Is it necessary to sign the indemnity forms to claim compensation for natural calamities?
1 May, 2013
Background
The appellant filed an application under the Right to Information (RTI) Act with the State Bank of India (SBI) seeking information about nonpayment of compensation to flood victims such as, the reasons for the delay in the payment of the insurance scheme; the day to day progress report about the action taken on the insurance claims; action taken by the respondent on the application of the appellant requesting for a loan account closure in the wake of the natural calamity; reasons why the appellant was asked to sign blank papers; and the payment of compensation to the appellant for the mental harassment caused to him. The Public Information Officer (PIO) provided some information.
Proceedings
During the hearing before the Central Information Commission (CIC), the respondent stated that whatever information was available was provided to the appellant and that an important reason for the delay in the settlement of the insurance claim was the reason that the appellant did not sign the indemnity forms which the bank had provided to him. The respondent also stated that in the meanwhile the appellant had approached the bank ombudsman also.
View of CIC
The Commission directed the respondent to provide the information to the appellant.
Citation: Mr. Mukesh Kumar v. State Bank of India in Decision No. CIC/VS/A/2012/000108/02790
RTI Citation : RTIFI/2013/CIC/1245
Click here to view original RTI order of Court / Information Commission