Case: National Insurance Co. Ltd Vs. Ani Lamba

4. Briefly stated the facts are as follows:The Respondent had got his vehicle with the Appellants company. It is an admitted position that in the Insurance Policy the estimated value of the car was shown as Rs. 6 lakhs. The car met with an accident on 12th January, 1999. At that time it was admittedly insured. The workshop submitted an estimate of Rs. 7,12,511/for repair of the car. The Surveyor, appointed by the Insurance Company, opined that it would be better to pay total loss. He opined the value of the car was Rs.The Respondent filed a complaint before the State Commission claiming that he was entitled to the value as shown in the Insurance Policy. The State Commission, by its order dated 4th April, 2001 took into consideration depreciation at the rate of 10% and directed payment of Rs. 5,50,000/with interest @ 12%. The Appeal filed by the Insurance Company before the National Commission has been disposed of by the impugned order. The National Commission has held that counting depreciation at 10% the amount comes to Rs.It has directed payment of interest at 10% p.a.

Court's reasoning:
10. It is clear that if the term of the policy is as indicated by the Respondent, then the Appellant would be bound to pay the insured estimated value of car less depreciation. The whole argument of the Appellants Company is based on a clause which gives them an option either to pay the estimated value or the value of the motor car at the time of the loss, whichever is less. The words, which give such a choice to Insurance Company, are not there in the policies of the Appellant themselves for the years 1998 and 1999. We, therefore, refuses to reply upon a term is a policy printed in the year 2000. On the term in the policies, of Appellant themselves, for the years 1998 and 1999 they have to pay the estimated value less depreciation. The argument that they can only pay the market value on the date of the loss is not acceptable in view of the express term of the policy.