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Sridhanya v. the Branch Manager

Madras HC6 Aug 2025WP/27807/2025

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Nominee entitlement to deceased depositor's bank deposits; writ of mandamus under Article 226, Constitution of India; State Bank of India, Nambiyur Branch; Fixed Deposit Account No.41537928502; Term Deposit No.40406357623; late N.G.Radhakrishnan; nominee not closely related to deceased; bank withheld payment due to legal notices; indemnity bond condition protecting bank from future claims; amount received in trust; recovery of future claims by legal heirs from nominee; Madras High Court, 06.08.2025; W.P. No.27807 of 2025; N. Anand Venkatesh, J.

What did the court decide?

Writ petition disposed of with directions: respondent bank to disburse the Fixed Deposit and Term Deposit of late N.G.Radhakrishnan, with accrued interest, to the petitioner (nominee), upon obtaining an indemnity bond from her; petitioner to hold the amount in trust; no costs.

Sridhanya Vs the Branch Manager — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2025)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

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Issue for consideration

Whether the respondent bank is bound to disburse the money deposited by the late N.G.Radhakrishnan in Fixed Deposit Account No.41537928502 and Term Deposit No.40406357623, along with interest, to the petitioner who was nominated by the deceased, notwithstanding that she is not closely related to him and that the bank has received legal notices.

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Court's answer

Since the petitioner is the nominee appointed by the late N.G.Radhakrishnan, the respondent bank can proceed to disburse the Fixed Deposit and Term Deposit along with accrued interest to the petitioner.

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Ratio / Principle

While disbursing the deposits, the respondent bank shall obtain an indemnity bond from the petitioner.

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Key takeaways

The indemnity bond is to the effect that in case of any claim made in future, the respondent bank will not be roped in any Court cases and it is for the petitioner to defend the same in accordance with law.ratio¶27
The petitioner will receive the amount from the respondent bank in trust; if any claim is made in future by the legal heirs, it is left open to them to recover the same from the petitioner.ratio¶27

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Madras High Court (N. Anand Venkatesh, J.) disposed of W.P. No.27807 of 2025 on 06.08.2025, filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking a writ of mandamus against the Branch Manager, State Bank of India, Nambiyur Branch. The petitioner, Sridhanya, though not closely related to the deceased depositor N.G.Radhakrishnan, was his nominee in respect of Fixed Deposit Account No.41537928502 and Term Deposit No.40406357623; the bank had withheld disbursal after receiving certain legal notices. Holding that the nominee is entitled to the deposits, the Court directed the bank to disburse the Fixed Deposit and Term Deposit with accrued interest to the petitioner, subject to the bank obtaining an indemnity bond from her to the effect that any future claim will not rope in the bank and any such claim is to be defended by the petitioner in accordance with law. The petitioner is to receive the amount in trust, and any future claim by the legal heirs is left open to be recovered from the petitioner. No costs.

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Writ Petition No.27807 of 2025

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

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DATED: 06.08.2025

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CORAM

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THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.ANAND VENKATESH

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Writ Petition No.27807 of 2025

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Sridhanya D/o.Kulasekaran ... Petitioner

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vs.

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The Branch Manager, State Bank of India, Nambiyur Branch, Nambiyur.

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... Respondent

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Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondent to disburse the money deposited by Late N.G.Radhakrishnan in Fixed Deposit Account No.41537928502 and Term Deposit No.40406357623, along with interest to the petitioner herein within a time frame fixed by this Court.

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For Petitioner : Mr.Roshan Atiq M For Respondent : Mr.K.Chandrasekaran *****

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O R D E R

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This writ petition has been filed seeking issuance of a writ of

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mandamus directing the respondent bank to disburse the money in Fixed Deposit and Term Deposit on the ground that the petitioner has been 1/4

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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Writ Petition No.27807 of 2025

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nominated by the deceased N.G.Radhakrishnan.

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Heard Mr.Roshan Atiq M, learned counsel for petitioner and

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Mr.K.Chandrasekaran, learned Standing Counsel for respondent.

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When the matter came up for hearing on 30.07.2025, this

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Court directed the learned Standing Counsel for the respondent bank to take instructions. When the matter was taken up for hearing today, learned Standing Counsel appearing for the respondent bank, on instructions, submitted that the petitioner is not closely related to late N.G.Radhakrishnan, however, he has been nominated as the nominee. That apart, the respondent bank also received certain legal notice and as a result, the respondent bank was not in a position to disburse the money lying in the Fixed Deposit and Term Deposit.

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In the considered view of this Court, the petitioner is the nominee appointed by the late N.G.Radhakrishnan and therefore, the respondent bank can proceed further to disburse the Fixed Deposit and Term Deposit along with accrued interest to the petitioner. While doing so, the respondent bank shall get an indemnity bond from the petitioner

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2/4

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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Writ Petition No.27807 of 2025

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to the effect that if in case of any claim made in future, the respondent bank will not be roped in any Court cases and it is for the petitioner to defend the same in accordance with law. It is also made clear that the petitioner will receive the amount from the respondent bank in trust and ultimately, if any claim is made in future by the legal heirs, it is left open to them to recover the same from the petitioner.

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This writ petition is disposed of with the above direction. No

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costs.

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06.08.2025

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Neutral Citation: Yes/No Index: Yes/no Speaking Order/Non-Speaking Order gm

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To The Branch Manager, State Bank of India, Nambiyur Branch, Nambiyur.

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N.ANAND VENKATESH, J