GAHC010100252024 undefined THE GAUHATI HIGH COURT (HIGH COURT OF ASSAM, NAGALAND, MIZORAM AND ARUNACHAL PRADESH)

Case No. : WA/175/2024 MRS. PURABI DEKA W/O MR. DHARMESWAR DEKA, R/O CHANDMARI, P.O.-SILPUKHURI, P.S.-CHANDMARI, DIST-KAMRUP (M), PIN-781003, ASSAM

2: NABA KANTA BORA S/O LATE GOLAK CHANDRA BORA R/O PRAGATI RESIDENCY BLOCK X BARNACHAL PATH BYE LANE NO. 1 BAMUNIMAIDAM GUWAHATI-781021 DIST-KAMRUP (M)

ASSAM -VERSUS THE STATE BANK OF INDIA REPRESENTED BY THE CHAIRMAN, STATE BANK BHAWAN, M.C. ROAD, NARIMAN POINT, MUMBAI, MAHARSTHRA, PIN-400028 2:THE BRANCH MANAGER STATE BANK OF INDIA G.N.B. ROAD SILPUKHURI GUWAHATI-781003 DIST-KAMRUP (M)

ASSAM

3:THE BRANCH MANAGER STATE BANK OF INDIA M.C. ROAD BAROWARI GUWAHATI-781001 DIST- KAMRUP (M) ASSAM 4:PARESH KUMAR GOGOI S/O LATE KULA DHAR GOGOI R/O FLAT NO. 410 LAXMI NIWAS SAMMANYA PATH SURVEY, BELTOLA GUWAHATI-781028 KAMRUP (M) ASSAM For the appellants : Mr. M. Sarma, Advocate For the respondents : Mr. K. Das, Advocate for Respondent Nos.1, 2 & 3 Mr. B. Chakraborty, Advocate Mr. S.P. Bhattacharjee and Ms. A. Khasnabish, Advocates for Respondent No.4.

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HON’BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE MR. ASHUTOSH KUMAR HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE ARUN DEV CHOUDHURY

25-02-2026 (Ashutosh Kumar, C.J.)

We have heard Mr. M. Sarma, learned Advocate for the appellants and Mr. K. Das, learned Advocate for the respondent Nos.1 to 3 and Mr. B. Chakraborty, learned Advocate assisted by Mr. S.P. Bhattacharjee and Ms. A. Khasnobish, learned Advocates for respondent No.4

2. The challenge in this appeal is to the judgment dated 22.04.2024 passed by a learned Single Judge of this Court in WP(C) 3946/2023, whereby no interference has been made at the instance of the appellants against a decision of the Bank to freeze the account of the firm on the complaint and asking of respondent No.4.

3. The facts reveal that a partnership deed was executed between three partners, two being the appellants herein for establishing a firm under the name and style of “Pragati”. According to the partnership deed, all the partners had agreed to take active part in enhancement and conduct of the partnership business and its other affairs as working partners of the firm. It was also stipulated in the deed that any two of the partners could jointly execute any agreement etc. with any other party on behalf of the firm. So far as operation of the bank account in the name of the firm is concerned, the partnership deed clearly stated that the firm shall open an account with any bank or banks in the name of the partnership firm, namely, M/s Pragati and all cheques drawn on the partnership account shall be signed jointly by any two of the partners of the firm.

Over a passage of time, dispute arose between the partners and the respondent No.4, sensing foul play at the hands of the appellants as partners, wrote a letter to the Branch Managers of the two branches of the State Bank of India where firm account had been opened, to freeze the same/stop payments on account of the possibility of siphoning off/swindling the money in the joint account of the firm.

It further appears that on 23.05.2023, the firm stood dissolved at the instance of the appellant No.1.

4. Mr. Sarma, learned Advocate has, however, contended that the decision to stop payment or to freeze the firm account was taken unilaterally by the two branches of the State Bank of India on 11.04.2023 without even intimating the appellants. This could not have been done as before the dissolution of the firm, there were certain payment liabilities of the firm, which obligation could not be discharged for the reason of the account having been frozen by the two branches of the State Bank of India.

5. A Title Suit (T.S. No.323/2023) also appears to have been filed by the appellants for rendition of account which is still pending consideration.

Thereafter, the appellants approached this Court seeking a writ of mandamus directing the State Bank of India/respondent Nos.1 to 3 to allow the appellants to operate