Consumer forum rejects Gurudev Siddhapeeth's claim for damages

The Thane District Consumer Redressal Forum (TDCRF) has rejected a claim by Gurudev Siddhapeeth here for the damage to its property during the 2011 flash floods in the state.
Gurudev Siddhapeeth is an ashram, run by the Gurudev Siddhapeeth Trust, and is located at Ganeshpuri in Thane district.
In its complaint, the Sidhapeeth stated that it had taken a fire insurance of Rs 1.50 crore from National Insurance Company for its structure and for mango saplings on 28 acres of its land.
During the flash floods on August 27 and 28, 2011, the saplings planted by the Trust were washed away and hence, it lodged a claim with the insurance company.

After due survey of the losses, the insurance company honoured the claim for damge to the structure to the tune of Rs 1,72,706 and returned the premium of Rs 13,236 paid towards the mango saplings to the claimant.
However, the Trust had filed a claim of Rs 13,48,008 for damages to the mango saplings and Rs 2,01,404 for the civil work, based on the surveyor's report.

In their recent order, TDCRF president Manohar Y Mankar and members Madhuri S Vishwarupe and N D Kadam stated that the Trust was registered as Shree Gurudev Ashram under the Bombay Public Trust Act of 1950 and later on the name was changed as Gurudev Siddhapeeth.

Citing rulings of the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, the forum said that the complainant does not fall under the category of consumer, as per Consumer Protection Rules Section 2(1)(d).
Therefore, the complaint does not come under the purview of TDCRF and hence, needs to be rejected, the forum added.