Orissa

Rayagada

CC/42/2019

A. Govind Rao - Complainant(s)

Versus

The Branch Manager, Shriram Chits - Opp.Party(s)

Self

07 Apr 2021

ORDER

DISTRICT   CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL COMMISSION,

POST  /  DIST: Rayagada,  STATE:  ODISHA,  Pin No. 765001.

                                                      ******************

                                                                        C.C.case  No.     42      / 2019                              

P R E S E N T .

Sri   Gadadhara  Sahu,                                                      President.

Smt.Padmalaya  Mishra,.                                                 Member

 

                Sri  A.Govinda  Rao,  S/O: Late  A.Neelakantham, Ist. Lane,  Nehru Nagar,

            Dist: Rayagda(Odisha).                                                     … Complainant.

            Versus.

            1.The Branch Manager,  Shriram Chits  KMH Road, Parvathipuram-535501,

                        Vizianagaram, State:Andhrapradesh.

2. The Manager,  Shriram Lie  Insurance Company Ltd., Plot No. 31 & 32, 5^th. Floor,  Gachibowli, Hyderabad, 500032. Telengana  State.

                                                                                    … Opposite parties.

For the  Complainant:- Sri  Bishnu  Prasad Panda and associates, Rayagada.

For the O.Ps:- Sri  G.Sesibhushana  Rao, Advocate, Parvatipuram.

JUDGEMENT

The  crux of the case is that  the above named complainant alleging deficiency in service  against  afore mentioned O.Ps for  non refund of deposited amount a sum Rs.3,90,877.00 vide  policy  No.NP011809236803 and policy No. NP011806275679 with  accrued  interest for which  the complainant  sought for redressal of the grievances raised by the complainant.

On being noticed the O.Ps No.1 & 2   appeared through their learned counsels and filed written version refuting allegation made against them.  The O.Ps No. 1 &2  taking one and another pleas in the written version   sought to dismiss the complaint as it is not maintainable  under the C.P. Act, 1986. The facts which are not specifically admitted may be treated  as denial of the O.Ps No. 1 & 2 . Hence the O.Ps 1 &2  prays the forum to dismiss the case against  them  to meet the ends of justice.

  Heard arguments from the learned counsels for the    O.Ps and from the complainant.    Perused the record, documents, written version  filed by the parties. 

This  District Commission   examined the entire material on record  and given  a thoughtful consideration  to the  arguments  advanced  before us by  the  parties touching the points both on the facts  as well as on  law.

                                                                         FINDINGS.

Undisputedly   the O.Ps  had received a sum of Rs.2,30,000/- from the complainant  towards  first   premium  for the policy  No. NP011806275679  on Dt.20.6.2018 in the name A.Govinda Rao (copies of the money  receipt  is available  in the file  which is marked   as Annexure-I). Further  also the O.Ps had received  a sum of Rs.1,60,877/-  from the complainant  on Dt.28.9.2018  towards first premium for the policy  No. NP011809236803   in the name of wife of the complainant  Mrs. A.Venkaratnam.

The  main grievance of the  complainant  was that  due  to non supply of bonds of the above policies  upto   18.1.2019  by the O.Ps to the complainant  the  complainant  had sent  E-mail on Dt.19.1.2019  to the O.Ps  for cancellation of the above mentioned policies and to refund  his deposited money citing improper  service(copies of the E-Mail dtd.  19.1.2019  is available  in the file which is marked Annexure-2). Due non  receipt  of any  response from the O.Ps  the complainant  had  filed  C.C. case  before  the  District  Commission. Hence this complaint  petition.

 

The O.Ps.    (Insurance  Co.) in their written   contended that  as required under the IRDA (Protection of policy holders interest) Regulations, 2002, the policy terms and conditions specifically   provides for a free look period  of 15 days  during which period the policy  owner is entitled to review the policy terms and conditions and request  for a cancellation if dissatisfied with the terms and condition of the policy.

Again  the O.Ps   (Insurance  Co.) in their written  version  contended that  The  policy  No. NP011806275679 was due  to pay  the 2nd premium on Dt. 28.6.2019 and the complainant failed to pay the renewal premium  even after expiry of grace period. The  policy  No. NP011809236803 was due for 2^nd. premium on Dt. 28.9.2019 and the complainant failed to pay the renewal premium  even after expiry of grace period.

 

The  O.Ps in their written version relied  citations which are mentioned here under.   In the case of  General   Assurance Society  Ltd. Vrs. Chandmull Join 1966  (3)  SCR 500 . It was observed as under “In interpreting  documents relating to a contract of insurance the duty of the forum is to interpret the words  in which the  contract is expressed by the  parties, because it is not for the forum to make a new contract, however reasonable, if the parties have  not  made it themselves” Similarly, in the case of  Oriental Insurance Co. Ltd. Vrs. Samavanalalur Primary Agricultural Co-op, Bank  AIR- 2000 SC-10 it was observed as under:- “The insurance policy has to be construed having reference only to the stipulations contained  in  it and no artificial farfetched meaning could be given  to the words appearing  in it.  In the case of Polymat India Pvt.  Ltd and Anr. Vrs. National Insurance Co. Ltd. And Ors.  AIR 2005 SC 286   it was observed   as under:   “The  terms of the  contract  have to be construed  strictly without altering the nature of the contract as it may affect the interest of parties adversely.

The O.Ps.    (Insurance  Co.) in their written   contended   that the said policy stood lapsed as per the terms and conditions of the policy  and due to non payment of  renewal premium.  Hence complainant should have no grievance  against the O.Ps insurance  Co. and  no cause of action stands existing and the present complaint is liable to be dismissed due to lack of cause of action.

The  learned counsel  for the O.P.   (Insurance  Co.)  vehemently advanced arguments on the ground that the complainant after payment of first  premium  did not pay any renewal premium  and as such not entitled for any claim.

The Ist. Question whether the complainant qualifies to be a Consumer?   The contention that the complaint is not maintainable under the C.P. Act  is longer res integra  inview of the decisions of the Hon’ble National Commission, New Delhi  in case of Neelavasant  Raje  Vrs. Amagh Industries and Another  reported  in 1993 (3) CPR page No.343 where in  it has been held that where a company or firm  invites deposits promising attractive rate of interest, it amounts  to rendering  of financial  services as it receives deposits  from customers/consumers and pays interest  therein. The consideration for the  hiring of the service is the payment of deposit  amount  so as to enable the company to invest or utilize the money for  earning profits.  Therefore the deposit holder the complainant  would be a consumer within the meaning of the  Section 2(1)(d) of the C.P. Act. Further when a deposit has been accepted to be repaid with interest and admissible  benefits.   It is a service to be rendered and failure  to repay the amount, amounts to deficiency in service under the C.P. Act. The O.Ps (Insurance) in the instant case accepted the deposit and agreed to render service by way of  returning the principal  with  interest and admissible benefits.  The consideration being the   deposit amount. Having regard to the aforesaid circumstances of the case we do not find much force in the contention of the  O.Ps  as the complaint petition is not maintainable under the C.P. Act.

There is no dispute about the premium a sum of Rs.2,30,000/- had received  from the complainant  towards  first   premium  for the policy  No. NP011806275679  on Dt.20.6.2018 in the name A.Govinda Rao (copies of the money  receipt  is available  in the file  which is marked   as Annexure-I). Further there is no dispute about also the O.Ps had received  a sum of Rs.1,60,877/-  from the complainant  on Dt.28.9.2018  towards first premium for the policy  No. NP011809236803   in the name of wife of the complainant  Mrs. A.Venkaratnam.

This forum perused the papers submitted by the  complainant marked as  Annexures. On perusal of the  Annexures this forum found  that the complainant had deposited total  amount of Rs. Rs.3,90,877/-  in the office of the  O.Ps in 2(two) No. policies.  It is evident  from the Annexures filed and  pleadings put  forward that the  O.Ps    had accepted  the deposits promising to  pay  interest and admissible benefits.  It is their duty to  refund deposited  amount  to the complainant along with  accrued interest and admissible benefits failing do so is  an act of  deficiency of service.  

In the instant case the complainant was not  interested to continue the policy  as after deposit of premiums  he had not received the  policy bonds from the  O.Ps  even after repeated contact  to the O.Ps from time to time.  

As argued by the complainant  in the present case at the time of  proposal form sign the complainant was asked  by the agent  of the O.Ps to  sign on the doted lines without explaining  the benefits of the  scheme and  the entire proposal form was written by the agent in his own hand writing.  The agents responsibility is clearly explained in the IRDA instructions and also U/S- 182 and 212 of the contract act. Here the agents has failed to discharge the duty as an agent and in order to get his income as commission has falsely represented the rural folks to divert their money.  Hence the OPs had clearly violated the  norms  issued by the IRDA from time to time and as such the O.Ps (Insurance  Co.) are  liable to refund  the amount paid by the complainant.

In view of the discussion above it is found to be an  unfair  trade practice made by the agent of the  O.Ps.  The O.Ps have introduced the agent to do the unfair deal with the rural and urban people as seen from the Complaint petition and  argument advanced  by him,   as such the complainant is  entitled to get refund of the entire amount deposited by the complainant in the said scheme so as to enable them to invest the same with their choice.

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

             ORDER.

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

The O.Ps   are  ordered to  refund the deposited amount  Rs.3,90,877/-  to  the complainant  with  interest  @ Rs.9% interest  p.a.  from the date of  respective  deposit till realization.  Parties are left to bear their own cost.

 

Dictated and corrected by me

Pronounced on this           7th. day  of      April, 2021.

 

 

 

                                                Member.                                                      President