Saturday, June 5, 2021

Brief notes of Argument in a Consumer Proceeding - references

 

 

Before the Hon’ble State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, West Bengal, at Premises being no. 11 A, Mirza Ghalib Street, Kolkata – 700 087.

 

                                        Complaint Case no. CC/377/2014  

                       

                                                In the matter of :

                                               

Sri Sujay Bakshi, & another

___Petitioners

-      Versus –

 

State Bank of India, & Others

______Respondents

 

BRIEF NOTES OF ARGUMENT

ON BEHALF OF THE PETITIONERS

 

FACTS :

 

1.    That the Petitioner no. 1, is a Driver by occupation and the Petitioner no.2, is house wife. The petitioner no.1, is only earning member of his family. The petitioners are living their life in a mediocre financial condition.

 

2.    That the Petitioners  due to urgent need of money sold their property being 2 ( Two ) Cottahas Land with two storied building thereon, laying and situated at Mouza – Jagannathpur, Pargana Balia, Touzi No. 1523, J.L. no. 27, R.S. no. 76, under R.S. Dag no. 95, in R.S. Khatian No. 62, L.R.(Kri) Khatian no. 12, old L.R. Khatian no. 175 / 3, present L.R. Khatian no. 500 & 501, Plaza Housing Society, being Plot no. 199, having holding no. 3916, Plaza Housing, Jagannathpur, Mahestala, District South 24 Parganas, to one Sri Pappu Kumar Shaw, Son of Sukhdeo Shaw, residing at premises being no. 22, Orphan Gang Road, Police Station Watgange, Kolkata – 700 023, on consineration value of Rs. 30,00,000/- ( Rupees Thirty Lakhs ) only.

 

3.    That the said Purchaser Sri Pappu Kumar Shaw, Son of Sukhdeo Shaw, residing at premises being no. 22, Orphan Gang Road, Police Station Watgange, Kolkata – 700 023, obtain Housing Loan or Finance from M/s. Dewan Housing Finance Limited, having it’s office at premises being no. Narendra Chandra Dutta Sarani, Kolkata – 700 071, and whereas in pursuance thereof the respondent no. 4, issued a cheque being no. 000834, dated 24-09-2014, for Rs. 20,00,000/- ( Rupees Twenty Lakhs ) only, drawn on United Bank of India, Kolkata Branch, at premises being no. 4, Narendra Chandra Dutta Sarani, Kolkata – 700 001, in favour of the Petitioners, towards the payment of the consideration money or value of the property.

 

4.   That the Petitioners jointly maintain one Saving Bank Account with the State Bank of India, Shibrampur Branch Janavilla, Village & Post Office – Joteshibrampur, Biren Roy Road West, Kolkata – 700 141, being Saving Bank Account no. 30691667417. The Petitioners deposited the said cheque being no. 000834, dated 24-09-2014, for Rs. 20,00,000/- ( Rupees Twenty Lakhs ) only, drawn on United Bank of India, Kolkata Branch, at premises being no. 4, Narendra Chandra Dutta Sarani, Kolkata – 700 001, for enacashment of the cheque value.

 

5.    That on 27th day of September’ 2014, the banker of the Petitioners being the Respondent no. 2, herein credited Rs. 2,00,000/- ( Rupees Two Lakhs ) only, instead of Rs. 20,00,000/- ( Rupees Twenty Lakhs ) only, on clearing of the said cheque being no. 000834, dated 24-09-2014, for Rs. 20,00,000/- ( Rupees Twenty Lakhs ) only, drawn on United Bank of India, Kolkata Branch, at premises being no. 4, Narendra Chandra Dutta Sarani, Kolkata – 700 001, and therefore your petitioners got astonished to know such clearance of lower amount of money.

 

6.    That the petitioners enquired about such purported clearing of the said cheque being no. 000834, dated 24-09-2014, for Rs. 20,00,000/- ( Rupees Twenty Lakhs ) only, drawn on United Bank of India, Kolkata Branch, at premises being no. 4, Narendra Chandra Dutta Sarani, Kolkata – 700 001, with their banker being State Bank of India, Shibrampur Branch Janavilla, Village & Post Office – Joteshibrampur, Biren Roy Road West, Kolkata – 700 141, and whereas the banker of the petitioners stated as due to mistake of officials who sit for clearing has been occurred such wrong entry as of Rs. 2,00,000/- instead of Rs. 20,00,000/- and therefore the banker is trying to resolve such anomaly, as soon as possible, and to credit the balance Rs. 18,00,000/- in the Saving Bank Account of the petitioners.

 

7.    That the petitioners visited the branch of the respondent no.2, herein on several occasions, with a request to credit the balance amount of Rs. 18,00,000/- ( Rupees Eighteen Lakhs ) only, in their Saving Bank Account, but all in vain.

 

8.    That on 31st day of October‘ 2014, the respondent no.2, herein served one letter being reference no. BR17/156, dated 31-10-2014, captioned as Fate of Cheque No. 000834, dated 24-09-2014, stating inter alia as by mistake in CTS amount was inserted as Rs. 2,00,000/- against Cheque no. 000834, and the same was credited to the joint account of your petitioners, and given a copy of one another letter being reference no. BR17/151, dated 28-10-2014, addressed to the respondent no.4, herein captioned as Less payment Cheque no. 000834, dated 24-09-2014, by Rs. 18,00,000/- ( Rupees Eighteen Lakhs ) only, presented on 26-09-2014, stating inter alia stated about mistake and requesting for balance payment thereof, with a xerox copy of said cheque and entry of the bank.

 

9.    That the Petitioners states and submits that the petitioners are in urgent need of money, and for such reasons alone they arranged themselves to sold out the property to the purchaser, and whereas the purchaser made payment of the consideration money of such property through obtaining housing loan from the respondent no. 4, herein, and the respondent no. 4, herein in discharge of it’s obligation and on behalf of the said purchaser issued one cheque being no. 000834, dated 24-09-2014, for Rs. 20,00,000/- ( Rupees Twenty Lakhs ) only, drawn on United Bank of India, Kolkata Branch, at premises being no. 4, Narendra Chandra Dutta Sarani, Kolkata – 700 001, in favour of the petitioners. The petitioners presented and deposited such cheque to their banker being the respondent no. 2, herein for clearing and encashment of the value of the said cheque, but less amount has been credited by the banker in the bank account of the petitioners, and such act was admitted by the banker as has been occurred due to mistake but such mistake has not been resolved till date and the petitioners are suffering in several aspects and manners.

CAUSE OF ACTION :

 

That the Cause of action for the present proceeding arose as on 27th day of September’ 2014, while the respondent Bank credited less amount of the purported Cheque being no. 000834, dated 24-09-2014, for Rs. 20,00,000/- ( Rupees Twenty Lakhs ) only, drawn on United Bank of India, Kolkata Branch, at premises being no. 4, Narendra Chandra Dutta Sarani, Kolkata – 700 001, and lastly on 31-10-2014, while the respondent bank served one Letter being reference no. BR17/156, dated 31-10-2014, intimating and admitting such facts, but did not resolve their own mistake, and continuing as such balance amount of Rs. 18,00,000/- ( Rupees Eighteen Lakhs ) only, has not been still credited by the respondent bank in the saving Bank Account of your Petitioners.

 

DOCUMENTS RELIED ON :

 

1.   a copy of Pass Book Xerox - Annexure – “A”

 

2.   a copy of Letter dated 31-10-2014, and Letter dated 28-10-2014, and copy of Cheque and Bank entry, - Annexure – “B”

 

RELIEF SOUGHT FOR :

 

To direct the respondent / opposite party no.1 to credit the balance value of the Cheque being no. 000834, dated 24-09-2014, drawn on United Bank of India, Kolkata Branch, at premises being no. 4, Narendra Chandra Dutta Sarani, Kolkata – 700 001, as of Rs. 18,00,000/- ( Rupees Eighteen Lakhs ) only, together with the prevailing Bank rate of interest from the date of 27th day of September’ 2014, till realization, to your petitioner;

 

To direct the opposite parties / respondents to pay compensation, as for the harassment, troubles, loss of business, physical inconvenience and mental agony, suffered by the petitioner from the purported activities and others by the opposite parties as assessed as Rs. 10,00,000/- ( Rupees Ten Lakhs ) only to your petitioners;

 

To direct the opposite parties to pay Rs. 10,00,000/- ( Rupees Ten Lakhs ) only, towards pecuniary damages, arising out of breach of duty by the respondents / opposite parties, to the Petitioners ;

 

To grant the cost of the proceedings ;

 

To grant any other relief or alternate relief to the applicant / petitioner as found out by your Honour, in the facts and circumstances of the Complaint.

 

DURING TRIAL :

 

1.   Written version of the Opposite Party no. 1 & 2 being State Bank of India – submitted on 13-10-2015 – relevant paragraph numbers 8, 9, 10, and 11, and first paragraph at page number 5, which states as “ Be it mentioned here that the Opposite Party Bank already credited Rs. 18,00,000/- ( Rupees Eighteen Lakhs ) only, on 09-02-2015, in the joint account being No. 30691667417 of the petitioners”. It is mention that in those relevant paragraph number 8, 9, 10, and 11, the opposite party being State Bank of India admitted the facts as assailed by the petitioners in their petition of complaint.

Documents relied on by the State Bank of India –

a)   Letter dated 31-10-2014,

b)   Letter dated 28-10-2014,

c)   Photocopy of Cheque,

d)   Statement showing credit of Rs. 18,00,000/-

 

2.   Written version of the Opposite Party no. 3, being United Bank of India – submitted on 13-10-2015 – relevant paragraph number 12 & 17, and Annexure being the statement thereof, which has relied on by the opposite party in support of the facts that in terms of clearing Rs. 2,00,000/- ( Rupees Two Lakhs ) has been given through one instrument being the said purported cheque, so far.

 

Paragraph no. 12 – That with regard to the contents of paragraph 23 of the instant complaint the opposite party no. 3, states that the contents of letter dated 28-10-2014 are denied and disputed. It is pertinent to mention here that the opposite party no.3 had cleared the said cheque of the complainants according to the clearing instruction of the Reserve Bank of India and debited Rs. 2,00,000/- from the account of the opposite party no.4. thus the opposite party no. 3 cannot pay any further amount after debiting from the account of the opposite party no.4 in one instrument. The opposite party party no.3 states that the opposite party no.3, did not play any delay tactics or nasty game by saying that earlier claim with SBI which should be settled first then the opposite party no.3 would pay the difference amount as alleged by the State Bank of India in letter dated 28-10-2014. The copy of statement of A/C of the o.p. no. 4 is annexed hereto as ANNEXURE A.”

 

Paragraph no. 17 – “That since the complainants have no account with United Bank of India, there exists no relation of consumer and service provider between the complainants and the opposite party no.3 and as such the complainants have not hired or availed any services for a consideration from united bank of india, Kolkata branch.”

 

3.   Written Version of the Opposite Party no.4 – submitted on 13-10-2015 – relevant paragraph numbers 3(i), 5, and 8.

 

Contents of paragraph number 3(i) – I say that the Opposite Party no.4 is a Housing Finance Company which has been granted certificate of registration under the National Housing Bank Act 1987 and in the course of such business, the respondent no.4 had handed over a cheque for Rs. 20,00,000/- drawn on United Bank of India, Kolkata in favour of the complainants, being the entire loan amount obtained by one Pappu Kumar Shaw who was the purchaser of Complainant’s property. Such facts has been admitted by the complainants at pargraph 4 & 10 of the complaint.

 

Contents of paragraph number 5 – with reference to paragraph number 4 of the complaint, I say that the Opposite Party is a Housing Finance Company which has been granted certificate of registration under the National Housing Bank Act 1987 and inb the course of such business had provided a housing loan to Mr. Pappu Kumar Shaw for an amount of Rs. 20,00,000/- and therefore handed over a cheque of Rs. 20,00,000/- drawn on United Bank of India, Kolkata Branch and in the name of the complainants herein who were selling their property to the said Mr. Pappu Shaw.

 

Contents of paragraph number 8 – with reference to paragraph number 10 of the complaint, I say that the Complaint admits that the opposite party no.4 herein, “in discharge of it’s obligatrion and on behalf of the said purchaser issued one cheque being no. 000834 dated 24-09-2014 for Rs. 20,00,000/- ( Rupees Twenty Lakhs ) only, drawn on United Bank of India, Kolkata Branch, at premises no. 4, Narendra Chandra Dutta Sarani, Kolkata – 700001, in favour of the petitioners.”

 

4.    EVIDENCE - Evidence submitted by the Complainants and the Opposite Party number 1,2, and 3, herein. The Opposite Party no. 4, did not submit any Evidence in present consumer proceeding. The evidences submitted by the complainants are replica of the petition of complaint and the evidence submitted by the opposite party nos. 1, 2, and 3, are replica of their written version.

 

5.   Questionnaire and reply has been occurred in between the Complainants and the Opposite Party nos. 1, 2, and 3, and whereas the Opposite Party no. 4, did not participate in such endavour, so far.

 

6.   It is pertinent to submit that the Opposite Party no.3, United Bank of India, placed one petition bearing MA no. 883 of 2015, arising out of the present Consumer proceeding no. CC/377/2014, praying inter alia dismissal of the petition of complaint as against the Opposite Party no.3, herein. And whereas the Complainants filed their objection, and thereafter upon necessary hearing, the Hon’ble State Commission, passed necessary order on 08-04-2016, as “ It has been stated in the petition that the Complainants allegedly due to urgent need of money sold their property to one Sri Pappu Kumar Shaw for a consideration of Rs. 30 lakh. The said purchaser Pappu Kumar Shaw obtained loan from the OP No. 4 Dewan Housing Finance Ltd. And in pursuance thereof the OP No. 4 issued a cheque bearing no. 000834 dated 24/09/2014 of Rs. 20 lakh drawn on UBI, Kolkata Branch in favour of the Complainants towards payment of the consideration money of the property. The Complainants thereafter deposited the said cheque in their joint saving account with SBI, Shibrampur Branch.The OP No. 2, that is SBI, Shibrampur Branch credited only Rs. 2 lakh instead of Rs. 20 lakh in the saving account of the Complainants. Since the Complainants have no account with the UBI there is no consumer – service provider relationship and the case against OP No. 3 is not maintainable.

 

The Learned Counsel for the OP No. 3, has submitted that there was no privity of contract between the complainants and the OP No. 3. It is submitted that so far as the clearance of the cheque is concerned the op no. 3 acted in accordance with the instruction of op no.2 SBI. It is contended that op no. 3 is not a necessary party in this case.

 

The Learned Counsel for the SBI OP No. 2 has submitted that while clearing the cheque the amount war wrongly typed as Rs. 2 lakh instead of Rs. 20 lakhs and it was a sheer mistake. It is contended that UBI OP No. 3 could have detected the mistake and there was scope on the part of OP No.3 to release the remaining amount of Rs. 18 lakh in favour of the Complainants.

 

The Learned Counsel for the Complainants has submitted that the entire facts have been stated in the petition of complaint and the presence of OP No.3 is required in this case.

 

We have heard the submission made by both sides and perused the papers on record. Having regard to the submission made by both sides and on perusal of the papers on record, we are of the considered view that for proper and effective adjudication the presence of OP No.3 is required being a necessary party.”

 

7.   SUBMISSION : in the facts and circumstances, your petitioners are entitled to get relief in terms of their prayer as sought for.

 

 

Through _______________

 

 

Advocate

Date : 03-09-2020

Place : Kolkata.

 

 

 

 

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