Udaipur Permanent Lok Adalat Penalizes Bank for Withholding Fixed Deposit Payout Despite Registered Will | बैंक की लापरवाही पर सख्त कार्रवाई

UDAIPUR: UDAIPUR — In a decisive ruling addressing systemic banking apathy, the Permanent Lok Adalat in Udaipur has penalized a prominent commercial bank udaipur permanent lok adalat bank fd penalty after it arbitrarily withheld a deceased mother’s fixed deposit payout for over five years despite the claimant holding a legally verified registered will.

Anatomy of a Delayed Payout: Five Years of Administrative Red Tape

The legal grievance originated from Sanjay Paliwal, a resident of the Central Area in Udaipur and son of the late Ganeshlal Paliwal. His mother, the late Manohar Devi, held four distinct fixed deposit (FD) accounts at the Krishi Mandi Market Yard branch of the Bank of Baroda. Recognizing the importance of securing her children’s financial future, Manohar Devi had executed a legally valid registered will explicitly in favor of her son Sanjay on December 1, 2008—thirteen years prior to her passing. Following her demise on April 1, 2021, Sanjay approached the banking institution to transfer the accumulated FD amounts into his active savings account by presenting the registered testamentary document.

Instead of honoring the registered legal instrument and facilitating a seamless transmission of funds, local branch officials insisted on redundant legal formalities and extraneous documentation. Despite repeated representations and submission of necessary identification papers, the bank refused to clear the dues, forcing the grieving family to endure prolonged bureaucratic deadlock. For citizens navigating similar administrative hurdles, the city has recently witnessed parallel civic grievances, such as those highlighted in reports covering Udaipur Permanent Lok Adalat Penalizes Bank for Withholding Fixed Deposit Payout Despite Registered Will, reflecting a wider pattern of institutional inertia across local service sectors.

“Financial institutions cannot arbitrarily disregard registered legal documents and harass rightful legal heirs with unwarranted demands for additional clearances.” — Permanent Lok Adalat Bench Observation

• Complainant Profile: Sanjay Paliwal, resident of Central Area, Udaipur, pursued the case for five years.
• Bank Branch: Bank of Baroda, Krishi Mandi Market Yard branch.
• Original Deposit Structure: Four separate fixed deposit accounts originally held by the late Manohar Devi.

Case Summary and Financial Penalty Breakdown

The following structured data outlines the key parameters, legal findings, and financial penalties mandated by the Permanent Lok Adalat bench in Udaipur regarding the withheld fixed deposit dispute.

Permanent Lok Adalat Verdict: Strict Liability Imposed on Banking Institution

Taking cognizance of the avoidable distress caused to the legal heir, the Permanent Lok Adalat bench—comprising President Mahendra Singh Sisodia, along with members Pramod Kumar Dani and Dr. Surbhi Menaria—delivered an unambiguous verdict holding the financial institution guilty of deficient service. The bench underscored that once a registered will is duly presented along with death verification records, commercial banks have no legal standing to indefinitely stall payouts or demand arbitrary succession certificates unless a rival claim is officially registered.

To enforce accountability, the court ordered the bank to pay a total of Rs 32,000, which includes Rs 21,000 as compensation for severe mental agony and harassment inflicted upon the petitioner, alongside Rs 11,000 toward litigation expenses. Furthermore, the bench stipulated a strict compliance timeline of one month. In the event of failure to disburse the full dues within this stipulated window, the bank is mandated to pay an additional 9 percent per annum interest on the entire outstanding amount, calculated retroactively from October 21, 2021, until the date of actual disbursement.

“If the bank fails to honor this directive within one month, 9 percent annual interest will be levied from October 21, 2021, until settlement.” — Permanent Lok Adalat Order Directive

• Bench Members: Headed by President Mahendra Singh Sisodia, Pramod Kumar Dani, and Dr. Surbhi Menaria.
• Compliance Window: Exactly one month granted for complete financial settlement.
• Punitive Clause: 9% yearly interest triggered for delayed compliance beyond the deadline.

विस्तृत घटनाक्रम एवं पुलिस-प्रशासनिक कार्रवाई (Hindi News Coverage)

उदयपुर के सेंट्रल एरिया निवासी संजय पालीवाल को अपनी माता की मृत्यु के बाद बैंक की मनमानी के कारण पांच साल तक भारी मानसिक और वित्तीय परेशानियों का सामना करना पड़ा। स्वर्गीय मनोहर देवी ने बैंक ऑफ बड़ौदा की कृषि मंडी मार्केट Yard शाखा में चार एफडी खाते खुलवाए थे। अपने जीवनकाल में ही, 1 दिसंबर 2008 को उन्होंने इन सभी जमा राशियों के संबंध में अपने बेटे संजय के पक्ष में एक रजिस्टर्ड वसीयत तैयार करवा दी थी। 1 अप्रैल 2021 को मनोहर देवी का निधन हो गया, जिसके बाद संजय ने वसीयत के आधार पर बैंक में राशि हस्तांतरित करने का आवेदन दिया।

लेकिन बैंक अधिकारियों ने नियमों का हवाला देते हुए भुगतान करने के बजाय अनावश्यक कानूनी दस्तावेज और उत्तराधिकार प्रमाण पत्र की मांग शुरू कर दी। बैंक की इस टालमटोल नीति से परेशान होकर संजय पालीवाल ने स्थायी लोक अदालत का दरवाजा खटखटाया। अदालत ने मामले की गंभीरता को समझते हुए बैंक के रवैये को सेवा में गंभीर कमी माना और उपभोक्ता अधिकारों के हनन पर कड़ा रुख अपनाया। इसी प्रकार शहर में नागरिकों को प्रशासनिक और संस्थागत सहयोग प्रदान करने के लिए विभिन्न एजेंसियां काम कर रही हैं, जैसे हाल ही में Udaipur Traffic Police Receive 10 Advanced Solar Barricades to Boost Night Visibility and Road Safety के तहत सुरक्षा उपकरणों का आधुनिकीकरण किया गया है।

स्थायी लोक अदालत के अध्यक्ष महेंद्र सिंह सिसोदिया, सदस्य प्रमोद कुमार दाणी और डॉ. सुरभि मेनारिया की संयुक्त पीठ ने यह ऐतिहासिक फैसला सुनाते हुए बैंक पर कुल 32 हजार रुपए का जुर्माना लगाया है। इसमें मानसिक परेशानी के लिए 21 हजार रुपए और मुकदमे के खर्च के रूप में 11 हजार रुपए शामिल हैं। अदालत के स्पष्ट निर्देश हैं कि यदि बैंक एक महीने के भीतर भुगतान नहीं करता है, तो उसे 21 अक्टूबर 2021 से लेकर वास्तविक भुगतान की तिथि तक पूरी राशि पर 9 प्रतिशत की दर से वार्षिक ब्याज भी चुकाना होगा। (Also read: Udaipur Permanent Lok Adalat Penalizes Bank for Withholding Fixed Deposit Payout Despite Registered Will | बैंक की लापरवाही पर सख्त कार्रवाई).

“बैंकों द्वारा वैध वसीयत के बावजूद खाता धारकों के उत्तराधिकारियों को परेशान करना गंभीर लापरवाही है, जिस पर अदालत ने कड़ा आर्थिक दंड लगाया है।” — स्थायी लोक अदालत पीठ

• मामले का केंद्र: सेंट्रल एरिया निवासी संजय पालीवाल की माता की एफडी का पांच साल तक अटका भुगतान।
• बैंक की लापरवाही: रजिस्टर्ड वसीयत होने के बावजूद अनावश्यक कानूनी दस्तावेजों की मांग करना।
• अदालत का फैसला: मानसिक प्रताड़ना और मुकदमे के खर्च के रूप में कुल 32,000 रुपए का हर्जाना।

Broader Civic Implications and Accountability in Udaipur Banking Sector

Legal experts in Udaipur have lauded the Permanent Lok Adalat’s ruling as a vital precedent that protects citizens from bureaucratic harassment by public and private banking institutions. Often, grieving families find themselves caught in a web of procedural red tape when claiming deposits of deceased relatives, even when clear legal documentation such as registered wills or nominations are readily available. This verdict reinforces the principle that institutional duty must align with consumer protection laws, preventing arbitrary withholding of rightful funds.

Consumer rights activists across the Mewar region have urged the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) ombudsman and local banking coordinators to conduct sensitization workshops for branch managers regarding the legal validity of registered wills versus succession certificates. As urban centers like Udaipur continue to expand, ensuring transparent and prompt execution of banking services remains essential for maintaining public trust in financial institutions. The strict penalties enforced in this case serve as a stern warning against administrative laxity and procedural high-handedness.

“Public and private financial institutions must streamline their grievance redressal mechanisms to respect registered testamentary documents without forcing citizens into prolonged litigation.” — Mewar Legal Aid Cell Observer

• Consumer Protection: Highlights the legal weight of registered wills in financial claims.
• Institutional Accountability: Serves as a deterrent against arbitrary bureaucratic delays in Udaipur banks.
• Legal Precedent: Empowers citizens to approach consumer forums and Lok Adalats for swift justice.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)