In a relief to the management and customers of IDBI Bank Ltd., the High Court on Karnataka has passed an order preventing the unions and workmen from “carrying out strike” from March 28 to 31, and has issued guidelines to prevent them from obstructing services.
The bank has 769 officers and 38 other employees in different branches of the bank in the State.
Justice Raghvendra S. Chauhan passed the interim order on the petition filed by the bank’s management challenging the notices, issued by the United Platform of IDBI Bank Unions, the United Forum of IDBI Officers and Employees, the IDBI Officers’ Organisation, and the IDBI Karmachari Sangh, intimating the management of their plan to go on strike.
Observing that “if banking operations are brought to a halt, there will be a domino effect not only on the people of the country, but also on the health of the country’s economy. It is imperative that the respondents are prevented from carrying out the strike, especially when prima facie there is a violation of rules…,” the court said.
The unions have been allowed to hold meeting only within the union premises without any sloganeering or disrupting bank activity. Even to meet the MD and CEO of the bank, delegation should not exceed more than four members, the court said.
It was contended by the bank’s counsel that the announcement made in the Union Budget that the government may reduce its shareholding to below 51 per cent in the bank had led to fear among its staff that there could be change in service conditions and their retention.
Despite the assurances given by the bank they proposed to strike work for four days from March 28, the bank’s counsel said.
The management also said that the call to strike work was illegal as the IDBI Staff Rules, 1980, prohibits the bank’s officers from going on strike, joining any federation, trade unions, etc.
Further hearing is on April 5.
Following are the High Court's directions to IDBI employees:
* Officers and workmen restrained from …
* Any act that will obstruct bank’s activity in Karnataka
* Threatening, abusing, gheraoing or wrongfully confining any officer, staff, customer of bank
* Holding meetings, demonstration, squatting, organising unlawful assemblies in and around 25 m of bank without prior permission from bank in writing
* Shouting slogans, using loudspeakers within 25 m from bank
* Displaying, pasting or painting posters or slogans on bank’s premises or outside walls, gates, etc.
* Damaging, defacing or destroying bank’s properties
* Obstructing free movement of customers, investors, vehicles to and from bank’s premises
