It believes that it is illegal on the part of SBI to collect cash handling charges from stamp sellers
The Madras High Court has emphasized the need for nationalized institutions like State Bank of India (SBI) to sensitize their employees about the need to maintain good conduct with their customers. “The employees should be reminded that their salaries are paid out of the transactions done by the customers,” the court said.
Justice SM Subramaniam made this observation after coming in a counter-affidavit filed by SBI that the stamp sellers can approach any other bank if they want to pay the cash-handling charges levied at the Treasury branch at Thousand Lights in Chennai. are not ready. Depositing money in the treasury of the state government.
“The above statement in the counter filed by SBI should be treated as an irresponsible statement. SBI is a public sector bank and the authorities are public servants. The petitioners are depositing cash in government accounts through treasury challans issued by the government.
“This statement shows the administrative arrogance of the officials and the duration of the statement is a threat to the public administration as the stamp sellers have no option but to deposit money in government accounts only in SBI branches. Thus, this court is inclined to direct the Assistant General Manager of SBI to initiate appropriate disciplinary proceedings,” the judge ordered.
The judge also held illegal the demand by SBI to pay cash-handling charges on deposits of money in the exchequer by the stamp sellers. He said that the state government, which has an account with the bank itself, has stated that the bank cannot collect such charges.
The orders were passed in 2016 allowing a batch of writ petitions filed by stamp sellers. The petitioners claimed that they were forced by the bank to spend ₹15 towards cash handling charges for each bundle of currency containing 100 notes. He said it was cumbersome to pay such a fee with the low commission earned from selling stamp paper.
,