Mr. Narendra Kumar Shah, Vs The Life Insurance Corporation of India

MR. NARENDRA KUMAR SHAH,, S/O. LATE BABULAL SHAH, AGENT CODE NO. 02590688, AGED ABOUT 61 YEARS, C/O. 1ST FLOOR, DHANALAKSHMI ELECTRICALS, OPP. ICE BURG, 4/4, 4TH LINE, ARUNDALPET, GUNTUR, ANDHRA PRADESH-522002

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...PETITIONER

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AND

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THE LIFE INSURANCE CORPORATION OF INDIA, REPRESENTED BY ITS CEO AND MANAGING DIRECTOR, CENTRAL OFFICE, YOGAKSHEMA, JEEVAN BIMA MARG, MUMBAI - 400 021

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THE ZONAL MANAGER, LIFE INSURANCE CORPORATION OF INDIA, SOUTH CENTRAL ZONAL OFFICE, JEEVAN BHAGYA, SAIFABAD, HYDERABAD- 500 063

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THE SENIOR DIVISIONAL MANAGER, LIFE INSURANCE CORPORATION OF INDIA, DIVISIONAL OFFICE, KENNEDY ROAD, OPP. HINDU COLLEGE, MACHILIPATNAM- 521 001

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THE ENQUIRY OFFICER, LIFE INSURANCE CORPORATION OF INDIA, DIVISIONAL OFFICE, KENNEDY ROAD, OPP. HINDU COLLEGE, MACHILIPATNAM- 521 001

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THE SENIOR BRANCH MANAGER, LIFE INSURANCE

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CORPORATION OF INDIA, CITY BRANCH-1, GUNTUR - 522002

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...RESPONDENT(S):

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Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed therewith, the High Court may be pleased topleased to issue an appropriate Writ, Order or Direction, more particularly one in the nature of a WRIT OF MANDAMUS declaring the inaction of the respondents in keeping the enquiry against the petitioner pending for more than one (1) year, in blatant disregard of Clause 1(10) of the Fifth Schedule appended to the Life Insurance Corporation of India (Agents) Regulations, 2017, which prescribes a timeline of forty-five (45) days for completion of such enquiry, as arbitrary, illegal, unreasonable, violative of the statutory obligations cast upon the Respondents, and consequently violative of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India and consequently, directing the respondents to complete the said enquiry and pass appropriate orders thereon within such time as may be stipulated by this Honble Court and to pass

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Counsel for the Petitioner:

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1.KARTHIK SHAH

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Counsel for the Respondent(S):

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1.J U M V PRASAD (S C for LIC)

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The Court made the following:

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ORDER:

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To declare the action of the respondents in keeping the enquiry pending against the petitioner for more than one year as illegal and arbitrary, the present writ petition is filed.

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Heard Sri Karthik Shah, learned counsel for the petitioner and Sri JUMV Prasad, learned Standing Counsel for LIC appearing for the respondents.

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Learned counsel for the petitioner, in elaboration to what has been stated in the affidavit, submitted that the relief sought in this writ petition is innocuous, wherein a direction may be given to the authority to conclude the enquiry within a time-bound period, as the enquiry has been pending for the last 16 months and the petitioner is suffering from kidney and heart problems.

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On the other hand, Sri JUMV Prasad, learned Standing Counsel for LIC, submitted that enquiry is almost complete and that only the final orders remain to be passed. He, therefore, sought three (03) months time to conclude the same.

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Perused the record and considered the submissions made by the learned counsel appearing for both parties.

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As the relief sought is innocuous, inasmuch as the petitioner only seeks a direction to the respondents to conclude the enquiry, there is no purpose in keeping the writ petition pending by inviting a counter-affidavit. Accordingly, with the consent of the learned counsel appearing for both parties, this writ petition is disposed of with the following direction:

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“The respondent authorities concerned shall conclude the enquiry and pass appropriate orders, in accordance with law, within a period of two (02) months from the date of receipt of copy of this order.”

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There shall be no order as to costs.

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As a sequel, miscellaneous applications, pending if any, shall stand closed.

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_____________________________ JUSTICE RAVI CHEEMALAPATI

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Date: 13.07.2026. JLV

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Whether the order is: