PUNJAB NATIONAL BANK Vs. ANIL PURI

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE respondent in this revision petition was the complainant (hereafter referred to as the complainant) before the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum (hereafter, the District Forum), Ajmer, Rajasthan. His case was that as an Assistant Manager of the petitioner (Punjab National Bank, hereafter referred to the as the PNB), he was in the PNBs officers cadre and as such entitled to the medical benefits admissible under the PNBs (Officers) Service Regulations, 1979. The PNB introduced, some time during the relevant period, a scheme called the Hospitalisation Contributory Benefit Scheme for Officers (hereafter called the Scheme), which the complainant joined. The detailed terms and conditions of the Scheme provided, inter alia, that an officer of the PNB covered by any other hospitalisation scheme would not be entitled to the benefits of this Hospitalisation Scheme and the maximum amount payable to an officer in a calendar year shall not exceed Rs. 20,000/ -. The Scheme also laid down a very detailed list of benefits, specifying the types of treatment eligible for reimbursement, monetary ceiling for each item per illness, etc. , apart from the overall maximum limit noted above.

(2.) THE complainant underwent treatment for kidney ailment during November December 2000. In November 2000, he was hospitalised for 6 days (07. 11 to 12. 11) in a hospital at New Delhi and treated for the ailment with the insertion of a stent from one of the kidneys to the bladder, for which he submitted a bill of Rs. 42,469. 47. He was, however, actually reimbursed Rs. 32,464/- though, according to him, the Medical Officer concerned of the PNB had recommended the full amount. As advised, he again went back to the hospital on 11. 12. 2000 for removal of the said stent for which he was charged Rs. 14,890/ -. He, however, did not receive any reimbursement of this expenditure.

(3.) THE District Forum allowed the complaint, by its order dated 05. 06. 2002, and directed the PNB to pay to the complainant Rs. 10,005/- as well as Rs. 14,890/- along with interest @ 12 per cent per annum from three months after the filing of the respective claims till payment and costs of Rs. 1,000/ -. The PNB went up in appeal before the Rajasthan State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (hereafter, the State Commission), which dismissed the appeal by its order dated 15. 01. 2004. Hence this revision petition.