Insurance claim denied due to invalid driving licence

The apex consumer commission has rejected insurance claim of around Rs two lakh to a truck owner after the vehicle met with an accident, holding that the driver's licence was not valid for driving heavy vehicles.
National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) bench, presided by Justice J M Malik, rejected the plea filed by Ambala resident Puneet Phutela seeking direction to Oriental Insurance Company Ltd, with which the truck was insured, to pay nearly Rs two lakh for truck repairs which had met with an accident in 2004.
"The driving licence goes to show that he (driver) was not permitted to drive HTV (heavy transport vehicle). His licence was not valid for truck," NCDRC bench, also comprising its member S M Kantikar, said.

The complainant told the commission that his truck had met with the accident on June 14, 2004, during subsistence of the insurance policy but the firm denied the claim.
The insurance company, however, repudiated Phutela's claim on the ground that the licence of the driver was found to be invalid for driving heavy vehicles.
He then approached the district forum which allowed his complaint and directed the insurance company to pay Rs 2.14 lakh to Phutela.
The State Commission, however, allowed the appeal filed by the insurance company against the district forum and rejected claim to Phutela. Thereafter, he noved NCDRC.