Rekha Sukul (Mukherjee) And ANR. v. Branch Manager, Punjab National Bank And ORS.

ML 396 25.06.2025 Court No.14 AGM

IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA

CONSTITUTIONAL WRIT JURISDICTION WPA 13949 of 2024 Rekha Sukul (Mukherjee) & Anr.

Vs.

The Branch Manager, P.N.B. & Ors.

Mr. Subhas Chandra Atha.

Ms. Payel Paramanik.

.... For the petitioners.

Mr. Soumik Ganguly.

... For the respondent nos. 5 to 8.

Mr. Amal Kumar Dutta.

... For the Union of India.

1. The petitioners pray for deleting the respondent nos. 3 and 4 from the array of respondents in the cause title of the instant writ petition.

2. The petitioners proceed with their claim in respect of the Bank and the private respondents.

3. The husband of the petitioner no. 1 since deceased and the father of the petitioner no. 2 since deceased maintained certain Bank Accounts with the Punjab National Bank wherein the private respondents have been mentioned as nominees.

4. Specific case of the petitioners is that on the death of the account holder, the petitioners are entitled to the amount standing in the said account.

5. The nominee is supposed to collect the money from the Bank and disburse it among the legal heirs.

6. None appears on behalf of the Bank.

7. The private respondents are represented. It has been submitted that the petitioner no. 1 never had any family relation with the deceased. The private respondents are all family members of the deceased.

8. As it appears that the petitioners have already made a representation before the Bank objecting to the disbursal of money in favour of the nominees, the Branch Manager of the Bank is directed to take necessary action in response to the prayer made by the petitioners.

9. The provision relating to disbursal of amount to the nominee for onward transmission to the legal heirs shall be adhered to by the Bank.

10.

Steps shall be taken by the Bank at the earliest.

11.

Prior to disposal of the prayer of the petitioners, fair and reasonable opportunity of hearing be granted to all the necessary parties including the petitioners, the other legal heirs and the nominees.

12.

The writ petition stands disposed of.

13.

Urgent certified photocopy of this order, if applied for, be supplied to the parties expeditiously on compliance of usual legal formalities.

(Amrita Sinha, J.)