Mrs. Rajyalakshmi Rao, Member—This case reveals to what extent the bank officers can be either negligent or commit fraud. Admittedly, the bank locker was allotted to the complainant by Punjab and Sind Bank, Begam Pul Branch, Meerut, U.P., in the year 1979. It was broken open at the instance a person who had already surrendered the locker on 24th October, 1997, i.e., virtually after 18 years as if he has kept the articles in the locker and was permitted to take it away golden jewellery with the connivance or active participation of the officers concerned. For the loss suffered by the Complainants with regard to the golden ornaments belonging to the Complainants and the golden jewellery and ornaments belonging to the daughter-in-law whose marriage was performed in January, 1996, the complainants are required to knock the doors of this Commission. Unfortunately, they are required to wait for years, because all sorts of defences are raised in such complaint. For the reasons stated below, we hold that there is nothing on record to establish that whatever is stated by the complainants in the FIR is in anyway erroneous and on that basis, we accept this

complaint and award the amoun