The State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in a recent judgment has held that the widowed mother of an untraceable son is entitled to claim his provident fund and gratuity, besides damages. The principal bench of the commission has directed the Central Bank of India to pay interest and damages to Munni Devi, the mother of its employee Umesh Chandra, who went missing on June 2, 1990.Following the incident, Munni Devi had requested the bank to release Chandra’s employee provident fund. The bank, however, insisted that it cannot release the fund unless it was proved that Chandra was dead. Seven years later, after receiving Chandra’s succession certificate, the bank paid Munni Devi the principal amount in 2001. The interest on the amount, however, was not paid. Munni Devi filed a complaint before the District Forum, which was dismissed on the plea that the complainant was not a consumer. Later, she appealed under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 before the commission, whereby she was declared a consumer. The commission in its judgment held that asking the aggrieved complainant to bring a succession certificate was a callous act on part of the bank. The commission has directed the Central Bank of India to pay interest and damages to Munni Devi, the mother of its employee Umesh Chandra, who went missing on June 2, 1990
