Surat Cooperative Banking Sector Protests Census 2027 Staff Deployment Order

Surat | Gujarat — A major controversy has erupted in Surat over the deployment of employees from non-scheduled cooperative banks for Census 2027 and related electoral duties, with banking bodies warning that the move could severely disrupt essential financial services across the city.

The dispute began after orders issued through the Surat District Co-operative Registrar directed around 224 employees from various cooperative banks to participate in census enumeration work. The instructions were reportedly sent directly via WhatsApp, triggering strong objections from the banking sector.

The South Gujarat Co-operative Banks Association (SCOBA) has formally lodged a written protest with the Census Officer, demanding immediate exemption for cooperative bank employees from census duties.

Mukesh Gajjar, former president of SCOBA, strongly criticised the decision, stating, “Cooperative banks are part of essential services. Under RBI guidelines, uninterrupted banking operations are mandatory. With limited staff strength, especially in smaller banks, deploying employees for census work will directly impact customers and financial stability.”

He further added that many cooperative banks employ a significant number of women staff, making field deployment for census work practically difficult and operationally disruptive.

Banking unions in Surat have also joined the protest. The Banking Employees Union warned that if banking services are affected due to staff shortages, the responsibility would lie with the census authorities.

Legal objections have also been raised. Representatives of the Bank of India Officers Association have reportedly challenged the matter in the Gujarat High Court, arguing that banks do not fall under local self-government bodies and therefore cannot be compelled to participate in census duties under Section 4A of the Census Act.

Meanwhile, SCOBA has decided to escalate the issue to the Gujarat Cooperation Minister, the State Registrar of Cooperative Societies, and the Federation of Cooperative Banks, seeking urgent intervention.

The cooperative banking sector maintains that while census operations are important, essential financial services must not be compromised, warning that the order could impact daily banking operations for small traders, businesses, and common citizens across Surat.