![If A Cheque Is Lost By The Bank, It Is The Responsibility Of The Bank To Compensate The Loss: NCDRC [Read Order]](/secure/uploads/2019/07/lj_7256_If-A-Cheque-Is-Lost-By-The-Bank.jpg)
The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) on July 19, 2019, in the case of Manager, Bank of Baroda & Anr. v. Chitrodiya Babuji Divanji has dismissed the revision petition filed by the bank after finding it guilty of having lost a customer's cheque.
The National Consumer Commission holding the bank liable ordered it to pay an amount, worth the cheque.
It was the bank's case that the cheque deposited by the respondent was dishonored and was sent to his registered address along with cheque return memo by registered post AD. The same was returned to the bank unserved, and thus there was no deficiency in its services.
The respondent, on the other hand, alleged that he persistently pleaded the bank to return his cheque. He even visited the bank personally to collect his cheque but, in vain.
The District Commission, vide its Order dated 10.10.2013, partly allowed the complaint. The State Commission, vide its order dated 20.01.2016, directed the bank to pay the full amount of the cheque, i.e., Rs. 3,60,000 to the respondent.
Aggrieved by the order, the present Revision petition was filed by the Bank under Section 21(b) of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986.
NCDRC found that while the dishonored cheque was returned unserved from the respondent's registered address, the same was not delivered to him on any later occasion. The respondent constantly pursued his case with the petitioner for return of dishonoured cheque and cheque return memo, however, the bank had lost the cheque due to which the respondent lost his right to file a case under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, against the account holder.
Taking into account that the respondent had to suffer a loss of Rs.3,60,000, the court upheld the order of the State Commission of Gujarat by ruling that “When the cheque in question had been lost by the Petitioner Bank, it is the responsibility of the Bank to compensate the loss.”
