J&K Bank sacks Chief Manager Sajad Bazaz for ‘State’s security interests’

J&K Bank terminates Chief Manager Sajad Bazaz's services, citing "State's security interests". No formal inquiry held. Govt constituted STF to identify and scrutinise employees involved in anti-national activities. PDP president Mehbooba Mufti questions move.

The J&K Bank has terminated the services of a Chief Manager-rank officer for “the State’s security interests” and decided against holding any formal inquiry.

The terminated officer has been identified as Chief Manager Sajad Bazaz, also a widely-read columnist on economic affairs and banking. He writes for the Greater Kashmir, a local daily.

“It was determined that, given the State’s security interests, conducting an inquiry in the case of Sajad Ahmad Bazaz, Chief Manager, would not be deemed appropriate or advantageous. In view of this, Mr. Bazaz’s services as Chief Manager are hereby terminated with immediate effect,” a bank communication, quoting the Managing Director, said.

It said the Managing Director has expressed “contentment after evaluating the detailed account of the situation as presented in a report furnished by trustworthy agencies”.

Mr. Bazaz was posted in the Internal Communication and Marketing department of the bank. “His dismissal [was] in accordance with the prevailing rules and provisions,” it said, while invoking Rule/Provision 12.29 of the Organisational Service Manual (OSM).

The action, the bank said, underscored the institution’s commitment to maintaining its integrity and safeguarding the interests of the organisation and the State as a whole. 

Mr. Bazaz is the first such employee of the bank that has been sacked without holding any formal inquiry.