Appalling Claims Settlement Process. Review on LIC Life Insurance

My mother in law was the Proposer and the Life Assured for three LIC Policies. My wife have been the Nominee under Section 39 of the Insurance Act, 1938 for all these policies.

My mother in law died a natural death on July 19, 2009 at a Hospital in Kolkata. Subsequently, based on my letter dated September 1, 2009, Life Insurance Corporation of India, Chinsurah Branch(where these policies were held) had issued the relevant claim forms on October 26, 2009 for all these three policies.

My wife had filled in those forms and submitted them to LIC, Chinsurah Branch on November 27 last year. All possible enclosures in support of her claim was also submitted along with the application. Upon our repeated verbal inquiry and written reminders sent to the Branch Manager and Claims Settlement Officer of of LIC, Chinsurah Branch we got to know after nearly four months that I wife will have to submit an affidavit confirming the fact that upon marriage her surname has changed. This was required despite the fact a copy of the marriage registration certificate had already been submitted along with the application. But when we went there and procured the affidavit, the Claims Settlement officer had said that no such affidavit would be required and we will have to produce the original of the Death Certificate for which we have already produced an attested copy along with the application(attested by an Administrative Officer of LIC as prescribed).

We are unable to understand why this sort of red tapism is deliberately created for us. Is it solely for getting some bribe? The God only knows the answer.