Date of Filing ::12-08-2011
Date of Disposal ::24 -08-2015
BEFORE THE DISTRICT CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL FORUM::ONGOLE
Monday, this the 24th day of August, 2015
PRESENT: Sri P.V. Krishna Murthy, B.A.,B.L., President
Sri K. UMAMAHESWARA RAO, M.A.,B.L., Member
C.C.No.128/2011
Velidi Sreeramamurhty,
son of Rathaiah,
aged 50 years,
Hindu, cultivation,
resident of ward no.II,
Dr.No.2-3-9,
Rachavaripalem Village,
Maddipaud Mandal,
Prakasam District. … Complainant
Vs.
1) The Tobacco Board,
rep., by its Auction Superintendent,
Plat form no.19,
Vellampalli Village,
Maddipadu Mandal,
Prakasam District.
2) Bajaj Allianze General Insurance Company
Limited, represented by its Branch Manager,
D.No.58-8-3 (2),
G.N.R. Complex, Opp: to Rajamathadevi Towers,
Santhapet, Trunk Road, Ongole, Prakasam District. … Opposite Parties
This complaint coming on 06-08-2015 before us for hearing in the presence of Sri G. Narasimha Rao, advocate for complainant and Sri D. Srinivasulu Reddy, advocate for first opposite party and Sri Kareti Srinivasulu, advocate for second opposite party and having stood over for consideration till this day and this Forum made the following:
ORDER
(ORDER BY Sri P.V. KRISHNA MURTHY, PRESIDENT)
1. The brief averments of the complaint are as follows:
The complainant is a tobacco grower. He raised tobacco crop. He is having half share in two tobacco barns i.e., TBGR.No.19-140-015 and TBGR.No.19-140-042 respectively. The crops and tobacco barns were insured with the second opposite party. The crop and barns of the complainant were damaged due to the Liala cyclone, in May, 2010. The complainant sustained heavy loss. The surveyor of the second opposite party visited the place and evaluated the damage. A cheque for Rs.48,111/- was sent as against the loss of over Rs.2,00,000/-. The claim of the complainant was not settled by the opposite parties in spite of reminders. Hence, the complaint for payment of Rs.1,51,889/- to the complainant with compensation and costs.
2. The brief averments of the counter of first opposite party are as follows:
The complaint is not maintainable. The allegations made in the complaint are not correct. It is fact that crops were damaged in the month of May, 2010, due to the cyclone and the tobacco barn of the complainant was also damaged. The opposite party is only a facilitator and has nothing to do with the activities of the second opposite party. The second opposite party has to settle the claim. There is no privity of contract. The complainant is not a consumer. Hence, the complaint may be dismissed.
3. The brief averments of the counter of second opposite party are as follows:
The complaint is not maintainable. The allegations made in the complaint are not correct. The complainant is a tobacco grower. The complainant is having half share in two tobacco barns. The complainant informed the damage to his stocks and barns due to the cyclone. This opposite party appointed an independent surveyor to assess the loss. The surveyor assessed the loss. The opposite party sent a cheque for Rs.48,111/- to the complainant on the basis of the report of the surveyor. The opposite party settled the claim as per the agreement among the parties as per the conditions of the policy. There is no deficiency of service. The complainant has not raised any other claim with regard to the same after receiving the cheque. The complainant is frivolous and vexatious. This opposite party is not liable to the claim. Hence, the complaint may be dismissed.
4. Now the point for consideration is “Whether the opposite parties committed a deficiency of service?”
5. The complainant filed his chief affidavit and marked Exs.A1 to A3. On behalf of the first opposite party the junior legal executive and independent surveyor filed their affidavits as R.W.1 and R.W.2. Exs.B1 to B6 were marked for the opposite parties.
6. POINT:- The affidavits of the parties are more or less in accordance with their stand in this case. The written arguments filed also reflect the respective contentions of the parties in the case. They are repetitive of the averments of the counter mostly. As such, the contentions of the parties are being dealt with in essence. Each and every contention found in the written arguments, is not being dealt with separately.
7. The complainant insured his stocks and barns with the second opposite party. The complainant filed this case against the officer of the tobacco board and the insurance company. The first opposite party contended that it has nothing to do with the insurance claim and that it is between the complainant and his insurer, i.e., the second opposite party. The above contention is relevant. The complainant has no claim against the first opposite party. His grievance is that the insurance company has not paid the money even after damage. Therefore, the first opposite party is not a necessary party to this proceeding. The claim in this complaint can be decided even in the absence of the first opposite party. As such, the complaint is dismissed against the first opposite party, without costs.
8. The second opposite party contended that it processed the claim as per the report of the surveyor and that it has not committed any deficiency of service. The opposite party also filed the affidavit of surveyor (R.W.2). The report of the surveyor is marked as Ex.B2. Under Ex.B2, the surveyor arrived at the net loss at Rs.48,178/-. The complainant passed a receipt under the original of Ex.B5, to the effect that he admitted the entire settlement of the claim as Rs.48,111/-. He also undertook in the receipt that with the passing of the receipt, entire claim is deemed to have been settled. Hence, the complainant received money from the insurer to some extent. The complainant suppressed the fact that, both of them settled the matter on such payment. The complainant suppressed a material fact which was within his knowledge.
9. Non-settlement of the claim by the insurer is deficiency of service. However, settlement of the same is not a deficiency of service. The complainant received money and agreed to settle the matter in full with the second opposite party. The complainant suppressed this fact and filed this case attributing deficiency of service. The conduct of the complainant is not fair and legal. Since the claim was already settled, there is no deficiency of service. No consumer dispute arises for adjudication of this Forum between the complainant and the opposite parties. The point is held against the complainant.
10. In the result, the complaint is dismissed, but without costs.
Dictated to the Stenographer, transcribed by him and corrected and pronounced by us in the Open Forum this the 24th day of August, 2015.
Sd/-xxx sd/-xxx
MEMBER PRESIDENT
APPENDIX OF EVIDENCE
WITNESS EXAMINED FOR COMPLAINANT:
P.W.1 12-12-2011 Velidi Sreeramamurhty, son of Rathaiah, aged 50 years,
Hindu, cultivation, resident of ward no.II, Dr.No.2-3-9, Rachavaripalem Village, Maddipaud Mandal,
Prakasam District.
WITNESS EXAMINED FOR FIRST OPPOSITE PARTY:
R.W.1 09-02-2012 G. Chandra Sekhar, son of late Rama Rao,
Hindu, aged 34 years, working as Junior Legal Executive, M/s Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Company Limited, Branch Office, Vijayawada, now present at Guntur.
R.W.2 09-02-2012 N. Varaha Swamy, son of Anjaneyulu, Hindu, aged 50
years, Independent Licenced Surveyor cum Loss Assessor, approved by I.R.D.A., residing at Flat No.P-1, Indrani Estates, Annavarappadu, Ongole.
EXHIBITS MARKED FOR COMPLAINANT:
Ex.A1 06-01-2003 Photocopy of tobacco grower’s pass book of
complainant.
Ex.A2 26-07-2011 Office copy of legal notice.
Ex.A3 Two Postal acknowledgments.
Ex.A4 Two postal receipts.
EXHIBITS MARKED FOR SECOND OPPOISTE PARTY:
Ex.B1 Copy of Policy Schedule with terms and
conditions.
Ex.B2 13-06-2010 Copy of final survey report with 6 photographs of
Tobacco & barn.
Ex.B3 Photostat copy of 2009-Andhra Pradesh
Auction-Platform wise information.
Ex.B4 Photostat copy of 2010-Andhra Pradesh
Auctions-Platform wise information.
Ex.B5 12-10-2010 Photocopy of receipt for Rs.48,111/-.
Ex.B6 Photocopy of memo filed by O.P.1.
Sd/-xxxx
PRESIDENT
Copies to:
1) The complainant.
2) The first opposite party.
3) The second opposite party.
Free copy was issued in dis.no. /2015 on
//free copy/
