Consumer forum pulls up bank for deficient service

Account holder Prashanth Hegde, who was a professor in Moodbidri Alva’s Education Trust, had filed a complaint to the DCRF through advocate Bharathraj Hegde stating that the Canara Bank branch in Moodbidri was refusing to provide information about his savings bank account.  Prashanth’s salary from the Alva’s Education Trust was being credited to his account in the bank. But the bank authorities did not allow Prashanth to operate his account after he left the job from the institute. Prashanth alleged in the complaint that the bank authorities were not providing him the details of his account following the instructions from the institution management. The institution management also had requested the bank in writing not to allow Prashanth to withdraw the amount which was deposited in his account.
After verifying the case, DCRF Chairperson Asha Shetty found that the bank has failed to provide service as per norms. Forum observed that the bank has freezed complainant’s account even when there was sufficient fund in it. Further, the Forum directed the bank to pay compensation as well as the expenses of court proceedings to the consumer.