A District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Surat has asked a major Public Sector bank to pay Rs 3.28 lakh as compensation to a man, nine years after his account was debited Rs 10,000 despite not receiving any cash from an ATM transaction.
The incident dates back to February 18, 2017, when Jitesh Kumar Gandhi attempted to withdraw Rs 10,000 from a State Bank of India ATM but received neither cash nor a transaction receipt. However, his account was debited. Following the transaction, Gandhi contacted the bank multiple times and lodged formal complaints against Bank of Baroda’s Dumbhal branch and State Bank of India’s Udhna branch.
In its February 26 verdict, the Commission not only directed Bank of Baroda to refund the Rs 10,000 along with interest at 9 per cent per annum but also ordered the bank to pay Rs 3.28 lakh as compensation for the delay. Additionally, the bank was instructed to pay Rs 3,000 for mental anguish and Rs 2,000 towards litigation costs.
While Bank of Baroda argued that the ATM belonged to the State Bank of India and that the transaction was recorded as successful, the Commission found that the bank failed to provide proof that Gandhi received the cash.
The order also emphasised that internal arrangements between banks are not relevant to the customer, and banks must provide concrete evidence in disputed transactions.
According to the Reserve Bank of India’s rules, disputed ATM transaction amounts must be refunded within a stipulated timeframe, which was not met in this case.
– Ends
With inputs from Sanjay Singh Rathore
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