Delhi High Court Orders Banks to Honor Tax Refunds Amid Lockdown Disruptions

The High Court of Delhi addressed a petition for the refund of seized amount during search proceedings, along with interest, which had not been honored by banks due to physical presentation requirements during the COVID-19 lockdown. The court emphasized the importance of tax refunds for economic revival during the pandemic and issued notices to the Ministry of Finance, Government of India, and the Reserve Bank of India. Respondents were directed to ensure refund vouchers are honored, with the matter scheduled for further hearing on 22nd June 2020.

---

---

Issues:
Refund of seized amount during search proceedings along with interest not honored by banks due to physical presentation requirement during COVID-19 lockdown.

Analysis:
The High Court of Delhi addressed a petition seeking the refund of an amount seized during search proceedings, along with interest, in accordance with the law. The court noted that a previous contempt case had been disposed of after the seized amount and interest were refunded to the petitioner. However, during the current hearing, it was revealed that the refund voucher for the interest amount had been returned unpaid by the bank due to the requirement of physical presentation for clearing, which was hindered by the suspension of physical-to-financial (P2F) sessions by the RBI since the COVID-19 outbreak. The court emphasized the importance of tax refunds in reviving the economy during the pandemic and issued notices without process fee to the Ministry of Finance, Government of India, and the Reserve Bank of India. The respondents were allowed to communicate with the relevant officials to ensure the refund vouchers issued by them are honored. The matter was scheduled for further hearing on 22nd June 2020, with instructions for the order to be uploaded on the website and shared with the counsel via email.

---