SRI BIJAYA KUMAR DAS,PRESIDENT:-

             Deficiency in service in respect of non-payment of maturity amounton ‘Postal Endowment Assurance Scheme’ by Op-authorities are the allegations arrayed against ops.

2.                 Complaint in brief reveals that, Complainant to insured his life obtained an Insurance Policy launched by Postal authorities on dt. 27/1/1990 namely ‘Postal Endowment Assurance Scheme’. The sum assured of Policy is of Rs. 1lakh and the monthly premium is Rs. 295/- and the Policy is matured on dt. 27/1/2016. The last premium payment date was Dec.2015 and the policy No. is OR/16752-C. On maturity of the Policy Complainant handover the original policy bond, pass book and its acknowledgement to Op-1 for its settlement. The Op-1 granted receipt in proof of the same on dt. 23/1/2016. Inspite of the submission of the documents Complainant did not receive the matured amount, on querry complainant came to know that in the computer system of Ops, the sum assured of 1 lakh is wrongly mentioned as Rs. 10,000/-, for which the maturity amount could not disbursed to the complainant-Policy holder, which compelled the Complainant to file the instant dispute. Hence prays this Forum seeking a direction to Ops for payment of matured value at once against the Policy No. OR/16752-C along with 12% interest on matured value from dt. 27/1/2016 to till the date of payment and Rs. 50,000/- as compensation for mental agony with cost. The cause of action of the instant case arose on dt. 23/01/2016 within the territorial jurisdiction of this Forum, when the Complaint handover the documents to avail the maturity value.

3.                   Being Noticed, Ops appeared through their ld. Counsel and filed joint written statement stating that, the Complainant Sri Pabitra Mohan Pattanaik insured himself under Postal Life Insurance Scheme for sum assured of Rs. 100000/- on dt. 27.01.1990 having monthly premium of Rs. 295/-. The maturity date of the policy was dt. 27.01.2016. The insurant i.e, Sri Pabitra Mohan Pattanaik had applied for sanction of maturity value on dt. 23.01.2016 submitting policy bond, Premium receipt book and maturity application. Thereafter the case was procured at Kendrapara H.O. while processing the case for sanction of maturity. It was observed that there was some wrong data entry in the system i.e, actual sum assured of the policy was Rs. 100000/- whereas in the online software (Mc Camish) it was Rs. 10000/-. Due to this maturity sanction was not possible at that time, this fact was intimated to Deputy Divisional Manager, PLI and single point of contact(SPOC), Odisha. Thereafter, referring to circle office instructions vide circle office letter No. LI/Mc. Camish/Issues-2016dated 02.06.2016 (Annexure-R/1) regarding settlement of wrongly migrated policy, the claim may be settled manually as per Postal Life Insurance Rule 2011 by adjusting the differential amount by UCR (Unclassified Receipts) or Unclassified Receipts(UCP). The maturity value ws sanctioned I Mc Camish for sum assured of Rs.10000/- and rest amount was sanctioned manually. Finally maturity sanction amount of Rs. 279800/- has been paid of Sri Pattanaik on dt. 20.07.2016 vide Kendrapara H.O. cheque No. 187593 dtd. 20.07.2016.

4.                Heard the case of the Complaint on a merit as on the date of hearing argument Complainant remains absent and also heard the submissions of Ld. Counsel Mr. Md. Nayeem appearing for the Ops, gone through the documents filed by Complainant i.e, Xerox copies of Postal Endowment Assurance Scheme, Xerox copies of pass book showing deposits of monthly premium and hand receipt granted by Op-1 in support of receive  the application for disbursement of maturity amount and the admitted facts of the case are that Complainant insured himself under Postal Life Insurance Scheme for sum assured of Rs. 1,000,00/- on dt. 27/1/1990 with a monthly premium of Rs. 295/-. The maturity date of Policy is dt. 27/1/2016 and said policy holder Pabitra Mohan Pattanaik applied to get the maturity amount on dt. 23/1/2016. It is also admitted that due to operational problem in the Computer software the sum assured was wrongly mentioned as Rs. 10,000/- instead of Rs. 1 lakh, which delay in disbursement occurred.                     

                   It is revealed from the written statement that, Complainant has received the maturity sanctioned amount of Rs. 2,79,800/- on dt. 20/7/2016 vide Kendrapara H.O. cheque No. 187593, when the written statement is received by Complainant and till date has not protested or objected on receipt of the said amount, we safely concluded that the Complainant has received his legitimate dues on maturity of his Postal Life Insurance Policy. Further it is observed that as the grievance of the Complaint is redressed after filing of the present C.C.Case, Complainant-depositor deserves litigation fees of Rs. 1000/-(Rs one thousand only).

                     Accordingly, it is directed that Ops will pay an amount of Rs. 1000/-(Rs. one thousand) as cost of litigation to the Complaint within one month of receipt of this order, failing which action will be initiated as per the provisions of C.P.Act,1986.

             Complaint is allowed in part with cost.

        Pronounced in the open Court, this 31st Day of May, 2017.