Sambalpur: State Bank faces legal consequences in Consumer Court
A fine of 20,000 rupees has been imposed by the Consumer Court in Sambalpur for failing to provide customer service to the branch of State Bank in the Hirakud area of Sambalpur. According to the court order, Sarthak Kumar Sahu, a State Bank of India, Hirakud branch customer, deposited Rs 54,900 through the bank’s deposit machine at 5:37 pm on May 8, 2023. However, the machine was unable to detect two 100 and one 200 rupee notes, and the 54,500 rupee deposit made in the customer’s account came from the paper machine. Therefore, the customer contacted the bank on 9 May 2023 and showed all the documents and deposit slips stating that Rs 400 had not been deposited. The bank authorities assured the customer that the cause of the problem will be investigated and resolved as soon as possible.
However, the concerned customer complained to the bank ombudsman on 21 May 2023 as the bank authorities could not solve the problem. The bank ombudsman after proper investigation ordered to deposit the remaining money in the customer’s account by 31st and 16 days interest at the rate of 2.7 percent. As per Reserve Bank regulations, the bank failed to resolve the dispute within 3 days of the complaint, and the consumer approached the court on 23 May 2023. When the customer deposited money in his bank account for medical expenses and received a lower deposit, he encountered difficulties. The court, after hearing the documents of both sides and examining the papers, ordered SBI to pay a fine and compensation to the customer.
On February 5, 2024, the court directed SBI to pay Rs 10,000 in compensation and a punishment of Rs 10,000 as part of the lawsuit ordered to pay 20,000 rupees for harassing 3 customers and failing to give acceptable customer service. If SBI fails to pay the compensation amount within the next 1 month, the court has ordered that SBI pay a fine and 6% annual interest on the compensation amount. The case was heard by the Consumer Court president Dr R.K Shatpathi and member S.N Tripathi while P Mahapatra and associate on behalf of the client and AK Dash on behalf of SBI handled the case.
