Bank fined for inhumane treatment of female employee, mother of disabled child

MUMBAI – The Bombay High Court has criticized the insensitivity of Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) for not reversing the bank’s decision to transfer an employee to Chennai despite the employee’s willingness to give up promotion to take care of a disabled child. The court imposed a fine of twenty-five thousand rupees on the bank.

The court said that the bank’s approach lacked human sensitivity. We are surprised by the attitude of the bank. The Bank cannot accept the request to allow the female employee to stay in Mumbai even if she is willing to give up promotion as there is no such policy. In such a situation, lack of policy may not be a hindrance but lack of sensitive approach of the owner definitely is. In such a case, we are bound to appear on behalf of the petitioner, the court said in its order dated January 3.

The female employee revealed that her ten-year-old son is 95% blind and cannot live his daily life independently, hence she should be allowed to take care of him in Mumbai. In December, the bank also said that such requests would be accepted if made through email. However, the bank later rejected his request. In the hearing on January 3, the bank’s lawyer said that once the promotion is accepted, it cannot be changed. The court was told that there was no policy authorizing such measures.

The court expressed disappointment over this attitude of the bank. The court took exception to the bank’s statement that the employee’s child could be taken care of even in Chennai, saying the bank could no more know how to take care of the child than the mother.

The court set aside the bank’s decision and ordered the petitioner to be permanently appointed as a clerk in Mumbai. It was clarified that the woman would not suffer any adverse career consequences due to the decision and she would be able to retain the financial benefits she had earned during her short tenure as an Assistant Manager in Chennai.

The court has also imposed a fine of twenty-five thousand rupees on the bank and has directed to give this amount to the National Association for the Blind.