The Ranga Reddy District Consumer Redressal Forum here directed Dena Bank to pay Rs. 4 lakh as compensation and Rs. 5,000 as litigation costs to an account-holder, for losing a cheque which had bounced after he had deposited it in the bank.
The forum ruled that the bank’s negligence resulted in the complainant not being able to file a case in a civil court against the person who wrote him the bounced cheque.
B. Sitharam Reddy (39), a businessman had deposited a cheque for Rs. 4 lakh in his account at the Saroornagar branch of Dena Bank last year on August 1.
After that, the branch manager informed that the cheque had bounced.
Cheque misplaced
When Mr. Reddy asked him to return the cheque, he was told that it was misplaced by the bank, and was handed a scanned copy of the cheque instead, so that he could approach a civil court.
However, the Xl Metropolitan Magistrate, Cyberabad, returned his complaint stating that the original cheque was needed if he wanted to file a case.
Mr. Reddy then approached the district consumer forum on November 6, 2012, claiming loss of Rs. 4 lakh, along with another Rs. 6 lakh towards damages for mental trauma. After reviewing the evidence, the forum ruled that due to the negligence on the bank’s part, Mr. Reddy was not able to file a case against Y. Raju, the drawer of the cheque.
It directed the bank to pay Mr. Reddy Rs. 4 lakh, along with six per cent interest from August 1, 2012 till realisation, along with Rs. 5,000 as litigation costs.
