JUDGEMENT & ORDER

Complainant Shri Sree Krishna Singh present in person.  Shri Sothang Haokip, Chief Manager, SBI Pasighat present on behalf of Opp. Party No. 1  SBI, Pasighat.

Complainant Shri Sree Krishna Singh narrated the problems faced by him when depositing a cheque amounting to Rs. 67,470/- issued in his favour by SBI, Andheri (East) Mumbai being income tax return that took about a month in crediting into his account.

Shri Sothang Haokip, Chief Manager, SBI Pasighat admitted their mistake. He stated that his frontline staff had accepted the cheque without knowing details of his account and returned the same without cancelling the Stamp on it when they came to learn that the account of the complainant was non home.

The Manager of SBI, Naraina branch in its written statement has stated that since the cheque was crossed in favour of SBI Pasighat, they could not have encash as per the provision of Section 126 of Negotiable Instrument Act, 1881 and accordingly under legal duty the same was returned to the person who presented it.

Heard both the parties.  This Forum has observed that the complainant in fact had suffered mental agony when the cheque was not accepted by SBI Branch at Pasighat and Naraina though the Cheque bore thereon an instruction “Payable at par at all branches of State Bank of India”. This cause of action arose when Pasighat Branch of SBI accepted the cheque for crediting into the account of the complainant but returned the same later, on the ground that his account was none home but forgot to cancel the stamp they already put onto it. Due to non-cancellation of the stamp on cheque, the Naraina Branch in which the complainant maintain his account refused to accept the cheque as it was crossed in favour of SBI, Pasighat.

With this observation, we held that SBI, Pasighat for the negligence in dealing with the customer as they admitted their mistakes. No guilt is found against Naraina Branch of SBI.

Therefore, SBI, Pasighat is hereby directed to pay a token compensation of Rs. 1,000/- (Rupees one thousand) only to the complaint Shri Sree Krishna Singh within one month from date of issue of this order for his mental agony and physical harassment.

With this, the case stands disposed of.

Copy of this order be served to both the parties.

                           (KUMSONG PANGGING)                                (NIDHI SRIVASTAVA) IAS

                                    Member                                                                    President