
The Bangalore I Additional District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission bench, consisting of B. Narayanappa (President), Jyothi N (Member), and Sharavathi SM (Member), recently ruled that the Central Bank of India was liable for deficiency in services. The bank failed to return the property documents that were submitted as a pledge by the complainants.
Background of the Case
The complainants, Mr. Syed Ismail and Mr. Syed Hussain, along with their father, had availed a joint loan of Rs. 20,00,000/- from the Central Bank of India. After the death of their father, one of the complainants, as the legal representative, fully repaid the outstanding loan amount. The bank issued a ‘No Due Certificate’ on 12.12.2022. However, on 23.12.2021, the bank informed the complainants that the documents had been misplaced and would be returned when found. Despite multiple requests from the complainants, the bank failed to respond or return the documents. As a result, the complainants approached the Bangalore I Additional District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission and filed a consumer complaint against the bank.
Bank’s Response and Commission’s Decision
The bank contended that the complaint was false, frivolous, and malicious. While admitting that the loan was repaid by the legal representatives, the bank claimed that the original title deeds and other documents were misplaced during the relocation of their premises. The bank informed the complainants about the misplacement on 23.12.2021 and filed a police complaint. The police authorized the bank to obtain certified copies of the documents, and the bank published a notice.
The Bangalore I Additional District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission referred to the ‘No Due Certificate’ issued by the bank to the complainants, which confirmed the closure of the housing loan. The commission noted that the missing documents included sale deeds, possession certificates, khatha certificates, tax receipts, building licenses, approved plans, and encumbrance certificates. Based on this, the commission held the bank liable for deficiency in services for failing to return the documents submitted by the complainants.
Commission’s Ruling
As a result of the ruling, the Bangalore I Additional District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission directed the Central Bank of India to compensate the complainants with an amount of Rs. 2,50,000/- along with interest. Additionally, the bank was ordered to pay the litigation costs of Rs. 10,000/- and an additional Rs. 5,000/- for the deficiency in services.
రుణం తీరాక, ఎవరు స్లెడ్జి చేశారో వారికి పత్రాలు తిరిగి ఇవ్వటానికి ఆలశ్యం చేయుట న్యాయం కాదు.
The bank should be made to bear the expenses for the duplicate set as the costs involved are sky high (official n un official)
This is apart from the penalty imposed