BENGALURU: The High Court on Thursday restrained State Bank of Mysore (SBM) and State Bank of India (SBI) from altering the service conditions of 120 employees working across the State or terminating their services, till the next hearing on April 13.
Justice G Narendar passed an interim order to this effect while hearing the petition filed by C Ravi, working in SBM at Kavalbyrasandra branch in the city, and 119 other employees. The judge also issued emergent notice to the Ministry of Finance, SBM and SBI and others.
The petitioners submitted that they are all employees of SBM and that they have rendered service for well over a decade and in some instances for nearly two decades.
However, SBM and SBI have entered into an arrangement where SBI intends to acquire the businesses of SBM by way of amalgamation and that SBI has put the petitioners on notice that only permanent and regular officers will be absorbed and retained in service.
The petitioners added that during discussions held between the management and representatives of SBM employees, it was assured that the petitioners will be absorbed. SBM management had assured that temporary employees will be considered for absorption.
However, SBI’s stand is contrary to the understanding arrived at between representatives of SBM employees and the management.
The petitioners apprehend that SBM and SBI could terminate their services with effect from March 31 and sought an interim order. The court passed an interim order restraining the managements from changing service conditions.