Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 20 Jun: In a rare display of administrative resolve, District Magistrate Savin Bansal took decisive action in a case involving a distressed widow, Shivani Gupta, by ordering the sealing of DCB Bank’s private branch at Crossroads Mall, Rajpur Road here. The move resulted in the immediate return of Gupta’s property documents and a ‘No Dues’ certificate, following a prolonged period of inaction by the bank and the associated insurance company.
It may be recalled that Shivani Gupta, a resident of Amar Bharati, Chanderbani, had been struggling since the death of her husband, Rohit, in May 2024. He had taken a loan of Rs 15.5 lakhs from DCB Bank, insured by ICI Lombard. After his passing, Gupta was left without income and unable to pay the instalments. Despite multiple requests, the insurance company delayed the claim while the bank continued pressuring her to repay the dues.
When she shared her problem with DM Bansal during a public hearing, he instructed the bank manager to resolve the issue immediately. However, the bank failed to comply, prompting the district administration to issue a recovery certificate for Rs 17.05 lakhs, inclusive of interest, on 9 June, with a deadline of 16 June. Upon non-compliance, movable assets of the DCB branch were also legally seized, and the premises was sealed on 18 June.
Under the supervision of Sub-Divisional Magistrate Kumkum, the administration’s swift action compelled the bank to not only return Gupta’s mortgaged documents but also waive the entire loan amount. The ‘No Dues’ certificate was delivered to her at her home, bringing long-awaited relief and setting a firm example against institutional negligence.
