Violation of ST reservation law: Petition filed against J&K Bank, Grameen Bank

Gujjar body approaches NCST, RBI                                                   

JAMMU, Nov 18: Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation – a frontal organisation of Gujjar and Bakerwals in J&K filed a writ petition against J&K Bank and J&K Grameen Bank before National Commission for Schedule Tribes (NCST) and Reserve Bank of India (RBI) simultaneously accusing both of them of not implementing reservation in recruitments and promotions for Schedule Tribes of the state at various levels.

The petition was filed by Foundation on the pretext that both the banks failed to implement reservation laws for Scheduled Tribes (STs) in recruitments thereby committing violation of constitutional obligations and denied safeguards available to tribal communities of the State. Confirming this, Dr Javaid Rahi, Secretary of Tribal Foundation stated that the organisation filed a case against these two banks of Jammu and Kashmir before Chairman National Commission for Schedule Tribes, New Delhi and Governor Reserve Bank of India through its counsel and prayed for immediate steps against both bodies.

The petition stated that all the banks in India operating from different states were providing reservation to SC/STs in all type of recruitments expect these two banks of J&K which failed to implement the directions of RBI regarding reservation and upliftment of weaker sections of societies.

The petition further said that as per laws of the J&K State, the Gujjars, Bakerwals and other ST communities were entitled for 10 percent reservation in recruitment and promotions, in all the government and autonomous bodies of the state but Jammu and Kashmir Bank (JKB) and J&K Grameen Bank violated constitution and Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines as both were not providing even 1 percent recruitment to Scheduled Tribes.

As per petition, the Jammu and Kashmir Bank (JKB) and during last 20 years and J&K Grameen Bank since its establishment had filled up hundreds of posts at various levels but no reservation was provided to reserve categories especially the STs and the rights of downtrodden communities were suppressed openly.

The petitioner demanded full benefits of reservation for the people belonging to Scheduled Tribes (STs) for direct recruitment to the posts falling under varied streams. The petition stated that there was a negligible representation of ST especially Gujjars and Bakerwals in the both the banks.  The organisation also sought to bring transparency in banks’ recruitment examinations by giving representation to Scheduled Tribes in direct recruitment and promotions at various levels in the J&K Bank services. It also sought direction to the state and central government to formulate uniform policy for the recruitment of STs across J&K.

Source: http://www.kashmirtimes.com/newsdet.aspx?q=8022