Chennai: The Madras high court has directed a nationalised bank in Thoothukudi district to disburse an educational loan to a student pursuing B Tech course in a college in Villupuram within five days. Passing an order on a contempt petition from M. Muthukumar, 24, of Kayalpattinam, Thoothukudi, Justice K.K. Sasidharan directed the manager, Indian Oversees Bank, Kayalpattinam, to release the loan amount in five days.
Advocate R.Y. George Williams, counsel for the petitioner, submitted that Muthukumar secured admission for B. Tech course (Mechanical Engineering) in a college in Villupuram for the period of 2011 to 2016. As he lost his parents, he depends on the meager income eked out by his elder brother and brother-in-law. He approached the manager, IOB, Kayalpattinam, seeking an educational loan to the tune of Rs 93,000 per annum.
The manager released educational loans to several students, but refused a loan to Muthukumar. Following this, Muthukumar sent representations to the Chief Minister and Collector, Thoothukudi. He also approached the Madras high court and the court on October 1, 2013, directed the bank to disburse the loan amount after collecting necessary documents. As the bank did not release the amount even after a year of the order, Muthukumar filed a contempt petition.
When the petition came up for hearing before the court, counsel for the bank, V. Mohan submitted that the bank was prepared to disburse the amount to Muthukumar, but he had not submitted the required documents. George Williams replied that the petitioner had already sent all required documents to the bank and received acknowledgments.
Justice Sasidharan said, “Since the bank has come up with the contention that they have not received the documents in question, the petitioner is directed to hand over the documents sought for by the bank in person, forthwith”. While directing the bank to disburse the amount within five days from the date of receipt of documents, the judge posted the matter to January 6 for filing a compliance.
