Dipika Pallikal wins consumer case against Axis Bank

A consumer court in Chennai has directed Axis Bank to pay a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to Dipika Pallikal, squash champion and Arjuna awardee, for “deficiency in service”. The bank was also directed to pay her Rs 5,000 as expenses.

The Padma Shri recipient, in a petition filed in 2012, said she had faced humiliation and loss of reputation, as a transaction using the bank’s debit card at a hotel in the Netherlands’ Rotterdam failed, though she had a balance of more than 10 times the billed amount in her account. The bank claimed the incident was a case of “force majeure”, which means a natural and unavoidable catastrophe or an act of god, and beyond their control.

Besides, a cheque of Rs 1 lakh, issued by the government of India as an award to Pallikkal, was returned to the sportsperson. The bank, later, blamed it on a technical error.

It was then that Pallikal, ranked Number 1 in India and 11th in the world, approached the consumer redressal forum, seeking compensation of Rs 10 lakh.

“This is a victory for the consumers of India. It reaffirms our faith in consumer courts. It  will motivate other consumers who are wronged by service providers to stand up and fight for justice. A big thank you to all those who stood by me,” said Pallikal, in a statement.

“Service providers like banks cannot leave their customers in the lurch, wash their hands of and hide behind disclaimers like force majeure. That’s the stern message this verdict will send out to all those who shortchange consumers,” said Sanjay Pinto, her lawyer, in the statement.