Bank recruitments: Nod to FIR against 3 MDs, others

Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, July 13

There could be trouble for those associated with the recruitment process in the three state cooperative banks as it has been recommended that an FIR be registered against the three Chairmen and three Managing Directors for the alleged irregularities.

Decks have been cleared for a Vigilance inquiry into the recruitments made in the Kangra Central Cooperative Bank (KCCB), State Cooperative Bank and Himachal State Cooperative Agriculture and Rural Development Bank with Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur giving nod for the probe. The issue of alleged irregularities in bank recruitment had figured prominently in the BJP chargesheet against the previous Congress regime.

The Department of Cooperation has recommended that FIR be registered against all the three MDs, three chairmen, Secretary, Cooperation and Registrar, Cooperative Societies (RCS). In the letter sent to the Home Department, it has been recommended that an FIR be registered under Section 13, 1(d) and of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Section 120 (B) of the Indian Penal Code for criminal conspiracy.

Based on the recommendation of the Cooperation Department, the Home will refer the case to the Vigilance and Ant-Corruption Bureau for a thorough probe. There was a lot of pressure on the BJP Government by its own leaders and rank and file of the party to order a Vigilance probe into the cooperative bank recruitments.

The Department of Cooperation during examination of the records found that the selections were got done through the Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education and not the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) as had been the system earlier. This itself raised doubts about the fairness of the selection. Secondly, another major violation of the norms was the change in the contract policy being followed in the earlier recruitments in the three banks. Though prior to this, appointments were made on a contract basis, to be regularised after five years this time regular appointments were made, contrary to the policy.

There were allegations that there were gross irregularities as some candidate did not fulfill the eligibility criteria while some people hailing from outside the state also managed to secure jobs. The BJP had alleged that there was nepotism and family members and relatives of some Congress leaders and those close to them were favoured and given back door entry.

The irregularities

• Scrutiny showed that the selections were got done through the Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education and not the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) as had been the system earlier. 

• Another major violation was the change in the contract policy being followed. Appointments were earlier made on a contract basis, this time regular appointments were made.

• There were allegations that some candidates did not fulfil the eligibility criteria, while some from outside the state secured jobs.

  • Banks under scanner
• •  n The three banks under scanner are Kangra Central Cooperative Bank (KCCB), State Cooperative Bank and Himachal Agricultural Bank
  • n It has been recommended that an FIR be registered under Section 13, 1(d) and of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Section 120 (B) of the IPC.
  • n Under the scanner are all the three MDs, three chairmen and Secretary, Cooperation and Registrar Cooperative Societies.