Sabita Kumari v. The Punjab National Bank Through The General Manager,

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.15192 of 2022 ====================================================== 1.

Sabita Kumari W/o Manoj Kumar, Resident of Mohalla-Rahul Nagar, Road No. 2, Brahampur, P.S.-Brahampur, Distt.-Muzaffarpur. 2.

Manoj Kumar, S/o Late Uma Shankar Prasad Singh, Resident of MohallaRahul Nagar, Road No. 2, Brahampur, P.S.-Brahampur, Distt.-Muzaffarpur. ... ... Petitioner/s

Versus

1.

The Punjab National Bank through the General Manager, Zonal Office, Chanakya Tower, R. Block Golumber, Patna.

2.

The General Manager, Punjab National Bank, Chanakya Tower, R. Block Golumber, Patna.

3.

The Regional Manager, Regional Office, Aghoria Chowk, P.S. -Kazi Mohammadpur, District-Muzaffarpur.

4.

The Branch Manager, Punjab National Bank, Khabra Branch, P.S.-Sadar, District-Muzaffarpur.

... ... Respondent/s ====================================================== Appearance :

For the Petitioner/s :

Mr.Nawal Kishor Singh, Advocate For the Respondent/s :

Mr.Mritunjay Kumar, Advocate ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE and HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE PARTHA SARTHY ORAL JUDGMENT (Per: HONOURABLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE) (The proceedings of the Court are being conducted by Hon'ble the Chief Justice/Hon'ble Judges through Video Conferencing from their residential offices/residences. Also the Advocates and the Staffs joined the proceedings through Video Conferencing from their residences/offices.) Date : 11-11-2022 Heard learned counsel for the parties.

Petitioners have prayed for following relief(s) :- "For issuance of an appropriate writ(s), order(s), direction(s) commanding the respondent authorities to consider and grant the extension of time up to September 2023 to the petitioners to pay the remaining dues of Rs. 34,00,000/- (Rupees Thirty Four Lakh

2/4 only) of the One Time Settlement (O.T.S) amount agreed between petitioners and respondents in easy installment to settle the account.

And further for a direction to the Respondents not to take any coercive action against the petitioners during pendency of this petition.

And/or Pass such other order (s) as your Lordships may deem fit and proper."

After the matter was heard for some time, learned counsel for the petitioners, under instructions, states that petitioners shall be content if a direction is issued to the authority concerned to consider and decide the representation which the petitioners shall be filing for redressal of the grievance(s).

Learned counsel for the respondents states that if such a representation is filed by the petitioners, the authority concerned shall consider and dispose it of expeditiously and preferably within a period of three months from the date of its filing along with a copy of this order.

Statement accepted and taken on record.

As such, petition stands disposed of in the following terms:- (a) Petitioners shall approach the authority concerned i.e. Respondent No. 3, namely, The Regional Manager, Regional

3/4 Office, Aghoria Chowk, P.S.-Kazi Mohammadpur, DistrictMuzafarpur, by filing a representation for redressal of the grievance(s);

(b) The authority concerned shall consider and dispose it of expeditiously by a reasoned and speaking order preferably within a period of three months from the date of its filing along with a copy of this order;

(c) Needless to add, while considering such representation, principles of natural justice shall be followed and due opportunity of hearing afforded to the parties; (d) Equally, liberty is reserved to the petitioners to take recourse to such alternative remedies as are otherwise available in accordance with law;

(e) We are hopeful that as and when petitioners takes recourse to such remedies, as are otherwise available in law, before the appropriate forum, the same shall be dealt with, in accordance with law and with reasonable dispatch; (f) Liberty reserved to the petitioners to approach the Court, if the need so arises subsequently on the same and subsequent cause of action;

(g) We have not expressed any opinion on merits of the

4/4 matter. All issues are left open;

(h) We expect that the appropriate authority shall consider and decide the petitioner's application/request expeditiously and preferably within a period of three months from the date of its presentation.

The petition stands disposed of in the aforesaid terms. Interlocutory Application(s), if any, stands disposed of. (Sanjay Karol, CJ) ( Partha Sarthy, J) chn/sujit AFR/NAFR CAV DATE Uploading Date 14.11.2022 Transmission Date