IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 24^TH DAY OF MARCH, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM WRIT PETITION NO. 11114 OF 2025 (GM-RES)

BETWEEN:

1. MRS. B. CHAMUNDI BUVANESWARI W/O. MR.M. BALASUBRAMANIAM, AGED ABOUT 60 YEARS, RESIDING AT NO.15, 2^ND MAIN ROAD, BINNY LAYOUT, ATTIGUPPE, BANGALORE-560 040

2. MR. M BALASUBRAMANIAM, S/O. LATE MR. MARUTHA CHETTIAR, AGED ABOUT 65 YEARS, RESIDING AT NO. 15, 2^ND MAIN ROAD, BINNY LAYOUT, ATTIGUPPE, BANGALORE-560 040.

…PETITIONERS (BY SRI. ROHIT RAJKUMAR KUKREJA.,ADVOCATE)

AND:

Digitally signed by CHAITHRA A Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, FINANCE DEPARTMENT, VIDHANA SOUDHA, BANGALORE - 560001

2. THE MANAGER, STATE BANK OF INDIA, VIJAYANAGAR BRANCH (07985), NO.2, 5^TH MAIN, CHBHS, 1^ST LAYOUT, NEAR BDA COMPLEX, GOVINDRAJ NAGAR, BANGALORE - 560040.

3. SMT. SRISUBHASHINI, W/O. VIKRAM SRIKANTH B., D/O. MR. SHANMUGASUNDARAM, AGED ABOUT 34 YEARS, RESIDING AT NO.2/2 NRS NAGAR, NARASIMHANAICKEN PALAYAM, COIMBATORE- 641 031 …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. ADITYA DIWAKAR, AGA FOR R1;

SMT. SADANA S DESAI, ADVOCATE FOR R2;

SRI. KIRAN KUMAR H.S., ADVOCATE FOR R3)

THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 & 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO DIRECTING THE RESPONDENT NO.2 TO FORTHWITH INITIATE THE BREAK-OPEN PROCEDURE FOR THE PETITIONERS LOCKER IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE APPLICABLE BANKING REGULATIONS AND FACILITATE ITS FORMAL CLOSURE, THEREBY GRANTING THE PETITIONERS ACCESS TO THEIR LAWFUL PROPERTY.

THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM

ORAL ORDER

Captioned petition is filed seeking following reliefs:-

"a) Issue an appropriate writ of mandamus or any other writ, order, or direction, directing the Respondent No.2 to forthwith initiate the break-open procedure for the Petitioners' locker in accordance with the applicable banking regulations and facilitate its formal closure, thereby granting the Petitioners access to their lawful property;

b) Direct the Respondent No.2 to prepare an inventory of the locker's contents in the presence of authorized Bank officials and an independent neutral party, ensuring compliance with procedural safeguards;

c) Direct the Respondent No.2 to furnish the locker usage ledger from the year 2016 till date, ensuring that the Respondent No.2 is maintaining proper and correct records.

d) Direct the Respondent No.2 to compensate the Petitioners for the mental agony, harassment, and financial loss suffered due to the Bank's arbitrary and illegal conduct by awarding damages of ₹50,000 (Rupees Fifty Thousand Only) or such other amount as this Hon'ble Court may deem just and proper in the interest of justice;

e) Pass such other order or orders as this Hon'ble Court deems fit to grant in the circumstances of the case in the interest of justice and equity."

2. The petitioners, who are the parents-in-law of respondent No.3 (daughter-in-law), have approached this Court alleging inaction on the part of respondent No.2– Bank. Their grievance is that, despite repeated requests, the Bank has neither permitted the locker to be broken open in accordance with due procedure nor facilitated access to its contents by preparing an inventory in the presence of authorised officials and an independent neutral witness. The petitioners are further aggrieved by the failure of the Bank to furnish the locker operation/usage ledger from the year 2016 till date.

3. Heard the learned counsel appearing for the petitioners, the learned counsel for respondent No.2– Bank, the learned Additional Government Advocate for the State, and the learned counsel appearing for respondent No.3.

4. A perusal of the records indicates that there exists a matrimonial dispute between the petitioners’ son, namely Vikram Srikanth B, and respondent No.3 (daughter-in-law). It is evident that the petitioners’ son had instituted proceedings seeking dissolution of marria