According to Delhi's top consumer court, a banking institution is justified in closing up the account of a client who fails to provide permanent account number (PAN) card details,.

Refusing to provide any relief to the client whose account was blocked by the HDFC Bank for want of PAN card details, Delhi State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission's President B. A. Zaidi stated, "The HDFC bank cannot be faulted for its attitude in closing the account in the circumstances."

The commission was hearing a plea lodged by Ramesh Chand, who fought that he suffered because of imperfect financial transactions as the banking institution had closed the account without his permission.

The commission, in a recent order, also held that the bank was not guilty of deficiency in service as it had offered to the complainant the facilities of its direct banking channels for utility payments, cash deposits, withdrawals and fund transfers as an alternative.

Chand had approached the commission looking for directions to the bank to reopen the account.

The commission also decided with the observations of a district consumer forum, which mentioned that the bank intimated Chand about closing of the account in consideration of the high volume transactions that were not proportionate to the business conducted through the bank. (With Inputs from Agencies)