NATIONAL CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL COMMISSION

NEW DELHI

 

REVISION  PETITION  NO.  2528 OF  2006

 

Reserve Bank of India                                                 …Petitioner

Versus

Eshwarappa and another                                   … Respondents

 

REVISION  PETITION  NO.  2529 OF  2006

 

Reserve Bank of India                                                 …Petitioner

Versus

Eshwarappa and another                                   … Respondents

 

REVISION  PETITION  NO.  2530 OF  2006

 

Reserve Bank of India                                                 …Petitioner

Versus

Eshwarappa and another                                   … Respondents

 

 

REVISION  PETITION  NO.  3263 OF  2006

 

Reserve Bank of India                                                 …Petitioner

Versus

Jila Sahakari Kendriya Bank & others               … Respondents

REVISION  PETITION  NO.  3312 OF  2006

 

Reserve Bank of India                                                 …Petitioner

Versus

Jila Sahakari Kendriya Bank & others               … Respondents

 

REVISION  PETITION  NO.  3313 OF  2006

 

Reserve Bank of India                                                 …Petitioner

Versus

Jila Sahakari Kendriya Bank & others               … Respondents

 

- 2-

 

REVISION  PETITION  NO.  3326 OF  2006

 

Reserve Bank of India                                                 …Petitioner

Versus

Jila Sahakari Kendriya Bank & others               … Respondents

 

REVISION  PETITION  NO.  3458 OF  2006

 

Deposit Insurance & Credit

Guarantee Corporation                                                …Petitioner

Versus

Budh Ram & others                                   … Respondents

 

REVISION  PETITION  NO.  2428 OF  2005

 

The Bangalore Southared Central

Cooperative Bank Ltd.                                       …Petitioner

Versus

M.T. Muttappa and another                                … Respondents

 

REVISION  PETITION  NO.  462 OF  2006

 

The Maratha Cooperative Bank Ltd.                  …Petitioner

Versus

Bhimsena Tukakramsa Miskin                           … Respondent

REVISION  PETITION  NO.  463 OF  2006

 

The Maratha Cooperative Bank Ltd.                  …Petitioner

Versus

Subhas                                                                … Respondent

REVISION  PETITION  NO.  2254 OF  2006

 

The Maratha Cooperative Bank Ltd.                  …Petitioner

Versus

Ramdas Bhosle                                                   … Respondent

 

- 3 -

REVISION  PETITION  NO.  2255 OF  2006

 

The Maratha Cooperative Bank Ltd.                  …Petitioner

Versus

Eshwarappa Shettar                                           … Respondent

REVISION  PETITION  NO.  2256 OF  2006

 

The Maratha Cooperative Bank Ltd.                  …Petitioner

Versus

Saraswati R. Bhosle                                           … Respondent

 

 

REVISION  PETITION  NO.  2746 OF  2006

 

The Maratha Cooperative Bank Ltd.                  …Petitioner

Versus

Eshwarappa Ari                                                  … Respondent

 

REVISION  PETITION  NO.  2747 OF  2006

 

The Maratha Cooperative Bank Ltd.                  …Petitioner

Versus

Savitri Desaigoudar                                            … Respondent

 

REVISION  PETITION  NO.  2748 OF  2006

 

The Maratha Cooperative Bank Ltd.                  …Petitioner

Versus

Eshwarappa Ari                                                  … Respondent

 

 

BEFORE :

                   HON’BLE MR.JUSTICE M.B. SHAH, PRESIDENT

                   MRS. RAJYALAKSHMI RAO, MEMBER

                   MR. ANUPAM DASGUPTA, MEMBER

 

 

 

 

For the Petitioner         s

(In RPs Nos.2528-2530:       Mr. Jaideep Gupta, Sr. Advocate with

3263, 3312, 3313, 3326       Mr. H.S. Parihar, Mr. D.N. Tripathy

and 3458/2006                      Advocates

 

For Petitioners in             :      Mr. Shanth Kr. V. Mahale, Advocate

(in RPs Nos.462, 463,

2254-2256 , 2746-2748/2006                   

                                                 

For the Respondents      :      Mr. S.J. Amith, Advocate with

(n RPs nos.2528-2530,           :      Mrs. Kiran Suri, Advocate     

2746, 2748/2006)

 

For Respondent

(in RP no.3458/06)         :     Ms. Surekha Raman, Advocate

                                                (Amicus curiae)

 

For Respondent

(in RP No.2591/2007)     :     Mr. S.K. Sharma, Advocate

 

For Respondent no.79               :    Mr. Duli Chand & Mr. Manish K., Advocates

 

  

26.11.2007

ORDER

 

          Heard the learned counsel for the parties.

         

          In all these matters the question which requires consideration is what should be the time limit or the period during which operation of the direction issued under Section 35-A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 should remain in force?  Whether it can remain in force for years together or for a reasonable period.

In our view, when no time limit is prescribed under the law, concept of reasonable period is adopted/accepted by the law laid down by the Apex Court.

          The result would be, after lapse of reasonable time the RBI either should cancel the licence of the Bank or, if possible, lift the ban so that Bank can be revived and made functional.

          R.P. No. 3458 of 2006

Learned senior advocate appearing on behalf of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) states that in the present case, Liquidator for the City Cooperative Bank Ltd.  was appointed on 4.10.2006 and till today the Liquidator has not submitted the list of the creditors.   He further submits that RBI has passed an order under Section 35A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 on 23.3.2001 and thereafter the licence of the City Cooperative Bank Ltd. was cancelled on 23.10.2004. 

Considering the aforesaid facts, the Deposit Insurance & Credit Guarantee Corporation has to pay upto Rs.1 lac to the complainant, Budh Ram.  Interest would be payable till the date of cancellation i.e. 23.10.2004.

 

          R.P. No. 2428 of 2006

Learned senior advocate for the RBI submits that the Bangalore Southared Central Cooperative Bank Ltd.  has merged with Shamrao Vitthal Cooperative Bank Ltd. on 26.2.2007. 

In this view of the matter, order passed by the State Commission does not call for any interference.  It would be open to the complainants to recover the amount awarded by the State Commission  from the concerned Bank by executing the same, if required.

 R.P. No. 3263 of 2006

          Learned senior advocate for the RBI submits that in the case of Jila Sahakari Kendriya Bank,  a direction under Section 35A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 was issued only on 28.6.2005.

R.P. No. 462 of 2006

          In the case of  Maratha Cooperative Bank Ltd., Hubli, Karnataka, a   direction under Section 35A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 was issued on 4.2.2004 and show cause notice for cancellation of licence was sent on 4.4.2006.

It is submitted by the learned counsel for the RBI that time was granted by the RBI because Bank’s financial position improved.  Review process on the basis of the facts  has restarted and the final order would be passed before the end of February, 2008.

          We appreciate the assistance rendered by Ms. Surekha Raman, Advocate as amicus curiae.  Registry is directed to pay Rs.5,000/- to meet her out of pocket expenses because the matter was required to be heard and re-heard again and again.

          Stand over to 28.2.2008 for final disposal.

         

……………………………………J.

(M.B. SHAH)

PRESIDENT

 

………………………………………

(RAJYALAKSHMI RAO)

MEMBER

 

………………………………………

(ANUPAM DASGUPTA)

MEMBER

SG/31-48