Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 14: The Jammu and Kashmir High Court today observed that it would freeze the accounts of Insurance Companies and send their Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) to jail if they fail to provide interim relief to the flood victims of the State.
The division bench of the court today observed that if the Insurance Companies fail to comply with the court orders, they will freeze their accounts. “…we will pick up two senior advocates and freeze your accounts and ask the claimants to come take their claimed amount. The advocates will directly start disbursing”, observed the court.
The court further observed that court has the option of sending the CEOs of the companies to jail if they fail to implement High Court and Supreme Court orders. “If you don’t understand the sober language of the court then we will ensure that our orders are complied with in whatever method we have to adopt. …we will call your CEOs and show them right doors where they have to go”, observes court.
Earlier while hearing the arguments of the counsels of the Insurance Companies, the court observed: “You are making such submissions which have already been heard, if you think you can succeed you sadly mistaken.”
The HC stopped short of issuing the contempt of court notice to the companies by observing: “We can issue contempt notice easily if you are insisted on it. Otherwise religiously comply with the court directions. We know how to deal with you. Keep substantial data available with you (companies) for complying with the orders of the court.”
The court observed: “You go in accordance with your own way and in accordance with your terms and conditions of the policy. You are not bothering about the directions of this court as well as Supreme Court which creates an impression that we may have to take out our weapon and send some for contempt. Therefore in order to erase this impression all Insurance Companies should put up all efforts that you (companies) are obeying the court orders. If we find your impression is strengthening then we will use our weapon, we have lot in armory, we have expressed it in the order passed in make shift court.”
The court passed the observation after it showed its disappointment over the performance of Insurance Companies in processing the claims of flood victims. Court also observed that case of Rs 25 lakh and above Rs 25 lakh should be segregated and report be submitted in a segregated manner.
Court after perusal of some status reports of companies observed: “Show where you have paid 50 percent in accordance with court directions.”
Senior Advocate Z A Shah during the proceeding of the matter submitted that only assessment has been made to various properties but no payment till date has been disbursed.
Court pulled up the counsel representing Oriental Insurance Companies who during proceeding said that payments are being disbursed after survey report. The court expressed its resentment that its directions are not been implemented in right perspective. “We have directed in our previous orders that interim relief should be made irrespective of survey reports”, observed the court.
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