REPORTABLE

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

CIVIL APPEAL NO. 2776 OF 2002

SATWANT KAUR SANDHU

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APPELLANT (S)

VERSUS

NEW INDIA ASSURANCE COMPANY

LTD.

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RESPONDENT (S)

J U D G M E N T

D.K. JAIN, J.:

1.

This appeal, by special leave, is directed against the judgment

and order dated 8^th December, 2000 passed by the National

Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, (“the National

Commission” for short) in Revision Petition No.322 of 1999

whereby the Commission has affirmed the order passed by the

State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, New Delhi

(for short “the State Commission”), rejecting appellant –

complainant’s claim against the respondent – Insurance

Company for compensation on account of deficiency in service

for not processing her claim under a mediclaim policy.

2.

Succinctly put, the material facts giving rise to the present

appeal are as follows:

On 7^th May, 1990 appellant’s husband, late Shri Pritpal Singh

Sandhu, 48 years old and an advocate by profession, after

completing necessary formalities insured himself under a mediclaim

policy provided by the respondent. The policy was for a period from

7^th