The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Lok Adalat slaps cost on insurance company

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 11, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Lok Adalat slaps cost on insurance company

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI, APRIL 10. Irked at the non-representation of the United India Insurance Company Limited, which had taken adjournment till April 7, a Lok Adalat headed by the former High Court Judge, Malai Subramanian, imposed a cost on the insurance company and directed it to pay Rs. 2,000 each to 10 litigants.

On March 3, it was the insurance company that took adjournment till April 7. However, despite service of notice and intimation it did not respond to them.

When the matter came up for hearing before Mr. Justice Malai Subramaniam, and members S. Indhu and B. Pasupathy, it expressed dissatisfaction over the attitude of the company and said in the interest of principles of justice, equity and fair play the Bench said it had powers to draw its own procedure. Pointing out that most of the litigants had come from far away places, it said they must be compensated with costs for the indifferent attitude of the company. ``Justice, equity and fair play warrant imposition of cost to the parties for the failure of the United India Insurance Company to be present before the Adalat despite proper notice well in advance.''

The adalat was conducted by the High Court Legal Services Committee for which Aruna Jagadeesan, a District Judge, is the Secretary.

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