Man denied insurance claim for loss of goods in fire

The apex consumer commission has denied insurance claim to a man for his goods destroyed in a fire as he had changed the place of his business without intimating the firm, which had insured his goods.
National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC), presided by Justice K S Chaudhari, passed the order while allowing the revision petition of State Bank of India, which was asked to pay the man for the loss as per the direction of Shimla state consumer commission.
"Complainant was under obligation to intimate insurance company about change of place of business and to get necessary endorsement on policy but he failed to intimate... And in such circumstances petitioner (bank) cannot be held guilty of any deficiency," the NCDRC said.

The bank had approached the NCDRC against the state commission's order that had asked it to pay Rs 1.71 lakh to Himachal Pradesh resident Anil Kumar for the loss of his goods by fire.
The bank had opposed Kumar's claim, saying that he had not intimated the insurance firm about changing his place of business.
While allowing the plea of SBI, the NCDRC noted that the bank had directed Kumar to get the necessary endorsement of transfer of place of business in the insurance policy, failing which, he would be responsible for all the risks.

According to Kumar's complaint filed before a district forum, he was carrying out a business at Kangra district in Himachal Pradesh and had taken cash credit limit of Rs 3 lakh from the bank.

Later on, Kumar shifted his business from Kangra to Mandi district and he claimed that the bank was informed.
On May 30, 2008, Kumar's shop was damaged in a. After the matter could not be settled amicably, Kumar filed a complaint before the forum alleging deficiency on the part of bank and the insurance firm.