Orissa

Rayagada

CC/136/2016

Mrs. Jimai Majhi - Complainant(s)

Versus

The Manager, Operation Marketing Reliance Insurance Company Ltd., - Opp.Party(s)

Self

08 Apr 2019

ORDER

DISTRICT   CONSUMER  DISPUTES REDRESSAL    FORUM, RAYAGADA,

STATE:  ODISHA.

C.C. Case  No. 136 / 2016.                                Date.      8   .4.  2019

P R E S E N T .

Dr.Aswini  Kumar Mohapatra,                           President

Sri Gadadhara  Sahu,                                                Member.

Smt.Padmalaya  Mishra,.                                 Member

 

Mrs. Jimai Majhi, W/O: Sattu Majhi, At: Nakitiguda, Po:Tikiri,     Dist:Rayagada  (Odisha).                                                      …. Complainant.

Versus.

1.The  General  Manager, Reliance Life Insurance Co. Ltd., Regd. Office, H.B.Block, Ist. Floor, DhirubaiAmbani  Knowledge  city,  Navi Mumbai, Maharastra State- 400710.

2.The  Branch Manager, Reliance Life Insurance Co. Ltd., New Colony, Po/ Dist: Raygada, State:Odisha.

                                                                                                … Opposite parties.

For the Complainant:-Self..

For the O.P 1 & 2:- 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  deposited amount towards policy No.17133696   for which  the complainant  sought for redressal of the grievances raised by the complainant.

On being noticed O.Ps neither entering in to appear before the forum nor filed their  written version inspite of more than  10 adjournments has been given  to them. Complainant consequently filed his memo and prayer to set exparte of the O.Ps.  Observing lapses of around 3 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  the  counsel for 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.P. 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.

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

 

                                                                        FINDINGS.

On perusal of the record we observed  it is not disputed  that the complainant was a policy  holder  bearing policy No. 17133696.  The complainant  had availed  a  policy  having sum assured value of Rs.97,500/- and policy  name  is “Reliance Traditional super Invest Assure plan  15 YEARS – 15 YEARLY   PREMIUM PAYMENT. The first premium of Rs.13,000/- was paid  on 7.6.2010  by the complainant  and subsequent   premium amount was fixed at Rs. 13,000.00  which was payable on Dt. 7.6.2011. The premium paying mode was annual as per option selection done by the complainant  in the proposal form Dtd. 31.5.2010. (copies of the proposal form and policy bond is annexed  in the file which is marked as Annexure-I & II). Further there is no dispute that the complainant had paid 2 years annual premium a sum of  Rs.26,000/- and failed to pay  the other premiums as per terms of the policy.

 

The main grievance  of the complainant is that  she was  invested  the above amounts  and  after receipt of the  policy bond she found   to  pay  regular premium of Rs.13,000/- for 15 years total Rs. 1,95,000/- but the maturity value offered by the O.Ps  is only 97,5000/- i.e. one lakh less than the premium paid. The complainant intimated the same to the O.Ps   when the O.Ps  did not given  satisfied  reply the complainant  has filed C.C. case  before the forum to refund the deposited amount  with interest.  Hence this C.C. case.

 

In  the absence  of any  denial  by  way  of  written  version  from the side  of the O.Ps. it is  presumed that the allegations  levelled against   the  O.Ps. deemed  to have  been  proved.    The  complainant   had  paid  the  amount   for the good service .  When the O.Ps  have failed to  give such service  as per policy bond  for   which  the O.Ps  have   received   the  amount.   It is  deemed that the  O.Ps   were   callous to the allegations  and it amounts  to deficiency  of service.

 

When a rural folk invest the money with the assurance of the agent in the insurance and when he came to know that the above investment is not yielding any profit even after years and as such the above investment brought by the agent and accepted by the O.P is not with any intention to give any economic protection but with an intention to grab the money of the rural folks..

 

In view of the discussion above, it is found to be  an unfair trade  practice made by the agent and O.Ps.  The O.Ps  have introduced the agent to do the unfair deal with the rural folk as seen from the counter and 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.

 

We have gone through the complaint petition and documents available in the record. This forum by relying upon a citation passed by National Commission, New Delhi in the New India Assurance Co. Ltd., Versus M/s Sukhadham India Pvt. Ltd.,2011(1) CPR 191 such as :- “ Insurance Company must settle claim without delay”. In the light of the above decision of law we allow the case.

 

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

 

ORDER

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

 

             The O.Ps  ordered  to refund the deposited amount  a sum of Rs.26,000/-  besides  to  pay   compensation of Rs.1,000/-  for mental agony and harassment inter alia litigation expenses.

 

            The O.Ps are directed to make the aforesaid payment within 30 days from the date of receipt of this order.  A copy of this order as per the statutory requirements, be forwarded to the parties    free of charge.

Dictated and corrected by me.

Pronounced in open forum today on this        8 ^th of    April, 2019

 

              Member                     Member.                                                     President