Delhi High Court issues notice of appeal against appointment of Union Bank executive director on sexual harassment allegations

The Delhi High Court on Thursday issued a notice filing a public interest litigation (PIL) against the appointment of Pankaj Dwivedi as executive director of Union Bank of India in connection with sexual harassment allegations made by a woman.

Dwivedi was appointed as Executive Director of Union Bank of India on March 27. His term of office is three years.

The jury consists of: Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedel issued a notice regarding the application submitted by the woman.

Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the woman, argued that the appointment was illegal as there was no vigilance check. He said it was against the rules for appointments of public sector undertakings like banks.

He added that a charge sheet has also been filed against Dwivedi for sexual harassment committed by the woman.

During the hearing, the judges questioned Dwivedi’s nomination and noted that the same could not be done without supervisory permission.

The court asked the Central Government’s lawyer how Dwivedi could be appointed if he was denied permission to supervise. He should not have been appointed without first seeking permission, it observed orally.

Before joining Union Bank of India, Dwivedi served as CEO of Punjab & Sind Bank.

In 2020, the Supreme Court had quashed the transfer of a woman who had filed a complaint over her allegations of irregularities and corruption involving Dwivedi in her unit, as well as her complaints against him alleging sexual harassment in 2018.

The woman wrote various communications to the authorities, drawing their attention to alleged irregularities in the maintenance of accounts of liquor vendors. She also made specific allegations of corruption against Dwivedi.

The Supreme Court ordered the woman to be re-employed in the said unit as a Scale IV officer for a period of one year. It also ordered the woman to pay Rs 50,000 in expenses.