Firm told to pay Rs90K relief to complainant

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, December 8

The district Permanent Lok Adalat has directed National Insurance Company to pay Rs90,000 as compensation with 9 per cent interest per annum and litigation charges of Rs15,000 to a city-based resident for its laxity in providing the benefits of an insurance policy.

In his complaint on June 5, 2017, Ram Singh of Preet Nagar had said he had purchased an insurance policy for his new car from the company in 2010 and the policy was valid from August 27, 2010, to August 26, 2011.

He added that on September 12, 2010, he had gone to a mall from where his car (PB-08-AU-5451) was stolen. Subsequently, he filed an FIR at Rama Mandi police station. He also informed the insurance company about his car. After submitting all documents, he sought the necessary claim of insurance policy from the company.

The complainant said, “Company officials kept on avoiding my plea and on their demand, I also submitted a copy of the FIR and both original and duplicate keys of the car to officials. But, I was told that my claim was old and they are searching the claim file. The company did not inform me about the status of my claim on vehicle theft. Though I provided the company with the untraced report of my car prepared by the National Crimes Records Bureau, it invalidated the submitted proofs and documents. The firm stated that the FIR was wrongly registered and the car never went missing. Besides, it said a false story had been concocted by me for claims.”

Perturbed over allegations, he approached the Permanent Lok Adalat and filed a complaint. After hearing all arguments and verifying the evidence of both parties, lok adalat chairman SS Sahni and member Sushma Handoo concluded that the insurance company was at fault and hence, it was liable to pay the compensation.