STATE BANK OF INDIA Vs. R MANJUNATH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) These Revision Petitions under Section 21(b) of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 challenge the order dated 24.8.2016 passed by Karnataka State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Bangalore (State Commission) in First Appeal Nos. 1095 and 1096 of 2012 filed by the petitioner/opposite party - State Bank of India.

(2.) Brief facts for the disposal of both RP No. 435 of 2017 and RP No. 571 of 2017 are as follows.

(3.) The respondent/complainant was an employee of M/s. Wipro which floated a scheme titled WESOP (Employee Stock Option) on 9.3.2007. Under this, an employee was enabled to buy WIPRO shares at a pre-determined price of around Rs. 332 per share, also called the exercise price of the share. This enablement was an arrangement with the State Bank of India under which an employee could avail of a loan called WESOP loan, maximum Rs. 20 lakh, to buy shares at the exercise price, and pledge these shares against the loan. If an employee wanted to buy even more shares, there was a provision enabling him to obtain a personal loan above Rs. 20 lakh The loans in both the accounts were to be repaid in two years. The arrangement was that while the employee would be responsible for payment of principal amount, M/s. WIPRO would pay the interest on the loans. In this way, the scheme was positioned as an employee benefit scheme.