A large protest was organized on 17 April in front of the Punjab & Sind Bank’s Corporate Office in Delhi by the United Forum of Punjab & Sind Bank Unions. The main reason for this protest was to demand fair and clear rules for transfers and promotions of staff members. Employees from different regions of the country joined the demonstration to show their support.
Why Was the Protest Held?
The unions are unhappy with the current transfer and promotion policies of the bank. They believe that the rules are unfair, confusing, and not in the best interest of the employees. They want the bank to:
- Cancel the 200 KM Home Area Rule, which forces employees to limit their transfer choices.
- Remove the point system.
- Make the promotion process transparent and fair.
- Give preference to employees working in branches (field workers) instead of only promoting those in controlling offices.
Who Led the Protest?
The protest was led by senior union leaders such as:
- Com. Ratneshwar Chaudhary – General Secretary, AIPSBOF Code-91
- S. Jaswant Singh Kalra – Chairman, AIPSBOF Code-91
- Com. Samir Mantrao – President, AIPSBOF Code-91
- Com. G.S. Khera – General Secretary, All India Punjab & Sind Bank Officers Union
- And other key leaders from different regions
What Did the Leaders Say?
Com. Ratneshwar Chaudhary called the protest a warning to the bank’s management. He said that if the management doesn’t listen, they may go on a full strike across the country to get justice for employees in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, South India, and other areas.
Com. Samir Mantrao said that the unions had already discussed their demands with the bank’s management, but no action was taken. Since their main issues—like canceling the 200 km rule and the point system—were ignored, they had no option but to protest. He assured that they would keep fighting for what is right.
Com. G.S. Khera added that the bank’s policies are not final and must be changed if they don’t match the needs and wishes of the employees. He said that their fight against the unfair transfer policy will continue.
Com. Sanjay Kumar Khan, General Secretary of AIBOA, urged the management to sit down with union leaders and talk seriously. He also asked the bank to:
- Cancel the 200 KM Home Area Rule
- Change the point system used in promotions
- Make promotions more open and fair
- Give importance to staff working in bank branches
Com. Jhataklal Yadav, General Secretary of PSBOF-Delhi NCR, said that the bank has added many unnecessary and unfair rules in its new transfer policy—rules that are even more strict than what the government has recommended. He criticized the bank for ignoring the human side of these decisions and said the focus should be on employee well-being.
He also highlighted that recently, most promotions are being given to people working in controlling offices rather than those working in bank branches, which is not fair. He said this trend must change to ensure fair growth for everyone in the bank.
Com. Suresh Kumar, Senior Vice President of PSBOF Delhi-NCR, added that the transfer policy was made without consulting the major officers’ union (AIPSBOF Code-91). He strongly opposed the way the policy was pushed through and said that no officer in Delhi NCR should be forced to move under this unfair rule.
The protest saw huge participation from bank employees from across India. It clearly showed that the staff of Punjab & Sind Bank are united and determined to fight for justice, fairness, and better work policies.
