Surveyor's Report To Be Given Importance In Insurance Claim Cases: NCDRC Modifies State Commission's Order Against New India Insurance Company

The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) has emphasized the importance of the surveyor's report in settling insurance claims. The commission modified an order from a State Commission against the New India Insurance Company, giving more weight to the report prepared by the independent surveyor appointed to assess the loss. The NCDRC observed that a surveyor's report is an important and expert piece of evidence that provides an unbiased assessment of the damage and the payable claim amount. While it is not the final word, it should not be dismissed by the insurance company without providing strong and valid reasons. This ruling reinforces the legal position that insurers cannot arbitrarily reject a surveyor's assessment. By doing so, the NCDRC has strengthened the role of surveyors and protected policyholders from unfair claim settlements by insurance companies.