Orissa

Rayagada

CC/61/2020

Bijaya Kishore Patnaik - Complainant(s)

Versus

The Branch Manager, ICICI Bank - Opp.Party(s)

Self

17 Dec 2021

ORDER

 

DISTRICT   CONSUMER DISPUTES  REDRESSAL COMMISSION, RAYAGADA,

AT:  KASTURI NAGAR, Ist.  LANE,   L.I.C. OFFICE     BACK,PO/DIST: RAYAGADA, STATE:  ODISHA, PIN NO.765001,.E-mail- dcdrfrgda@gmail.com

…

 

C.C.CASE  NO.__61_______/2020                                      Date.  17      .12.  2021.

 

P R E S E N T .

Sri   Gopal   Krishna   Rath,                                               President.

Smt.Padmalaya  Mishra,.                                                 Member

Sri Bijaya Kishore Patnaik, S/O: Sri Simanchal Patnaik,  At: Old SBI Road,  Po:Bissamcuttack, Dist:Rayagada, Pin No.765 019, Odisha,Mobile No. 9437458230.………..         COMPLAINANT.

Vs.

1. The Branch Manager, ICICI Bank,Muniguda,Dist:Rayagada.
2. The Regional Head, Home loan Deptt.,  ICICI Bank, Rayagada.                    

… OPP.PARTIES.

Counsel for the parties:                         

For the complainant: - Self..

For the O.Ps.:- Sri  K.K.Thakar, Advocate, Rayagada.

JUDGEMENT

The  crux of the case is that  the above named complainant alleging deficiency in service  against  afore mentioned O.Ps    for  non  disbursement   of    balance     home  loan  a sum  of Rs. Rs.5,34,398/-  to the complainant  for which  the complainant  sought for redressal of the grievances raised by the complainant. 

That  On Dt.9^th. October, 2020 this  District  Commission had passed interim order directing the O.Ps  not to demand any payments towards E.M.I and interest of the disputed  period till  final disposal   of the present case.

            Aggrieved the above Interim order the O.Ps have preferred  Revision before the Hon’ble State C.D.R.Commission,Cuttack  vide  Revision Petition No.41 of  2020.

            The  Hon’ble  State C.D.R.Commission, Cuttack  on Dt.5.11.2020  in R.P. No.41 of  2020  passed order  directing the  O.P. to appear before the  District Commission and file the objection, if any and District Commission would give him opportunity to hear on the interim  petition and also hear the complainant  and  pass order with in 30 days  from the date of receipt of this order.

            After receiving the above  order the O.Ps  have appeared before the District Commission and filed written version through their learned counsel Sri Kishore Kumar Thaker and associates. Copies of the same has been  served on the  complainant.

            Heard from the  parties. Perused the  documents, and written version filed by the  parties.

                                                                        FINDINGS.

            Undisputedly the O.Ps had  sanctioned  housing  loan bearing  account No. LBRYG00005148440 a sum of Rs.18,70,000/- in  favour of the complainant  on Dt.30.9.2019  which shall  be payable in  180 months i.e. in 15 years amount of   each  E.M.I.  a sum of Rs.19,023/- as fixed by the  O.Ps. Further  it is undisputed  Ist. Phase loan amount  had sanctioned on Dt.29.10.2019  a sum of Rs.11,57,537/-   and deducted the amount a sum  of Rs.88,843/- towards  insurance policy for housing  safe purpose. Again  undisputedly the O.Ps had disbursed  a sum  of Rs.1,78,065/- on Dt.3.2.2020  in favour of the complainant  for completion of 65%  of  house construction.

            The main grievance of the complainant  was  that  due to non disbursement of  balance    sanctioned  amount a sum of Rs.5,34,398/- the  complainant  filed this case before the District Commission and prays   to pass interim order  against the O.Ps  for disbursement of  balance    amount.

            The  O.Ps in their  written version  contended that  the case is not maintainable before the  District Commission.

In this connection  this District Commission  relied  citations of  Hon’ble State CDR Commission, Cuttack.

The  O.P. agencies have been constituted     with a view to rendering financial assistance to deserving  applicants  for construction of house for  livelihood.  It has been observed by the Hon’ble  Odisha State Commission, Cuttack in the case of Ravindra Kumar Das  Vrs.  M.D., O.S.F.C., reported in CPJ 1991 (2) page No.  344 that financial  assistance  is a service  rendered  for which a borrower  pays interest.  Thus within the broad meaning  of consumer and service, such service is for  hire.  Any deficiency in service  comes within the scope of the C.P. Act.  Although special forums  have been created under the  Act  to render assistance to the  Corporation, no forum  under the Act has been created  to mitigate the grievances of a borrower or intending borrower.  In such circumstances, the  Odisha State Commission is of the view that  the beneficial  provisions under the Act  gives the Commission   wide power to examine   deficiency in service  in respect of a legitmate grievance  of a consumer who  has complained before the   District  Commission.

Basing on the citation cited above the case is maintainable before the District Commission.

The  O.Ps   in their written version  citated   a No. of citations  to defend the case. The  citation  cited  by the O.Ps in their written version  are  not  squarely applicable to this  particular case  as  facts and law  involved  are not the  same.

The  O.Ps  in their written version  contended that the complainant did not undertake  any construction work as  can be evident from the valuation  report Dtd.27.5.2020 and accordingly no further loan amount was disbursed to the complainant.

During the course of hearing the complainant  is present in person and  submitted that  after receipt of the balance amount  he will  complete the construction  work  of house.

Considering the above facts, circumstances  and evidence on  record  avoiding  hyper technicalities  of terms and condition  of  loan agreement and evidence on record,  it is  felt that    a young  entrepreneur  educated unemployed youth needs to be encourage  to set  up   his unit.   The O.Ps have already  in an advantage to realize  the loan amount with interest  from  the complainant sooner  or later.

     ORDER. 

In the  result   with the above observation, basing on the evidence on record and  citation filed by both the parties  the petition is allowed in part.

The O.Ps shall release balance house loan amount already sanctioned to tune of  Rs.5,34,398/- (Rupees five lakhs thirty four thousand three hundred ninety eight)only  infavour of the   complainant  with in a week from the date of receipt of this order  so as to enable him to run his unit.  The O.Ps are further directed not to deduct any  amount  in shape of E.C.S. from the account of the complainant  without prior  intimation  to the complainant.

The  Interim order  passed  earlier made final  with the above direction.

Parties  are left  to bear their own cost.

The entire directions shall be carried out with in 15 days from the  date of receipt   of this order.Service the copies of the order to the parties free of cost.

 

Dictated and  corrected  by me.

                Pronounced in the open   Commission   on    17  ^st   day of       December,, 2021.

 

 

                                                                                MEMBER                                                   PRESIDENT