STATE CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL COMMISSION, PUNJAB, CHANDIGARH.

Date of institution : 04.04.2025 Reserved on : 13.11.2025 Date of Decision : 08.12.2025

1. State Bank of India, Bhupindra Road, Patiala through its Chief Manager, through Ms.Supriya, posted as Chief Manager, State Bank of India, Bhupinder Nagar Branch, Patiala (Branch Code:

50006) (Punjab).

2. State Bank of India through its Assistant General Manager, RBO-

3, Head Office, The Mall, Patiala through Ms.Supriya, posted as Chief Manager, State Bank of India, Bhupinder Nagar Branch, Patiala (Branch Code: 50006), Punjab.

….Appellants/Opposite Parties Versus Mohinder Singh Malhotra aged about 74 years son of Sohan Singh, resident of H.No.39, St.No.8-A, Anand Nagar-B, Patiala.

….…Respondent/Complainant First Appeal under Section 41 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 against the order dated 21.01.2025 passed by the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Patiala in CC No.179 of 2020.

Quorum:-

Hon’ble Mrs. Justice Daya Chaudhary, President Ms. Simarjot Kaur, Member Mr. Vishav Kant Garg, Member

1) Whether Reporters of the Newspapers may be allowed to see the Judgment? Yes/No

2) To be referred to the Reporters or not? Yes/No

3) Whether judgment should be reported in the Digest?

Yes/No Present:-

For the appellants : Sh.Chandeep Singh, Advocate For the respondent : Sh.G.S.Thind, Advocate SIMARJOT KAUR, MEMBER :

The Appellants/Opposite Parties have filed the present Appeal before this Commission to challenge the impugned order dated 21.01.2025 passed by the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Patiala (in short, “the District Commission”), whereby the Complaint filed by the Complainant had been allowed

2. It would be apposite to mention here that hereinafter the parties will be referred, as were arrayed before the District Commission.

3. Briefly, the facts of the case as made out by the Complainant in the Complaint filed before the District Commission are that the Complainant had hired locker facility 10 years ago from the OPs. He had been regularly paying annual charges towards the said locker from his salary account. Said account was also maintained with the State Bank of India. It was averred that the Complainant had visited the branch of the OPs at about 11:55 am on 16.10.2021 to operate the locker No.S-II/49. He was guided to the locker room by one officer namely Sh.Anoop Singh. The locker was found already open and there were signs of hitting of hammer/ twisting of border of locker door with some iron object. The matter was immediately brought to the notice of the then Chief Manager on the same day vide letter dated 16.10.2021. The incident was also reported to SHO, P.S. Civil Lines on 21.10.2021. The statement was recorded vide No.76/SD/PS/CL at P.S.Civil Lines Patiala on 25.10.2021. A registered letter was also sent to RBO-3, Patiala with a copy to General Manager, SBI, Chandigarh. A questionnaire filled by the Complainant was also obtained by the Bank on 15.12.2021 for perusal and investigation purposes.

4. It was also mentioned in the Complaint that an RTI Application was sent to SSP Patiala on 02.03.2022 with a copy to RBO-3, Patiala followed by E-mail sent to DGM-Admin Office Mohali dated 07.04.2022. On the same day a reminder was again sent to RBO-3 Patiala. It was further averred that a registered letter was again sent to Chief Manager, SBI Bhupindra Road, Patiala on 04.04.2022 with a copy to RBO-3. An email was also sent to know about the outcome of earlier letters sent by the Complainant. Again a letter mentioning reference of previous letter was sent to the OPs on 20.04.2022. It was averred that despite sending numerous letters/email/personal appearances no heed was paid by the OPs. They had delayed the matter on one pretext or the other. It was also averred that the Complainant had served legal notice dated 26.04.2022 upon OP but to no avail. The Complainant had suffered financial loss of Rs.12-14 lac after breakage of locker and theft of articles. He h