Budget 2019 plans to stop cash deposits in bank accounts without holder's consent

Budget 2019 has proposed to implement reforms to prevent the deposit of cash into bank accounts of people without their knowledge. It may be mentioned that during demonetisation and in its wake there were reports of cash money being deposited in bank accounts, particularly Jan Dhan accounts, of many people which they later claimed to have been done without their knowledge.

The FM in the budget speech said, "Government will initiate steps to empower accountholders to remedy the current situation in which they do not have control over deposit of cash by others in their accounts. Reforms will also be undertaken to strengthen governance in Public Sector Banks."

Currently, a person can deposit cash in any individual's bank account without the knowledge or consent of the account holder, provided the depositor knows the bank account number of the recipient.

For example, a person can deposit cash into any Axis bank account holder's account via a cash deposit machine of Axis bank just by entering the15 digit account number.

It may be mentioned that some banks levy charges for deposit of cash into the savings accounts at non-home branches.