Ludhiana, March 14
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) to pay Rs 1.6 lakh to Mrs Jagjit Kaur wife of Late Inder Singh. The forum further said. “In case the payment is not made within one month the amount shall be payable with interest at the rate of 9 per cent per annum from the date of repudiation till the date of actual payment.”

According to the compliant, Inder Singh, a resident of Chhawani Mohalla, had taken a life insurance police for Rs 1.6 lakh. He died on February 17, 1999. After that, Mrs Jagjit Kaur, widow of Inder Singh, asked the respondent to make the payment of the insurance amount. She was asked to submit certain forms by the respondent which she submitted. But the LIC allegedly did not pay the insurance money.

The complainant stated before the forum that her husband had died due to heart failure. She further stated that Dr Jasbir Singh was present at the time of the death of her husband and the doctor had even issued a death certificate in which it was clearly mentioned that her husband died due to heart failure.

The corporation stated before the forum that there was no deficiency in services as immediately after the receipt of the claim, the complainant was called to furnish the document required for the settlement of the claim and the case was referred to the investigator.

The corporation pleaded that Inder Singh had withheld the correct statement regarding his health. The respondent further stated that after examining the case, we found that the insured person was suffering from diabetes, high blood pressure for the past 15 to 20 years and was also a chronic alcoholic for the past 30 years.

The respondent, however, admitted the issuance of insurance policy. According to the corporation, date of the first premium was January 15, 1999 and the insured person died on February 17, 1999 and as such the policy was just one months and two days old. The respondent denied that the insured person died due to heart failure.