The forum also directed the bank yesterday to issue a duplicate cheque to the consumer within thirty days.
A cheque of Rs 20,999 was issued to Sunil Kumar in April 2009 by the executive engineer, PWD, Kullu, which Sunil deposited in the account.
However, months passed but the money did not reflect in Sunil's account.
Even after passage of one year the branch also did not take action on his request of issuing a duplicate cheque, said the forum.
The bank admitted that cheque was lost during transit to Kullu branch but contended that it could not be held responsible for the lapse as it had been clearly written on the deposit slips that it would not be liable in such cases.
The forum held that act of bank amounted to "deficiency in service" as it neither ordered any inquiry in to the matter nor issued a duplicate cheque to the customer which caused harassment to him.
Forum directed bank to complete necessary formalities for issuing of duplicate cheque with in thirty days, and further directed the bank to pay Rs 5,000 as compensation on account of deficiency in service along with cost of Rs 2,000 to the complainant.