ORDER

S.K. Naik, Member - This consumer complaint has been filed by Sri Munshi Ram a contractor by profession. His grievance is that he had obtained a fire and special perils policy (Material Damage) of Rs. 30 lakh from the Branch Manager, New India Assurance Company Limited., opposite party No. 2 by paying a premium of Rs. 9,550. This policy was to cover the goods/raw material/finished product of Katha manufactured by him. He had also obtained another policy to cover accident of his workman consisting of one Munshi, three helpers and one Munshi-cum-Accountant and paid a premium of Rs.1871. The policies were valid from 20.4.2001 to 19.7.2001. During the currency of the insurance policy and when he had manufactured 60.6 Qtls. of Katha till June 2001, a fire broke out in the Bhattis on 20.6.2001 where the manufactured Katha was lying. FIR with regard to the fire incident was immediately lodged with the police. A claim thereafter was submitted before the opposite party-New India Assurance Company Limited, who appointed a Surveyor to assess the loss. The Surveyor visited the site on the very next day of the incident and subsequently on 19.11.2001, had made certain inquiries from the off