National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) ne Bank of Baroda ke khilaaf faisla sunaaya hai. Bank ne ek joint account holder ko bina bataaye fixed deposit receipts (FDRs) release kiye, jo ki “service ki kami” hai.
Case ka Background
Kamal Kumar Sajnani ne bank ke saath fixed deposit schemes mein paisa lagaya tha. Unka kehna hai ki yeh paisa unki personal savings se aaya tha. Lekin, yeh fixed deposits unke aur unki wife ke naam par bane the, kyunki Sajnani tab Spain mein reh rahe the.
Baad mein, Sajnani ka apni wife ke saath rishta kharab ho gaya, aur unhe account ka operation badalne ka mann hua. Unhone bank se kaha ki dono ke signatures chahiye honge kisi bhi transaction ke liye. Iske bawajood, bank ne FDRs unki wife ko de di, bina Sajnani ko inform kiye.
Complaint and Initial Ruling
Sajnani ne State Commission mein bank ke khilaaf shikayat ki, kehte hue ki bank ne sahi procedure follow nahi kiya. State Commission ne Sajnani ki baat ko kuch had tak maana aur bank ko Rs. 1 lakh ka fine bharne ka hukm diya, jo unhe mental stress aur pareshani ki wajah se diya gaya tha.
Bank’s Defense
Bank of Baroda ne kaha ki unhone sabhi legal rules aur banking norms follow kiye. Unhone yeh bhi kaha ki payment “good faith” mein ki gayi thi, matlab unka maanna tha ki unhone sahi kaam kiya hai.
Final Decision by the National Commission
Ye case National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission ke paas gaya, jahan NCDRC ne dekha ki bank ne dono joint account holders ko sahi tarike se inform nahi kiya. NCDRC ne kaha ki Sajnani ne jab signature ka request kiya tha, tab bank ka fail hona clear “deficiency in service” hai.
National Commission ne State Commission ke faisle ko uphold kiya aur bank ki appeal ko kharij kar diya.
Conclusion
Is case se yeh clear hota hai ki banks ka yeh duty hota hai ki wo sabhi account holders ko inform karein, khaas kar jab account operation mein changes ki request ki jaati hai. Is case mein, Bank of Baroda ne sahi procedure follow nahi kiya, jiski wajah se yeh ruling Sajnani ke haq mein aayi.
