Mr. Ramesh Bawri, Member—The brief facts of the case are that the complainant’s husband insured his life for a sum of Rs. 50,000/- and obtained a policy from the Life Insurance Corporation of India (“LIC” in short) under the Salary Savings Scheme (henceforth “the S.S. Scheme”). The insured was employed as a Handling Labourer of the Food Corporation of India (hereafter “FCI”) by whom the monthly policy premium of Rs. 349/- was to be deposited with LIC under the scheme.

2. Upon the sudden demise of the insured on 15.12.1994 the complainant filed a claim under the policy with LIC which was turned down on the ground that the policy had lapsed due to default in payment of instalments of premium beyond March 1994. On its part FCI informed the complainant that the premium upto June, 1994 had been deposited by it with LIC against the said policy. Aggrieved, by the repudiation of her claim the complainant, as legal heir of the insured, filed a complaint before the District Forum, Shillong claiming relief against both the LIC and FCI.

3. The defence taken by LIC before the Forum was that the last premium was paid on 28.3.1994 whereas the insured died on 15.12.1994 and as such the claim wa