“Newly approved promotion policy and subsequent career progression notification, have stirred unrest among employees who allege favoritism and discrimination”
The Jammu and Kashmir Bank, basking in the glow of its highest-ever profit in 85 years, has found itself mired in a controversy over the issuance of caveat notices to a substantial number of its officers. These notices, issued in the wake of a newly approved promotion policy and subsequent career progression notification, have stirred unrest among employees who allege favoritism and discrimination.
The caveat notices, which caution that the bank “apprehends and has a reasonable belief that the non-caveators may challenge the said promotion/career progression process,” have raised concerns among officers who claim the notices are a deliberate attempt to obstruct their participation in the career advancement process, rather than a genuine legal precaution.
“The caveat has been issued to bar the employee from questioning management about their rights,” said an aggrieved bank employee posted in Srinagar. The dissemination of these notices to residential addresses has unsettled many officers, including women employees.
The broad application of the caveat, targeting not only those aspiring for promotion but also senior officers deemed potentially litigious, has fueled discontent within the bank’s ranks. Employees are calling for intervention from the Jammu and Kashmir government, a major stakeholder in the bank, urging a resolution to the dispute through dialogue and fairness. “The promotion policy lacks transparency and inclusivity, leaving room for suspicion and resentment,” the employee added.
The bank’s Managing Director and CEO, Baldev Prakash, maintains that the policy is non-controversial and has been duly sanctioned by the Board of Directors. “There are some disgruntled elements who are terming it a controversial policy. It has been approved by the Board of Directors of the Bank,” Baldev said.
However, dissenting voices within the bank question the legitimacy of these notices, describing them as “an act of intimidation aimed at stifling dissent and discouraging employees from asserting their rights,” according to another officer. Other employees who are likely to be called for the interview want the bank to amicably resolve this issue. “Let all the eligible candidates participate in the career progression process on equal footing, fostering a culture of fairness and meritocracy within the institution as has been done in the past,” remarked a Bank Manager. As the controversy swirls, the Jammu and Kashmir Bank finds itself at a crossroads, forced to navigate the delicate balance between enforcing its policies and maintaining the trust and morale of its workforce.
