J&K Bank Sacks Senior Employee Sajad Bazaz in the 'Interest of State Security'

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Bank, the leading bank in the union territory, has dismissed a senior employee Sajad Ahmad Bazaz in what is seen as part of the ongoing crackdown against individuals considered as a threat to the “security of the state”.

According to a communique, issued by the bank’s MD and CEO Baldev Prakash, Bazaz, who served as the bank’s Chief Manager was relieved of his duties with immediate effect.

The Managing Director said he was satisfied after considering the facts and circumstances of the case in the report received from “credible agencies”, that the activities of Bazaz warranted his dismissal from service under Rule/Provision 12.29 of the Organizational Service Manual (OSM).

“It is not expedient to hold an enquiry in the case of Mr Sajad Ahmad Bazaz, Chief Manager, Code no. 4484,” the statement read.

The MD, however, did not share any further details regarding the issue and the case against Bazaz, who currently served in the internal communication and marketing department. According to sources in the Bank, Bazaz, who joined the financial institution in the early 1990s, was close to his retirement.

Bazaz was also a regular contributor to one of the Valley’s leading daily newspapers Greater Kashmir, where he wrote extensively on banking and finance.

His last article in the paper – titled India at 77 – was published on August 16 in which he underlined India’s domination in the global growth narrative. He also credited the Lt. Governor of the Jammu and Kashmir UT for a change that, he said, has brought accountability, transparency and merit that has pulled Kashmir out of the turmoil successfully.

“Today, Kashmir is fast re-emerging as a region with tolerant traditions and pluralistic democracy,” he wrote.

The action against Bazaz has triggered a fresh wave of insecurity within the institution which has over 12,000 employees and operates in as many as 18 states and four UTs across the country. The government of Jammu and Kashmir holds the majority shareholding of 68.18% in the bank as of March 31, 2021, according to the Bank's official website.

The authorities in the region have sacked over 50 government employees in the last two years under Section 311 of the Constitution. The employees include doctors, engineers, teachers, policemen, and an administrative official. In July, the UT admin sacked the PRO of the University of Kashmir, Faheem Aslam, who also wrote for GK, along with a revenue official and a policeman.

In 2021, the J&K Bank management had suspended a woman employee for her “inappropriate” reaction to a social media post regarding the death of the former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Bipin Rawat.