Consumer court asks insurance co to pay Rs 1 lakh, legal charges to Dehradun man

DEHRADUN: The district consumer forum on Tuesday ordered an insurance company to pay Rs 1.04 lakh as compensation and Rs 25,000 for legal expenses and mental harassment to Doon resident Amit Bhandari. He had approached the consumer forum after the insurance company refused to give compensation for the damaged roof of his house, which he had insured under the standard fire and special perils policy.

Bhandari took the matter before the ombudsman, however his plea was dismissed citing the quantum of compensation. "It was not a matter of the quantum of compensation for me. I took the matter before the consumer forum as I was denied the promises made at the time I bought the policy. It was not a case of normal flooding but an inundation. I got my house assessed by Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority which gave its report that the drainage pipe was of enough capacity to flush the rainwater and there was no structural fault in the building," Amit told TOI.

According to the counsel, the case was taken up on the merits and the three-member bench of the forum heard the arguments from both sides.

In the judgment, chairman Bhupendra Singh Dugyal and judicial members - Alka Negi and Vimal Prakash Naithani - said that the surveyor has submitted a report assessing the damage to the tune of Rs 1.04 lakh and the argument of the insurance company that the damage does not come under 'standard fire and special perils policy' is not admissible. A copy of the judgment is with TOI.

The court ordered the United India Insurance Company to pay compensation to the plaintiff within a period of 30 days, otherwise he would be entitled to get the amount with an interest of 9% per annum.