HDFC BANK LTD Vs. SURENDER KUMAR SINGHAL

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Present revision petition has been filed under Section 21(b) of Consumer Protection Act, 1986 (for short, 'Act') challenging impugned order dated 5.2.2013, passed by State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, UT Chandigarh (for short, 'State Commission').

(2.) Respondent/complainant filed a consumer complaint under Section 12 of the Act, before District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Chandigarh (for short, 'District Forum') on the allegations that he had availed a loan against his house from petitioner/opposite party. Out of total loan amount of Rs.99,00,000/- (Rupees Ninty Nine lacs only) petitioner deducted an amount of Rs.96,709/- on account of processing fee and insurance charges. Respondent made request to the petitioner several time to send him the copy of insurance policy for which he has been charged Rs.13,281/- but petitioner failed to submit the same. Thereafter, respondent arbitrarily and without assigning any reason increased the rate of interest. Due to restrictive and monopolistic trade practices committed by the petitioner, respondent was constrained to transfer the loan to other Bank. In that process, petitioner charged total pre-payment charges to the tune of Rs.3,67,965.75. Since, petitioner failed to refund the legal charges, respondent filed complaint before the District Forum.

(3.) The complaint was contested by the petitioner.