PNB to pay Rs 17,000 relief for wrongfully dishonouring cheque

Tribune News Service

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Chandigarh, August 20

The UT Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed Punjab National Bank in Sector 23 to pay Rs 17,000 after a cheque that was issued through the bank was wrongfully dishonoured by them even though the money was debited from the account of their customer.

The forum has directed PNB to refund Rs.3,265 to the complainant and to pay Rs 10,000 as compensation on account of deficiency in service and causing mental and physical harassment to the complainant and to pay Rs 7,000 as cost of litigation.

The complainant, Subhadra Devi, had purchased an LIC policy in 1998 having a term of 20 years, with a sum assured of Rs 50,000. The yearly installment of the said policy was Rs 3,265 and the date of maturity was September 15, 2014.

It was averred that the complainant had been paying the installment of Rs 3,265 regularly. However on October 29, 2014, she received a notice stating that she had not paid the premium in September 2013). Accordingly, she approached the LIC and informed that she had made the payment of Rs 3,265 vide a cheque and the same amount was debited from her account. It has been further averred that inquiries from the LIC showed that the aforesaid cheque was dishonoured for reasons ‘funds insufficient’. However, when the complainant succeeded in persuading the LIC authorities regarding the premium paid by her and showed evidence that the amount was debited from her bank, they sought clarification from the bank and also issued a memorandum.

It has been alleged that when the complainant went to deposit the premium for 2014, the LIC refused to accept the same and supplied the copy of the notice claiming therein late fee of Rs 372 regarding payment of the premium for 2013, despite the fact that the premium for 2013 stood debited from her account on time.

The forum held that it was clear that Punjab National Bank was solely deficient in providing proper services to the complainant and due to its above said act and conduct, the complainant had certainly suffered physically, mentally, apart from being burdened financially. There was thus definite negligence, inaction and passivity on the part of the PNB, for which the complaint needed to be allowed.

Bank at fault: Forum

The forum held that it was clear that Punjab National Bank was solely deficient in providing proper services to the complainant.