JUDGMENT :

Harisankar V. Menon, J.

The petitioners have obtained certain credit facilities by pledging gold ornaments with the 1^st respondent herein, through its different branches. The petitioners contend that the rate of interest which ought to have been satisfied by them was 14.5% alone; however, the 1^st respondent bank unilaterally increased the same to 17%, in total disregard of the guidelines issued by the Reserve Bank of India. In such circumstances, the petitioners submitted Ext.P1 complaint before Banking Ombudsman (the 4^th respondent herein). The 1^st respondent Bank also submitted their written statement. Later, the Ombudsman issued Ext.P3 dated 18.08.2014, finding that the Bank had sanctioned the cash credit facilities to the petitioners below the BPLR, which was changed to the above base rate, and the same was also communicated to the peti