TUESDAY, MAY 07, 2024
MARGAO, APRIL 5
In an unprecedented order, the South Goa Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has asked the police to detain the Margao branch manager of National Insurance Company Ltd for a period of one year.
The Forum had earlier held the branch manager guilty for non-compliance of an order under section 27 of the Consumer Protection Act 1986 and directed that the manager undergo a simple imprisonment for a period of one year by way of civil imprisonment.
The branch manager was also directed to pay a fine of Rs 3000.
In this case, the Forum had directed the insurance company to pay to the complainant Soccoro Fernandes a sum of Rs 7,09,205 with interest at the rate of 12 per cent from the date of insurance till payment.
“We are duty bound to uphold the established principle of law that once the Insurance company is held liable for specified deficiency-in-service under section 12 of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 and is further ordered to pay certain amount to the complainant under the judgment of the court, the company is legally bound after having chosen not to prefer any appeal, to pay the amount with promptitude failing which the concerned officer and the branch of the company shall be held guilty for non-compliance of the order under section 27 of the Act”, observed President of the Forum Jagdish Prabhudessai.
“We are not aware as to what is going on in the minds of the branch manager of the company and why the branch manager and the company are shying away from the process of law. We take it that the said branch manager is not interested in honouring the judgment. This in itself is irresponsible act on the part of the branch manager and hence we are duty bound to proceed against the branch manager in accordance with the provisions of section 27 of the Act”, Prabhudesai stated in his order.
