High Court Briefs June 09 2011

   Justice G. Rohini of the AP High Court on Thursday issued directions to HDFC Bank not to depute its ‘collection agents’ to collect dues from its customers. The judge made the order in the context of a writ petition filed by P. Jayashree from Anakapalle in Vishakapatnam district.  The writ petition is filed questioning the action of the said collection agent in harassing the petitioner to make certain ‘instalment payments’.  She alleged that of the 18 instalments she had promptly paid all and except for a default in May there was no default from her end.  She however complained that the collection agent was calling up at all hours and visiting her without the authority of law .  The action of the respondent was also questioned as being contrary to directions of the Supreme Court and circulars of the Reserve Bank of India.

                A division bench of the AP High court comprising Justice Ghulam Mohammed and Justice KG Shanker on Thursday admitted a writ petition questioning the power of the State Human Rights Commission to interfere with the service conditions of employees and consequently issue directions to employers in that regard.  Hinduja Foundries questioned before the High Court a direction given by the SHRC requiring it to continue the services of one of its employees pending hearing of his case before the Commission.  The employee  Pochiah who were as a fitter, contended that he was wrongly being retired and the action was contrary to a age certificate produced by him from a private medical doctor. The petitioner contended that the SHRC had no power to deal with such a complaint and the order made to continue the employee in April was without the authority of law.

The bench suspended the order of the SHRC.