The Bombay High Court has issued notice to the Union of India and others in a PIL, seeking direction to waive off the penalty imposed on customers for not maintaining minimum balance in the accounts in view of Covid-19 pandemic, which severely affected the business activities.
The Division Bench comprising Justices Sunil B. Shukre and Anil S. Kilor issued notice to the Respondents on September 8 on a PIL filed by one Sundeep through In-Person. Advocate Mugdha Chandurkar represented the Union of India in the case.
The contention of the petitioner was that due to the lockdown imposed on account of Covid-19 pandemic since March, 2019, most of the business activities were severely affected because of which many people were not able to maintain the minimum balance in their accounts.
On account of factors not within their control, the penalty that was imposed upon them for not maintaining minimum balance could not have been charged from such unfortunate customers of the bank, the petition contended further.
It said when the service charges levied on cash withdrawals from other bank ATMs were waived will June 30, 2020 and the adverse impact on business activities continued for a much longer period, such waiver ought to have been continued for a further period of time, but it has not been continued.