Unauthorised absence by RBI official grave misconduct: HC; upholds his removal

The Bombay High Court stated that an RBI employee’s unauthorized absence harms the public interest and constitutes serious misconduct, denying relief to a worker who had been dismissed.

Petitioner Animesh Bakuli held the position of senior assistant at the RBI, a role of responsibility from which he was absent without permission for an extended time, observed Justices R I Chagla and Advait Sethna in their June 10 order.

“Such unauthorized absence clearly harms the public interest and amounts to serious misconduct meriting dismissal,” the court remarked.

The court rejected Bakuli’s plea, holding that the RBI’s order to compulsorily retire him is free of any defect.

Bakuli asked the High Court to overturn the RBI’s February 2023 directive that compulsorily retired him due to unauthorized absence, and he also sought an order for the Bank to release his withheld salary and allowances, which had been stopped since December 2020 without notice.

He joined the RBI in 2013 and was appointed senior assistant in January 2018.

He repeatedly requested a transfer to Kolkata to stay with his parents, but the Reserve Bank denied each request.

Starting in March 2020, Bakuli stayed away from work without approval. The RBI repeatedly instructed him to resume duties or file a medical leave request, but he never replied.

Consequently, the RBI issued a show‑cause notice and launched an inquiry into his alleged violation of the bank’s rules and regulations.

According to the RBI, Bakuli neither responded to the notice nor attended the inquiry sessions to defend himself, leading to the final order that imposed compulsory retirement.

Bakuli contends that he moved to Kolkata to be with his parents during the COVID‑19 pandemic, which prevented him from reporting for duty.

In his petition, Bakuli argued that the penalty was excessive and that the inquiry breached natural justice because he was denied an opportunity to present his side.

The bench, however, observed that no such violation occurred, as Bakuli was afforded multiple chances to attend the disciplinary proceedings.

The High Court noted that Bakuli’s unauthorized absence left the RBI with no alternative but to commence disciplinary action.

In July 2020, amid the pandemic, the RBI announced that operations in the Central Office Departments would resume, provided safety protocols were followed.

Published on June 14, 2026