The Karnataka State Consumer Disputed Redressal Commission (KSCDRC) has ordered an insurance company to pay 75% of a claim, along with a fine and litigation costs, to the owner of a fishing boat damaged by Cyclone Phyan. This ruling comes after a protracted legal battle exceeding 16 years. The vessel, identified as the 'Shivashankar' from Udupi, initially sank near Karwar in 2009.
The insurer had previously rejected the claim filed by Shyamala S. Kunder, the boat's owner. Their rationale was that the boat had drifted beyond the geographical area covered by its insurance policy. The boat's perilous journey saw it sinking in Karnataka's waters but later surfacing in Maharashtra.
This protracted dispute, spanning over sixteen years, finally reached a resolution earlier this year with the KSCDRC's directive. The commission's decision compels the insurance firm to settle a significant portion of the claim, acknowledging the owner's persistent efforts to secure compensation for the loss incurred due to the severe weather event.
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