How can bank open locker sans holder's nod: High court

DEHRADUN: The Uttarakhand HC Tuesday asked a public sector bank to clarify the rules that allowed its officials to break open a customer's locker without consent. It was hearing a case filed on the basis of a complaint by Sushila Devi (86), who alleged her locker was opened and jewellery removed in her absence in 2022, reports Pankul Sharma.

Anoop Kumar, her son and co-holder of the locker, detected the transgression after visiting Bank of Baroda 's Dehradun branch last year. Bank officials reportedly failed to give a satisfactory explanation to him following which he filed an FIR against them. "My mother kept 730gm gold and 950gm of silver jewellery in the locker," he said. The court asked the bank how it planned to return the valuables to the complainant.

A BOB employee approached court seeking to quash the FIR. Although not named in the complaint, he was employed at the branch at the relevant time. His counsel said the locker was opened after multiple notices and reminders went unanswered, and that an inventory of the valuables was prepared and the contents sealed at the head office.

However, Kumar, the coholder of the locker, said they never received any such communication from the bank. “When I asked bank officials to show me the notice and letter, they said the documents and register have also been misplaced,” he told TOI. He said the jewellery included 21 ornaments “of high sentimental value”, some dating back to 1875.

“The locker contained heirlooms like Ramnavami ornaments, gold buttons and a gold seal, passed down through generations,” he said. An FIR was registered in Jan at Dalanwala police station, alleging robbery by the bank officials concerned. During court hearing, Justice Pankaj Purohit asked the BOB staffer’s counsel to present the rules authorising bank staff to forcibly open a locker when the account holder does not respond.