Insurance firm to pay truck owner

CHANDIGARH, April 1: Allowing the complaint of city resident Ujagar Singh against New India Assurance Company, UT Consumer Disputes Redre...

CHANDIGARH, April 1: Allowing the complaint of city resident Ujagar Singh against New India Assurance Company, UT Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum – I directed the company to pay the insurance amount of Rs 34,046.

Observing that the said amount had been assessed by a surveyor and had the company paid the same, there would have been no necessity of instituting the complaint, the Forum bench, comprising president H.C. Modi and members R.K. Behl and Shashi Kanta, also allowed the complaint with costs of Rs 2,000 apart from interest at the rate of 12 per cent.

The complainant had stated that he owned the truck and its insurance was valid from February 24, 1994 to February 23, 1995. But on May 13, 1994, the truck met with an accident. To assess the loss, the insurance company appointed a surveyor who assessed loss to the tune of Rs 34,046. The complainant alleged that the amount still stood unreimbursed.

Meanwhile, the insurance company, in its reply, maintained that the driver of the vehicle was not holding a valid driving licence. This was denied by the complainant’s counsel who stated that the driving licence had been renewed and it was valid.

Keeping in account the fact that the company admitted that insurance of the said truck had been provided by them, the Forum bench maintained that the insurance company unnecessarily delayed payment of the amount.

It was further stated that interest at the rate of 12 per cent would be payable to the complainant from three months after the date the surveyor submitted his report.