Mr. Justice V.K. Agrawal, President—This appeal under Section 15 of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 , is directed against the order dated 6th January, 2003 in Complaint No. 78/2001 by District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Durg (hereinafter called the ‘District Forum’ for short), directing that the appellants/insurers would pay to the complainant/respondent, a sum of Rs. 50,000/- under the life insurance policy obtained by the complainant/respondent.

2. The relevant facts not in dispute are that the appellants issued life insurance policy No. 381940001 on 26.2.1999 in favour of complainant’s husband Budhuram Sahu covering the risk from 26.2.1999 to 26.5.1999. Quarterly premium of Rs. 1,432/- was payable under the said policy. The complainant/respondent is the nominee of insured Budhuram Sahu. Insured Budhuram Sahu died on 18.10.2000. It is also not in dispute that the complainant/respondent submitted claim with the appellants on 6.11.2000. The claim was repudiated by the appellants/insurers by their letter dated 1.1.2001.

3. The complainant raised the grievance in the complaint that her claim was repudiated by the insurers without justification. It was submitted that the