An empty column in an insurance form cannot be treated as a lie, the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) has ruled, slamming Bharti AXA for rejecting a widow’s claim after her son’s untimely death.
The case revolved around a ₹25 lakh life policy purchased in December 2015. Just over a year later, the policyholder died of a heart attack. When his mother, Chhoti Devi, sought the assured sum, the insurer pushed back, pointing to a blank box in the proposal form—meant for declaring other policies.
But the NCDRC found that excuse hollow. “If the detail was critical, the company should have ensured the column was filled before issuing the policy,” the bench observed. Notably, Bharti AXA itself had issued multiple policies to the deceased and was fully aware of them.
The Commission also highlighted that the form was digitally filled by the company’s own agent, not the insured, making it their responsibility to ensure completeness.
Rejecting the insurer’s stance of “concealment,” the NCDRC overturned the State Commission’s earlier order and directed Bharti AXA to release the assured ₹25 lakh within 45 days. The payout will also carry 9% interest per year, calculated from the date of the claim.
For Chhoti Devi’s family, the decision closes a long and bitter legal battle—restoring not just the insurance money, but a measure of fairness denied to them for years.
