PARMOD KUMAR JAIN Vs. ALLAHABAD BANK

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This judgment will dispose of the following five appeals : (1) First Appeal No.551 of 2006 (Parmod umar Jain and Ors. V/s. Allahabad Bank and Anr. ). (2) First Appeal No.383 of 2006 (Allahabad Bank and Another V/s. Parmod Kumar Jain and Anr ). (3) First Appeal No.552 of 2006 (Sangita Gupta and Ors. V/s. Allahabad Bank and Anr); (4) First Appeal No.385 of 2006 (Allahabad Bank and Anr. V/s. Mrs. Sangita Gupta and Anr ). (5) First Appeal No.384 of 2006 (Allahabad Bank and Anr V/s. Bakshish Singh and Anr ).

(2.) So far as appeals at Serial Nos.1 and 2 (FA Nos.551 and 383 of 2006) are concerned, both have been filed against the same judgment of the District Forum, Ludhiana dated 21.12.2005. Parmod Kumar Jain and another has filed First Appeal No.551 of 2006 for enhancement of compensation awarded by the District Forum whereas First Appeal No.383 of 2006 has been filed by the Allahabad Bank for setting aside the impugned order of the District Forum. Appeals at Serial Nos.3 and 4 (i. e. First Appeal Nos.552 and 385 of 2006) have been filed against the same judgment of District Forum, Ludhiana dated 21.12.2005. Mrs. Sangita Gupta and another have filed First Appeal No.552 of 2006 for enhancement of the compensation awarded by the District Forum, whereas the Allahabad Bank has filed First Appeal No.385 of 2006 for setting aside the order of the District Forum. First Appeal No.384 of 2006 has been filed by the Allahabad Bank against Bakshish Singh for setting aside the order of the District Forum, dated 21.12.2005. The cross-appeal (i. e. First Appeal No.412 of 2006) filed by Bakshish Singh for enhancement of the compensation awarded by the District Forum already stands dismissed by this Commission vide order dated 26.4.2006.

(3.) Since in all these cases the facts are almost the same as also the law point, these are being disposed of by this common judgment. In all these cases, the complainants had hired lockers in Allahabad Bank and it was alleged that there was a burglary in the Bank and the burglars had broken open 8 lockers after breaking open the strong room of the Bank. The Bank had got registered a case with the Police. All the complainants alleged that they had kept jewellery articles, etc. in the locker and it was because of the negligence of the Bank that the complainants had suffered loss. It is not necessary to state any further facts.