Premium

Bank CEO refuses to stop clerk’s transfer on MLA’s request, suspended for ‘hurting her ego’

Madhya Pradesh HC notes calls it a ‘case of undue pressure being exerted and not a case of general public grievance’

The court said that "it does not appear to be a case of the MLA bringing to notice of the petitioner some general public grievance within his or her constituency”. (File Photo)

Observing that it was a “case of undue pressure being exerted and not a case of general public grievance”, the Madhya Pradesh High Court recently observed that the CEO of a bank was suspended because an MLA’s ego was hurt.

The petitioner, the Chief Executive Officer of the Central Cooperative Bank of District Sidhi, was accused of using unparliamentary language against a woman member of the legislative assembly, who was also the minister. The MLA was not named by the court in its order.

The petitioner told the court that he had transferred a bank employee, which angered the MLA, who called and scolded him for the transfer without informing her. He was suspended after the MLA accused him of using unparliamentary language.

Justice Vivek Jain held that the suspension order was “passed in exercise of excessive powers and actuated by bias and at the behest of the MLA” and that the MLA had “over-reached her jurisdiction to bring the just grievances of the public to the notice of the bank authority”.

It further stated that it “was a case of a clerk using his political connections to bring about cancellation ordered by the CEO.”

The court said that “it does not appear to be a case of the MLA bringing to notice of the petitioner some general public grievance within his or her constituency”.

“In the present case, it is duly indicated from the facts available on record that it was a case of undue pressure being exerted and not a case of general public grievance of the constituency being brought to the notice of the bank management,” the court said.

Story continues below this ad

The court observed that “it is, in fact, a case of the MLA feeling ego hurt by the refusal of the petitioner to accept her demand of cancellation of transfer of a clerk”.

The court observed that this case cannot be equated with the case of an MLA or MP recommending transfer order of an employee within his constituency, citing grievances of the public. “It was the case where the public representative was projecting the cause of a single employee holding the petty post of clerk and was pressuring the Chief Executive Officer of the Bank to cancel the transfer order… and it appears that the petitioner refused to buckle under pressure…,” the court said.

Anand Mohan J

Anand Mohan J is an award-winning Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently leading the bureau’s coverage of Madhya Pradesh. With a career spanning over eight years, he has established himself as a trusted voice at the intersection of law, internal security, and public policy. Based in Bhopal, Anand is widely recognized for his authoritative reporting on Maoist insurgency in Central India. In late 2025, he provided exclusive, ground-level coverage of the historic surrender of the final Maoist cadres in Madhya Pradesh, detailing the backchannel negotiations and the "vacuum of command" that led to the state being declared Maoist-free. Expertise and Reporting Beats Anand’s investigative work is characterized by a "Journalism of Courage" approach, holding institutions accountable through deep-dive analysis of several key sectors: National Security & Counter-Insurgency: He is a primary chronicler of the decline of Naxalism in the Central Indian corridor, documenting the tactical shifts of security forces and the rehabilitation of surrendered cadres. Judiciary & Legal Accountability: Drawing on over four years of experience covering Delhi’s trial courts and the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Anand deconstructs complex legal rulings. He has exposed critical institutional lapses, including custodial safety violations and the misuse of the National Security Act (NSA). Wildlife Conservation (Project Cheetah): Anand is a leading reporter on Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park. He has provided extensive coverage of the biological and administrative hurdles of rewilding Namibian and South African cheetahs, as well as high-profile cases of wildlife trafficking. Public Health & Social Safety: His recent investigative work has uncovered systemic negligence in public services, such as contaminated blood transfusions causing HIV infections in thalassemia patients and the human cost of the fertilizer crisis affecting rural farmers. Professional Background Tenure: Joined The Indian Express in 2017. Locations: Transitioned from the high-pressure Delhi City beat (covering courts, police, and labor issues) to his current role as a regional lead in Madhya Pradesh. Notable Investigations: * Exposed the "digital arrest" scams targeting entrepreneurs. Investigated the Bandhavgarh elephant deaths and the impact of kodo millet fungus on local wildlife. Documented the transition of power and welfare schemes (like Ladli Behna) in Madhya Pradesh governance. Digital & Professional Presence Author Profile: Anand Mohan J at Indian Express Twitter handle: @mohanreports ... Read More

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram

Tags:
Madhya Pradesh