7^th day of August 2013

                   C.C.565/12 & CC.566/12 filed on  17/11/12

                                                CC.565/112

Complainant:        Ms.Naina Ramesh(Minor) D/o.Ramesh, Inchamudi

                             House, Inchamudi.P.O., Thrissur, rep. by her father

                             Ramesh, Inchamudi House, Chazhoor.       

                             (By Adv.A.K.baburaj, Thrissur-3)

Respondents:        1. Reliance Life Insurance Company, Anil Dhirubhai

                                 Ambani Group, H.Block, 1^st floor, Dhiru Bhai Ambani

                                 Knowledge City Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra.   

                             2. Reliance Life Insurance Company, Kerala Branch

                                 Muvattupuzha, 1^st floor, Amritha Tower,

                                 Velloorkunnam, Muvattupuzah, Kerala. 

                                                CC.566/12

Complainant:        Mrs.Rani, W/o.Ramesh, Inchamudi House,

                             Inchamudi.P.O., Thrissur.       

                             (By Adv.A.K.baburaj, Thrissur-3)

Respondents:        1. Reliance Life Insurance Company, Anil Dhirubhai

                                 Ambani Group, H.Block, 1^st floor, Dhiru Bhai Ambani

                                 Knowledge City Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra.   

                             2. Reliance Life Insurance Company, Kerala Branch

                                 Muvattupuzha, 1^st floor, Amritha Tower,

                                 Velloorkunnam, Muvattupuzah, Kerala. 

                                                O R D E R

By Smt. Padmini Sudheesh, President:

          Heard on admission and rejected.

          2. Both the complaints are filed to get reimbursement of medical expenses from the respondents  The complainants are the policy holders of respondents.  Both the complainants were undergone treatment and applied to get reimbursement of medical expenses.  But the respondents repudiated the claim.  It is seen that the complaints are not maintainable before the Forum because of lack of territorial jurisdiction.  The policies were issued by Muvattupuzha branch of Reliance Life Insurance Company and so this Forum has no territorial jurisdiction to try the case.  It is argued by  complainants at the admission hearing that since respondents company has branches  all over India the complaint can  file anywhere in India.  But this view of complainants is incorrect.  It is held by our National Commission and reported in 2010(1) CTJ NC 3 that the expression branch office means the branch office where the cause of action has arisen.  It will lead to absurd  consequences of bench hunting if the complaint is allowed to file anywhere in India where branch office of the complainee is  situated.  So both the complaints are rejected with direction to file before  proper Forum.

          Dictated to the Confidential Assistant, transcribed by her, corrected by me and pronounced in the open Forum this the  7^th day of  August 2013.

                                                                             Sd/-

                                                                   Padmini Sudheesh, President.

                                                                             Sd/-

                                                                   M.S. Sasidharan, Member.

                                                                             Sd/-

                                                                   Sheena.V.V., Member

                                                Appendix

                                                    Nil

                                                                             Id/-

                                                                        President