Bank of Baroda Officer Dies by Suicide in Ranchi

The death of a young Bank of Baroda officer in Ranchi has shaken the banking community and raised fresh concerns over work pressure in the public sector. Mr. Ishwar Chander Jha, a 37-year-old Senior Manager (Credit) posted in the Ranchi Region under the Bhubaneswar Zone, reportedly took his own life on September 20.

The All India Bank of Baroda Officers’ Association (AIBOBOA) has alleged that undue work stress and violation of internal guidelines played a direct role in the incident. In a strongly worded letter to the bank’s Managing Director & CEO, Shri Debadatta Chand, the association expressed “deep regret and anguish” over the circumstances leading to Mr. Jha’s death.

Late-Night Meeting Cited as Trigger

According to the union, Mr. Jha and his Chief Manager were summoned to the Regional Office on September 19 for a review meeting that stretched until 10 p.m. The association claims this was in clear violation of Corporate Office instructions, which strictly limit such meetings to the 4 p.m.–6 p.m. time slot.

“These directions were issued precisely to avoid overburdening officers and to ensure a healthy work-life balance,” the union’s letter noted. “Yet, some Regional Heads and DRMs continue to disregard the advisory and subject officers to prolonged late-evening meetings, without fear of accountability.”

A Repeat of Earlier Tragedies

This is not the first such incident in the bank. The association reminded the management that a similar tragedy occurred in Pune zone in July 2025, prompting the Corporate Office to form a committee on officers’ work-life balance.

Following that incident, specific guidelines had been circulated across zones and regions. These included:

• Meetings with branches must be confined to 4 p.m.–6 p.m.
• The number of official campaigns must be restricted to 3–4 at a time
• Misbehavior and harassment of staff were designated as “Zero Tolerance” issues

Despite these clear instructions, the union alleged, violations remain rampant, putting officers under unbearable stress.

Demand for Accountability

The AIBOBOA has demanded that responsibility be fixed in Mr. Jha’s case and that corrective steps be taken immediately.

“We earnestly request that accountability be fixed in this particular case for defiance of Corporate Office guidelines and that necessary steps be reinforced across the organization to ensure strict adherence,” wrote Prem Kumar Makker, General Secretary of the association.

He further warned that staff morale has been badly shaken:

“Two suicides in such a short interval have deeply disturbed our staff members. We are under tremendous pressure from our officer colleagues to take an organizational call on this menace. Hence your immediate intervention is required for necessary and urgent remedial measures.”

Union’s Call for Action

The association stressed that strict enforcement of Corporate Office policies, along with action against violators, is the only way to prevent recurrence of such tragedies and restore faith among employees.

As the news of Mr. Jha’s death spreads, employees across the bank are said to be under “tremendous psychological pressure,” with growing demands for reforms in workload distribution, meeting practices, and managerial accountability.

The ball is now in the bank management’s court to respond to the union’s concerns and reassure its staff.