Consumer Commission Directs SBI To Pay ₹7 Lakh To Advocate For Negligence In Depositing Exam Fee
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Kanpur Nagar, presided over by President Vinod Kumar and Member Neelam Yadav, has directed the State Bank of India to pay ₹7,00,000 as compensation along with 7% simple interest and ₹10,000 as litigation cost to Advocate Avneesh Verma. The order was passed for the bank's negligence in failing to deposit his A.P.O. 2015 examination...
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Kanpur Nagar, presided over by President Vinod Kumar and Member Neelam Yadav, has directed the State Bank of India to pay ₹7,00,000 as compensation along with 7% simple interest and ₹10,000 as litigation cost to Advocate Avneesh Verma. The order was passed for the bank's negligence in failing to deposit his A.P.O. 2015 examination fee, which resulted in his inability to appear for the exam.
Brief facts of the Case:
The complainant, Avneesh Verma, an advocate practicing at the Allahabad High Court, filed a consumer complaint against the State Bank of India (SBI) before the District Consumer Commission, Kanpur Nagar.
He had cleared the preliminary examination for the Assistant Prosecution Officer (A.P.O.) Examination, 2015 conducted by the UPPSC and, on 7 December 2015, deposited ₹225 as the main exam fee at SBI's Krishna Nagar Branch, Kanpur. However, due to the negligence of the bank clerk, the amount was not credited to the UPPSC account, although a receipt was issued.
When he tried to update the payment details online, the bank cited “technical issues.” As 12–13 December 2015 were weekend holidays, he could not complete his application before the final deadline and was consequently barred from appearing in the exam, resulting in career and financial loss.
He later approached the RBI Banking Ombudsman, which found the bank at fault and awarded ₹10,000 as compensation. The bank admitted its mistake through an apology letter. Dissatisfied with the inadequate compensation, Verma filed the present complaint seeking ₹20 lakh for mental, economic, and professional damage.
Contentions of the Complainant:
The complainant, Avneesh Verma, argued that he deposited ₹225 as the examination fee for the A.P.O. Main Examination, 2015 at SBI's Krishna Nagar Branch, Kanpur, on 7 December 2015. However, due to the bank's negligence, the amount was not credited to the UPPSC account, preventing him from completing his application and appearing in the exam. He claimed this caused irreparable career loss and mental and financial suffering.
Contentions of the Opposite Parties:
The opposite parties (SBI and its officials) did not appear or file any reply, resulting in ex-parte proceedings before the District Commission. The prior communications from the bank, including the apology letter and compliance with the Ombudsman's order, were considered on the record. These amounted to an implicit admission of fault, attributed by the bank to a clerical error and fulfillment of its liability by payment of ₹10,000.
Observations and Decision of the Commission
The District Consumer Commission, Kanpur Nagar found that the State Bank of India had been grossly negligent in handling the complainant's exam fee deposit for the A.P.O. Main Examination, 2015. The Commission noted that despite depositing ₹225 with SBI's Krishna Nagar Branch on 7 December 2015, the amount was not credited to the UPPSC account, due to which the complainant missed the opportunity to appear in the exam, suffering career, mental, and financial loss.
The Commission observed that the bank had admitted its fault in its apology letter (8 April 2016) and that the RBI Banking Ombudsman had already held the bank guilty of deficiency in service, though the ₹10,000 compensation awarded was inadequate given the extent of loss. As the bank failed to contest the case, the matter proceeded ex-parte, and the Commission accepted the complainant's evidence as unchallenged.
Holding SBI and its officials jointly and severally liable, the Commission directed them to pay ₹7,00,000 compensation, with 7% simple interest from 16 October 2018 (the date of filing) until payment, plus ₹10,000 as litigation cost, to be paid within 45 days of the judgment dated 3 October 2025.
Case Title: Avneesh Verma vs State Bank of India & Others
Case No.: CC 550/2018