Complainant: a cheque under Kanya Vidyadhan scheme was not cleared and the scheme has lapsed - CIC: For gross negligence in not informing the complainant about the cheque not being cleared as it was not signed, compensation of Rs. 30,000 awarded
26 Jan, 2015ORDER
1. The complainant, Ms. Manjula, submitted RTI application dated 28 September, 2013 before the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO), LIC of India, Nagpur seeking information regarding “Padhe Betiyan, Badhe Betiyan” Yojna under which the girls students were given cheque of Rs. 30,000/each, number of cheques deposited in Aliganj branch by the students etc., through a total of 5 points.
2 The complainant had filed the present complaint when she did not receive any information within the stipulated time period.
3. The matter was heard by the commission. The complainant submitted that she had received a cheque under Kanya Vidyadhan scheme of the government. She and one of her friends, both deposited the cheque at the Aliganj branch on 14.2.2013 but her cheque was not cleared and friend’s cheque was cleared. The respondent submitted that the cheque was not cleared as the complainant had not signed it. By the time her signatures were taken, the cheque had become invalid. The respondent added that the cheque was issued by the Government and it was valid for one month only. The respondent submitted that the cheque was sent to Zila Vidyalay Nirikshak for revalidation but as the scheme had lapsed the Zila Vidyalay Nirikshak refused to validate it. They informed the appellant about it in April, 2014 only.
4. The Commission finds that the respondents had not taken any action to inform the complainant about the cheque not being cleared as it was not signed by the appellant. This is an act of gross negligence and callousness as the appellant could not get the amount of Rs. 30,000/ due to a needy student. The Commission, therefore, directs the respondents to get the cheque revalidated and in case the cheque is not revalidated the respondent has to pay the compensation of Rs. 30000/ to the complainant. The next date of hearing will be fixed after 10 days of the Commission’s order.
(Manjula Prasher)
Information Commissioner
Citation: Ms. Manjula v. State Bank of India in Complaint: No. CIC/VS/C/2013/000561/MP