Orissa

Rayagada

CC/174/2017

Mr. Chintamani Bisi - Complainant(s)

Versus

The Branch Manager, Oriental Insurance Company Ltd., - Opp.Party(s)

Self

31 May 2018

ORDER

DISTRICT   CONSUMER  DISPUTES REDRESSAL    FORUM, RAYAGADA,

STATE:  ODISHA.

C.C. Case  No. 174 / 2017.                                           Date.      21   .     8  . 2018

P R E S E N T .

Dr. Aswini  Kumar Mohapatra,                       President.

Sri  GadadharaSahu,                                             Member.

Smt. Padmalaya  Mishra,                                     Member.

 

Mr. Chintamani Bisi, S/O: Mr.  Biraj  Bisi, AT:Harijan  Sahi,  Po:Kasipur,

DIST: Rayagada, State:  Odisha,  PIN NO. 765 015.   Cell No.9438104560.

                                                                                                            … Complainant.

Versus.

The Branch Manager,Oriental  Insurance Company Ltd.,  AT: Shiv Ganga Complex, Near Dayanidhi Chowk , Bahadur Bagicha para,  Po: Bhawanipatna, Dist: Kalahandi pin no. 766 001.                                                                                                           …Opposite parties.

Counsel for the parties:                         

For the complainant: - Self.

For the O.Ps :- Set exparte.

JUDGEMENT

The  curx of the case is that  the above named complainant alleging deficiency in service  against  afore mentioned O.Ps for  non payment of I.D.V. insurance  value towards theft of two wheeler vide policy No.346001/31/2016/3888      for which  the complainant  sought for redressal of the grievances raised by the complainant. The brief facts  of the case are summarized here under.

That  the complainant had purchased one two wheeler Bajaj  Discover 125 bearing Registration  No.OD-08D-0550 financed by  Bajaj Finance Ltd., Bhawanipatna  and insured the  above vehicle with the  O.P.  vide policy No.346001/31/2016/3888   which was  valid from   16.10.2015  to  midnight of 15.10.2016. The  policy  was taken  to the safety of the  two wheeler against any theft, damage by fire or other calamities.   On Dt. 09.05.2016   the  two wheeler of the complainant was stolen by one from the  parking  place infront of the house. The complainant  lodged FIR bearing P.S. Case No. 47 Dt.11.5.2016 before the IIC., Kashipur Police Station  and also intimated to the  O.P.   But till  date the O.P has not paid  the I.D.V. insurance value   to the complainant. Hence this C.C. case. The complainant prays the forum direct the O.Ps. to  pay the I.D.V. of   the  above two wheeler  and such other relief as the hon’ble forum deems fit and proper for the best interest of justice.

On being noticed the O.Ps neither entering in to appear before the forum nor filed their  written version though availing  of more than  25  adjournments. Complainant consequently filed his memo and prayed to set exparte of the O.Ps.  Observing lapses of around two years  for which the objectives  of the legislature of the C.P. Act going to be destroyed to the prejudice of the interest of the complainant.  Hence after hearing from  the   complainant set the case  exparte against the O.Ps. The action of the O.Ps is against the principles of  natural justice as envisaged  under section  13(2) (b)(ii) of the Act. Hence the O.Ps were  set exparte  as the statutory period  for filing of  written version was over to close the case with in the time frame permitted by the C.P. Act.      

        Heard from the the  complainant at length.

        We therefore proceed to dispose of the case, on its merit. We perused the complaint petition and the document filed by the complainant.

                                        FINDINGS.

On perusal of the record we observed  that the complainant had Two wheelers  package  policy Zone-B  vide policy No.346001/31/2016/3888   which was  valid from   16.10.2015  to  midnight of 15.10.2016 (Copies of the policy  is enclosed in the file which marked as Annexure-I). Again it is observed that    the  complainant is the Registered owner of two wheeler Bajaj  Discover 125 bearing Registration  No.OD-08D-0550 financed by  Bajaj Finance Ltd., Bhawanipatna  (Copies of the R.C. is in the file which marked as Annexure-II.   Further  the above  PACKAGE POLICY  has a IDV   a sum of Rs. 52,156/- for the above vehicle bearing No. OD-08D-0550

On Dt. 09.05.2016   the above   two wheeler of the complainant was stolen by one from the  parking  place infront of the house. In turn  the complainant  immediately   lodged FIR bearing P.S. Case No. 47 Dt.11.5.2016 before the IIC., Kashipur Police Station  and also intimated to the  O.P  Copies of the  F.I.R is in the file  which is marked as Annexure-III.

The complainant also argued  due to non reimbursement  of the above money he  suffered a lot of financial trouble  and mental agony. The complainant prays the forum as the  O.Ps have   not heard any  grievance of the complainant till date   so the  O.Ps  be  directed to reimburse the I.D.V.  amount a sum of Rs. 52,156/-  .

After carefully examining the evidence on record, we find no cogent reason  to disbelieve or discard the evidence already adduced by the complainant. The documentary evidence  tendered by the complainant clearly tends support and absolute corroboration   to  the evidence.  

In absence of any rebuttal materials from the side  of   O.P    there is no reason to disbelieve the evidence put forth  by the  complainant  before the forum  whose evidence  suffers from no infirmity. The evidence adduced by the complainant  clearly leads us to arrive at a just conclusion that there is not only deficiency  in service  but also negligence  on the part of the O.Ps  in not   reimbursing the I.D.V. amount a sum of Rs. 52,156/-  to the complainant  towards stolen  of  above two wheeler as per the  provisions laid down under section -14 of the  C.P. Act.

On careful analysis   of the evidence on record both oral and documentary, we are clearly of the opinion  that inspite of doing the needful, the O.Ps are failed to redress the grievances of the complaint which amounts to  deficiency in service  as a result the complainant was constrained  to file this complaint before the forum claiming the relief as sought for.  In that view  of the matter the O.P  is  liable.

This forum observed this policy  is only intended to collect the premium  from the  parties and not to pay back the same at the event admitted/accepted  by the policy bond.

Not responding to the grievance of a genuine consumer amounts to deficiency in service and in that line we hold that the O.P.   is liable.

            Hence to meet  the  ends  of  justice,  the following   order is  passed.

                                                            ORDER.

            In  resultant  the complaint petition stands  allowed in part  on exparte against  the O.Ps.

                The O.P  is  ordered to  reimburse the I.D.V.  amount a sum of Rs. 52,156/-  towards stolen  of    two wheeler Bajaj  Discover 125 bearing Registration  No.OD-08D-0550 inter alia to pay Rs.3,000/- towards compensation for  mental agony  and cost of litigation  to the complainant .              

                The OP    is  ordered to make compliance the aforesaid Order within  45 days from the date of receipt of this order failing which  an interest  @ Rs.9 % per annum  would  accrue on the above award  amount . from  the date of  filing  before  this forum   i.e.on  Dt.08.12.2017  till  realization. Service the copies of the order to the parties free of  cost.

Dictated and corrected by me.         Pronounced on this          21st. day of   August, 2018.

 

MEMBER.                                MEMBER.                                                        PRESIDENT.