Case: INDUSIND BANK LIMITED AND ANOTHER Vs. SIMARJIT SINGH

SANJIV KHANNA, J. 1. In July 2006, the respondent-complainant, Simarjit Singh had availed a loan of Rs. 13,50,000/- from the appellant, IndusInd Bank Limited for financing a truck. The loan was repayable in equal monthly instalments of Rs. 35,150/-. The respondent committed default in payment of three instalments due in October 2007, November 2007 and February 2008. Consequently, the Bank had issued demand notice dated 12th March 2008 for payment of Rs. 1,39,335/-. Thereupon, it is accepted, the respondent had paid Rs. 1,04,200/- on 24th March 2008, Rs. 35,150/- on 6th May 2008 and Rs. 36,000/- on 31st May 2008. Accordingly, Rs. 8,19,300/- was paid by 31st May 2008, while as per the instalment schedule, the respondent was required to pay only Rs. 8,08,000/- up to June 2008. 2. Despite the respondent not being in arrears, the truck of the respondent with loaded cargo of timber, going from Gandhi Dham, Gujarat to Srinagar was stopped near village Bhasaur by about 10- 12 persons on 3rd July 2008. They then forcibly took physical possession of the truck and the timber. 3. Thereupon, the respondent preferred Consumer Complaint No. 344 of 2008 alleging deficiency in service before the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Sangrur, which was dismissed vide order dated 04th December 2008. Thereafter, Appeal No. 11 of 2009 before the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Punjab (Hereinafter referred to as SCDRC) was treated/converted into original complaint bearing Special Consumer Complaint No. 344 of 2008, which complaint was allowed vide order dated 26th October 2018, with the following directions: i) to pay Rs 10,80,000/- being the value of the truck, in question, as on the date of repossession, along with interest at the rate of 9% per annum from the date of repossession of the vehicle, in question i.e. 05.07.2008 till realization; ii) to pay Rs 20,00,000/- being the value of the timber loaded in the truck, in question, to the complainant, along with interest at the rate of 9% per annum from the date of repossession of the vehicle, in question i.e. 05.07.2008 till realization; (iii) to pay compensation at the rate of Rs 3,000/- per month for the loss of livelihood suffered by the complainant for want of plying the truck, in question, for all these years, along with interest at the rate of 9% per annum from the date of repossession i.e. 05.07.2008 till realization; and (iv) to pay Rs 40,000/- as litigation expenses. 4. The appellant Bank and its Chairman moved Revision Petition bearing No. 187 of 2019 before the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (Hereinafter referred as NCDRC), which has been dismissed vide the order dated 20th July 2021, now assailed before us. 5. The Bank had taken the stand before the SCDRC and the NCDRC that the respondent had voluntarily surrendered the truck. The foras for good reasons have rejected this plea. It was evident that the respondent had deposited Rs. 4,69,323/- as margin money and had already paid more amount than required under the payment schedule. The assertion of the Bank that the respondent had taken another loan of Rs. 8,77,000/- vide Loan Account No. JL 004701H and had defaulted in payment of the instalments therein was held to be inconsequential for the present case as the two transactions were unrelated and different. 6. This Court, while issuing notice vide order dated 17th September 2021, has recorded that the document(s) relied on by the Bank evidencing alleged surrender of the truck by the respondent was held to be fabricated by the SCDRC. This being a finding of fact, would not be interfered by this Court at this stage. The notice was limited to the direction assessing Rs. 20,00,000 as the value of the timber loaded on the truck. 7. The orders dated 26th October 2018 of the SCDRC and 20th July 2021 of the NCDRC are silent on the value of timber and have merely gone by the figure mentioned by the respondent in the complaint. The respondent did not enclose and rely upon any document to support the valuation of timber and the claim for Rs. 20,00,000. 8. The respondents stand before us is that the documents relating to the valuation of the consignment were in the truck itself. Even if this is to be accepted, the respondent could have placed on record some documents or confirmation from the consignor or the consignee to show the value of the timber. It was stated before us that the truck union, of which the respondent was a member, had settled the matter with the consignor/consignee. However, these papers were also not placed on record. 9. On the question of value of the timber, the appellant Bank has gleaned our attention to Annexures P/12 to P/18. These documents, it is stated, are related to the consignment in question: the consignment note dated 26th June 2008 issued by New Bikaner Punjab Haryana Roadlines showing the value of timber (P/12); retail invoice issued by M/s. Green Gold Timbers Private Limited in favour of Fayaz Timber Traders, Srinagar (P/13); surrender letter dated 07th July 2008 executed by the respondent in favour of the Bank (P/14); letter dated 23rd July 2008 from New Bikaner Punjab Haryana Road Lines, Gandhi Dham, stating that the timber in truck No. PB 13Q 8731 had been shifted and loaded on another truck by their representative Mr. Balwant Singh (P/15); transit slip dated 30th June 2008 issued by Excise and Taxation Department, Punjab (P/16); confirmation by Fayaz Timber Traders that they had received imported timber from Green Gold Timber Private Limited sent vide G.R. No. 793 dated 26th June 2008 issued by New Bikaner Punjab Haryana Road Lines, Gandhi Dham (P/17); and letter dated 24th January 2019 of Green Gold Timbers Private Limited confirming having received payment for the timber from Fayaz Timber Traders (P/18). Relying on these documents, the appellants have highlighted that the value of the timber loaded in the truck was Rs. 4,13,710/- and it was delivered to the consignee. 10. It appears that the above documents were neither filed before the SCDRC nor the NCDRC. Usually, we would not have taken these documents on record, albeit we are inclined to pass an order of remit to the SCDRC as we find that neither of the Commissions examined and went into the question of valuation of the consignment. The orders of the SCDRC and the NCDRC to this extent are flawed.

Decision reasoning: 1[ds]9. On the question of value of the timber, the appellant Bank has gleaned our attention to Annexures P/12 to P/18. These documents, it is stated, are related to the consignment in question: the consignment note dated 26th June 2008 issued by New Bikaner Punjab Haryana Roadlines showing the value of timber (P/12); retail invoice issued by M/s. Green Gold Timbers Private Limited in favour of Fayaz Timber Traders, Srinagar (P/13); surrender letter dated 07th July 2008 executed by the respondent in favour of the Bank (P/14); letter dated 23rd July 2008 from New Bikaner Punjab Haryana Road Lines, Gandhi Dham, stating that the timber in truck No. PB 13Q 8731 had been shifted and loaded on another truck by their representative Mr. Balwant Singh (P/15); transit slip dated 30th June 2008 issued by Excise and Taxation Department, Punjab (P/16); confirmation by Fayaz Timber Traders that they had received imported timber from Green Gold Timber Private Limited sent vide G.R. No. 793 dated 26th June 2008 issued by New Bikaner Punjab Haryana Road Lines, Gandhi Dham (P/17); and letter dated 24th January 2019 of Green Gold Timbers Private Limited confirming having received payment for the timber from Fayaz Timber Traders (P/18). Relying on these documents, the appellants have highlighted that the value of the timber loaded in the truck was Rs. 4,13,710/- and it was delivered to the consignee.10. It appears that the above documents were neither filed before the SCDRC nor the NCDRC. Usually, we would not have taken these documents on record, albeit we are inclined to pass an order of remit to the SCDRC as we find that neither of the Commissions examined and went into the question of valuation of the consignment. The orders of the SCDRC and the NCDRC to this extent are flawed.