JUDGMENT

S. Ravindra Bhat, J.:

1. With consent of counsel for the parties, the appeal was heard finally. The appellant is aggrieved by an order¹[ CC No. 1546/2016, dated 13.07.2020] of the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (hereinafter, “NCDRC”) dismissing its complaint. The issue urged by the appellant is whether the NCDRC was correct in placing reliance on guidelines issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (hereinafter, “DGFT Guidelines”)²[Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Directorate General of Foreign Trade, Foreign Trade Policy, Handbook of Procedures (Volume I) w.e.f. 27.08.2009 – 31.03.2014] to interpret the date of ‘despatch/shipment’ in the Single Buyer Exposure Policy of the respondent (hereinafter, “Policy”), and thereby deny the appellant’s claim.

The facts

2. The appellant is an exporter of fish meat and fish oil, whereas the respondent (hereafter, “ECGC”) is a government company (under the control of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Union Government). ECGC provides a range of credit risk insurance cover to exporters. On 13.12.2012, the appellant paid premium to ECGC for the Policy (bearing no. 0540000143), which covered foreign buyer’s fail