disrespects the court’s interim order.

Right to Union Membership Undermined

Another major issue flagged by the union is the sudden disabling of the HR-Connect portal. This move has prevented officers from affirming or changing their union membership status, which the union claims violates the constitutional right to freedom of association (Article 19(1)(c)). They fear that this could be a deliberate attempt to prevent officers from joining or remaining with AIBOBOU.

Reference to DFS Guidelines and Court Orders

The union reminded the bank of several DFS circulars and directives — specifically those issued on May 3, 2012; August 8, 2014; July 19, 2022 (parliamentary assurance); and November 26, 2024 — that stress fair treatment and proper grievance resolution for bank officers. The union has warned that continued violations of these orders could lead to contempt of court charges. The DFS has released clear guidelines for the transfer and postings of staff in public sector banks. But still, a lot of banks are not following it.

Demands from the Union

AIBOBOU has placed the following demands before the Executive Director of HR:

1. Stop all forced transfers of officers affiliated with AIBOBOU unless they have agreed in writing.
2. Ensure proper functioning of the Grievance Redressal Committee, with written decisions shared with affected officers.
3. Exclude the current AGM-HR from the grievance handling process and route grievances directly to the committee.
4. Cancel system-based transfers where officers have not physically joined new zones.
5. Re-enable the HR-Connect Portal to allow officers to freely choose or change union membership.
6. Fully comply with DFS guidelines and maintain administrative fairness.

Legal and Administrative Escalation

The letter serves as both a formal representation and a legal notice. The union has warned that if these issues are not resolved immediately, they will pursue further legal action and raise the matter with the Department of Financial Services (DFS) and other government bodies.

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