(a) whether the representation of independent Directors form Assam and North East States in the Boards of Nationalised Banks is very less;
(b) if so, the reasons thereof;
(c) the number of independent Directors from Assam & North East States represented in the Boards of Nationalised Banks; and
(d) the steps taken by the Government to remedy the situation?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI S.S. PALANIMANICKAM) :
(a) Yes, Sir.
(b) to (d) The non-official directors on the boards of nationalised banks are appointed under
clause.
(g), (h) and (i) of sub-section (3) of section 9 of the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer
of Undertakings) Act, 1970/1980. There is no provision in the Act to reserve seats on regional
basis. As per the criteria lard-down under the guidelines of selection part-time non-official
directors on the boards of nationalised banks, the suitability of nominees is assessed in terms
of formal qualification and expertise, track record, integrity etc. Recently, these guidelines
have been amended to provide that efforts should be made to ensure representation of all the six
zones of the country, i.e. North, South, East, West, Central and North - East on the boards of
nationalised banks taken together.