KARAM CHAND Vs. PUNJAB NATIONAL BANK & ANR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The complainant had availed credit facility from the respondent Punjab National Bank. The loan account of the complainant was classified as NPA, on account of default in servicing the said loan account. On 11.9.2008, Agricultural Debt Waiver and Debt Relief Scheme 2008 was announced by the Government. According to the complainant, he was entitled to debt waiver, in terms of the said scheme, since the area of the land cultivated by him was 44 kanals as against the limit of 50 kanals, for that waiver. According to the complainant, he was also informed that the debt in his Krishi Card Account had been waived. However, vide letter dated 03.7.2009, he was informed that the Circle Head of the bank had rejected his eligibility for debt waiver on the ground that his land holding was 72 kanals, much more than the eligibility limit of 50 kanals. Being aggrieved, the complainant approached the concerned District Forum by way of a consumer complaint seeking No Dues Certificate, along with damages.

(2.) The complaint was resisted by the respondent Bank, which alleged that the bank had pointed out the discrepancies regarding the correctness of the agricultural claim in respect of 745 accounts maintained by it, on the basis of sample checking / audit. It was also alleged that the complainant had given false details of his land holding to the bank in Form 1A dated 16.6.2008. This is also the case of the respondent that the land holding of the complainant was 7.23 acres, whereas the land holding given by him in Form 1A was 4.4 acres.

(3.) The District Forum having dismissed the complaint, the petitioner approached the concerned State Commission by way of an appeal. The said appeal also having been dismissed, he is before this Commission by way of this revision petition.