HC summons bank official for violation of court order

The Orissa High Court has taken to task an official of State Bank of India (SBI) for failure to obey the court’s order on handing back the possession of a seized property to its original owner.

The HC in its order today has summoned the Chief Manager of the SBI's Baripada branch, directing him to appear before the court on Tuesday.

Prasanta Kumar Rout, a resident of Baripada in north Orissa, had availed a loan of Rs five lakh from SBI's Baripada branch and currently has an outstanding amount of Rs 8.5 lakh and an overdue of over Rs 2 lakh.

Rout, who along with his family members, was evicted out of his dwelling house, had filed a petition in the Orissa HC.

"The Orissa HC has asked the SBI Chief Manager to appear on Tuesday at 10.30 am. Though the bank official has filed an affidavit, explaining the circumstances that led to the eviction of the loanee from his dwelling house, the bank did not offer possession to him in accordance with the court order which has peeved the court”, said advocate Yashpal Mohanty.

According to an earlier court order on April 5, if the petitioner deposits Rs 50,000 with the bank by April 15, symbolic possession of the dwelling house shall remain with the bank but the same shall not be sold or handed over to any third party without leave of the court till the next date of hearing.

Moreover, after such deposit, the bank authority shall also give possession of the dwelling house to the petitioner immediately, the HC had stated.