A civil court in Gurgaon has strongly reprimanded an HDFC Bank branch for refusing to attach an account of the Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitaran Nigam (DHBVN) despite a valid warrant. The Sector 14 branch of the bank had stated that it could not act because the account was held at the Hisar's Jindal Chowk branch.
Background of the Case
The case originated from an execution petition filed by Lal Chand, a retired Navy officer from Nurpur in Gurgaon. He had been seeking recovery of Rs 77,174 from DHBVN under an earlier decree. To enforce the order, the court had directed attachment of DHBVN's account number 01551450000828, but the warrant was returned unexecuted by the bank.
Bank's Explanation Rejected
HDFC Bank claimed it could not attach an account operated through another branch. Civil Judge Nidhi Beniwal rejected this explanation, calling it 'not tenable'. 'In today's era of online banking, accounts can be operated across branches with ease. Such refusal amounts to interference in execution proceedings,' she observed.
Court's Warning
The judge then warned the branch manager to attach the account without fail or appear in person to explain why contempt proceedings should not be initiated. 'He shall showcause why he should not be sent to civil imprisonment,' the court order stated.
Dispute Timeline
The dispute dates back to March 2001, when Chand applied to DHBVN for disconnection or suspension of electricity supply to his house while he was away on duty. He received an acknowledgement of the request. After retirement in June 2020, he returned to the village and approached DHBVN for a fresh electricity connection. He was then informed that an outstanding bill of Rs 57,874 was pending against him.
Chand produced his earlier disconnection request and receipt, but DHBVN did not accept his claim. In October 2020, he deposited the amount under protest, following which a fresh connection was issued in November 2020. He moved the court in September 2021, seeking a refund along with interest.
Court Ruling
In September 2025, the court ruled in his favour and directed DHBVN to refund the amount with 6% annual interest, taking the total to Rs 77,174. DHBVN challenged the order, but Additional District Judge Puneet Sehgal dismissed the appeal in April 2026 and upheld the ruling.
Execution Petition
Chand had filed an execution petition in December 2025 to secure enforcement of the refund order. On April 9, 2026, Civil Judge Beniwal directed the bank to attach DHBVN's account. The bank's refusal prompted the latest order. The court has now issued a fresh warrant of attachment and sought a compliance report.
This case highlights the importance of compliance with court orders in the modern banking era, where branch boundaries should not hinder judicial processes.
