DCW Chairperson Swati Maliwal has issued a notice to Indian Bank seeking withdrawal of its new recruitment policy which denies immediate joining to a woman who is 3 or more months pregnant.

The Commission has taken suo-moto cognizance on media reports of framing of new guidelines by the Indian Bank for recruitment of staff. As per the media reports, a recent circular issued by the bank prevents women who are more than three-month pregnant from joining service, despite having been selected through due process.

The Bank has framed rules which state that if a woman candidate is three months pregnant, then she would be considered as ‘temporarily unfit’ and would not be given immediate joining upon her selection. This will lead to delay in their joining and subsequently they will lose their seniority.

In its notice, the Commission has stated that the alleged action of the bank is discriminatory and illegal as it’s contrary to the Maternity Benefits provided under ‘The Code of Social Security, 2020’.

Further, it discriminates on the basis of sex which is against the fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution of India.

The Commission has issued notice to Indian bank and has asked them to withdraw the newly issued anti-women guidelines and to provide complete details as to how the policy was framed along with its approving authority. The Bank has been asked by the Commission to provide a detailed action taken report in the matter by 23.06.2022.

It is pertinent to mention that similar rules were framed by the State Bank of India earlier this year, but the same were withdrawn immediately after the notice of the Delhi Commission for Women.

Maliwal has written a letter to the Governor of Reserve Bank of India. Ms. Maliwal in her letter has stated that banks like SBI and Indian Bank have issued anti women guidelines and need to be specifically discouraged from doing so.

DCW Chief has asked RBI Governor to intervene in the matter and issue directions to all banks in the country refraining them from making illegal and unconstitutional rules which discriminate against women.

“The Commission has also requested the RBI Governor to conduct an enquiry into the matter and fix accountability of the bank officials who have issued the sexist guidelines,” stated maliwal.

Maliwal added, *“It is not acceptable that a pregnant woman be termed as “Temporarily Unfit” and denied work opportunities. This reflects the patriarchal mind set and misogyny which is still prevalent in our society. The rules are discriminatory and illegal and should be immediately withdrawn. Further, banks should be discouraged from issuing such guidelines in future. I hope RBI will take strict action in the matter and will formulate guidelines and fix accountability restricting banks from making such rules.”*