UFBU - Bank Branches to be kept open on 29th, 30th and 31st March, 2013

Addressed to Governor, Reserve Bank of India  by UFBU Convenor dtd 22.03.2013 :

We have for reference the two Circulars dated 21-3-2013 issued by 1) Dept. of Government and Bank Accounts and 2) by Depart of Payment and Settlement System asking all Banks to keep the Branches open for full day with extended hours on 29^th, 30^thand 31^st March, 2013 to facilitate the receipt of Government taxes, etc. from the public.

While we understand the requirement of the Government for collection of taxes, you will appreciate that bank holidays are declared by State Governments under the Negotiable Instruments Act and cannot and should not be unilaterally altered by either the Banks or by RBI.  Further such holidays are declared for specific reasons of important festivals, etc.   You are also aware that 29^thMarch happens to be Good Friday and 31^st March happens to be Easter Sunday.  Both these are very solemn and important occasions for the entire Christian population and hence asking these employees to come to the Bank on these days is unfair and improper.  Further the Government accounts are dealt with only in few bank branches and not by all.  Hence keeping all branches open for this purpose is also unwarranted.  In addition, operating clearing houses on these holidays would imply legal issues as the instruments transacted on declared holidays may not be covered by protected available under the NI Act.

More importantly, this would create avoidable hardship and inconvenience to the employees especially to the employees who belong to Christianity.  Hence we express our protest and reservation about the instructions given by RBI to the Banks and demand that any such opening of the Branches o holidays i.e. on 29^th and 31^st should be confined only to the few branches dealing with such accounts and with the minimum required staff.

Asking all the employees and officers in all the branches to attend offices on these dates is to be avoided.  Further, wherever any employee is required to attend office to meet these contingencies, they should be paid OT wages/compensation for the same.

We are sure that our above viewpoints would be kept in mind by RBI and revised instructions would be sent to the Banks immediately.

Thanking you,

(P K SARKAR)

CONVENOR