Orissa

Rayagada

CC/63/2016

Lunka Majhi - Complainant(s)

Versus

The General Manger, ICICI Lambara General Insurance - Opp.Party(s)

Self

24 Jan 2018

ORDER

DISTRICT   CONSUMER  DISPUTES REDRESSAL    FORUM, RAYAGADA,

STATE:  ODISHA.

C.C. Case  No. 63/ 2016.                                          Date.       18.     01   . 2018.

P R E S E N T .

Dr. Aswini  Kumar Mohapatra,                          President

Sri GadadharaSahu,                                        Member.

Smt.PadmalayaMishra,.                                   Member

Sri Lunka Majhi, S/O: Late Dasu Majhi, Village: Tentulipadar, Po:Sankarda, Via:Kashipur,      Dist.Rayagada, State:  Odisha.                                    …….Complainant

Vrs.

1.The General Manager,      ICICI Lambard General  Insurance Company Ltd.,  414, Veer Savarkar Marg,  Near Sidhibinayaka Temple, Prabhadevi, Mumbai- 400025.

 

2. The Manager, ICICI Lambard General  Insurance Company Ltd.,  Near ICICI Bank,Po/Dist: Rayagada                                                                             .…..Opp.Parties

Counsel for the parties:                                 

For the complainant: - Sri Krushnna  Chandra Bisoi,, Advocate.

For the O.P.s:- Sri S.S.Mishra and Sri J.K.Mohapatra, Advocate, Rayagada.

                                                          J u d g e m e n t.

         

          The  present dispute arises out of the complaint petition filed by the above named complainant alleging deficiency in service  against  afore mentioned O.Ps for non payment of  insured amount a sum of Rs.1 lakhs. The brief facts of the case are summarized here under.

          1.That the complainant is a nominee-father and rightful legal heir of his son deceased  Sanjib  Majhi   insured person. That Sanjib Majhi  was owner of vehicle  Regd, No.OD-18-A-8322. Model  Motocorp (formerly Hero Honda)HF Deluxe HFNDERSCCR  had availed  an insurance policy under the O.P.  in his life time.  The O.P. has issued an insurance policy in favour of Sanjib Majhi. That the said policy  was one comprehensive policy of two wheeler certificate-Cum-policy schedule(Comprehensive package).  The O.P.s have  mentioned in his policy certificate as well as said policy covered under any person including insured are entitled  to get accidental compensation  amount  a sum of Rs.1 Lakhs. The said policy  was valid  from 23.2.2015 to  22.2.2016 midnight. The policy holder  Sanjib Majhi(deceased) son of  complainant on Dt. 6.11.2015 while returning to his home from Block office,Kashipur  by riding his  own above motor cycle  near village Siriguda on SH-44 (deceased) met accident by one unidentified  Haiba loaded truck and the offending  truck  dashed  the deceased consequent upon the deceased received sever bleeding injuries on his head and other part of his body and succumbed to the injuries at the spot. The said offending truck forth with disappeared from the spot.  The complainant on Dt. 6.11.2015 at about 2.50 P.M. lodged F.I.R. to the IIC., Kashipur regarding the accident of his son(deceased) Sanjib Majhi.  The IIC, Kashipur registered case of Kashipur PS case No.117/15   Dt. 6.11.2015.  The Kashipur  police station had sent the   dead body of deceased Sanjib Majhi to Medical officer, CHC, Kashipur for conduct  Post Mortem over the dead body.   After  completed the formalities the Kashipur  P.S. had handed over the dead body to the complainant for funeral and rituals according  to   their custom. The complainant  filed  grievance –cum-advocate notice on Dt. 12.1.2016 to the O.P. for payment of insured compensation  amount of his deceased Son Sanjib Majhi, but the O.Ps have  not responding  in connection with the payment of compensation amount to the complainant till date. Hence this case. The complainant  prays  the forum direct the O.Ps to pay Rs. 1 lakhs   towards   insurance amount   inter alia to pay  compensation  and such other relief  as the hon’ble forum deems fit and proper for the best interest of justice.

          2.On being  noticed the O.Ps filed written version through their learned counsel  refuting allegation  made by the complainant.  The case is not maintainable  with out jurisdiction. The complainant is called upon to prove the same which are not admitted here under. The O.Ps contended that  this forum  has lack of territorial jurisdiction .  The complainant had  taken a motor policy for his vehicle bearing Regd. No. OD-18-A-8322 from the O.P. vide  motor policy No. 3005/26539119/11514/000   valid  period from  23.2.2015 to 22.2.2016. The number of grounds have been raised in the written version by the O.Ps.  The O.Ps prays the forum  pleased to drop the proceeding  against the O.Ps for the best  interest of justice.

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

The  parties     vehemently advanced arguments touching the points both on the facts  as well as on  law.

          FINDINGS.

             3.On perusal of the record we observed  it is not disputed  that the complainant had  comprehensive  policy  bearing  No. 3005/26539119/11514/000   valid  for the period from  23.2.2015 to 22.2.2016 mid night. Again it is not disputed that deceased Sanjib Majhi  was the Registered owner of the two  wheeler  Regd  No. OD-18-A-8322.   Further  it is not disputed the policy covers the risk for the owner –cum-driver up to Rs.1,00,000/-.

                The O.Ps in their written version  para  No. 2 contended that the case is not maintainable before the forum. Prior  to delve in to the merit  of the case on outset  we have to  consider whether the complaint petition  is maintainable   under C.P. Act ?  While answering  the issue  we would like to refer the citation. It is held and reported in  CPC- 1991, page -540 the  Hon’ble  Hariyana State  Commission held that when ever there is any delay or dilatoriness in finalizing  the insurance claim, the same would be tenta  mount to a  deficiency  in service and thus comes squarely within the  purview of Consumer Forum.  Once it is held that default or negligence in the  settlement of an insurance claim is a deficiency  in service then an arbitrary  or mischievous  rejection  of an insurance claim  would patently  be a default  within its larger  meaning. On principle , it would   seem  some what manifest that the mere repudiation of the insurance claim cannot itself operate  as a  jurisdiction bar for redressel forums under the Act.  This is further  made it clear  it is held and reported  in CPR-1991(2), page No.18  where in  the Hon’ble National Commission  clearly defines  the mere unilateral  rejection of an insured parties  claimed by the insurer does not  per  se  operate as jurisdictional bar to seek redressal before  the forums under the Act. Accordingly answered the issue.   The complaint  petition  is  maintainable  under the C.P. Act

 

                The O.Ps in their written version  para  No. 3 contended that the above case is lack of territorial jurisdiction.  On  a plain reading of Section 11 (2) (b) of the C.P. Act, 1986 it is clear that a complaint can be filed before a forum with in territorial jurisdiction of the forum the O.P. has a branch office.  In the  present in hand there is a branch of the O.P  is functioning  at Rayagada Town  in Odisha State. Hence this forum has territorial jurisdiction  to entertain this  case.

                The  O.Ps further  argued  in para No. 3 that this hon’ble forum lacks the territorial  jurisdiction   as admittedly the office of the  O.P is located at Apeejay house, 7^th. Floor, block-8, 15 park street, Kolkotta-16, yet  it can not over ride statutary  provision under section-3 of the C.P. Act,1986.

 

The O.Ps. in  their written version para No.3   & 4 clearly mentioned that the complainant has not filed any documents before the O.Ps to know that the complainant is the father and nominee  of the deceased Sanjib  Majhi.  During the course of hearing  the learned counsel for the complainant field  Legal notice Dt.12.1.2016 along  with  postal acknowledgement (in original) before the forum  which are marked as Exhibit  No.1 and  Exhibit No.2 . 

The O.P. in their written version para-8  contended that O.Ps have no information that deceased Sanjib Majhi son of the complainant on Dt. 6.11.2015 while returning to his home from block office Kashipur by riding  his own bike  bearing Regd No.OD-A8-A-8322 near village Siriguda on SH4  met accident by one unidentified Haiba loaded  truck and died at CHC,Kashipur Hospital.  In support of this the complainant  has filed   F.I.R, Post mortem report,  Inquest report, Chalan report for examination to M.O, CHC, Kasipur, Death certificate of deceased which are marked as Annexure-1 to Annexure-5 .

At  this stage this forum observed   the interest of justice  would met if  the O.P. received  all the documents filed by the complainant relating to the case from   the complainant  and be settled the matter and to pay the insured amount to the complainant with in 60 days.

.

In view of the above discussion relating to the above case and  In Res-IPSA-Loquiture  as well as  in the light of the settled legal position  discussed  as above referring citations the plea of the  O.Ps to avoid the claim  which is Aliance Juris.  Hence  we allow the above complaint petition  in part.

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

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

4. The O.Ps  ordered  to receive all the documents  pertaining to  this case from the complainant and settled the matter at their level  inter alia  to pay the insured amount  a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- to the complainant with in time frame .  The complainant is directed to  submit all the documents pertaining to the above case  to the O.P. within 15 days.  Parties are left to bear their own cost.

The OPs     ordered to make compliance the aforesaid Order within  60 days from the  date of  receipt  of this order      failing which  an interest  @ Rs.9%  per annum  would  accrue on the above  amount . from  the date of  default   till  realization.

   Serve the copies of above order to the parties free of cost.

 

Dictated and corrected by me

Pronounced on this         18 ^th.   Day of     January  ,   2018.

 

 

 

 Member.                                                            Member.                                                              President