New India Assurance Company Ltd. . v. M/S. Zuari Industries Ltd. & Ors.
Insurance – Fire insurance policy
Case brief
What is this about?
New India Assurance Company Ltd. v. M/s. Zuari Industries Ltd. & Ors., Civil Appeal No. 4436 of 2004, Supreme Court of India, decided 1 September 2009 (Markandey Katju, J.) — fire insurance claim arising from short circuit and flashover in factory main switch board (8.1.1999); stoppage of electric supply caused thermal shock damage to waste heat boiler; insurer repudiated claim citing absence of 'sustained fire' and thermal shock as proximate cause; National Commission's allowance of claims of Rs.1,35,17,709/- (material loss) and Rs.19,11,10,000/- (loss of profit) upheld by dismissal of appeal. Key concepts: fire insurance policy, flashover, proximate cause (active and efficient cause doctrine), 'sustained fire' qualification, exclusion clause (g) and its proviso, surveyors' reports, ambiguity construed against insurer, consumer complaint under National Commission.
What did the court decide?
No relief granted to the appellant; there shall be no order as to costs.