Panel dismisses IndusInd Bank’s appeal

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 17

The State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has upheld the order of the Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum while dismissing the appeal of IndusInd Bank. The forum had directed the bank to issue Jet Airways vouchers worth Rs 50,000 to Hardass Singla, a local resident, along with Rs 12,000 compensation.

In his complaint, Singla had stated that he was made to pay an amount of Rs 57,500 for the issuance of Signature credit card on February 27, 2017, and was promised that on getting the card, he was to get vouchers of Rs 50,000 redeemable on Jet Airways. However, after the receipt of the credit card, the bank failed to fulfil its promise.

A notice was issued to the bank, but it did not appear in the forum to contest the claim of the complainant and preferred to proceed against ex-parte. Following this, the forum ordered the bank to pay the compensation and vouchers to Singla.

The bank, however, filed an appeal against the order of the forum in the commission. The bank submitted that the order had been passed ex-parte and needs to be set aside as the non-appearance of bank officials before the forum was inadvertent and unintentional, but was purely due to procedural error. The forum notice received in the local bank branch was forwarded to the legal and credit card team, as the matter was pertaining to the credit card, for necessary action. However, as there was no revert there, branch officials did not appear before the forum on the fixed date being under impression that the matter would be pursued by the credit card team. However, due to bona fide mistake, none represented the bank before the forum.

The commission after hearing the arguments held that if the bank had failed to put in appearance on the date fixed, it could have put in appearance on the subsequent dates when the complaint was pending for further proceedings. However, no such effort was made. While for issuance of the credit card, an amount of Rs 50,000 was charged as joining fee and further gift vouchers were promised as welcome gift, and if that was so, it was the duty of the bank to get supplied the promised gift, stated the commission while dismissing the appeal of the bank and upheld the order of the forum.

The complaint

In his complaint, Hardass Singla had stated that he was made to pay an amount of Rs 57,500 for the issuance of Signature credit card on February 27, 2017, and was promised that on getting the card, he was to get vouchers of Rs 50,000 redeemable on Jet Airways. However, after the receipt of the credit card, the bank failed to fulfil its promise.