Central Information Commission
Mr.Mahavir Prasad Verma vs Life Insurance Corporation Of India on 5 November, 2012
Central Information Commission
Room No.307, II Floor, B Wing, August Kranti Bhawan, Bhikaji Cama Place, New Delhi110066
Telefax:01126180532 & 01126107254 websitecic.gov.in
Appeal: No. CIC/DS/A/2012/000990
Appellant /Complainant : Shri Mahaveer PrasadVerma, Lucknow (UP)
Public Authority : LIC of India, Varanasi (UP)
(Ms. Kamala Balasubramaniam,CPIO & Sh. Manoj
Kumar Singh through videoconferencing)
Date of Hearing : 05 November 2012
Date of Decision : 05 November 2012
Facts:
1. Appellant submitted his RTI application dated 13 February 2012 before the CPIO, LIC of India, Varanasi seeking the detail of the maturity payment by the Public Authority in Policy no: 281116785 in the name of Shri S N Tiwari through seven points.
2. Vide CPIO Order dated 16 March 2012, CPIO provided point wise information to the Appellant.
3. Not satisfied with the CPIO's Reply, the Appellant preferred first Appeal to the First Appellate Authority dated 28 March2012.
4. Vide FAA Order dated 27 April 2012; FAA provided additional information to the Appellant.
5. Being aggrieved and not being satisfied by the above response of the public authority, the appellant preferred second appeal before the Commission.
Appeal: No. CIC/DS/A/2012/000990
6. Matter was heard today via videoconferencing. Appellant was present at Lucknow while the Respondents were present at Varanasi.
7. Respondents submitted that after the LIC Policy was matured the Policy Holder, Shri S N Tiwari vide his letter dated 20/1/2012 had asked the LIC of India to issue two cheques from the funds (one being of the amount of Rs. 11500/ in order to issue a fresh LIC Policy in the name of Shri S N Tiwari). While complying with the directions held in Shri S N Tiwari's consent letter dated 21/1/2012, the LIC Agent Shri S K Choubey, by mistake issue the cheque of amount Rs. 11500/ in the name of Shri A K Mishra instead of Shri S N Tiwari .
8. Hence, the LIC of India, Varanasi Branch issued a warning letter dated 20/4/2012 to the LIC Agent Shri S K Choubey.
9. In his reply to the Branch Office LIC Agent Shri S K Choubey clarified that the payment of Rs. 11500/ has been given to Shri S N Tiwari as per his satisfaction.
10. Appellant submitted that he is interested to know that is it a general practice/norm of the LIC to issue multiple cheques to the Policy Holders for the Payment of their respective Policy.
11. CPIO informed the Appellant that it is not the norm to issue multiple cheques to the Policy Holders for Payment against their respective maturity amounts. However, if the Policy holder himself asks the LIC for payment through multiple cheques, then such a recourse is being followed by the LIC of India. However, currently the LIC of India has stopped issuing cheques, and the payment is made only through National Electronic Fund Transfer (NEFT).
Appeal: No. CIC/DS/A/2012/000990 Decision Notice
12. After hearing both the parties, the Commission upholds the CPIO's decision since the information as held with the Public Authority has between provided to the Appellant. However, the CPIO is directed to provide, in writing, the information relating to the issue of providing multiple cheques to the Policy Holders for the Payment of their respective maturity amounts ; as submitted at the hearing, free of cost to the Appellant within two weeks of the receipt of the Order.
13. Further in the present case, the depositing of cheque of Rs. 11500/ by LIC Agent Shri S K Choubey, by mistake against premium for new policy in the name of Shri A K Mishra instead of Shri S N Tiwari is grave error on the part of LIC Agent. Only issuing of a warning letter by the LIC branch is reflective of a casual approach of the Management of LIC in dealing with such an important issue. As per section 25 (5) of the RTI Act, 2005, it is recommended that he Sr. Divisional Manager under whom the said Branch of LIC of India, Varanasi falls, take strict action in all such cases. The present case is a prime example of what transparency under RTI Act can do in exposing the unethical actions of LIC's agent which were detrimental to the interests of their customer and the said agent took corrective action only after his actions which were exposed by the transparency Act.
14. With above observations, the case is closed.
(Smt. Deepak Sandhu) Information Commissioner (DS) Authenticated true copy:
(T. K. Mohapatra) Appeal: No. CIC/DS/A/2012/000990 Dy. Secretary & Dy. Registrar Tel. No. 01126105027 Copy to:
1. Shri Mahaveer Prasad Verma House No. E3565, Rajajipuram, Lucknow(UP)
2. The CPIO Manager (CRM) LIC of India, Divisional Office Jeevan Prakash B12/120, Gauriganj, Bhelupur Varanasi221001 (UP)
3. The Appellate Authority Sr. Divisional Manager LIC of India, Divisional Office Jeevan Prakash B12/120, Gauriganj, Bhelupur Varanasi221001 (UP) Appeal: No. CIC/DS/A/2012/000990