HYDERABAD: The Hyderabad III District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum here has directed a private insurance company to clear an amount of about Rs 8.10 lakh and pay a compensation of Rs 1 lakh for failing to process the claim amount in spite of receiving all the required documents.
Raja Rajeshwari Minerals Pvt Ltd, owned by Ch.Sunitha, is the registered owner of an Ashok Leyland lorry which was insured with Universal Sompo General Insurance Company Limited valid between June 9, 2012 and June 8, 2013. The said vehicle met with an accident on October 5, 2012 and the same was intimated to the insurance company immediately. A surveyor had been sent to the spot of the accident and thorough inspection of the vehicle was carried out.
The vehicle had been sent to a workshop at Vanasthalipuram in Hyderabad and the damages were estimated to cost Rs 8,10,200. The complainant submitted the claim form and, subsequently, the opposite party sought a copy of the driving licence of the driver of the lorry and other documents on March 18, 2013 which were duly submitted by the complainant.
The complainant alleged that though the requisite information had been furnished, the insurance company failed to settle the claim till date, forcing her to file the present complaint for insurance amount and compensation.
The opposite party was served a notice of appearance but failed to appear.
During the course of trial, the bench said, “When there is a valid insurance policy, with respect to the subject vehicle at the time of the accident, the opposite party has no reason to repudiate or not to process the claim of the complainant. The opposite party has not come forward with any version of theirs to suggest a valid and cogent reason for non-processing of the claim. We are, therefore, inclined to draw adverse inferences and hold the opposite party liable for non-processing of the claim, thus being deficient in service.”
The forum passed an order in favour of Sunitha and directed the insurance company to pay a sum of Rs 8.10 lakh towards the claim of the complainant under the valid insurance policy, to pay a sum of Rs 1 lakh towards compensation and loss of earnings, and to pay Rs 2,000 towards costs.
The time for the compliance is 30 days, failing which the above sum will carry an interest at 9 per cent per annum from January 1, 2016 until realisation.