nd June 20092
smoker for the last 17 years. The complainant wrote a letter to the claims review
committee of the respondents but they confirmed the decision of the R2. The
insured had lung cancer one month prior to the death, when he visited Yashoda
Hospital, Hyderabad on 28-2-2008 for investigations. The insured had no
intention to deceive the respondents. If so he would have taken a policy for huge
amount. He had interest in capital unit gain instead of death claim proceeds. He
would have taken a term insurance policy in stead of unit linked policy. Therefore,
there was no suppression of material facts. There was no basis that the insured
was a smoker for the past 17 years and had extra tuberculosis in 2002. The policy
was issued on the basis of information given by the proposer and the confidential
report given by the agent. Therefore, the complaint was filed for Rs. 5,00,000/-
with net asset value of the units of the policy holder’s account together with
interest @ 18% p.a. from the date of death of the insured and Rs. 50,000/- towards
mental agony and Rs. 2,000/- towards costs.
3. The respondents filed a counter denying the averments of the
complaint. The complainant made a false claim on the ground that her deceased
husband died on account of ill health on 01-4-2008 at Yashoda Hospital,
Hyderabad and she was entitled for the benefits under the policy. The deceased
was suffering from Non Small Cell Carcinoma Of Right Lung With Multiple Bone
Meastasis Hypertension And Diabetes Mellitus Type II problem before taking the
policy. The insured had knowledge of the said diseases but did not disclose in the
proposal form with a view to get unlawful gain. The contract of insurance was
under utmost good faith on the part of both parties to the contract. The insured
had to reveal all the particulars of his health. The policy would have issued on the
basis of the information given by the insured. More over it was issued on the sole
declaration effected in the proposal form dt. 28-4-2007.
4. The complainant suppressed all the material facts in the complaint
and simply mentioned that the insured died due to ill health and he suffered from
Lung Cancer one month prior to his death was not correct. The deceased was a
C.C. No. 50 of 20093
known smoker since 17 years and was suffering from Extra Pulmonary
Tuberculosis in 2002 (Lung Cancer) which led to Non small Cell Carsinoma of right
Lung with Multiple Bone Meastasis Hypertension and Diabetes Mellitus Type II.
The insured was admitted in Yashoda Hospital for treatment on 28-2-2008 and
consulted Dr. Babaiah, Senior Oncologist. But he died on 01-4-2008. The cause
of death was Cancer suffered by the insured even prior to the commencement of
the policy and hence, taking policy was a fraud for unlawful gain. Had the
deceased revealed the true facts of his ill health, the risk would not have been
entertained and policy would have been rejected. The death occurred due to
previous complications.
5. The insured as a doctor and the case history issued by Yashoda
Cancer Institute, Hyderabad revealed that the insured was a known Lung Cancer
patient with low back pain since one year. The first diagnosis was not mentioned.
The low back pain was due to bone Meastasis. He was a known diabetic and
hypertension. The question of hypertension and cancer was willfully concealed by
the insured and they were not disclosed by the complainant in the statement, and
hence an adverse inference may be drawn against the complainant for non
disclosure of the first treatment details of cancer.
6. The policy was not issued at Kadapa and death was not occurred at
Kadapa at the time of taking policy. The insured was a resident of Hyderabad and
policy was issued at Hyderabad. For the sake of jurisdiction the R3 was
unnecessarily impleaded. The R3 was an unnecessary party and claim may be
dismissed against R3. Thus the Forum had no jurisdiction.
7. Under Section 45 of Insurance Act the company would repudiate the
claim within two years of commencement of the policy. If it is found that the
insured had suppressed the facts of his health and obtained a policy, the policy
could not be cancelled. Thus there were no merits and the complaint may be
dismissed with costs.
C.C. No. 50 of 20094
8. On the basis of the above pleadings the following points are settled for
determination.
i. Whether there is any negligence and deficiency of service on the
part of the respondents?
ii. Whether the complainant is entitled to the relief as prayed for?
iii. To what relief?
9. On behalf of the complainant Ex. A1 to A3 were marked and on behalf
of the respondent Ex. B1 to B5 were marked. No written arguments were filed by
both parties.
10. Point No. 1 & 2 The complainant was the wife of Late Dr. V. Mohan
Rao, who worked as Joint Director of Health Department, Govt. of A.P. Hyderabad.
Late Dr. Mohan Rao, took one life insurance policy with unit linked plan on his life
for Rs. 5,00,000/- with policy No. 0051429015 commenced from 28-4-2007 from
R1. The complainant was the nominee under the policy. The insured Mohan Rao
paid Rs. 50,000/- towards annual premium to the policy. While so the insured
died on 01-4-2008 at Yashoda Hospital, Hyderabad due to ill health. After the
death of Mohan Rao his wife as nominee submitted all the documents as required
to the respondents to settle the claim under the policy. But the respondents
repudiated the claim under Ex. A1, dt. 19-6-2008 a Xerox copy of the letter on the
ground that the insured late Dr. V. Mohan Rao had history of Extra pulmonary
tuberculosis in 2002 (Lymph Glands) and a known smoker for the past 17 years
and the details were not disclosed in the proposal form, dt. 28-4-2007. Since the
material facts have not been disclosed in the proposal form, the respondents
repudiated the claim. The complainant addressed a letter to the Claims Review
Committee to reconsider the claim under the policy and arrange payment of claim
amount with her change of address at Kadapa. It was Ex. A2. The Claims
Review Committee confirmed the repudiation of the claim by way of letter under
Ex. A3, dt. 18-8-2008 to the complainant to her Kadapa address. Except Ex. A1
to A3 the complainant had not filed any other documentary proof to prove her
C.C. No. 50 of 20095
claim. It is unfortunate that either of the parties in the complaint have not
submitted the copy of the policy with terms and conditions. Even though the
Forum returned at the first instance the complaint with an objection to file the
copy of the policy as prima-facie proof, it was represented that the complainant
lost her Photostat copy of the policy and it would be submitted after getting the
same. The complainant had atleast not filed first premium payment receipt also.
11. On the other hand the respondents filed a Xerox copy of proposal form
of Late Dr. Mohan Rao under Ex. B1, dt. 28-4-2007 which disclosed the sum
assured as Rs. 5,00,000/- and the annual premium was Rs. 50,000/- and the
nominee was the complainant. The policy was taken by the deceased at
Hyderabad as Joint Director of Health (Leprosy) Hyderabad. In Ex. B1 under
question No. 14, regarding the history of the health of the insured it was noted that
the deceased was in good health. It was the duty of the complainant to file death
extract, discharge summary from the hospital and case record of the deceased
from Yashoda Hospital, Hyderabad. The Xerox copy of case record under Ex. B2
and Xerox copy of death summary issued by Yashoda Hospital, Hyderabad under
Ex. B3 and Xerox copy of certificate issued by Dr. M. Babaiah, Yashoda Cancer
Institute, Hyderabad under Ex. B4, the Xerox copy of burial ground report of Dr.
Mohan Rao issued by Grater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, Hyderabad under
Ex. B5 were filed by the respondents.
12. A Super Speciality Hospital or Corporate Hospital like Yashoda
Hospital, Hyderabad should not give a case record with untrue facts or false
information regarding the health condition of a patient. In Ex. B2, Yashoda
Hospital, Hyderabad mentioned that Dr. Mohan Rao was known case of Lung
Cancer with Bone Meastasis with low back pain since one year which was
aggravated since one month and had past history of Extra pulmonary tuberculosis
in 2002 (Lymph Glands) and known smoker since 17 years and occasional alcohol
consumption. The daughter of the deceased gave consent form for admission,
investigation and treatment of the patient on 28-2-2008 and the same was
C.C. No. 50 of 20096
enclosed in Ex. B2. The insured had hypertension and diabetes mellitus. The
entire history of present illness and the past history of the deceased have been
mentioned in the death summary Ex. B3. The cause of death on 01-4-2008 was
Non Small Cell Carcinoma of Right Lung With Multiple Bone Meastasis
Hypertension and Diabetes Mellitus Type II. The particulars of the patient in the
case record of the hospital Ex. B2 have been furnished either by the patient or his
relatives.
13. The complainant contended that the insured did not suppress the
material facts regarding his health in the proposal form Ex. B1. At the time of
giving proposal form, the insured was hale and health. But it was denied by the
respondents. When the respondents denied that the complainant suppressed the
material facts it was their duty to prove the same. The respondents filed Ex. B2
and E x . B3 to prove that the insured had a past history of Extra pulmonary
tuberculosis in 2002 (Lymph Glands) and occasionally consumption of alcohol and
a known smoker since 17 years. In Ex. B1 under question No. 14 (c) regarding
tuberculosis, the proposer i.e. the deceased gave a negative answer. Yashoda
Hospital, Hyderabad had no necessity to mention tuberculosis since 2002 in their
case record Ex. B2. Knowing fully well regarding tuberculosis in 2002 (Lymph
Glands) the proposer did not reveal the facts under question No. 14 (c) in Ex. B1.
The deceased suppressed the material facts of his health in the proposal form i.e.
Ex. B1. As discussed earlier it was also noted in Ex. B3 death summary also.
Being a doctor the deceased had known much regarding changes in the body after
he had an attack of Lung Cancer.
14. It was mentioned under Ex. B1 that the premium was annual
premium of Rs. 50,000/- i.e. first premium was paid along with proposal form on
28-4-2007 and the next immediate premium should be on 28-4-2008. But before
the payment of premium on 28-4-2008 the insured died on 01-4-2008 and
therefore, the contract was not a concluded contract. In these circumstances the
complainant is entitled only to the first premium amount of Rs. 50,000/- from
C.C. No. 50 of 20097
respondents 1 & 2 jointly and severally. Regarding the jurisdiction of the
complaint the complainant impleaded the branch office of the company at Kadapa
a s 3
jurisdiction to entertain the complaint. Thus there is deficiency of service on the
part of the respondents in non refund of first premium amount of Rs. 50,000/-
while repudiating the claim. Hence, the points are answered accordingly.
15. Point No. 3 In the result, the complaint is allowed, directing the
respondents 1 & 2 jointly and severally liable to pay Rs. 50,000/- (Rupees Fifty
Thousand Only) without interest, compensation and costs, payable within 45 days
from the date of receipt of this order. The rest of the claim and the case against
R3 is dismissed without costs.
Dictated to the Stenographer, transcribed by him, corrected and pronounced
by us in the open forum, this the 22nd June 2009
MEMBER MEMBER PRESIDENT
APPENDIX OF EVIDENCE
Witnesses examined.
For Complainant : NIL For Respondent : NIL
Exhibits marked for Complainant : -
Ex. A1 X/c of repudiation letter from respondents to complainant, dt. 19-6-08
Ex. A2 Copy of letter from complainant to R2, dt. 19-7-2007.
Ex. A3 Letter from respondents to complainant, dt. 18-8-2008.
Exhibits marked for Respondents: -
Ex. B1 X/c of proposal form No. 0051429015, dt. 28-4-2007.
Ex. B2 X/c of care record issued by Yashoda Hospital, Secunderabad.
Ex. B3 X/c of death summary issued by Yashoda Hospital, Secunderabad.
Ex. B4 X/c of certificate issued by Yashoda Hospital, Secunderabad
Ex. B5 X/c of burial ground report issued by Greater Hyderabad Municipal
Corporation, dt. 2-4-2008.
MEMBER MEMBER PRESIDENT
Copy to :-
1) Sri G. Trivikram Singh, Advocate.
2) Sri D.V.S. Prasad, Advocate.
1) Copy was made ready on :
2) Copy was dispatched on :
3) Copy of delivered to parties :
B.V.P. - - -
C.C. No. 50 of 2009rd respondent. Therefore, the District Forum, Kadapa had territorial
CONSUMER COMPLAINT No. 50 / 2009
Mrs. Varanasi Vasanthi, W/o Late V. Mohan Rao,
R/at D.No. 7/137, Jayanagar colony,
Kadapa – 516 001 (A.P). ….. Complainant.
Vs.
1) Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Co. Ltd., Rep. by its
Branch Manager, Hyderabad Branch, Hyderabad.
2) Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Co. Ltd., Rep. by its
General Manager, Regd. And head Office: GE Plaza,
Airport road, yerawada, Pune – 411 006.
3) Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Co. Ltd., Rep. by its
Branch Manager, Dwaraka Towers, Kadapa. ….. Respondent.
22-6-2009 in the presence of Sri G. Trivikram Singh, Advocate, for complainant
and Sri D.V.S. Prasad, Advocate for respondents and upon perusing the material
(Per Sri P.V. Nageswara Rao, President),
1. Complaint filed under section 12 of the Consumer Protection Act 1986.
2. The brief facts of the complaint is as follows:- The husband of the
complainant by name V. Mohan Rao, was working as Joint Director, Health
Department. He took one life insurance policy with unit linked plan on his life for
Rs. 5,00,000/- from R1 under policy No. 0051429015 commenced from 28-4-2007
with nomination given to the complainant as wife. The insured paid Rs. 50,000/-
towards annual premium. As per terms of the policy in case of death of the
insured the nominee would get the assured amount. The insured died on
01-4-2008 at Yashoda Hospital, Hyderabad on account of ill health. The
the claim. But she received a repudiation letter dt. 19-6-2008 from R2 on the
ground that the insured did not disclose the facts at the time of proposal about his