Indiscipline By Bankers Cannot Be Condoned

In WP(C) No. 191 of 2014, Shri Gautam Dhar Vs. State Bank of India and others, the charge against him was that he committed serious irregularity in regularizing/authorizing the payment of three cheques violating the procedure of the bank as a result of which the Bank suffered huge monetary loss.

While dismissing a writ appeal filed by a bank official who was imposed with major penalty of compulsory retirement, the High Court of Meghalaya observed that a bank officer holds a position of trust where honesty and integrity are inbuilt requirements of functioning. He deals with the money of the depositors and the customers. Every officer/employee of the Bank is required to take all possible steps to protect the interests of the bank and to discharge his duties with utmost integrity, honesty, devotion and diligence and to do nothing which is unbecoming of a bank officer. Where the person deals with public money or is engaged in financial transactions or acts in a fiduciary capacity, the highest degree of integrity and trustworthiness is a must and unexceptionable. Good conduct and discipline are inseparable from the functioning of every officer/employee of the Bank. It is no defence available to say that there was no loss or profit resulted in case when the officer/employee acted without authority and every officer/employee is
supposed to act within the limits of his authority.

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