th May 20092
28-6-2006 at about 10.00 p.m when the said vehicle became off road and stopped
near the cross road leading to Kammavaripalli village on Jammalamadugu – Tadipatri
road, 10 unknown persons came there, poured petrol on the Bolero vehicle and set
fire. As a result the said vehicle burnt leaving remains of metal portion. The said
fact was also informed to Talamanchipatnam police station by the driver of the
vehicle by name B. Bhaskar and the crime was registered under FIR No. 46/2006.
Immediately the complainant reported the incident to the respondent and inturn they
deputed surveyor to conduct survey of the damaged vehicle. In the said fire accident
the Bolero vehicle damaged totally and entire original records of Bolero vehicle were
kept in the dash board of the vehicle also remained in ashes. To that effect, the sub-
Inspector of Police, Talamachipatnam, police station also issued a certificate that all
the original records were burnt for the fire accident. The complainant further stated
that he made insurance claim for Rs. 5,00,000/- towards costs of the vehicle and
there is no excessive claim by the complainant. But the respondent postponed the
matter for releasing claim amount by demanding relevant documents to settle claim
as it was informed to the respondent that the vehicle records are not available, they
were burnt in to ashes in the said fire accident. The complainant further stated that
the respondent once again sent a letter dt. 8-3-2007 requesting the complainant to
submit permit of the vehicle and fire brigade report, but they were not available with
the complainant. The complainant stated that he gave sufficient reason for not
submitting the documents. The respondent under its letter dt. 26-3-2007 stated that
they have closed the file as no claim. The complainant alleged negligence and
deficiency of service on the part of the respondent. He issued a legal notice dt.
13-10-2008 calling upon the respondent to pay Rs. 5,00,000/- with costs and
compensation. But the respondent has not settled the claim of the complainant till
to day. Hence, this complaint.
C.C. No. 16 of 20093
3. The respondent filed a counter denying all the allegations made by the
complainant except those which are specifically admitted. The respondent stated
that the present petition does come under the purview of C.P. Act. The respondent
called the complainant to produce registration certificate, permit, driving license and
fire brigade report and in spite of several requests and reminders the complainant did
not furnished the said documents to settle the claim of the complainant and the
complainant is failed to produce atlast certified copies from the licensing authority.
Hence, the claim of the petitioner was treated as no claim. Thus the claim was
neither repudiated nor settled. The nature of the present petition will not attract the
scope of deficiency of service within the meaning of provisions of C.P. Act and the
petition is liable to be dismissed in limini. The respondent further stated that in the
present case the vehicle was burnt and it was the opinion of the surveyor that repair
of the vehicle was not economical or advisable and he assessed the loss on salvage
basis @ Rs. 2,81,000/- as full and final settlement of the claim under the policy. The
complainant did not furnish the registration certificate, permit, driving license and
fire brigade report to the respondent company in spite of repeated requests made and
reminders sent dt. 29-1-2007, 19-2-2007, 8-3-2007 and 26-3-2007. The petitioner
did not choose to furnish atlast the certified copies of the said documents from the
registering authority. The respondent further stated that he came to know that the
complainant did not pay the life tax of Rs. 36,800/- to the transport authorities for
which memo dt. 22-9-2006 was also issued by the said authority to the complainant.
The complainant has not paid the tax to the said authority in the above said
circumstances, there is no deficiency of service on the part of the respondent
company and the complainant himself is responsible for non settlement of the claim.
4. On behalf of the complainant Ex. A1 to A10 were marked and on behalf
of the respondent Ex. B1 to B6 were marked.
C.C. No. 16 of 20094
5. On the basis of the above pleadings the following points are settled for
determination.
i. Whether the complainant is entitled to receive Rs. 5,00,000/-
towards damage of the said vehicle?
ii. Whether there is any negligence and deficiency of service on the
part of the respondent?
iii. To what relief?
6. Point No. 1 & 2 Heard both sides and perused the records available
with the forum and the forum made the following order. The complainant is the
owner of one Bolero XL four wheeler bearing No. AP 04 V : 1177 and the said vehicle
was insured with the respondent company with a coverage of all packages including
vehicle damages under the policy No. 611204/31/05/01/00001859 with effect from
6-3-2006 to 5-3-2007. The complainant registered the said vehicle under taxi quota
by playing the vehicle, the complainant use to get his livelihood. The complainant
gave the said vehicle on hire to one Doddi Pullanna of Gollapalli Village, who
conteste3d for the post of MPTC Vaddirala on behalf of Telugudesam party. While so
on 28-6-2006 at about 10.00 p.m when the said vehicle became off road and stopped
near the cross road leading to Kammavaripalli village on Jammalamadugu – Tadipatri
road, 10 unknown persons came there, poured petrol on the Bolero vehicle and set
fire. As a result the said vehicle burnt leaving remains of metal portion. The said
fact was also informed to Talamanchipatnam police station by the driver of the
vehicle by name B. Bhaskar. The police registered the case under section 435 of IPC
under FIR No. 46/2006. Ex. A1 is the Xerox copy of policy bearing No.
611204/31/05/01/00001859 issued by the respondent. Ex. A2 is the Xerox copy of
FIR issued by Talamanchipatnam police station. The said fire accident was intimated
to the respondent by the complainant and they deputed one surveyor to assess the
loss occurred to the vehicle. The counsel for the complainant argued that the entire
original record of Bolero vehicle were kept in the dash board of the said vehicle and in
the said accident all the records were burnt into ashes and the same was informed to
C.C. No. 16 of 20095
the Sub-Inspector of police, Talamanchipatnam and they have issued certificate that
all the original records were burnt in the accident. Ex. A3 is the Xerox copy of police
certificate issued by Sub-Inspector of police, Talamanchipatnam police station dt.
7-7-2006. The complainant made insurance claim for Rs. 5,00,000/- towards cost of
the vehicle. The complainant stated that he has not claimed any excessive amount
from the respondent company. But the respondent company deliberately postponed
the matter without releasing the amount to the complainant. Ex. A4 is the Xerox
copy of driving license of the driver, who was on the wheels issued on 11-7-2006 by
R.T.A, proddatur. Knowing the fact that all the original records were burnt in the fire
accident still the respondent company is insisting the complainant to submit the
permit of the vehicle and fire brigade report, Registration certificate and driving
license etc., Ex. A5 is the letter dt. 8-3-2007 issued by the respondents for
submitting the documents. Ex. A6 is the letter dt. 26-3-2007 issued by the
respondents informing the closer of the complainant file. In the letter dt. 26-3-2007
issued by the respondent they have stated that they have not received any relevant
documents from the complainant. So they are closing the file as there is no claim.
7. The complainant alleged negligence and deficiency of service and he
issued a legal notice dt. 12-10-2008 calling upon the respondent to settle this claim
at an early with costs and compensation. Ex. A7 is the Xerox copy of Registration
certificate of vehicle bearing No. AP 04 V ; 1177. Ex. A9 is the courier receipt dt.
13-10-2008 and Ex. A10 is the no due certificate from the Financier to the
complainant. The respondent in their counter denied the allegations made by the
complainant at the out set the respondent stated that the present case will not come
under the purview of C.P. Act as there is no any negligence or deficiency of service on
the part of the respondent. In fact they requested the complainant to produce
Registration certificate, permit, driving license and fire brigade report etc., Inspite of
several requests and reminders the complainant has not furnished the said
C.C. No. 16 of 20096
documents so the respondent company has no other go except closing the file
treating as no claim. So there is no negligence or deficiency of service on their part.
To substantiate his arguments the respondent counsel filed one judgement of State
Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission, Rajasthan, Jaipur in case No. 39/1993 in
which their Lordship have clearly stated that the C.P. Act 1986 – Sections 12 & 17 –
Deficiency in insurance service – Van insured damaged in an accident – Claim not
settled till filing of complaint – Documents produced showing that complainant was
called upon to produce driving license of driver, registration certificate etc., which
were not furnished – Not a case of deficiency in service.
8. Ex. B1 is the Xerox copy of letter from respondent to complainant dt.
8-3-2007. Ex. B2 is the acknowledgment of the petitioner. Ex. B3 is the letter of
respondent issued to the complainant dt. 26-3-2007. After the fire accident the
respondent company has deputed one surveyor to assess the loss occurred to the
said vehicle and the surveyor opined that the vehicle was not economical or advisable
for repair and he assessed the net liability @ Rs. 2,81,000/- on salvage loss basis.
The petitioner has issued a consent letter to the respondent company that he is
accepting for the settlement of the claim on salvage loss basis for Rs. 2,81,000/- as
full and final settlement of their claim under the policy. Further the respondent
counsel stated that they came to know that the petitioner did not paid life tax of Rs.
36,800/- to the transporting authority and they have issued a memo dt. 22-9-2006
to the complainant. Ex. B5 is the Xerox copy of surveyors report dt. 14-9-2006 and
Ex. B6 is the consent letter of the complainant. The respondent counsel further
stated that as they have not received any relevant document from the complainant
they have not settled the claim of the complainant, and to settle the claim they need
particular documents. But the complainant stated that all the originals were burnt
in the fire accident, but what prevented the complainant to submit the certified
copies of Registration certificate, permit, Driving license and fire brigade report
C.C. No. 16 of 20097
before respondent company. No doubt that the Bolero vehicle was burnt into ashes
and there is no any necessity of fire brigadier report to the respondent company. By
seeing memo dt. 22-9-2006 issued by RTA authorities to the complainant the
complainant has to pay life tax of Rs. 36,800/- to the Transporting authority and he
can get certified copies of Registration certificate, permit, etc., documents. The
complainant is directed to pay the life tax to the RTA Authority. After securing the
relevant certified copies from the license authority, the complainant is directed to
submit the certified copies before the respondent company and on verification the
respondent is directed to pay Rs. 3,50,000/-. Hence, the points are answered
accordingly.
9. Point No. 3 In the result, the complaint is allowed, directing the
respondent to pay Rs. 3,50,000/- (Rupees three lakhs fifty thousand only) without
interest, costs and compensation, subject to production of documents required by the
respondent within 30 days from the date of receipt of the order and then on
verification the respondent is directed to pay the claim amount within 30 days. The
rest of the claim is dismissed.
Dictated to the Stenographer, transcribed by him, corrected and pronounced
by us in the open forum, this the 11
MEMBER MEMBER PRESIDENT
APPENDIX OF EVIDENCE
Witnesses examined.
For Complainant : NIL For Respondent : NIL
Exhibits marked for Complainant : -
Ex. A1 X/c of policy issued by respondent in favour of the complainant.
Ex. A2 X/c of FIR No. 46/2006 of Talamanchipatnam police station.
Ex. A3 X/c police certificate issued by Sub-inspector, Talamanchipatnam.
Ex. A4 X/c of driving license issued by licensing authority, ARA Proddatur.
Ex. A5 X/c of letter from respondent to complainant, dt. 8-3-2007.
Ex. A6 Letter from respondent to complainant, dt. 26-3-2007.
Ex. A7 X/c of registration certificate issued by Addl. Licensing authority,
Proddatuyr.
Ex. A8 X/c of notice from complainant’s advocate to respondent, dt. 12-10-2008
Ex. A9 Courier receipt dt. 13-11-2008.
C.C. No. 16 of 2009th May 20098
Ex. A10 X/c of letter from Cholamandalam to complainant.
Exhibits marked for Respondents: -
Ex. B1 X/c of letter from respondent to complainant, dt. 8-3-2007.
Ex. B2 X/c of acknowledgement card.
Ex. B3 X/c of letter from respondent to complainant, dt. 26-3-2007.
Ex. B4 X/c of memo from RTA, Kadapa to complainant dt. 22-9-2006.
Ex. B5 X/c of Motor survey report final , dt. 14-9-2006.
Ex. B6 X/c of letter from complainant to respondent.
MEMBER MEMBER PRESIDENT
Copy to :-
1) Sri G. Trivikram Singh, Advocate,
2) Sri D. Lakshminrayana, Advocate.
1) Copy was made ready on :
2) Copy was dispatched on :
3) Copy of delivered to parties :
B.V.P. - - -
C.C. No. 16 of 2009
CONSUMER COMPLAINT No. 16 / 2009
D. Pavan Kumar, S/o D. Surappa,
aged 34 years, D.No. 24/161-60, Near RTC Bus stand,
Jammalamadugu, Kadapa District. ….. Complainant.
Vs.
The New India Assurance Co. Ltd., Rep. by its
Kadapa District. ….. Respondents.
presence of Sri G. Trivikram Singh, Advocate for complainant and Sri D.
(Per Smt. B. Durga Kumari, Member),
1. Complaint filed under section 12 of the Consumer Protection Act 1986
seeking direction to the respondent to pay Rs. 5,00,000/- towards loss incurred by
the complainant due to fire set by miscreants to his bolero vehicle together with 24%
p.a. from the date of incident i.e. 28-6-2006 till the date of realization, to pay
Rs. 50,000/- for causing mental agony and to pay Rs. 2,000/- towards costs.
2. The brief facts of the complaint is as follows:- The complainant is the
owner of one Bolero XL four wheeler bearing No. AP 04 V : 1177 and the said vehicle
was insured with the respondent company with a coverage of all packages including
vehicle damages under the policy No. 611204/31/05/01/00001859 with effect from
6-3-2006 to 5-3-2007. The complainant registered the said vehicle under taxi quota,
by playing the vehicle, the complainant use to get his livelihood. The complainant
contested for the post of MPTC Vaddirala on behalf of Telugudesam party. On