Information relating to insurance claim of theft in a shop - CIC: provide the calculation method, survey report and copy of the guidelines relevant to the present case along with general practice followed for settlement of claims being taken under protest
12 Mar, 2014Facts:
1. The appellant Shri Vijay Kumar Jain has submitted RTI application dated 03 May 2012 before the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO), United India Insurance Co. Ltd, Narwana, Distt Jind; seeking information relating to the theft claim occurred in his shop on 12/13 October 2010 vide Policy No.11198448093400000066 & Claim No.11198448103490000003 through total of 05 points.
2. The appellant preferred first appeal to the First Appellate Authority (FAA) dated 03 October 2012 when he didn’t receive any information from the concerned CPIO.
3. Vide CPIO order dated 19 June 2012, CPIO furnished the requisite information point wise.
4. Vide FAA order dated 05 July 2012, the FAA held that the requisite information has already been furnished to the appellant vide CPIO letter dated 19 June 2012 and also upheld the CPIO’s decision.
5. Being aggrieved and not satisfied by the above response of the Public Authority, the appellant preferred second appeal before the Commission.
6. The matter was heard today. Shri Rangarajan, Chief Manager and CPIO for United India Insurance Co. Ltd. and Shri N.N. Jha, Administrative Officer, Personal Department were represented the United India Insurance Co. Ltd. through videoconferencing. The appellant Shri Vijay Kumar Jain was heard telephonically. The respondent explained that they had provided the information as asked for by the appellant through his RTI. They also stated that generally the claim is settled on making full and final payment, however in the appellant’s case the company paid the claim as a special case even though the appellant was taking the payment under protest. The appellant submitted that he had not been provided a copy of the rules made by the company in this regard. He also stated that in response to the calculation method for claim settlement he had not been provided the method of settlement for theft cases. The appellant further submitted that there had been a delay of 11 days in providing a reply to him by the CPIO. The respondent explained that they will provide a copy of the guidelines for settlement of cases along with the general practice being followed by the company for settling cases where the payment is being taken under protest along with calculation method and survey report. The respondents also stated that they had regretted the delay in sending a reply to the appellant. They will in future ensure that replies are sent within the stipulated time lines of the RTI Act, 2005.
Decision notice
7. The respondents will provide the appellant the calculation method and the survey report and also a copy of the guidelines relevant to the present case along with general practice being followed for settlement of claims being taken under protest within 15 days of the receipt of the order.
(Manjula Prasher)
Information Commissioner
Citation: Shri Vijay Kumar Jain v. United India Insurance Co. Ltd., in Appeal: No. CIC/DS/A/2013/000205/MP