Bank told to pay astrologer for loss

NEW DELHI: A consumer court has ordered the State Bank of India to pay Rs 56,600 as compensation to an astrologer who had to cancel his appointment with his believers in UK because of delay in money transaction.
A Bench comprising president V K Sharma and members Prem Lata and R L Srivastava also slapped Rs 2,500 as litigation cost on the bank for deficient service by taking 22 days to credit the amount which was supposed to be a ‘‘swift transfer’’, not taking more than five days.
Complainant Amar Singh Bhadauria said he is an astrologer who had followers in India and abroad.
On April 19, 2000, one devotee sent him US $ 2,000 under ‘‘swift transfer’’ through Bank of Baroda, Mauritius, for immediate transfer to his SBI account in India.
Bank of Baroda, Mauritius, immediately transferred the amount to its branch Bank of Baroda, New York, with further instruction to transfer it to SBI, New York, and from there to SBI, Mayapuri, in India.
Star-crossed transaction got stuck somewhere and it took 22 days before it was credited to the astrologer’s bank account.
As a result, his flight had to be cancelled thrice, the meeting of devotee was dispersed and disappointed devotees lost interest in his visit, the future-teller told court.
He said this has affected his profession and reputation as an astrologer and he should be compensated.
The soothsayer alleged when he tried to follow the matter with the bank official in India, he was insulted.
He took up the matter with the bank Ombudsman who expressed his inability to help him as the amount he claimed was beyond the jurisdiction. He then filed a complaint before State Consumer Redressal Commission, claiming damages.