Vigilance recommends FIR in Kangra coop bank job scam

Ravinder Sood

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Palampur, August 3

The Vigilance has recommended the registration of an FIR against officials associated with the recruitment process in Kangra Central Cooperative Bank (KCCB). Now, the state government can sue all those who have committed large-scale irregularities in the recruitments made during the Congress regime.

The issue of alleged irregularities had figured prominently in the BJP chargesheet against the previous Congress regime. With the recommendation for FIR registration, the former bank chairman is likely to be in trouble as all recruitments were made during his tenure.

The Department of Cooperation had told the Vigilance in 2018 to probe the recruitment scam so that the culprits could be brought to book. The Vigilance has asked the state government 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 against all including the chairman of the bank, who was associated with the recruitment process.

The Home Department will refer the case to respective jurisdiction, where the offence was committed and challan will be filed in the court. There was a lot of pressure on the BJP government by its own leaders to probe the recruitment process. Earlier, the Department of Cooperation during the examination of records had found that the selection was done through the Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education instead of the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection.

This itself raised doubts about the fairness of the selection. Another major violation of the norms was the change in the contract policy being followed in the earlier recruitments in three cooperative banks in the state. Though prior to this, appointments were made on a contractual basis, to be regularised after five years this time, regular appointments were made, contrary to the policy.

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

Irregularities in recruitment

• There were allegations of gross irregularities in the recruitment process of Kangra Central Coop Bank.
• Some candidates were learnt to have not fulfilled the eligibility criteria, while some hailing from outside the state also managed to secure jobs. 
• The BJP had alleged that there was nepotism, adding that family members and relatives of some Congress leaders were favoured and given back-door entry.