(Passed on 03/11/2022)

Passed by Shri Atul D. Alsi, Hon’ble President 

1.         Complainants  filed  complaint case against the  O.P.- United Commercial Bank for  not releasing  the Fixed Deposit  amount of Rs.15,00,000/- and Rs. 5,00,000/- along with  the balance amount  of Rs. 8,12,176/- in Saving  Bank Account  of deceased adoptive father  in favour of  the complainant  along with  interest  and thereby  claiming  compensation  of Rs. 1,00,000/- along with  cost of litigation.

2.         Story in short is as under:-

            The complainant is adoptive daughter of deceased Krishna Dashrath Tonge who died on 10/10/2021. The deceased Krishna Dashrath Tonge’s wife Saraswati Krishna Tonge had died earlier on 21/11/2017. The biological mother of the complainant Indira Balaji Rajurkar is real sister of  Saraswati Balaji Rajurkar who  married with Krishna Dashrath Tonge. The  Krishna Dashrath Tonge and Saraswati Krishna Tonge had no issue. Therefore,  due to  natural love and  affection Krishna Dashrath Tonge and  Saraswati Krishna Tonge had adopted  the  complainant  in childhood and arranged  for  her all daily  needs  including  her education  and  performed her marriage  with  Bhaskar Bonde.

3.         During  the  life time  Krishna Dashrath Tonge deposited  an amount  with  O.P- Bank by way of  fixed deposit  bearing  account No. 09310310038253 dated 25/07/2018 of Rs. 15,00,000/- and renewed from time to time  with maturity  date is  of 25/10/2021 and another  fixed deposit   bearing account No. 9310310033470 dated 27/04/2017 of Rs. 5,00,000/- and renewed from time to time till 26/07/2021. The deceased Krishna Dashrath Tonge  was also  having  saving account bearing No. 09310100001444 for  an amount  of Rs. 8,12,176/-. The complainant being a nominee and legal heir of Krishna Dashrath Tonge  and Saraswati Krishna Tonge claimed  the deposited  amount to be released in favour  of the complainant  along with interest.  The O.P. is avoided the payments to the complainant despite several requests. Therefore, the complainant has issued legal notice through counsel Adv. Mr. C.R. Pande of Chandrapur. The notice has not been not complied by the O.P., therefore, the complaint  is filed.

4.         In spite of service of notice, to the O.P., the O.P. failed to appear before  the Commission, hence, the case  proceeded exparte against the O.P. as per order passed on 17/02/2022.

REASONING

5.         The complainant  has filed  the fixed  deposit receipt  bearing  No. 09310310038253   of Rs. 15,00,000/- dated 25/07/2018 and another  fixed deposit  receipt   bearing account No. 9310310033470 of Rs. 5,00,000/- dated 27/04/2017 along with legal notice issued through Adv. Mr. C.R. Pande of Chandrapur calling upon  to release the  amount  in F.D.R along with  balance amount of Saving Bank Account No. 09310100001444. The complainant has filed an application under Section 38(9) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 for calling the document from the O.P. for seeking name of the nominee in  fixed deposit  amounts and  Saving Bank  account of deceased Krishna Dashrath Tonge. The notice to produce the documents for the information of legal heirs for accounts of deceased has been served  to O.P. on 07/07/2022  but  O.P. failed  to submit  the requisite documents  on record as per order  passed by  this Commission in respect of notice to produce  the documents  on  dated 22/06/2022.

6.         The complainant  has filed  the judgment of Bihar State Consumer  Disputes Redressal  Commission, Patna in  Sant Charan Singh Vs. Bank of India, Appeal No. 94/2004 decided on 29/07/2005 reported in 2005(3) CPR 619  in holding that  under  the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, Section 2(1)(g) and Banking  Regulation Act, 1949 in case  of fixed  deposit  after the  death of  depositor and if  the depositor  dies before  the maturity  of deposit  only person having the right and entitlement to get the money is the nominee – Right of nominee - The bank has no right  to refuse  the  same. In this case ‘R’ had opened an account with the respondent – Bank and deposited a sum of Rs. 54,387/- for a period of 24 months to mature with a value of Rs. 64,983/- with interest.  The appellant was the only nominee. ‘R’ died prior to the maturity  date of deposit.  After maturity  the  complainant/ appellant  approached  the  Bank for  withdrawal of the amount  but  the bank had  not allowed  him  to  withdraw the amounts  and insisted  for  obtaining  a succession certificate.  In the instant case ‘R’ dies unmarried without any issue and deposited the amount in the bank and had nominated the appellant while making.  Here in this case,  there is no evidence on record  that  the complainant  is the nominee or  legal heir of  the deceased Krishna Dashrath Tonge and Saraswati Kirshna Tonge, has a adoptive daughter, therefore, the complaint  cannot be decided  on merit.  Hence, direction is given to the complainant to file appropriate claim with requisite documents  as per banking  rules  with the O.P.-Bank and O.P.-Bank shall decide the claim on merit as per relevant documents within three months from the receipt of the claim. Hence, the complaint is partly allowed as per following order.

 ORDER

i.          The complaint  No. CC/21/239 is partly allowed.

ii.          The complainant shall file  claim  for  releasing  of deposited amount in  fixed deposit  bearing No. 09310310038253   of Rs. 15,00,000/- dated 25/07/2018 and another  fixed deposit  receipt   bearing account No. 9310310033470  of Rs. 5,00,000/- dated 27/04/2017 along with  balance  amount  in Saving Bank Account No. 09310100001444 of deceased Krishna Dashrath Tonge with  relevant  documents as per Banking Regulation  Act , if any,  and O.P. –Bank shall decide the claim  on merit as per  rules  and regulations  under the Bank Regulation  Act, 1949.

iii.         The O.P. –Bank shall  pay Rs. 5,000/- towards  cost of litigation to the complainant.

iv.        Copy of order  be furnished to both the parties free of cost.