Bank not liable if cash handed over to stranger, says panel

NEW DELHI: The Delhi consumer panel has allowed an appeal of the State Bank of India that it cannot be held guilty of deficiency in service if a customer loses money after handing it over to a stranger inside the bank.

The Delhi State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, while setting aside a district forum's order, said the lower fora erred in holding the SBI deficient in service.

“The complainant handed over her cash to a stranger and asked him to help her in counting and identifying torn notes. Such an exercise cannot be watched by the security man who performs his duty at the gate of the bank,“ the panel's judicial member said.

“The complainant failed to take precaution. She allowed a stranger to handle her money. I am, therefore, of the opinion that the trial forum fell in error in holding that the appellant bank was deficient in service,“ he added.

According to the complaint filed by south-west Delhi resident Kanwal Grewal, she encashed a cheque of Rs 2 lakh from Vasant Kunj branch of SBI and received the cash in four bundles. Grewal said an unidentified person asked her to check the bundle for torn notes and in the process, he pocketed certain notes and left the premises. The bank security paid no heed to the alarm raised by the complainant, the complaint alleged.

The bank, however, contended that she handed over the bundle of notes to the stranger for counting. The district forum had asked the bank to pay Rs 48,500 to the woman along with a litigation cost of Rs 5,000. The state commission, however, noted inconsistencies in the woman's statement and set aside the district forum's order.