The Gujarat State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has ruled that a voter list is not a valid or legal proof of age. It ordered Future Generali India Life Insurance to pay ₹35 lakh with interest—and an additional ₹35,000 in compensation—for wrongly denying a death claim.
| Commission | Gujarat State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission |
|---|---|
| Insurer | Future Generali India Life Insurance Co Ltd |
| Issue | Death claim denied based on voter list age discrepancies |
| Verdict | Voter list not valid; insurer must pay ₹35 lakh + 7% interest + ₹35 k compensation |
In this landmark ruling, the commission addressed a death claim lodged by the family of Ramdev Sharma from Vadodara. Sharma purchased two life policies in 2013, declaring his age as 57 using his PAN card. However, after his death in 2015, the insurer relied on voter lists from 2010 and 2014—and a household register (Parivar Patrak)—to argue he was actually 97 at the time, and subsequently denied the claim.
The claimant’s grandson countered with authoritative documents—including PAN card, Aadhaar card, and Election card—which all confirmed a birth year of 1957. The commission accepted these as more reliable and ruled that voter lists are prone to error, particularly with age entries. Quoting the order:
“The age … in voter list … cannot be said to be valid and legal document … than … PAN card, Election card and Aadhaar card.”
The commission found the insurer’s denial to be a deficiency in service and an unfair trade practice. Consequently, Future Generali must:
- Pay ₹35 lakh claim amount with 7% interest,
- Pay ₹35,000 as compensation for mental harassment and inconvenience to the family.
Why It Matters
- Reaffirms that voter lists are not definitive legal proof of age, especially in insurance disputes.
- Highlights the importance of robust KYC document checks—such as PAN, Aadhaar, and Election Card—over administrative lists.
- Sets a precedent for consumer protection, reinforcing insurers’ responsibilities to handle claims fairly and transparently.
In a clear win for consumer rights, this ruling ensures that life claims can’t be rejected on questionable documentation, underscoring the need for reliable verification and fair practice in insurance.
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