Hari Krishan Dass Ajai Kumar vs Canara Bank on 5 June, 2023

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Central Information Commission

Hari Krishan Dass Ajai Kumar vs Canara Bank on 5 June, 2023

1. The issue under consideration arising out of the second appeal dated 12.06.2021 include non-receipt of the following information sought by the appellant through the RTI application dated 05.10.2020 and first appeal dated 15.12.2020:-

(i) Whether it is not true that the appellant visited branch on 10.6.18 and presented for renewal original his 3 Vikas Cash Certificates (VCCs) and original 2 VCC of his close relatives.

(a) Whether it is not true that since then the appellant has followed up the matter with branch officials by way of personal visits, telephone calls, Whatsapp messages, Emails and also by letter.

(b) Whether it is not true that branch has informed that these deposits are classified as UNCLAIMED Deposits and has been transferred to Head Office and the Page 1 of 6 branch is making follow up with DEAF Deptt. Manipal to get the proceeds of these VCCs back and after that these deposits may be renewed.

(c) Whether it is not true that branch has informed in NOV.19 that original 5 deposit receipts (VCC) have been misplaced and are untraceable. It was a shock to the appellant as he has not obtained any acknowledgement from the branch. But the branch official console/ assure me that they are searching the misplaced VCCs and eventually they were traced out in branch.

(ii) The subject VCCs face value Rs. 11599.00 renewed for 72 months @ 13% ROI w.e.f.

April - June 1996. They matured in April - June 2002 MV Rs.24990.00. Please inform that on maturity date, these deposits were AUTO RENEWED or not.

(a) If yes, how many cycles of 72 months these VCCs were Auto Renewed.

(b) Kindly inform the date, face value of deposit and value of last Auto Renewal.

(c) Whether any reminder letter was sent by bank to me regarding renewal of these deposits after maturity, if not why.

(d) In case the 3 deposits (VCCs) were not Auto Renewed on the date of maturity, what was the reason.

(iii) In case the subject VCCs were not Auto Renewed on maturity date, what was the status of these deposits on maturity date? Whether, they were controlled as OVERDUE deposits in bank book on maturity date.

(a) In case, these deposits were controlled as Overdue Deposits, whether any communication by way of letter, phone was sent to me for renewal of these deposits (VCCs)

(b) What was the policy of bank in vague to deal with such non renewed overdue deposits. Kindly provide a copy of the relevant instruction circular for his perusal.

(d) Please interest inform whether the branch has paid on accrual basis on these overdue deposits. If yes, how much amount of interest was paid and up to which period and at which rate of interest ROI

(iv) When the bank classified the subject VCCs as UNCI.AIMED DEPOSITS. Inform the date.

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(a) What is the policy of bank and laid down rules and procedures to classify a deposit account under unclaimed deposit category. Kindly provide the copy of relevant instruction circular.

(b) Whether any individual letter to customers or three month notice was required to be sent before classifying overdue deposits as unclaimed deposits. What is the laid down rule /procedure of the bank to this regard.

(c) When the deposits were transferred to Head Office DEAF Deptt. Manipal by branch.

(d) What was the book value of these deposits at the time of transfer?

(e) Whether the head office pay the interest on accrual basis on these unclaimed deposits as these are liability to the bank

(f) Whether these deposits were transferred to Reserve Bank India. If yes, inform the date.

(v) Whether CHARTER your bank has adopted CITIZENS CHARTER for better customer service and customer satisfaction. If yes, kindly provide the relevant points of the charter applicable in respect of Term Deposits of customers.

(vi) The branch letter under reference dated L7.9.20 has mentioned that your 3 VCCs were renewed as per guidelines contained in Manual of Instructions. The interest was paid @ 2.90% currently applicable/ payable to SB deposits on matured overdue balance.

Kindly provide the copy of relevant content /circular of quoted manual of Instruction. Kindly tell from which date the circular/ guidelines are effective/ applicable. Whether the said guidelines have been made applicable retrospectively for old overdue deposits say matured in April 2002

(vii) As the appellant has informed that presently he is living in Pilakhuva and his family members enjoying bank services from your Pilakhuva Branch since long. He has hired a locker in your Farid Nagar branch and the locker was being operated by him up to 2014/2055. During 2018 I surrendered locker due to debilitating health. Please tell whether fixed deposits of a Locker holder may be termed/ classified as unclaimed deposits.

2. Succinctly facts of the case are that the appellant filed an application dated 05.10.2020 under the Right to Information Act, 2005 (RTI Act) before the Central Public Information Page 3 of 6 Officer (CPIO), Canara Bank, Delhi. The CPIO vide letter dated 13.11.2020 replied to the appellant. Aggrieved by the same, the appellant filed first appeal dated 15.12.2020. The First Appellate Authority (FAA) vide order dated 10.03.2021disposed of the first appeal. Aggrieved by that, the appellant filed second appeal dated 12.06.2021 before the Commission which is under consideration.

3. The appellant has filed the instant appeal dated 12.06.2021 inter alia on the grounds that reply given by the CPIO was not satisfactory. The appellant requested the Commission to direct the CPIO to provide the complete information and take necessary action as per Section 20 (1) of the RTI Act.

4. The CPIO replied vide letter dated 13.11.2020 to the appellant and the same is reproduced as under:-

We provide the information requested by you:-

     (i)       No record available with us.
               a) No record available with us.
               b) No such record available.
               c) No such information available with us.
     (ii)      Auto renewal facility was available at customer request.
               a) No applicable.
               b) No such information available.
               c) Yes.
               d)   It was available at customer request.
               e) Matured deposits.
               f) Not applicable.
     (iii)     Matured deposits.
               a) Not applicable.
               b) Enclosed.

c) Amount was already settled to your account.

(iv) No such information available.

a) It is available in public domain of RBI/Bank.

b) It is available in public domain of RBI/Bank.

c) No information available.

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d) Not applicable.

e) Not applicable.

f) Not applicable.

(v) Yes. Information available in public domain of BCSBI.

     (vi)     Not applicable.
     (vii)    No such classification available in case of lockers.

The FAA vide order dated 10.03.2021 concurred with the reply given by the CPIO.

5. Both the parties remained absent despite notice.

6. The Commission after adverting to the facts and circumstances of the case, and perusal of records, observed that the appellant sought information regarding renewal of Vikas Cash Certificates (VCCs) and related information. The respondent had provided point-wise reply or information to the appellant vide letters dated 13.11.2020 and 10.03.2021. Perusal of the RTI application revealed that most of the information sought was in the form of seeking answer/clarifications to his queries which did not fall within the definition of "information" as defined under section 2 (f) of the RTI Act. Vikas Cash Certificates (VCCs) It was pertinent to mention that the parties were not present before the Commission to press their case despite hearing notices served to them. It was not the case that reply was not given to the appellant. The reasons for the appellant's dissatisfaction could not be ascertained as he did not appear before the Commission. Since, the reply/information having been given and second appeal having not been pressed for, the Commission is of the view that prolonging the matter further may not be in the public interest. Accordingly the appeal is dismissed.

Copy of the decision be provided free of cost to the parties.

Sd/-

(Suresh Chandra) (सुसुरेशचं ा) ा सूचनाआयु ) Information Commissioner (सू दनांक/Date: 05.06.2023 Authenticated true copy R. Sitarama Murthy ( आर. सीताराममूत ) Dy. Registrar (उपपंजीयक) 011-26181927( ०११ २६१८१९२७)

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Addresses of the parties:

THE CPIO: CANARA BANK MAHA LAXMI MALL 1ST FLOOR RDC RAJNAGAR, GHAZIABAD,UP - 201017 THE FIRST APPELLATE AUTHORITY CANARA BANK MAHA LAXMI MALL 1ST FLOOR RDC RAJNAGAR, GHAZIABAD, UP - 201017 SH. HARI KRISHAN DASS AJAI KUMAR Page 6 of 6

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