HC directive to insurance companies

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Nov 21: The Jammu and Kashmir High Court today directed all insurance companies to furnish preliminary or final survey reports in two weeks to the claimants, who suffered losses due to floods in September.
The Division Bench of the High Court comprising Justice MH Attar and D S Thakur after hearing the counsel for Kashmir Chamber and Commerce Industries at length directed for furnishing the survey reports whether it is preliminary or final to the claimants within two weeks.
“The insurance companies are directed to provide copies of survey reports whether preliminary or final to the insured in two weeks”, the bench directed.
This direction was passed after the KCCI Counsel Advocate Zaffar Shah informed the Court that people are being compelled to take the insurance claims on the basis of surveys conducted by these companies and they are not being provided the survey details.
Shah further submitted before the court that the claimants are not being informed that whether the survey has been made in accordance with loss or not.
“Every individual Insurance Company shall provide information to the claimants”, the bench directed.
Court directed the companies to inform the court that how much amount was paid to the claimants and how many cases have been received after survey etc.
“How much amount was paid to the insured in pursuance to the court directions, and how many preliminary or final survey report have been received and amount paid on the basis of those reports. How many preliminary or final reports have been received, the balance amount paid or if any amount the insurance companies have to get back”, the bench directed.
Court also directed that this information should in tabulated form. “This information shall be provided in a tabulated form by all these ICs for which two weeks time is granted to them”, reads the court order.
After these direction counsel appearing on behalf of Bajaj Allianz insurance company submitted before the bench that his company has already provided this kind of information to the court in shape of status report.
“This status report will be considered by the court on next date along with the status report of other companies”, the bench observed.
One of the companies apprised the court that it has settled 9224 out of 9777 claims till November 14 and amount in this connection paid is Rs 382.82.