Shriram Insurance penalized Rs 12L for denying insurance cover

Hyderabad: The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum II, Hyderabad has slapped Shriram General Insurance Company Limited Rs 12 lakh for unfair trade practice in a vehicle insurance case.

The complainant, Amandip Kaur bought TATA Motors for her daily livelihood and insured the vehicle with the opposite party Sriram insurance for a premium of Rs.13,50,000. However, unfortunately, within months of purchase vehicle was stolen from an agricultural godown in Cyberabad. After two months the vehicle was recovered by the police at Patancheru in another crime. However, the culprits tampered the chassis number of the scooter and also changed the tyres with old tyres.

As the vehicle cannot run with fake chassis number, the vehicle becomes useless, and the RTA meanwhile refused to issue fitness certificate based on the chassis number.

On the other hand, in the meantime, the opposite party closed the claim lodged by the complainant under the guise of recovery of the vehicle in safe and sound condition by the complainant.

According to the complainant, the opposite parties further contended that as there was gross negligence on the part of the owner, they are not liable to reimburse the claim as per the policy condition.

While settling the dispute between the two parties the forum said, “The non-settlement of the claim and delay caused in settling the claim amounts is a deficiency in rendering the services on the part of the opposite parties towards the complainant. Also, the strategies Sriram Insurance played to delay the process amounts to unfair trade practice.”

The forum thereby directed Sriram Insurance to pay a compensation of Rs 12 lakh as compensation to its unfair trade practice.