Cases in Point

Here the person found the contents (jewellery) missing from his locker and received a compensation of Rs 126,017 along with interest calculated at the rate of 18 per cent, as directed by a consumer court. The bank claimed that it was not responsible for the loss as per the agreement signed, but the argument was dismissed.

The customer filed a case stating that termites had destroyed currency notes and important papers kept in her locker. The commission said that the bank “was bound to ensure that the respondent’s locker remained safe in all respects,” and awarded compensation to the customer.

One bank customer found valuables worth Rs 23 lakh missing from his locker. The bank held that he had not shut the locker properly and hence they were

a) The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission examined the bank’s contention in a case reported as 2001 CTJ 352 (CP). The facts of the case were that three women had hired lockers at a bank’s branch in Punjab. A robbery took place and all the valuables in the lockers were removed. The bank refused to take any responsibility for the theft. Subsequently, the three women filed complaints with the Punjab State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Chandigarh.

During the hearings, the bank argued that the depositors were only tenants of the lockers and hence the bank could not be held liable for any loss suffered