1. The Civil 1st. Appeal, in hand, is directed against the order dated 14th July 2009 of Jammu and ashmir State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, in Complaint No. 18 of 2001 titled Ghulam Nabi Shah v. Oriental Insurance Company and others, whereby the Commission has directed Oriental Insurance Company Limited-appellant herein, to pay art amount of Rs. 3,55739/- along-with interest of 18% per anum from the date of loss till final payment along-with litigation expenses ofRs. 10,000/-.

2. The appeal arises in the following factual background;

The respondent in the year 1994 insured his house situated at Nazuk Mohalla, Anantnag, and the house hold goods with the appellant Insurance Company vide Insurance Policy No. 11/05/00542, valid with effect from 12th July 1994 to 11th July 1995 for an amount of Rs. 4.50 lacs. The insured house and the household goods gutted down in a fire mishap during the intervening night of 12/13 December 1994. The occurrence prompted Police Station Anantnag to register case-FIR No. 388 of 1994 under Section 435 RPC. The respondent, immediately after the occurrence, informed the appellant Insurance Company about the loss. On receipt of report