All India Bank of Baroda Officers’ Union has raised its voice against the arbitrary transfer of officers in Mumbai. As per reports, the Zonal Manager, Mumbai, has transferred several staff from one region to another in mid-academic year under the guise of “administrative exigencies.”
This has raised various issues for the officers as they are abruptly transferred from one region to another in mid-academic season. Once an officer is transferred, he/she has to search for a home on rent, search for a school to get his/her child, and search for a good doctor (if suffering from any health issues).
The union raised its voice against this, but the Zonal Manager, Mumbai, stated that all transfers are within the city and therefore do not require prior approval from CGM (HR). However, Clause 7.1(a) of the Transfer Policy clearly stipulates that the criteria for transfers shall be “longest stay.” Contrary to this mandate, officers with the shortest stay have been transferred by bypassing several officers with the longest stay, thereby amounting to deliberate insubordination of Board-approved policy.
Moreover, the Vice President of the union questioned the Mumbai Zonal HR, in the presence of ALC (C), Mumbai, regarding the practice of referring medical cases to empanelled doctors instead of subjecting them to a legally constituted Medical Board. Immediately thereafter, he was transferred from MMSR to MWR. In an apparent attempt to generalise and camouflage the vindictive nature of this transfer, several other officers were also transferred.
The union took up the matter with several authorities but failed to receive any response from GM (HR) and CGM (HR). Finally, a case has been filed against the Zonal Manager, Mumbai, before the Hon’ble High Court. Despite this, the ZM, Mumbai, proceeded with further inter-regional transfers.
Examples of Arbitrary Transfers
In another instance, an officer in MMSR who had been deputed to the Service Branch for more than five months on oral instructions questioned the management and requested written orders. On 5th February, he was issued a confirmation order with retrospective effect, and on the very next day, i.e., 6th February, he was transferred to Navi Mumbai. In several such cases, the transferred officers are eligible for IZT during the current year, and dislocating them at this stage causes avoidable disturbance and hardship.
It is unfortunate that though these violations are occurring in Mumbai, and despite bringing them to the notice of GM (HR) and CGM (HR), no action has been initiated against the erring officials who are deliberately defying your circular instructions.
The matter requires urgent attention from the top management. Transfers carried out in deviation of the approved policy not only cause personal hardship to officers but also create unrest within the organisation. The concerns raised by the union regarding arbitrary transfers, violation of the “longest stay” principle, and alleged vindictive actions must be examined fairly and transparently.
Bank of Baroda should look into this matter seriously and resolve the issue amicably in the larger interest of its employees and the institution.
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