JUDGMENT :

DHANANJAYA Y. CHANDRACHUD, J.

1. Leave granted.

2. This appeal arises from a decision rendered by the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission “NCDRC” on 19 September 2018. The NCDRC partly allowed the appeal filed by the insurer against a decision of the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission “SCDRC” dated 3 April 2017, directing the insurer to pay seventy-five percent of the amount awarded by the SCDRC. The SCDRC had allowed an insurance claim in the amount of Rs. 23.84 lakhs, together with interest at the rate of 7% per annum from the date of the institution of the complaint.

3. The respondent, Mahendra Construction, was the original complainant before the SCDRC. The respondent purchased a hydraulic excavator machine in 2004-05. The excavator was insured with New India Assurance Company Limited from 15 November 2004 to 14 November 2005. A claim was lodged under the insurance policy on 12 April 2005 on the ground that the excavator had been set on fire by Naxalites. The claim was settled by the earlier insurer. According to the respondent, the machine was under repair until 10 October 2006.

4. On 10 October 2006, the excavator was insured with the appellant fro