Uncertainty over Kangra bank recruitments made in 2017

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, December 4

The government remains uncertain about the cancellation of 425 recruitments, the process for which was completed by the Kangra Central Cooperative Bank (KCCB) during the stint of previous Congress government.

The recruitments for class III and Class IV posts were carried out by the previous bank board in 2017. The entrance test was carried out by the Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education (HPBSE). The selected candidates have not been able to join even more than one year after the recruitment process was completed.

The recruitments had run into controversy. Even while in the Opposition, the BJP had been alleging nepotism in selection process.

Keshav Korla, former director of the bank, said ideally the recruitments should have been carried out by Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS). However, the previous management of the KCCB carried out recruitments through the education board and record of the recruitment was also allegedly destroyed.

Korla said the government should cancel the controversial recruitments which were carried out under political considerations and not on professional grounds. Following the rising NPAs of the bank, it was not advisable to increase the salary burden.

During the previous Congress government, recruitments were carried out twice through the HPBSE. The first recruitment of over 225 class III employees was carried out in 2016. The process of recruiting 425 employees was completed in 2017 but the selected candidates could not join before elections.

The state vigilance is now inquiring into recruitment done in 2016. Kin of many close associates of former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh were selected. An inquiry conducted by former MD of the bank PS Akela had pointed to glaring discrepancies in recruitment.

The Chairman of the bank Rajiv Bharadwaj said it was for the government to take a decision on the matter. The government had not conveyed any decision regarding the recruitments, he said.

Meanwhile, sources here said the NPAs had further risen in the last quarter of the year from 18 per cent to 21.98 per cent. At present, the NPAs of the bank have risen to Rs 793 crore.

The sources said the bank NPAs had risen due to bad loans extended by the previous board and failure of the present government to install the management of the bank.

Rajiv Bharadwaj said he was in such a situation due to the working of the previous bank management. “I am reviewing its working which will improve,” he said.

Due process not followed: Ex-director

• The recruitments should have been carried out by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection. However, the previous bank management carried out recruitments through the education board
• The record of recruitment was allegedly destroyed
• It should be cancelled as these were not done on professional grounds