The Civil 1st Appeal, in hand, is directed against the order dated 14th July, 2009 of Jammu and Kashmir 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 an amount of Rs. 3,55,739/- along with interest of 18% per an­num from the date of loss till final payment along with litigation expenses of Rs. 10,000/-.

2. The appeal arises in the following fac­tual background.

3. 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. 11/5/00542, 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 p.ompted Police Station Anantnag to regis­ter case-FIR No. 388 of 1994 under S. 435, R. P. C. The respondent, immediately after the occurrence, informed the appellant In­surance Company about the loss. On receipt