HDFC Bank , one of India's leading private sector banks, has announced a scheduled system maintenance that will result in a temporary disruption of select banking services. The maintenance is set to take place from 11:00 p.m. IST on August 22 to 6:00 a.m. IST on August 23, lasting for a total of seven hours.

Affected Services

During the maintenance window, several key services will be unavailable to customers:

• Chat banking via WhatsApp
• SMS banking
• Customer care services, including:
  • Phone banking IVR
  • Email support
  • Social media support

Services Remaining Operational

HDFC Bank has assured that the following services will continue to function normally throughout the maintenance period:

• Phone banking agent services
• Net banking
• Mobile banking
• PayZapp
• MyCards

Purpose of Maintenance

The bank stated that this system maintenance is aimed at enhancing the overall banking experience for its customers. By conducting these regular updates and improvements, HDFC Bank seeks to ensure the reliability and efficiency of its digital banking infrastructure.

Customer Advisory

Customers are advised to plan their banking activities accordingly, taking into account the temporary unavailability of certain services. For any urgent banking needs during the maintenance window, customers can still access the operational services mentioned above.

HDFC Bank's proactive approach in communicating this planned maintenance demonstrates its commitment to transparency and customer service. By scheduling the maintenance during late night and early morning hours, the bank aims to minimize inconvenience to its customers while working on improving its systems.

As digital banking continues to evolve, such maintenance activities are crucial for banks to keep pace with technological advancements and maintain the security and efficiency of their services. HDFC Bank customers can look forward to potential improvements in their banking experience following this maintenance activity.

In a significant legal development, the Bombay High Court has overturned a magistrate's order that had issued a defamation notice to Sashidhar Jagdishan, the Managing Director and CEO of HDFC Bank . Justice SM Modak, presiding over the case, ruled that the magistrate had erred in issuing the notice without following proper procedural requirements.

Legal Procedural Error Highlighted

The court found that the magistrate had failed to record the verification of the complainant and witnesses before issuing the defamation notice. This step is mandated under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, and its omission led to the quashing of the order.

Background of the Case

The defamation complaint was originally filed by the trustee of Lilavati Kirtilal Mehta Medical Trust under the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, 2023. While the specifics of the allegations against Jagdishan were not detailed in the court's decision, the case highlights the importance of adhering to proper legal procedures in defamation cases.

Court's Ruling and Future Proceedings

In its ruling, the Bombay High Court set aside the magistrate's order. However, Justice Modak clarified that this decision does not prevent the trial court from proceeding with the case. The court emphasized that the case can move forward once the proper verification procedures, as required by law, are followed.

Implications of the Ruling

This ruling underscores the significance of procedural compliance in legal proceedings, especially in cases involving high-profile corporate executives. It also serves as a reminder of the safeguards in place to ensure fair legal processes in defamation cases.

The court explicitly stated that it did not comment on the merits of the allegations against Jagdishan, leaving the door open for potential future legal proceedings if the proper procedures are followed.

As this legal matter unfolds, it will be closely watched by the banking and legal communities, given HDFC Bank's prominence in India's financial sector and the high-profile nature of the case involving its top executive.