Summary
The Court directed the insurer to reimburse medical expenses incurred by its insured for an injured third party after a vehicle accident in Nepal. The NCDRC had incorrectly accepted that no payment evidence existed, although hospital bills were already on record and undisputed. The insured was awarded Rs 4,09,000 with interest and costs.
Issues
- Whether the NCDRC rightly denied reimbursement of medical expenses on the grounds of absent evidence and failure to appeal the District Forum’s order.
Held
- Hospital bills already on record established the insured’s expenditure of Rs 4,09,000 for treatment of the injured third party. The insurer did not dispute those documents; its assertion before the NCDRC that there was no evidence of payment was incorrect. (¶¶ 11, 12, 13, 15)
- The District Forum had directed payment of admissible claims under the policy and specifically referred to the medical bills. Its order had not disallowed those expenses in the manner assumed by the NCDRC, so the insured’s failure to challenge that order did not justify denying reimbursement. (¶ 14)
- The portion of the NCDRC order denying medical-expense indemnification was set aside. The insurer must pay Rs 4,09,000 with interest at 7% per annum from the filing of the consumer complaint until realization, together with Rs 30,000 costs, within one month. (¶ 16)
Result
Appeal allowed; denial of medical-expense indemnification set aside. Insurer directed to pay Rs 4,09,000 with 7% annual interest from complaint to realization and Rs 30,000 costs within one month.