RAVINDER KUMAR Vs. LIFE INSURANCE CORPORATION

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This appeal is against the order of the learned District Forum, Bilaspur, dated 28.8.2002, whereby the complaint of the appellant has been dismissed with liberty reserved to him to seek redressal of his grievance in Civil Court, if he so likes.

(2.) We have heard the learned Counsel for the parties and we have examined the record. The appellant being a part of the Police force of the States had been contributing towards Salary Saving Scheme Money Back -Policy of the Life Insurance Corporation of India (L.I.C.), respondent No. 1 and was thus a policy holder of maturity amount of Rs. 20,000/ - spread over a period of 25 years. He started this contribution while posted at Mandi and was then transferred to Bilaspur in the year 1990. His said policy was also transferred from Mandi to Bilaspur on his application, on completion of five years under the said policy, he was entitled to be paid Rs. 3,000/ - and, therefore, on 12.12.1992, he visited the L.I.C., Branch Office at Bilaspur to receive payment of the said amount. He was referred to the L.I.C., Branch, Mandi for this purpose. He visited the said Branch at Mandi on three -four occasions but was told that the payment would be made at Bilaspur. Ultimately, it was discovered that the premium from October, 1991 till 1993 was not received by the L.I.C. Branch at Bilaspur. He then contacted the Accounts branch in the office of the Superintendent of Police, Bilaspur who is respondent No. 2. It was then discovered that the premium, although deducted from his salary every month, was paid in Postal Link Insurance (P.L.I.) Head due to a clerical mistake and change of Code, instead of the L.I.C.Head. The necessary correction was got done and thereafter the premium was being paid in the L.I.C. Head subsequently. However, since he did not get any redress as regards the non -payment of the monthly premium from 1991 -93, but instead was made to run from pillar to post by the respondent, he knocked at the door of the learned District Forum, Bilaspur.

(3.) In its reply to the complaint, the L.I.C. admitted his claim to the extent that he had obtained the said policy under the Salary Saving Scheme Money Back Policy for an amount of Rs. 20,000/ - for 25 years but it was stated that the premium for the policy was transferred from Mandi Branch to Bilaspur Branch. Therefore, it was not liable in the matter.