The Delhi High Court has issued a directive to Punjab & Sind Bank, ordering them to compensate a branch manager with ₹50,000 plus annual interest of 12 percent. This comes after the manager, Surjit Singh, successfully thwarted a robbery attempt at the bank’s Najafgarh Branch in 1998. The ruling, presided over by Justice Neena Bansal Krishna, also includes litigation costs totaling ₹2 lakh to be paid to Singh, criticizing the bank’s prolonged litigation over 28 years.
Justice Krishna noted that instead of recognizing Singh’s bravery, the bank and government added insult by denying his entitlement under relevant guidelines. “The bank should have acknowledged the petitioner’s exemplary conduct rather than forcing him to fight for his deserved reward,” remarked the Court. The justice emphasized that the issue transcended monetary compensation and was about the honor that should have naturally followed Singh’s courageous act.
Details of the 1998 Heist
The court recounted the robbery incident, which seemed like a dramatic scene from a novel. On a cold December afternoon in 1998, five armed individuals entered the branch wielding automatic weapons. The security staff surrendered, and the cashier complied under threat. Despite having a revolver pointed at him, Singh managed to press the emergency alarm, causing the robbers to flee in panic.
Singh’s intervention led to the thwarting of a major theft, with the robbers escaping with only ₹75,000 out of the ₹40 lakh they initially seized. Following the incident, Singh’s act of valor was publicly praised by the bank’s management, with the General Manager recommending him for an award.
Legal Battle and Court Ruling
According to a 1991 Government of India circular, bank employees who thwart robbery attempts are eligible for a reward of up to ₹50,000 and a possible out-of-turn promotion. Despite Singh’s repeated appeals to the bank, his claim was rejected on the grounds that he was performing his duty as a manager, not exhibiting an act of bravery. This prompted Singh to initiate legal proceedings in 2005.
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In the verdict delivered on September 9, the court recognized Singh’s exceptional courage and compared his actions to those of a soldier in combat. “Faced with guns pointed at him, Singh, unmindful of his personal safety, acted with valor akin to a soldier at the border,” stated the Court. Justice Krishna argued that Singh’s actions went beyond routine duty and were deserving of recognition rather than anonymity.
The Court criticized the bank’s bureaucratic insensitivity, stating that Singh’s bravery was unjustly dismissed as part of his duty. Justice Krishna condemned this as a trivialization of Singh’s extraordinary courage and an insult to his life-risking actions. The Court also commanded the bank to issue an apology for their indifference and to fulfill the compensation and legal costs within a three-month timeline.
Representing Singh were Advocates Shiv Gupta, Khushal Singh, and Keerti Gupta. The Ministry of Finance was represented by Advocates Rajat Arora, Niraj Kumar, and Sourabh Mahla.
