M/S.
Kunja Behari Banerjee & Sons & Ors Vs. M/S. The New
India Assurance
Co. Ltd [2008]
INSC 690 (23 April 2008)
H.K. SEMA & MARKANDEY KATJU
O R D E R CIVIL APPEAL NO. 6040-6041 OF 2002 These appeals, filed by the
claimant, are directed against the judgment and order dated 7/8/2001 passed by
the Division Bench of the High Court affirming the judgment dated 20/7/1993
passed by the Assistant District Judge No.1, Guwahati in Misc.(Arb.) Case
No.72/1992 thereby upsetting the award passed by the Arbitrator.
Respondent, though served, is not represented today by any counsel on the
first call.
Even on second call, none appears on behalf of the respondent.
These appeals are of 2002 and deserve expeditious disposal. We, therefore,
proceed to hear Mr. P.K. Goswami, learned senior counsel appearing on behalf of
the appellant.
In view of the order that we propose to pass, it may not be necessary to
recite the entire facts leading to the .......2.
- 2 - filing of the present appeals. Suffice it to say, the appellant's shop
was insured with the respondent company for an amount of Rs.3,00,000/-. There
was a fire accident in the premises of the appellant. The insurance company
agreed to pay Rs.2,25,808/-.
However, the same was not accepted by the appellant and an arbitrator was
appointed.
The arbitrator awarded Rs.73,350/- over and above Rs.2,25,808/- alongwith
interest @ 18% per annum, which was upset by the trial Judge whose judgment was
affirmed by the High Court.
On perusal of the award passed by the arbitrator, we are of the view that
the award was supported by sufficient reasons and documents. In that view of
the matter, the trial Court as well as the High Court erred in law in
interfering with the well-reasoned award passed by the arbitrator. Accordingly,
the orders of the trial Court and the High Court are set aside. The award dated
24/2/1992 passed by the arbitrator is restored.
The appeals are allowed in the above terms.
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