Muralee Krishna, J.
Respondents 1 and 2 in W.P.(C) No.19940 of 2019 filed
W.A.No.287 of 2025 and the respondents in W.P.(C)No. 1304 of
2019 filed W.A.No.352 of 2025, invoking the provisions under
Section 5(i) of the Kerala High Court Act, 1958, challenging the
common judgment dated 20.12.2024 passed by the learned Single
Judge in those writ petitions. Since the point to be decided in these
writ appeals is the same, they are heard together and are being
disposed of by this common judgment. For convenience of
reference, the parties are referred to in this judgment in their
status as they were in the writ petitions, unless otherwise stated.
2. The petitioner in W.P.(C)No.1304 of 2019 is the son of the
2nd petitioner in W.P.(C) No.19940 of 2019. The 1st petitioner in
W.P.(C) No.19940 of 2019 is the daughter of the 2nd petitioner
therein. According to the petitioner in W.P.(C)No.1304 of 2019,
on 22.12.1995 while he was a minor, his father had deposited an
amount of Rupees Three Lakhs in a fixed deposit for a period of
90 days, in the name of the petitioner in the erstwhile Nedungadi
Bank, Guruvayoor branch, which was later merged with the Punjab
National Bank. The deposit was made initially for a period of 90
2026:KER:13919
WA No.287 and 352 of 2025
days, which was renewed for a further period of 106 days and then
again for 170 days. The father of the petitioner was issued with
Ext.P1 fixed deposit receipt dated 21.03.1996, which contains the
periodical renewal particulars on its reverse side, the endorsement
of which is separately marked as Ext.P1(a) in the writ petition.
Similarly, the father of the petitioner made another fixed deposit
in the name of the petitioner for a sum of Rupees Three Lakhs on
22.12.1995 itself, for which Exts.P2 fixed deposit receipt was
issued. The endorsement on its reverse side showing the renewal
particulars is Ext.P2(a). The fixed deposits were not renewed after
23.09.1996, since the signatures of the father of the petitioner
were obtained by the bank officials for automatic renewal. On
attaining majority, the petitioner approached the bank on
07.01.2019 with the original fixed deposit receipts for releasing
the maturity amount. However, the bank refused to release the
amount, citing the unavailability of records. Thereupon, the
petitioner submitted a representation marked as Ext.P3 in the writ
petition on 07.01.2019. Being aggrieved by the non-releasing of
the amount, the petitioner filed W.P.(C)No. 1304 of 2019 under
Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking a writ of mandamus
2026:KER:13919
WA No.287 and 352 of 2025
commanding the respondents to release forthwith the amount
covered by Exts.P1 and P2 fixed deposit receipts with interest.
