RBI employees resent ''government interference''

The employee unions of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday expressed their deep concern over alleged interference by the central government in the affairs of the apex bank.

The employees gave vent to their resentment over the alleged interference through a letter addressed to RBI Governor Urjit Patel.

The letter asked the Governor whether a recent media report, according to which the Finance Ministry had deputed a Joint Secretary-level officer to the RBI to oversee its currency chest operations, is true.

"Our attention has been drawn to a recent news item -- `Finance Ministry sends Joint Secretary to co-ordinate RBI cash ops`.

"If true, this is most unfortunate and we take strong exception to this measure of the government as impinging on the RBI`s autonomy and its statutory as well as operational jurisdiction," the letter read.

"Having put RBI in a quandary, now the Finance Ministry have placed their official, as reported, on RBI set-up to `co-ordinate`, allegedly. 

"Apart from showing RBI operations and its gigantic performance in poor light, the government now blatantly encroaches on its jurisdiction, which, we state strongly, we cannot accept."

"We want to state very categorically that RBI is fully capable `to co-ordinate the central bank`s currency chest operations`, which RBI have been performing over decades, and we do not need any `assistance` from anywhere," the employees wrote.

The employee unions pointed out that the criticism faced by the RBI for alleged operational mismanagement during the recently-concluded demonetisation drive has dented its image `beyond repair`.

"It is painful to note that RBI is being criticised from many quarters for its `operational mismanagement`, by the press and many important personalities. Its autonomy and image have been dented beyond repair," the letter stated.

"Such critics include even former RBI Governors. An image of efficiency and independence that RBI assiduously built up over decades by the strenuous effort of its staff and judicious policy making has gone into smithereens in no time. We feel extremely pained, we reiterate," it added.

The unions also requested the RBI Governor to protect the central bank`s autonomy and prestige.