JYOTI SONI Vs. VIJAYA BANK

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The complainants/petitioners, namely, Jyoti Soni and Pariti Soni opened Jeevan Nidhi Deposit Accounts with the respondent Vijaya Bank. Their case is that a sum of Rs.13825/- was lying deposited in each of the accounts in addition to interest which had accrued on the said amounts but they were not permitted to withdraw the said amount from the bank. Being aggrieved, they approached the concerned District Forum by way of a consumer complaint seeking refund of the amount deposited in the above-referred accounts alongwith interest and compensation.

(2.) The complaint was resisted by the respondent bank which interalia stated in its reply that the accounts had been closed before 1994 and there was no deficiency on the part of the bank in rendering services to the account holders. It was also claimed that the record for the period prior to 1994 had been destroyed and only a ledger was available wherein no amount is shown deposited in the above-referred accounts.

(3.) The District Forum vide its order dated 26.3.2009 directed the respondent bank to refund the amount of Rs.13825/- to each of the complainants alongwith interest @ 9% p.a. w.e.f. 1.1.1990 alongwith compensation and litigation cost quantified at Rs.2,000/-.