SRIKANTA MOHARANA Vs. DIVISIONAL MANAGER LIC OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard Mr. R. K. Patnaik, the learned Counsel for the L. I. C. I. in perusal of our judgment we do not find the case to be covered in the line of the judgment in the case of Basanti Devi reported in AIR 2000 SC 43. This was being wrongly applied in the present case. Accordingly we recall our order dated 8.11.2001 and we have taken up the matter for hearing afresh on 31.7.2003. We dispose of the appeal in the following manner.

(2.) Complainant's grievance was he was entitled to the matured amount under policy No.16700331. Admittedly the same matured on 10.1.1998. This was not paid to him for which he moved the District Forum. A blank discharge voucher was sent to him alongwith the letter of the LICI dated 8.10.1987. However, he signed it and returned it by ordinary post.

(3.) It is the case of the Insurance Company that they did not receive the discharge voucher for which they could not send the money. Complainant's admitted case is he received the voucher for Rs.276/- under the forwarding letter of the LICI dated 22.7.1998. His only grievance is he is entitled to for payment of interest for this delay of 7 months i. e. from 10.1.1998 to 22.7.1998. We do not find any reason for the District Forum to have dismissed the case of the complainant. The case has been dismissed vide para-5 of the judgment that in the complaint petition the complainant mentioned that "probably the policy bond was not received by him". The District Forum held that this type of uncertainty is of no help to the complainant.