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The Mumbai Zonal Manager of Indian Bank, Banabihari Panda, has been suspended for failing to provide “minimum basic courtesies” to the bank’s Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) T M Bhasin on his arrival at Mumbai airport from Chennai last Thursday night.
The charge faced by Panda, who holds the rank of General Manager, is that he kept the CMD waiting at the airport for over an hour as the keys got locked in when luggage was being loaded into the car.
Panda has apologised for the incident, explaining to the Executive Director of the bank in a May 20 letter that the car got locked accidentally, resulting in the CMD being stranded for “about 25 minutes”. In the detailed reply, Pande also writes that he made alternative arrangements, hiring a taxi and arranging “two sets of new dhotis and towels” for Bhasin through a friend, and later running around till late in the night to organise a duplicate key. Finally, he says, he was able to deliver Bhasin’s luggage at the guest-house by 1 am.
The manager cites his 34 years of experience as an officer and pleads that he has always been sincere in his duties, and never took even the matter of the locked keys casually.
Panda and a junior executive had gone to the airport to receive the CMD on Thursday night. While they were overseeing loading of Bhasin’s luggage into his car, the vehicle got locked. The keys were in the ignition as the air-conditioning was on.
“...Our CMD could not enter the vehicle to proceed to guest house. CMD was made to wait for more than of hour (sic) at the airport and could leave in alternative taxi arranged without baggage,” the detailed suspension letter, sent by V Rama Gopal, Executive Director of the bank, reads.
By failing to extend “minimum usual basic courtesies” to the CMD, the suspension letter says, Panda had “failed to discharge” his duty. The letter also accuses Panda of not handling things properly and displaying behaviour “unbecoming of official in the Top Management cadre of the Bank”.
On May 21, Panda sent another letter, this one addressed to the CMD himself, recalling how the latter had asked for a two-minute silence at a meeting of general managers and zonal managers on March 23 as respect for Panda’s dead wife. “When the same Chairman and Managing Director ordered for my suspension, I could fathom the gravity of the event leading to the decision.”
Despite several attempts, Bhasin could not be contacted for a reaction. The CMD’s office staff declined to put him on the phone and dismissed the issue as an “internal matter” of the bank. The Chennai-based corporate communications manager of the bank also declined to comment.
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It happen many times that we have to work under idiots and we are left with no other alternative except to bear the consequences
it's really shameful incident. I think when we work for somebody we are not the slaves.."To err is human and to forgive divine" This quote should be reminded to so called mr. CMD... really feeling sorry for the CMD who don't know how to be human and leading animal's life because animals only react to the instincts and not emotions.
It was definitely an act unbecoming of a sr.exec of a bank.Mr.Panda should have allowed the driver to remain in his seat,take care of Mr Bhasin's luggage himself and locked himself in the luggage boot!!Further, why did he arrange for 'dhotis'? Couldn't he have arranged for two sets of Lee or any other foreign branded denim pants and T-shirts?! Che! Che! What kind of GMs we have in our PSU Banks!!
I felt ashamed to read the news. If Bhasin has got guts let him take action against the driver who is also indian bank staff.Bhasin could not touch the driver hair,becauce the powerful union will call a strike next day. but Bhasin should think a while,even the dog standing outside in his headoffice willnot bother after he retires in 2or 3 years
The episode is a blot on the entire banking system. Mr Bhasin should think once, when he was the GM in the earlier Bank, had such incident happened what would have been his feelings. It is a sad commentary that when you alight from the aircraft and get into the lounge, if batallion of tie wearing executives are waiting with perspiration and anxiety, surely some chairman of a Bank has arrived. Such people will salute the peon at the gate of Finance Ministry. These people become orphans once they retire not knowing what is the Exit gate or Entrance to any place. Government should come down heavily on such acts of arrogance
If Panda's action was deliberate, which only Bhasin could evaluate, then suspension is warranted. Otherwise, these kind of mistake do occur in life and Bhasin should show his big heart. I hope ego is not playing here.
Do the duties of a senior executive, of the rank of General Manager, of a PSU Bank include supervising loading of luggage of the CMD? While one may accept the local Zonal Manager receiving the CMD at the airport as a courtesy (should not be expected by a head honcho who is a true professional, but we don't expect PSU Babus to be professional), acting like CMD's man servant is slavish. Mr.Panda's suspension for his "crime" is unbelievable, even by PSU standards. Just shows the pathetic situation in PSU Banks. Will Mr.Pranab Mukherjee take action, if this story is true?
The suspended employee must file suit in court against the decision to punish him for a simple accident which resulted in the delay. The incident had nothing to do with the performance of his duties or with rude and aggressive behaviour.Is it part of a Regional Manager's duties to go to the airport and pick up his boss?
This is the problem with India. Managers, especially those in the public sector, think of themselves as god. They don't realize that they're ultimately workers, who are working for the shareholders (in this case the people of India). The malai-maaro" culture has penetrated the PSUs, where the promotions are based on how well you apply butter, not your merit.
Point No: 1 Everyone who is in power must put him/her into the shoes of the GM of the bank and see the issue. How would he feel if the reverse had happend? Point No: 2: Learn to accept human errors and think of solution instead of punishment. Point No: 3: Definite qualifying exams for such attitude to be taken before appointing such people not only at the higher level, but to any level in the company, Becoz, today's manager may be the Chairman tomorrow?
The incident of General Manager Indian Bank suspension for an accidental mistake in flattery is not uncommon in banking industry. Every day one officer or the other in banking industry is transferred to remote and critical place only because he or she did not flatter well to his or her boss. Not only this, officers who fail to satisfy their bosses by gifts and unrestricted flattery are rejected in promotion processes. Whimsical transfer and arbitrary promotion superseding several senior and experienced officers is the well accepted tradition in public sector banks. Performance in bank is of no significance if one is not well versed in the art of flattery. This is one of the main reason why quality of lending is deteriorating in government banks and officers willfully avoid monitoring of bad assets and prefer to do what is warranted to keep the boss and his family happy and prosperous. .Practically officers who have expertise in keeping boss happy can survive with dignity and hence honest performers are sidelined in promotion processes and posting. Case of Indian Bank GM is not an isolated one. Numerous cases o f humiliation to subordinate officers occurs in banks when sweet will of boss is not fulfilled. Injustice in transfer and promotion meted out to juniors are numerous but unnoticed. Undoubtedly such cases of humiliating behavior by top ranked officers promote flattery and bribery culture and ultimately strike at the root of the health of the bank. There is however none to take of such excesses as happened with Indian Bank GM who had to suffer erosion in his public image for none of his fault. After all he had gone to receive CMD at the airport with good intention. He never believed that for a petty mistake he will be suspended by arrogant CMD.
pl forward aathese comments to mr.Bhastin and finance ministry and indian bank board .let them minute them for the shake of record
A typical PSU story. For one reported as such, there are a minimum of a thousand which go unheard.Ego in these fellows is swollen to an extent they stop thinking through their heads. Its a sad commentary on our persisting slave mentality with the hangover of the British Raj still lingering in the neo burra sahibs. He should be terminated (the CMD) of course ! Rest is with the even burra sahibs of South Block. They will not see anything amiss in the story. Their egos are even more swollen. God save the country !
THIS IS THE TRUTH OF INDIAN BANK, WHERE OFFICERS ARE TREATED AS ANIMALS... THE BANK IS FACING A BIG RISK OF MASS RETIREMENT...ALMOST 2500 OUT OF 19000 ODD STAFF APPLIED FOR VRS..THIS IS APART FROM 500 ODD RETIREMENT HAPPENS EVERY YEAR...AND 90% OF THE NEWLY RECRUITED OFFICERS LEAVE THE BANK IN A YEAR...
Who is this guy Bhasin? Why should some one of the rank of Zonal Manager should go to the airport to receive him. Why can'y the Bank entrust a taxi company like Meru Cabs or Mega Cab to fetch him at the airport and take him to the hotel. This s absolute nonsense that senior officers from the bank instead of doing their job in their offices should waste their valuable time in receiving people like Mr. Bhasin at the airport? Are we living in the 21 Century India or 7th century Feudal India. This practice must stop. Mr. Bhasin should immediately be taken to task for even expecting some one at the airport to receive him. If he cannot take a taxi to the hotel, he has no business to be the CMD of a big bank. Mr. Panda should be penalised for leaving his job in the bank during ofice hours and going to the airport to receive his boss. People should stop behaving like slaves.
I agree. Both Bhasin and Panda are living off public money. A Chairman of a large set up is supposed to be not only intelligent but also a human. I would expect him to find his way out of a jungle leave alone Mumbai. And Panda should have excused himself out of the COURTSEY sought by the chairman.
Who is this guy Bhasin? Why should some one of the rank of Zonal Manager should go to the airport to receive him. Why can'y the Bank entrust a taxi company like Meru Cabs or Mega Cab to fetch him at the airport and take him to the hotel. This s absolute nonsense that senior officers from the bank instead of doing their job in their offices should waste their valuable time in receiving people like Mr. Bhasin at the airport? Are we living in the 21 Century India or 7th century Feudal India. This practice must stop. Mr. Bhasin should immediately be taken to task for even expecting some one at the airport to receive him. If he cannot take a taxi to the hotel, he has no business to be the CMD of a big bank. Mr. Panda should be penalised for leaving his job in the bank during ofice hours and going to the airport to receive his boss. People should stop behaving like slaves.
This is it... Pranab, the FM under whose control these banks exist, has the opportunity to make this episode a show piece and discipline the erring official who wrote the letter and demote the MD to a lesser pensionable position. When you hit these guys in their pocket books, others take note.....
The same abusive, vindictive CMD,I am sure, would be willing to bend down in front of some finance ministry official. I don't know when India will get freedom from these brown masters. A suitable punishment would be ask this shameless CMD to explain his actions to his children or grand children.
This man Bhasin has not imagined his plight in a situation where the same thing happens when he goes to receive some FinMin officer. He in fact does not deserve the courtsey he demanded from Panda. And Panda had no business going to receive Bhasin. A liaison officer in this case is enough
I just don't believe this!!! Why is somebody with the rank of a General Manager driving the CMD? Can't he take a taxi? So, what if he had to wait an hour? Our CEO, with over 300,000 employees, visits our office now and then and he simply rents a car and drives himself. It is people like this CMD with a sense of entitlement that keep India from growing faster than it should. I said that I don't believe this. But in hindsight, it is perfectly possible... in India... unfortunately. - Suze
Your CMD is surely not an Indian bureaucrat. The people in your organisation must have reached where the are on the strength of their abilities and not by making trips to the airports
this is really an amazing story, how can any CMD suspend any employee for any oout of office work,, the CMD should immediately be sacked for expecting any support out of office premises.
While appreciating the CMDs suffering it would be very harsh to take action for such a incident on a senior official of a national bank, that too in the rank of a General Manager. And whether CMD or any top official, how ethical is the custom of a reputed institution like this bank to ask a GM ranking officer to come to receive the CMD and then insult like this for a natural mistake which wouldnt have occured if someone else was deputed to receive and take care of the comfort of CMD. GMs are not there for looking after comfort or personal matters of Top officials whoever they are. It is to be condemned first and CMD must apologise to the junior for the insult and notice served to the later. This is autocracy at the helm of a bank.
Very disturbing trend in bank managements. Such behavior is seen in politicians. The top bank echelons are considered as decent,composed and dignified. It is true that power unclothes the personalities.
He's now going to fire someone for leaking the news, and then proceed to cancel IndExpress subscriptions at all branches, withhold all publicity spending on the paper, and mess with the housing loan of any top IndExpress exec. ... And then look in the mirror, and admire himself for sheer dickheadedness achieved by a lifetime of brown-nosing.
Bombay Zonal Indian Bank CMD has felt slighted at being made to wait at Mumbai airport for a good 25 mins while the keys to his pick-up car were mistakenly left inside and the car door slammed shut accidently during the loading of his baggage into the booth. The recepient of the CMD's anger is the bank's zonal General Manager who is likely to lose his job for his 'lack of basic courtesy' in ensuring swift service. The GM Banabihari Panda explains he has worked with the bank for the past 34 years and has never failed in his duties at any time, pleading innocence at the unfortunate incident. PSU top line executives are a pampered lot and feel slighted when lower rung employees fail to extend timely service to their 'basic needs', as to be kept waiting for whatever reason is something that irks them and belittles their high status. Promotions are the first weapons used to punish the erring worker, but to sack them from their job is over-extending the boss's right to unequal revenge.
I think the CMD should be thrown out for behaving inhumanely. The CMD of the bank behaves like a "Chaprashi" (peon) in front of officials in the finance ministry as low as joint secretary. He is behaving as a king to his satff.