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2021 Supreme(Online)(NCDRC) 488

NATIONAL CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL COMMISSION
MR. JUSTICE RAM SURAT RAM MAURYA, PRESIDING MEMBER
RAGHUNANDAN PRASAD – Appellant
Versus
ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER, STATE BANK OF INDIA – Respondent
REVISION PETITION NO. 554 OF 2021 | Appeal No. 64/2017



Advocates:
For the Appellants/Petitioners: Mr. Ritesh Patil
For the Respondents:

The court upheld the findings of the lower forums stating that no extension application for the term deposit existed, affirming the bank's treatment of the account.

Headnote:(A) Consumer Protection Act, 1986 - Section 2 - Revision against the order of State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission - Compensation not awarded as per application for TDR extension; multiple findings regarding no deficiency in service. (Paras 2, 3, 9, 10)

(B) Deficiency of Service - Bulk of claims rests on the validity of extensions requested. The district and state commissions noted inconsistencies in requested renewal, indicating no supporting application was submitted for the contested dates. The Ombudsman also did not find such application for extension. (Paragraphs 4, 9)

Facts of the case:
The petitioner had deposited Rs. 6 lakhs and alleged inappropriate handling of his term deposit by the bank leading to financial losses.

Findings of Court:
The petition lacked merit, given sufficient grounds from prior proceedings substantiating bank's actions.

Issues: Central query involves the existence and validity of the application for TDR renewal; if the bank's actions led to any deficiency in service.

Ratio Decidendi: The decision emphasized that concurrent findings from lower forums are not to be interfered with unless stark errors are evident.

Result: Revision dismissed.

Table of Content
1. overall dismissal of the revision petition. (Para 1)
2. review of consumer complaint process. (Para 2 , 3)
3. challenges on evidence regarding tdr renewal. (Para 4 , 6)
4. deficiency in service established yet compensations debated. (Para 5 , 7)
5. final determination on application validity. (Para 8 , 10)
ORDER

1. Heard Mr. Ritesh Patil, Advocate for the petitioner.

2. This revision petition has been filed against the order of State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Bihar at Patna dated 18.12.2019 passed in First Appeal No. 64 of 2017, whereby the State Commission has partly allowed the appeal and awarded Rs.1,75,000/- as compensation by way of interest on the amount deposited by the petitioner and Rs.25,000/- as cost of litigation, to the petitioner.

3. The petitioner filed Consumer Complaint alleging that he had deposited Rs. 6 lakhs in State Bank of India, Secretariat Branch at Patna on 09.01.1998 under Term Deposit (TDR) for a period of two months. The petitioner applied for an overdraft of Rs.1,50,000/- against the aforesaid TDR on 28.02.2001. The petitioner also filed an application on 03.03.2001, for extending the TDR for 60 months with effect from 09.03.1998 to 08.03.2003, which was allowed by Assistant General Manager. But ignoring the order of Assistant General Manager, after adjusting the amount of overdraft of Rs.1,50,000/- from maturity benefit, the remaining amount has been transferred to the account of the petitioner, due to which the petitioner suffered financial loss, on interest. On these allegations, the complaint was filed on 25.01.2007, claiming 12% p.a. interest on the amount deposited by him.

4. The bank contested the case and filed its written reply on 26.05.2007 in which it has been specifically denied that any application for extension/renewal of TDR was made on 03.03.2001. It has been stated that initial TDR of the petitioner was for a period of two months but as per rules of the bank, period of TDR was extended time to time up to 12.03.2001. When the petitioner applied for over draft on 28.02.2001, then after adjusting the amount of overdraft from maturity benefit of TDR, remaining amount was deposited in the savings account of the petitioner on 12.03.2001, according to the rules of the bank. The petitioner made a complaint in this respect before Bank Ombusdon, Patna, who after examining the case of the parties by order dated 06.11.2006 found that there was no application for extension/renewal of TDR as alleged dated 03.03.2001. When the petitioner took facility of overdraft on 28.02.2001 then as per rules of the bank the overdraft was adjusted from the maturity benefit of the TDR and the remaining amount was transferred to his account. The alleged application for renewal bears the date 03.04.2001 and it does not bear the signature of the Assistant General Manager as alleged. The complaint was not maintainable.

5. The petitioner filed rejoinder reply to the counter reply of the bank on 28.02.2006. Both the parties filed their affidavit of evidence before the District Forum. The District Forum by order dated 09.12.2013 dismissed the complaint holding that no application for renewal/extension of TDR was filed on 03.03.2001.The alleged application bears the date 03.04.2001, but does not bear the signature of the Assistant General Manager as alleged by the complainant. There was no deficiency in service. The petitioner challenged the aforesaid order in FA No.10 of 2014 before State Commission which was allowed by the State Commission by order dated 10.06.2015 and the matter was remanded to the District Forum for deciding, the Issue as to how the bank has made full and final payment of TDR adjusting the amount of overdraft Rs.1.25 lakhs, which was not even communicated to the complainant, although the circular of the bank dated 03.07.2006 provides a contrary provision for renewal of the TDR. The bank challenged the aforesaid order in Revision Petition No.2376 of 2015 before this Commissio

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