SHILLONG, June 23: The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), Meghalaya, has aired concern over the sorry state of affairs, while asserting that the banks in state do not deliberately choose to ignore, defy or disrespect any local sentiment, and that their hands are tied when it comes to remaining functional on local holidays.
In a statement here, the Forum, while referring to the local holiday on account of Rev Thomas Jones Day, said that the bankers have been falsely painted in a bad light and their image has been unjustifiably tarnished.
Stating that June 22 was declared as a ‘Special Holiday’ for all state government offices and all revenue and magisterial courts and educational institutions in all the districts of Meghalaya, barring Garo Hills districts, by the state government, the Forum said, “However, as per the above order, Banks and Financial Institutions were not legally and procedurally covered under the ‘Special Holiday’, as any declaration of Holiday, ‘Special’ or otherwise, for Banks and Financial Institutions have to be mandatorily declared under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881. Any other order/notification issued by the Govt, in relation to declaration of holidays without including the same under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, is null and void.”
“By not declaring the Holiday correctly as per procedure the concerned government authority has left no choice for banks but to remain open on 22 June, 2023. This vital oversight on the part of the concerned authority has caused perception among some NGOs and Social Organisations as though the banking fraternity in Meghalaya deliberately chooses to ignore any district administration order on declaration of any local holidays, and therefore a baseless false image of Bankers defying local sentiments has emerged. As a result, many bankers in Shillong and other places had to face the humiliation and ignominy of being forced out of their offices and branches under some degree of threat and compulsion by the NGOs and Social Organisations. Moreover, 22 June 2023 was not an isolated incident, but part of a string of similar incidents that have happened over the past few years,” the Forum rued.
Meanwhile, the Forum has also appealed that the government should, in the future, be mindful of the provisions of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, “or take such steps to ensure that dignity, safety and security of bankers is not in any way similarly jeopardised or threatened.”
