The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission of Chandigarh has directed an insurance firm to pay Rs 2,72,633 to a furniture shop owner on the loss of goods and assets in fire in 2018.
The complainant, Karam Chand of Sharma Furniture at Chandigarh claimed that he took insurance policy of Rs 4 lakh for his shop and the furniture lying inside it. The insurance was taken from United India Insurance company and time to time renewals were done, according to the complainant.
On December 11, 2018, fire broke out in the furniture market due to which the complainant suffered loss of furniture and other articles lying in the shop. The complainant also intimated authorities regarding the incident of the fire and filed a claim of his losses.
Karam Chand said that he was asked to submit the affidavit in respect of the ownership of the shop. He alleged that the insurance company is not settling the claim despite completing all the formalities and making false excuses.
Most Read
Sunny Deol responds if he’s charging Rs 50 cr as his fees after Gadar 2 success: ‘Main samajhdaar insaan hoon’
Sushmita Sen says Farah Khan apologised to her after Main Hoon Na’s final edit: ‘You are barely there in the film’
United India Insurance, in its reply, submitted that after receiving intimation regarding the loss, the surveyor was appointed to assess the loss. The surveyor after carrying over the physical inspection and keeping in view the terms and conditions of the policy assessed the loss to the tune of Rs 2,72,633. The surveyor asked the complainant to submit proof of ownership or rent deed with regard to the premises where the loss occurred. However, no proof of ownership was ever submitted, the insurance firm said, adding that this meant that Karam Chand has no insurable interest to claim under the terms and conditions of the policy.
The Commission after hearing the matter held that the cause of loss is covered under the policy and does not fall under any exclusion of the policy and the insurers are liable to pay for the same. Thus, it is clear on record that the claim of the complainant was intentionally not released by the insurance firm on flimsy grounds of production rent deeds among others.
The Commission thus directed the insurance firm to pay an amount of Rs 2,72,633 as assessed in the survey report by Protech Insurance Surveyors and Loss Assessors, Mohali to the complainant.
