Person Not Eligible Under FBS-AIOS Scheme, As There Was Material Concealment In Membership Form; NCDRC

In this case, a Family Benefit Scheme ('FBS') was started for the doctor members of All India Ophthalmology Society ('AIOS'). The case of the Complainant was that her husband Dr. Bhujang Rao (since deceased) was granted provisional membership of the FBS-AIOS scheme, subject to the ratification of general body of AIOS. Dr. Bhujang Rao initially paid Rs. 30,000/- and then paid Rs. 4,900/- towards admission and life membership fee. However, unfortunately Dr. Bhujang Rao expired within a year. The Complainants claimed the benefits under the FBS-AIOS scheme. However, the claim was repudiated on the ground that Dr. Bhujang Rao did not complete one year of continuous membership and, therefore, the amount of Rs. 30,000/- deposited by the deceased would be sent back to the Complainants. The Complainants filed a Consumer Complaint before the District Forum, Srikakulam and prayed Rs. 15 lakh as covered FBS-AIOS with 18% interest. The District Forum allowed the Complaint and directed the Opposite Parties to pay Rs. 15 lakhs jointly and severally to the Complainants along with Rs.2000/- as legal expenses and Rs.1000/- towards fee of advocate. The parties on both the sides filed the First Appeals before the State Commission. The State Commission directed the Opposite Parties to pay Rs. 2,92,500/- to each of the Complainant with interest @ 9% p.a. from the date of filing of the claim.

State Commission observed that:

"To reiterate, a person who is qualified to join as a member of FBS-AIOS should be ratified member according to the opposite parties. A life member should complete one year of FBS-AIOS membership for getting the eligibility to claim fraternity benefit under FBS scheme. It is an admitted fact that Dr. V. Bhujanga Rao has applied for membership on 10.4.2006 along with DD bearing No. 044782 dt. 28.2.2006 for Rs. 30,000/-. At the time of his application Dr. V. Bhujanga Rao was not a member of AIOS. He has applied for AIOS membership on 9.1.2007 along with DD bearing No. 8874 for Rs. 4,900/- drawn in favour of AIOS. Accordingly, AIOS granted the provisional membership No. V11014 on 25.1.2007 subject to ratification by AIOS. Admittedly on 2.2.2007 his membership was ratified and he died on 21.12.2007. As one year was not completed, admittedly the opposite parties issued advance stamped receipt of Rs. 2,92,500/- for each of the complainant."

Aggrieved by the decision of State Commission Andhra Pradesh the appellants filed an appeal before the National Commission under Section 19 of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986.

Analysis By The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC):

The issue before the bench was regarding the eligibility for the membership of FBS-AIOS and whether the deceased Dr. Bhujang Rao was eligible as member of FBS-AIOS.

The bench noted that, from the Memorandum of Association of FBS-AIOS, Dr. Bhujang Rao did not fulfill the primary eligibility criteria of one year membership of FBS-AIOS. As per Clause-3 of the memorandum, only the life members of AIOS are eligible to join the FBS-AIOS Society and the deceased was never ratified as a life member of FBS-AIOS.

The bench further noted that as per Clauses of Memorandum, the deceased paid a membership fee of Rs. 30,000/- on 28.02.2006, however, on that date, he was not a member of AIOS. Thereafter 9 months later, on 29.11.2006, he paid AIOS membership fee of Rs. 4,900/- and he was granted provisional membership on 25.01.2007 which was ratified by general body of AIOS on 02.02.2007.

The bench stated that the late Dr. Bhujanga Rao applied for life membership on 09.01.2007 and paid Rs. 4,900/- towards admission fee and life membership fee of AIOS. On 25.01.2007 the AIOS granted a provisional membership and on 2.2.2007 the General Body of AIOS ratified his membership. Thus, he would complete his 1-year membership by 01.02.2008, but unfortunately, he passed away on 21.12.2007 i.e., within one year. Thus, he was not eligible to claim the benefits under the FBS-AIOS scheme of the Petitioners also in our view issuance of advance stamped receipt of Rs. 2,92,500/- for each complainant has no binding effect on the petitioners to pay the amount. Moreover, there was material concealment of the Renal Carcinoma in the membership form filled by the deceased, which is not acceptable under law.

Partly Allowing the appeal, the bench said "(a) The Petitioner (AIOS) shall not recover the amount Rs.2,92,500/- if already paid to each Complainant. If not, then

(b) In the ends of justice, the Petitioner is directed to refund Rs.34,900/- (30000+4900) along with 9% interest per annum to the wife of deceased i.e., Complainant no 1 from 28.02.2006 till its realization."

Case Name: Dr. Madan Mohan & 2 Ors. v. Vavilapalli Ratnamala & 2 Ors.

Case No.: REVISION PETITION NO. 4431-4432 OF 2013

Corum: Hon'ble Mr. Justice R.K. Agrawal, President and Hon'ble Dr. S.M. Kantikar, Member

Decided on: 2nd May, 2022

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