STATE BANK OF INDIA Vs. KAMLESH SINGLA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The Revision Petitioner, State Bank of India (herein after referred to as RP/OP) has invoked the jurisdiction of this Commission against concurrent orders of the Haryana State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission and the District Consumer Forum, Panchkula. The District Forum has held the RP/OP responsible to give the Complainant the benefit of insurance cover under SBI Life. The order of the District Forum has been confirmed by the State Commission. In the impugned order, the Commission has reproduced the loan sanction letter from the Branch Manager, SBI to the borrower, which clearly showed that a loan of Rs.12425/- was additionally sanctioned as 'Amount of SBI Life Cover', together with the house loan of Rs.2,50,000/- and held that:-

(2.) The record submitted on behalf of the revision petitioner has been carefully perused. We have also heard Shri S.L.Gupta, Advocate on behalf of the petitioner/State Bank of India at length. Thereafter, the matter has been considered for final disposal at the stage of admission itself.

(3.) For a proper appreciation of the case of the revision petitioner, we find it necessary to briefly refer to the facts of the case. The husband of the Complainant had applied for a housing loan, which was sanctioned by the OP on 16.4.2008. The communication in this behalf sent by Branch Manager, SBI showed that housing loan of Rs. 2,50,000/- was sanctioned together with Rs.12,425/- towards SBI Life Cover. The loan carried interest at 10.25% and was repayable in 180 months. Rs.2,50,000/- was disbursed to the borrower and the remaining sanctioned amount of Rs.12,425 was not disbursed. Borrower, Rakesh Kumar died on 15.9.2008. The bank was informed and was requested for details of the insurance cover. Allegedly, no details were given and the complainant was threatened that the balance of the loan would be recovered from her. In the written response before the District Forum, it was contended on behalf of the State Bank of India that the scheme of SBI Life Group Insurance Policy is optional. 'The husband of the complainant has been advised by the opposite party to take the policy but the husband of the complainant has refused to take the SBI Life Group Insurance Policy.'