Surveyor's Report Can't Be Rejected Unless Arbitrary: NCDRC

The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, presided over by Justice Ram Surat Maurya, allowed an appeal by United India Insurance, emphasizing that a surveyor's report in insurance claims cannot be dismissed unless proven arbitrary or unreasonable. The case involved a poultry feed producer insured against spontaneous combustion by United India Insurance. After a fire incident, the insurer disputed the claim due to discrepancies in documentation and lack of evidence supporting the claimed losses. The State Commission initially ruled in favor of the complainant, directing the insurer to pay damages and compensation. However, the National Commission overturned this decision, citing regulatory guidelines and previous legal precedents that uphold the surveyor's findings unless proven otherwise. The Commission highlighted inconsistencies in the claimed losses and upheld the insurer's right to reject claims under policy conditions in cases of fraudulent or unsubstantiated claims.