In a development which reminds one of NCCT Lecturers’ scam in the past, the Registrar of cooperatives in the state has dismissed the CEO of Jharkhand State Cooperative Bank. The incumbent is said to have got the job on the sly on a huge salary.
An order released from the office of Jharkhand cooperative registrar reads that the state government has dismissed Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, CEO of Jharkhand State Cooperative Bank from his position.
The reason for dismissal has been stated to be the illegal appointment of the CEO. Chaudhary has been paid Rs 3.18 lakh per month in the form of salary. After this dismissal, the government is preparing to recover about Rs 36 lakh given as salary to the CEO by violating the RBI guidelines.
It is reported that no advertisement for the appointment of the CEO in the bank was published. In the light of the decision taken at the board meeting, the application of this officer of NABARD was taken and appointed to the post of CEO in May 2019.
In order to appoint Vijay Chaudhary, the Chairman of the Board has changed the qualifications prescribed for this post thrice so that he could be appointed to this post. No search committee was formed, nor an interview was conducted for the appointment.
Abhay Kant Prasad is the Chairman of Jharkhand State Cooperative Bank Limited and he had been both MLA and MP in the past. Despite the fact that he has a reputation of being an honest man, Prasad was not forthcoming on the issue.
Indian Cooperative tried to talk to the Chairman twice but to no avail. Prasad did pick up the phone on Wednesday evening but on the pretext of not hearing our voice, he slammed the phone. Later he switched off the phone. Again, Thursday morning, we called him and he did hear us out but cut the phone without responding.
It bears recall that after the division of undivided Bihar into two states, the Jharkhand State cooperative bank was established in 2002. The Bihar State Cooperative Bank transferred Assets and Liabilities of 5 of its Branches situated in Jharkhand to it by 2012.
Government of Jharkhand has set up two tier co-operative credit structures. Under these all eight co-operative banks and their branches have merged and have become branches of JSCB.
There is just one Management at Jharkhand State Cooperative Bank catering to all branches as well as to all the affiliated LAMPS/PACS which act as service providers.