Orissa HC Backs Bank of Baroda in Transfer Refusal Case

Bhubaneswar: The Orissa High Court has upheld the dismissal of a Bank of Baroda employee who refused to comply with a transfer order, ruling that personal responsibilities cannot override professional obligations in public service.

A division bench comprising Justice Krishna S Dixit and Justice Chittaranjan Dash observed that adherence to transfer policies is essential for institutional discipline and efficiency.

The court rejected the employee’s plea that the dismissal violated principles of natural justice, finding no substantial evidence to support the claim.

In its judgment, the bench drew on literary references, including Khalil Gibran’s reflections on work and Ellen Sturgis Hooper’s writings on responsibility, to emphasise that professional duties must take precedence over personal challenges.

The ruling underscores that resistance to transfers undermines administrative discipline and smooth functioning, affirming that the dismissal was legally valid and procedurally sound.