Himachal Pradesh: The Kangra District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has found a private bank guilty of deficiency in service and directed it to pay damages to a consumer. The commission directed the bank to pay ₹25,000 as damages and ₹15,000 towards litigation expenses within 45 days. In case of default, interest at the rate of 9% will be charged on the amount until payment is made. According to the complainant, he took a loan of ₹1.4 million from the bank in 2018 to purchase an excavator and repaid it by November 2021. However, the bank allegedly failed to issue a no-objection certificate (NOC) on time, canceling the deal to sell the machine.
The complainant stated that the excavator was to be sold for ₹1.9 million, but the delay resulted in the deal falling by approximately ₹9 million, resulting in a loss. He alleged that the bank credited a new loan of ₹24.70 lakh to his account without his approval and mishandled a check for ₹1.50 lakh. However, the bank denied the allegations, claiming that the additional loan was provided under the government’s COVID-19 Emergency Credit Scheme and that the NOC was withheld due to the outstanding amount. During the hearing, the bank informed the Commission that the issues raised by the complainant had been resolved. The Commission observed that although the matter had been resolved, the delay of nearly four years and the lack of proper communication had caused mental distress and financial hardship to the complainant. The Commission also granted the bank the freedom to conduct an internal investigation and recover compensation from the officials responsible for the error.
Himachal: Bank reprimanded for poor service, asked to pay Rs 40,000
