With a view to mitigate the difficulties faced by the members of co-operative credit societies in collection of account payee cheques, relaxation was extended vide our circular DBOD.BP.BC.No. 47/21.01.001/2010-11 dated October 1, 2010. In terms of the said circular, banks may consider collecting account payee cheques drawn for an amount not exceeding Rs.50,000/- to the account of their customers who are co-operative credit societies, if the payees of such cheques are the constituents of such co-operative credit societies. The above relaxation will continue as hitherto, subject to the conditions outlined in the circular dated October 1, 2010 referred to above.
As banks are aware, instruments with account payee crossing are required to be credited to the payee’s account and not paid in cash over the counter. However, some unscrupulous elements use demand drafts without any crossing for transfer of money as an alternative to settlement through cash. In order to address the regulatory concerns that have arisen in this context, banks are advised to ensure that demand drafts of Rs. 20,000/- and above are issued invariably with account payee crossing.
Reserve Bank is satisfied that in public interest and in the interest of banking policy it is necessary to reduce the period within which cheques/drafts/pay orders/banker’s cheques are presented for payment from six months to three months from the date of such instrument. Accordingly, in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 35A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, Reserve Bank hereby directs that with effect from April 1, 2012, banks should not make payment of cheques/drafts/pay orders/banker’s cheques bearing that date or any subsequent date, if they are presented beyond the period of three months from the date of such instrument.
Scheme of 1% interest subvention on housing loans upto Rs. 10 lakh – Guidelines a) The Scheme is extended up to March 31, 2012. b) Loans sanctioned and disbursed between October 01, 2009 and March 31, 2011 are outside the ambit of the new liberalised Scheme and they will be treated as per old instructions (ie. loans up to Rs.10.00 lakh with project cost up to Rs.20.00 lakh)
It has come to our notice that some banks are not issuing pass books to their savings banks account holders (individuals) and only issue a computer generated account statement even when the customer desires pass book facility. Banks are, therefore, advised to strictly adhere to the instructions contained in the above circular.
In case the mandate is ‘Former or Survivor’, the ‘Former’ alone can operate/withdraw the matured amount of the fixed/term deposit, when both the depositors are alive. However, the signature of both the depositors may have to be obtained, in case the deposit is to be paid before maturity. If the former expires before the maturity of the fixed/term deposit, the ‘Survivor’ can withdraw the deposit on maturity. Premature withdrawal would however require the consent of both the parties, when both of them are alive, and that of the surviving depositor and the legal heirs of the deceased in case of death of one of the depositors.
Notification No. 59/2011 – Income Tax It is hereby notified for general information that the organization Institute of Seismological Research (ISR), Gandhinagar has been approved by the Central Government for the purpose of clause (ii) of sub-section (1) of section 35 of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (said Act), read with rules 5C and 5E of the Income-tax Rules, 1962 (said Rules), From assessment year 2010-11 and onwards in the category of Scientific Research Association, engaged in research activities subject to the following conditions namely :—
Please refer to the circular DBOD.No.Dir.(Hsg).BC.31/08.12.001/2009-10 dated August 27, 2009 on ‘Finance for Housing Projects’. Banks were advised, inter-alia, to stipulate a clause, in the terms and conditions of granting finance to specific housing/development projects, regarding disclosure of mortgage of property to the bank in the Pamphlets / Brochures/ Advertisements etc., which may be published by developer/owner inviting public at large to purchase flats and properties.
Please refer to our Circular DBOD No.BP.BC.86/21.04.157/2006-07 dated April 20, 2007 on Comprehensive Guidelines on Derivatives. The guidelines with regard to suitability and appropriateness policy for offering of derivative products to users, as outlined in paragraph 8.3 of the said circular, were reviewed in the light of the experience gained in implementation of the guidelines over last four years, and the revised version of the paragraph 8.3 was issued vide circular DBOD.No. BP.BC.27/21.04.157/2010-11 dated August 2, 2011.
Amendments in the Para 3.16.1 of FTP 2009-14. Notification No. 84 (RE-2010)/2009-2014, New Delhi, the 31st October, 2011. In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 5 of the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992 read with Para 2.1 of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2009-2014, the Central Government hereby makes the following amendments in the Foreign Trade Policy 2009-14:
