The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Thuraiyur municipality in Tamil Nadu’s Trichy district to remove its seal and allow an IDBI Bank branch to continue operations until the end of the year, granting the bank time to shift to a new location.
A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta passed the order after Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the bank, informed the court that the branch—operating from rented premises since 2014—serves around 20,000 customers and houses a strong room and locker facilities.
The premises had been sealed by the municipality on August 9 pursuant to an August 6 direction from the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, which ordered the civic body to lock the premises within 48 hours over unauthorised construction by the building owner. The high court had earlier noted that multiple opportunities were given to the owner to remove the illegal construction and restore the building to its approved plan, but the explanations offered were unsatisfactory.
The apex court, considering the inconvenience to customers and the nature of the bank’s operations, granted the branch time till December 31 to hand over possession. “In the meantime, the direction by the high court to seal the premises shall be kept in abeyance… the municipality shall remove the seal and open the locks and allow the bank to continue functioning in its normal course,” the bench ordered, disposing of the plea.
The high court had earlier dismissed the bank’s challenge to the sealing order, but the Supreme Court’s relief now ensures uninterrupted banking services until relocation is complete.
