INDIAN BANK OFFICERS ASSOCIATION Vs. INDIAN BANK

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE petitioner is the Indian Bank Officers' Association, which is a registered body, functioning in the respondent Bank. It is also recognized by the Bank and in respect of the major issues relating to service conditions, they are having negotiations and have arrived at minutes of understanding on such matters.

(2.) IN the present case the short question that arises for consideration is as to the rate of House Rent Allowance. The issue relating to the House Rent Allowance for officers is governed by INdian Bank Officers' Service Regulations, framed under Section 19(2) read with Section 12 of the Banking companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act 1970(Central Act 5 of 1970). Regulation 22 deals with House Rent Allowance. The House Rent Allowance has been revised with effect from 1.11.1994 and different rates of house rent allowance is paid depending upon the place where the banks are situated.

(3.) AS per the counter affidavit, meetings were held on 13.3.1998 and 14.3.1998 between the representatives of the petitioner association and the bank and the bank also claims that they have informed the members that they will not allow unauthorized drawal of house rent allowance. It is at this stage, the writ petition was filed challenging the action of the bank in making recoveries on the basis of alleged wrong understanding of Regulation 22.