Mushtaq Mohd. vs NATIONAL INSURANCE COMPANY LTD

MR . Avtar Singh, complainant/petitioner No. 2 was the owner of truck No. PB-13K - 6205. He had obtained an insurance policy valid from 25.6.2006 to 24.6.2007 from the National Insurance Company Limited, opposite party. In the meantime, Mushtaq Mohd. complainant/petitioner No. 1 purchased the said vehicle in question from petitioner No. 2. A power of attorney was also executed by petitioner No. 2 in favour of the petitioner No. 1. Intimation was given to the Branch Office of the respondent situated at Ahmedgarh, Punjab. Unfortunately, the said vehicle was stolen during the night intervening 26-27.1.2007 from the premises of Rehman Filling Station (Petrol Pump), Raikot Road, Malerkotla. The F.I.R. was also lodged with the Police Station, Malerkotla. An intimation of theft was also given to the Branch Office of the respondent at Malerkotla as well as Ahmedgarh on 8.2.2007.

THE petitioner No. 2 submitted the claim which was repudiated by the opposite party. The District Forum allowed the complaint filed by the complainants. However, the State Commission accepted the appeal and dismissed the complaint.

WE have heard the learned Counsel for the petitioners. He vehemently argued that the facts and circumstances of this case are different. He contended that the claim was filed by Avtar Singh and since he had an insurable interest, therefore, the claim should have been granted in his favour.

INSTEAD of coming to the heart of the problem, learned Counsel for the petitioner touched only peripheral issues. It is clear that Avtar Singh had no insurable interest at the time of accident. He had already sold the vehicle to petitioner No. 2. Avtar Singh had no locus standi to file the claim. He had not even the privity of contract because petitioner No. 1 had stepped into his shoes. This is an admitted fact that the petitioner No 1 failed to transfer the insurable claim within 14 days from the date of registration. The State Commission rightly placed reliance on the authorities reported in Complete Insulation Pvt. Ltd. v. New India Assurance Co., I (1996) CPJ 1 (SC)=I (1996) CLT 22 (SC)=II (1996) ACC 536 (SC)=1996 ACJ 65 and in Oriental Insurance Company Ltd. v. Reeta, in Revision Petition No. 2299, decided on 20.10.2009 by this Commission. Under these circumstances, we find that the petitioners do not have a bone to pluck with the respondent National Insurance Company Ltd. The revision petition is, therefore, dismissed. Revision Petition dismissed.