Central Information Commission
Amitava Roy vs Life Insurance Corporation Of India on 24 September, 2025
के ीय सूचना आयोग
Central Information Commission
बाबा गंगनाथ माग, मुिनरका
Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka
नई िद ी, New Delhi - 110067
File No: CIC/LICOI/A/2024/616686
Amitava Roy .....अपीलकता/Appellant
VERSUS
बनाम
CPIO,
Life Insurance Corporation of India,
Silchar Division, CRM Department,
Meherpur, Silchar, Assam - 788015 .... ितवादीगण /Respondent
Date of Hearing : 09.09.2025
Date of Decision : 24.09.2025
INFORMATION COMMISSIONER : Vinod Kumar Tiwari
Relevant facts emerging from appeal:
RTI application filed on : 16.02.2024
CPIO replied on : 04.03.2024
First appeal filed on : 15.03.2024
First Appellate Authority's order : 30.03.2024
2nd Appeal/Complaint dated : 21.04.2024
Information sought:
1. The Appellant filed an (online) RTI application dated 16.02.2024 seeking the following information:
"In view of the attached letter vide no- SDO/CPGRAM/2023-24 dated 17.01.2024, I humbly inform you that the Manager CRM, LIC Silchar Division Office has clearly mentioned in his/her issued said letter that the Page 1 of 6 Maturity Claim amount of Rs. 59850/- was credited on 16.01.2024 as 15.01.2024 being Bank Holiday in Assam.
Again, as per attached mail dated 18.01.2024, the Chief Manager, LIC Agartala office has clearly mentioned in his/her said mail that the Maturity amount of Rs. 59850/- has been paid on 15.01.2024, which is the exact Maturity due date to the SBI, Melagarh Br. Against account no- 10915307009.
Again, the Manager (CRM), LIC Silchar Divisional office clearly mentioned that there is no provision for penalty against delayed payment for less than 30 days as per corporation rules. Copy attached.
In view of the above, as per u/s 6(1) Subject to the provision of the RTI Act 2005, kindly:-
1. Provide me with the copy of supporting document/documents which supports the said statement of LICI that, LICI authority has paid the Maturity amount of Rs. 59850 to SBI on 15.01.2024, but due to the Bank holiday in Assam, SBI release the amount on the next day i.e. 16.01.2024.
2. Provide me with the copy of supporting document/documents which supports the said statement that LICI paid the Maturity amount of Rs. 59850/- on 15.01.2024, which is the exact Maturity due date to the SBI, Melagarh Br. Against account no- 10915307009.
3. Provide me with the copy of supporting document/documents which justifies that SBI Melagarh Branch NEFT transaction depends on the Bank Holiday in Assam as mentioned by the LIC authority.
4. Provide me with the copy of page/document on which the provision of the LICI is written in respect of which LICI can pay the penalty against delayed payment for only equal or more than 30 days as per corporation rules.
5. Provide me with the copy of page/document on which the provision of the LICI is written in respect of which LICI can collect the penalty from a common Indian citizen against delayed payment of premium for less than 30 days as per corporation rules pursuant to any individual policy."Page 2 of 6
2. The CPIO furnished a reply to the Appellant on 04.03.2024 stating as under:
"1. Copy of Status report showing date of claim payment on 02.01.2024 sent to your e-mail id Amitava.mechanical@gmail.
2. Copy of Status report showing date of claim payment on 02.01.2024 sent to your e-mail id Amitava.mechanical@gmail.
3. It may be noted that all (NEFT) payments are made through our Banker, AXIS Bank which is located in Silchar (for all 14 LIC Branches under LIC Silchar Divisional Office spread across the states of Assam, Manipur, Tripura a Mizoram
4. There was no delay on the part of LIC Agartala-Il branch to make the claim payment which was processed on 02.01.2024 well before maturity due date of 15.01.2024. However, the maturity amount was credited on 16.01.20 account of Bank Holiday for Magh Bihu' under N.I act in Assam which was unavoidable.
5. Delay in claim payment was not there as it was processed on 02.01.2024 by LIC Agaratala-II branch."
3. Being dissatisfied, the appellant filed a First Appeal dated 15.03.2024. The FAA vide its order dated 30.03.2024, held as under.
"Upon an independent consideration of the original application dated 16.02.2024, the reply of the CPIO dated 04.03.2024 and the instant appeal dated 15.03.2024, the undersigned while upholding the reply against query no.2 to 5 provided by the CPIO Silchar Division vide letter dtd. 04.03.2024 and disposes the appeal as here under.
Reply to Query no.2 - Copy of Status report and NEFT payment showing date of claim payment on 02.01.2024 with due date 15.01.2024 Query no. 3-It may be noted that all (NEFT) payments are made by LICI Silchar Division through our Banker, AXIS Bank, Silchar Branch which is located in the City of Silchar (Assam) for all 14 LIC Branches under LIC Silchar Divisional Office spread across the states of Assam, Manipur, Tripura and Mizoram Query no.4 - There was no delay on the part of LIC Agartala-II. The claim payment was processed on 02.01.2024 for due date 15.01.2024. However the maturity amount was credited on 16.01.2024 on account of Page 3 of 6 Bank Holiday for 'Magh Bihu' under N.I act in Assam which was unavoidable.
Query no.5 - No Delay was observed."
4. Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied, appellant approached the Commission with the instant Second Appeal.
Relevant Facts emerged during Hearing:
The following were present:-
Appellant: Absent Respondent: Shri N. R. Barman, Manager CRM/CPIO appeared through video conference.
5. Proof of having served a copy of Second Appeal on Respondent while filing the same in CIC on 21.04.2024 is not available on record. The Respondent confirmed non-service.
6. The Respondent while defending their case inter alia submitted that point-wise reply has been given by them vide letters dated 04.03.2024 and 30.03.2024. He further submitted that the Appellant in his Second Appeal expressed his dissatisfaction over the reply provided on point Nos. 2 to 5 of the RTI application. Therefore, he has filed a detailed written submission dated 04.09.2025 wherein provided revised reply on point Nos. 2 to 5, copy of the same is served to the Appellant and requested the Commission to place the same on record. The relevant paras of the written submission are reproduced as under:
"Query no- 2. As per our system, the claim payments and other servicing are being done at the servicing branch. For policy no. 491410445 of Sri Amitava Roy servicing Branch was Agartala Branch -2 of LIC of India. Whereas the centralized electronic payment system (NEFT/RTGS) are being done from the Silchar Divisional Office located at Meherpur, Silchar, Dist. Cachar, Assam. The statement of Agartala Branch - 2 is that, they have processed the claim well before the maturity date which is correct considering the claim process took place on 02.01.2024 at servicing branch level, i.e., Agartala Branch - 2. However, as on the date of maturity of the policy, i.e., Page 4 of 6 on 15.01.2024 there was a holiday in Silchar Divisional Office under N. I. Act on the occasion of Magh Bihu, the actual payment could be processed only on 16.01.2024. Since actual payment process took place on 16.01.2024 it is not possible to provide supporting document for payment on 15.01.2024.
Query no- 3. All (NEFT/RTGS) payments are being processed from the Silchar Divisional Office located at Meherpur, Silchar, Dist. Cachar, Assam for all 14 LIC Branches under LIC Silchar Divisional Office spread across the states of Assam, Manipur, Tripura and Mizoram. So all NEFT/RTGS payments of Assam, Manipur, Tripura and Mizoram depends on Holiday in Assam. We have no such document to produce in this regard.
Query no- 4. Under section 8 (1) (d) of RTI Act 2005 CPIO is denying to provide copy of circular letter. However as per provisions, payment of penal interest have been auto enabled in the module wherever there is delay in processing of maturity/ SB claims after due date.
Query no- 5. In each and every policy document under the term and condition of premium payment, grace period is mentioned as "A grace period of one month but not less than 30 days shall be allowed for payment of yearly or half yearly or quarterly premiums and 15 days for monthly premiums." Grace period is the time granted by the Insurer from the due date for the payment of the premium without any penalty or late fee.
In view of above, the Hon'ble CIC is requested that the second appeal filed by Shri Amitava Roy may be ruled in favour of LIC of India."
Decision:
7. The Commission after adverting to the facts and circumstances of the case, hearing the Respondent and perusal of the records, noted that the CPIO has provided a point-wise reply to the queries raised in the RTI application. The FAA has also re-examined the matter and upheld the reply. The Respondent submitted that the information available in records has already been provided.
The Respondent has filed a detailed written submission contents of the same are reproduced in the above paras. The Commission finds that submissions made by the Respondent are in consonance with the provisions of the RTI Act.
Page 5 of 6However, in the interest of justice and for removing ambiguity, the Respondent is directed to provide copy of the Terms and Conditions of the concerned policy to the Appellant, free of cost, within three weeks from the date of receipt of this order.
The appeal is disposed of accordingly.
Vinod Kumar Tiwari (िवनोद कुमार ितवारी) Information Commissioner (सूचना आयु ) Authenticated true copy (अिभ मािणत स!ािपत ित) (S. Anantharaman) Dy. Registrar 011- 26181927 Date Copy To:
The FAA, Life Insurance Corporation of India, Silchar Division, CRM Department, Meherpur, Silchar, Assam - 788015 Page 6 of 6 Recomendation(s) to PA under section 25(5) of the RTI Act, 2005:-
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