Joint locker: Second person can handle locker in case of death of one of the owners

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court held that if one of the owners of a joint locker in a bank dies, the second owner can handle the locker independently. Justice Shaji P Chaly issued the order on the plea filed by Kollam Ayoor native Lalithambika who alleged that the bank authorities are not allowing her to operate the joint locker after the death of her husband.

The petitioner and her husband Sasidharan Pillai had hired a joint locker at the SBI branch in Chadayamangalam. Sasidharan Pillai died on July 31, 2022. The petitioner claimed that when she went to the bank to ask for authorization to use the locker, the bank declined her request and required her to show a document proving her legal standing. The bank representatives countered that in such circumstances, the circular mandates the provision of documents demonstrating legal entitlement. The High Court clarified that this applies only to nominees and that the circular is not applicable in the case of a locker hired jointly by two persons.