LIC asked to release claim of Malta Boat Tragedy victim

Hoshiarpur, June 24 (UNI) The District Consumer Forum (DCF), has directed the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) to release Rs 1 lakh to the family of Malta Boat Tragedy victim Jasbir Singh, of village Thoana, forthwith with interest 9 per cent per annum from the date of filing the complaint alongwith litigation expenses of Rs 1000.

The verdict was handed over today by DCF President P D Goel while disposing of the complaint filed by the victim's mother, Gurmit Kaur and his daughters alleging that the LIC illegally repudiated the claim of the insurance policy taken by Jasbir Singh, who died in the Malta Boat Tragedy on December 25, 1996.

The LIC took the plea that the claim was repudiated as the policy had elapsed due to non-payment of premium since February 28,1997, whereas information regarding death of Jasbir Singh was given on July 13, 2007. The LIC had also raised the defence that whenever a life assured has not been heard for 7 years, the life assured must be presumed to be dead, as such, the claimant should be asked to produce proper and undisputed proof of death or a decree of the court that the insured should be presumed to be dead having not been heard for 7 years.

The DCF held that the Registrar, Birth and Deaths had issued the death certificate of Jasbir Singh on the basis of the order passed by Punjab and Haryana Hight Court, from where it is evident that Jasbir Singh had died on December 25, 1996 in the Malta Boat Tragedy in accident/accidental death during subsistence of the policy.

UNI XC HS MMS1940