ADDITIONAL BENCH STATE CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL COMMISSION, PUNJAB, CHANDIGARH Date of Institution : 25.11.2024 Date of Reserve : 17.02.2026 Date of Decision : 10.03.2026

1. Punjab Gramin Vikas Bank, having its Head Office at Jalandhar Road, Kapurthala.

2. The Manager Punjab Gramin Vikas Bank, having its branch office at Noordi Adda, Tarn Taran, District Tarn Taran.

Both appellants through its Branch Manager, Dalbir Singh.

….Appellants/Opposite parties No.1 & 2 Versus

1. Kulwant Singh S/o Sardool Singh R/o Village Kambo P.O.

Maluwal, Tehsil & District Tarn Taran, Punjab.

….Respondent/Complainant

2. Deputy Director Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department, Punjab having office at Goindwal Road, Railway Crossing, Tarn Taran.

……Respondent/Opposite party No.3 First Appeal under Section 15 of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 against the order dated 23.10.2024 of the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Tarn Taran.

Quorum:-

Mr.Harinderpal Singh Mahal, Presiding Judicial Member Mrs. Kiran Sibal, Member Present:-

For the appellants : Sh.Ajay Sapehia, Advocate For respondent No.1 : Sh.Kulwant Singh, in person For respondent No.2 : Sh.Bareen Pratap Singh, AAG, Pb.

with Sh.J.P.Singh, Auth. Rep.

HARINDERPAL SINGH MAHAL, PRESIDING JUDICIAL MEMBER This appeal has been preferred by the appellants/opposite parties No.1 & 2 –Punjab Gramin Bank against the order dated 23.10.2024 passed by District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Tarn Taran, whereby the complaint filed by the respondent/complainant under the Consumer Protection Act, was decided by passing the following order:

“9) From the facts and circumstances of the case the opposite parties No.1 and 2 are directed to forward the case of the complainant for the release of subsidy to the opposite party No.3 under NABARD/Prevedant scheme within one month from the date of receipt of copy of this order and thereafter, the opposite party No.3 is directed to release the subsidy claim of the complainant within further one month in the interest of justice, failing which subsidy claim amount of the complainant will be liability of the opposite parties No.1 to 3 jointly and severally. Opposite parties are directed to comply with the order within stipulated period as mentioned above, failing which the complainant is entitled to interest @9% per annum on the subsidy amount, from the date of complaint till its realization.”

It would be apposite to mention that hereinafter the parties will be referred, as have been arrayed before the District Commission.

2. Brief facts of the complaint are that the complainant is a farmer having specialization in Pig Farming. Being specialized, he wanted to establish one Pig Farm in the open vicinity near his residence and for that he requires Rs.8 lakh. It is submitted that as per the loan scheme in similar projects, The Punjab Government (Animal, Husbandry & Veterinary) was to provide the loan through Punjab Gramin Vikas Bank to Pig Farmers at 25% subsidy from Punjab Government. All the formalities were fulfilled or performed by the opposite parties jointly. The opposite parties failed to deposit Rs.2 lakh in the loan account of the complainant even after lapse of one year, whereas the complainant deposited the rest of the loan amount in the loan account of the Bank. The complainant approached the opposite parties to deposit subsidy amount in the loan account of the complainant. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Government issued new directions for shifting the pig farm due to health reasons. Complying with the directions, the complainant had to shift more than half kilometer from its original location. For this, the complainant had to spent Rs.2 lakh from his own pocket, which was to be compensated by the Government. On 21.12.2022, the opposite parties issued a letter to the complainant that he is not eligible for receiving any subsidy from them but no speaking order or reason has been given. Earlier a complaint was filed by the complainant, which was withdraw