IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA CWJC No.1369 of 2010 TARA DEVI W/O LATE AKHILESWAR YADAV R/O VILL. SAJUA, PS- ASARGANJ,DISTT- MUNGER--PETITIONER Versus 1. THE MANAGER,LIFE INSURANCE CORPORATION, MUNGER BRANCH MUNDGER 2. THE REGIONAL MANAGER LIC. EXHIBITION ROAD,PATNA- ----- ---------------------------------RESPONDENTS ----------- 3 5.3.2010 Heard learned counsel for the parties. Petitioner is a widow of one late Akhileswhar Yadav. During his life time he had taken three Insurance Policies from the respondent LIC. None of these policies came to be settled and payment made despite the claim having been made by the petitioner way back in the year 2004. Inaction on the part of the respondents compelled the petitioner to file the present writ application seeking direction upon the respondents for non performance of the public duty. Learned counsel for the respondent LIC has now filed counter affidavit. Their stand is that the payment of one of the policies has already been made in the year, 2003. So the claim with regard to Policy No. 510234508 no longer remains an issue. Yet another policy for which no final decision is taken is Jeevan Dhara which is Policy No. 510237735. This was a annuity policy (pension plan) in which the premium has to be paid for 13 years but the premium has been paid for 12 ½ years only and the final premium could not paid due to sudden demise of the husband of the petitioner. The stand of the respondent is that the claim of the petitioner under this policy has already been processed and examined and appropriate decision shall be taken for release of money in shortest time frame on completion of the formality by the petitioner. - 2 - The only other issue left is Policy No. 521439725. This policy commenced on 28.12.2001 and was assured till the life time of the petitioner. But the husband of the petitioner died within a year of the said policy being taken on 12.11.2002. This has caused certain misgiving and investigation/ enquiry was being made by the Corporation. This is the reason why this claim has not been settled till date. Whatever the stand of the respondents but the Court is not satisfied with the speed and the time frame which the respondents have taken to examine and settle the claim of the petitioner. After all the settlement or relief of the insurance policy must accrue in favour of the beneficiary at the earliest to avoid harassment of the citizens so that they do not have to approach the High Court for claims. With the stand of the respondent reflected in the counter affidavit this writ application stands disposed of with a direction that so far as the other two claims of the petitioner are concerned, the Corporation will furnish all the forms and declaration which are required to be made by the petitioner within two weeks from today. The petitioner shall ensure that all the details and the declarations are filled up and returned to the Corporation in another two weeks and the Corporation shall thereafter finalize payment of other two claims preferably within a period of six weeks thereafter, if not earlier. This writ application is disposed of with the above direction. RPS (Ajay Kumar Tripathi,J.)