AIBOC issued its circular No. 79 dated 18.10.2012 on
Unilateral instructions of RBI on uniform holidays under grid based CTS. We are
placing the same here for our readers.
CIRCULAR NO.79 18TH OCTOBER, 2012
TO ALL AFFILIATES & MEMBERS:
UNILATERAL INSTRUCTIONS
OF RBI ON UNIFORM HOLIDAYS UNDER GRID BASED CTS
The Reserve Bank of India has unilaterally announced
adoption of uniform Holiday Calendar under Grid Based Cheque Truncation System
for the southern grid without proper consultation with us.
Holidays are declared by the respective State
Government’s under NI Act taking into account the local festivals of the state
concerned. These holidays cannot be unilaterally annulled under the pretext of
affording uninterrupted services. Leave and Holidays are part of the service
conditions of the Officers covered by the bilateral settlements in the Banks as
well as holidays declared under the N.I Act by the Government in the States.
We have taken up the matter with the Reserve Bank of
India not to impose uniform Holidays under grid based CTS. A copy of our
communication is enclosed for information.
With greetings,
Sd/-
(D.S.RISHABADAS)
GENERAL SECRETARY
No.1481/142/12
17.10.2012
To,
The General Manager,
Regional Office,
Reserve Bank of India,
Fort Glacis,
CHENNAI.
Dear Sir,
UNILATERAL INSTRUCTIONS
OF RBI ON UNIFORM HOLIDAYS UNDER GRID BASED CTS
We invite your kind reference to RBI letter
No.PSS(Che)/151/7.04.2208/ 2012-13 dated 29.08.2012 and letter
No.DPSS(Che)/187/07.04.008/ 2012-13 dated 07.09.2012. The Reserve Bank of India
has unilaterally announced adoption of Uniform Holiday Calendar under Grid
Based Cheque Truncation System for the Southern Grid without proper
consultations with the Bank Unions.
Holidays are declared by the State Governments under NI
Act taking into account the local festivals and the religious sentiments of the
population of the state concerned. These
holidays cannot be unilaterally annulled by any other Authority under the
pretext of affording uninterrupted services.
Reverting to the issue under reference, we wish to reiterate that leave
and holidays are part of the service conditions of the bank employees covered
by the bilateral settlements in the Banks as well as declared under the N I Act
by the Government in the States and hence should not be altered or modified
administratively or unilaterally.
But we learn that RBI, Chennai has advised all Banks that
the Chennai based Southern Grid CTS will remain closed only for 9 days for the
year 2012 and on all other days, the same would be operational. 15th October,
2012 was a declared holiday under NI Act in the state of Karnataka for Mahalaya
Amavasya but Banks had informed the employees and officers that the clearing
departments would function and hence employees and officers should attend
office on that holiday. This goes against the fundamental right of a citizen in
celebrating his religious festivals.
Similarly, 23rd, 24th and 27th October is holidays under
NI Act for Tamilnadu on account of Ayudha Pooja and Bakrid which are very
important festivals and religious functions.
But, as per RBI instructions, employees and officers in Chennai working
in the Cheque Processing Centres would be compelled to attend office on these
holidays. In the name of improving the cheque clearance system, such
transgression into the rightful leave and holiday entitlements of the staff is
unacceptable. To make the employee of a Bank work on his holiday on account of
religious festival only because some of the States under the Grid do not
celebrate the particular festival is highly objectionable and tantamount to
infringing upon the rights of the citizen.
The All India Bank Officers Confederation are always for
improvements in the area of customer service, but denial of legitimate holidays
to the officers/employees can never be compromised. Unilateral decisions cannot
be taken by RBI or IBA or any bank management on issues relating to service
conditions. Leave and Holidays are part of the service conditions of the bank
employees under the bilateral settlements.
Any change can be done by proper and mutual discussions. Bipartite
settlement does provide for contingencies when employees can be asked to work
or Sundays or holidays with payment of overtime wages but does not provide for
cancellation of holidays as declared by the State Governments under NI Act.
It is a paradox that in RBI, 5 Day banking has been
introduced but RBI wants reduction of existing holidays of employees and
officers in other Banks! The RBI after
tactfully withdrawing itself from clearing house operations and handing it over
to a private company viz. National Payment Corporation, RBI is today trying to
interfere with the holiday entitlement of the bank employees and officers. Since the issue involves certain facility to
the customers, the AIBOC desired to take up the matter with RBI to sort out the
same amicably. Before we take any action in this regard, we once again wish to
bring this problem to your kind attention with the expectation to resolve the
issue bilaterally.
We request you to please bestow your personal attention
in this matter and ensure that RBI Chennai withdraws its order of restricting
the holidays for the Grid Based CTS and restore normalcy immediately.
Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,
Sd/-
GENERAL SECRETARY
Copy to:
The Governor, Reserve Bank of India, Mumbai.
The Secretary, (Banking), Ministry of Finance, Government
of India, New Delhi.
National Payment Corporation of India,
Chief Executive Officer, Indian Banks Association,
Mumbai.
The DMD & CDO, State Bank of India, Corporate Centre,
Mumbai.
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