MANGALORE: The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum in one of its rulings has slapped a penalty of Rs 15000 on the Reliance General Insurance Ltd, apart from directing it to pay a compensation of Rs 8000 for causing mental agony to its policy holder.
One Chandappa Padil, a labourer and a resident of Padil, had availed the Standard Mediclaim policy of Reliance General Insurance Ltd operating from Hampankata in Mangalore, for Rs 15000, effective till July 2009. Meanwhile, Chandappa had undergone treatment at the KMC Hospital for his knee joint pain in June/July 2009. Though he had availed cashless policy, the company refused to pay for his treatment following which Chandappa had moved the consumer court. The company responding to the notice said it was not possible to provide the insurance claim as the policy holder was suffering from leg problem even prior to availing the policy.
But the consumer court which said Chandappa despite being a diabetic had not availed treatment for his leg pain prior to availing the policy, contended that the company will have to prove that he had a problem in his leg prior to availing the policy. It further directed the company to provide the treatment expenses of Rs 15000 as per the policy to the petitioner by March 15, apart from Rs 8000 for causing mental agony and Rs 1000 towards court expenses.
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