Dear Comrades,
New Delhi,
Sep 19 (PTI) Censuring the functioning of the postal department that dithered
to disburse life insurance claim of a villager, the country''s apex consumer
panel has asked India Post to factor in rural realties while framing rules for
Rural Postal Life Insurance policy.
The National
Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission ticked off India Post while ordering it
to pay Rs 50,000 to the kin of B Anjaneyulu of Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh who
had bought the policy in 1997 after paying the requisite premium but was never
informed till his death a year later if his policy was accepted.
"We
hope that in running the Rural Postal Life Insurance scheme, the Department of
Posts would take into account the ground realities of rural India, frame rules
and regulations which are transparent and equitable," said an NCDRC bench
of Justice R K Batta.
The rules
must "also ensure that the basic terms and conditions of the policies and
decisions regarding acceptance or rejection of the proposals are conveyed to
the proposer within reasonable period and in words which are easily understood
by the rural population," the bench said.
The NCDRC passed
the order on a plea by Kurnool resident N Venkateswalu, who was the nominee in
the rural life insurance police bought by Anjaneyulu after duly paying its
first premium of Rs 208, but no further premium could be paid as it was not
told to them, till the policy holder''s death, if it was accepted or rejected.
19/09/2011 MSN INDIA
