Mr. Justice A.L. Bahri, President — Life Insurance Corporation challenges order of District Forum, Mansa dated October 18, 1996 whereby direction was given to the Corporation to pay the full amount of insurance policy with benefits of bonus to all the legal heirs of the insured P.K. Jain alongwith Rs. 10,000/- as compensation and costs. It was further observed that the amount of compensation and costs could be recovered by the Corporation from the erring officials of the Corporation found guilty.

2. After going through the pleadings of the parties and the evidence produced, we find that there is no dispute with respect to certain facts, which can briefly be summarised.

3. P.K. Jain obtained a Life Insurance Policy in the sum of Rs 10,000/- on March 26,1965. The premium payable was yearly. He is alleged to have left his house on February 12, 1973 and thereafter did not return. Report of his disappearance was made to the police on October 3, 1973. The Life Insurance Corporation was informed about his disappearance on August 25, 1988. A civil suitwas filed by the relations of P.K. Jain for a declaration that P.K. Jain should be declared to have died on account of being not heard of