IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE GOPINATH P.

FRIDAY, THE 14^TH DAY OF JUNE 2024 / 24TH JYAISHTA, 1946 WP(C) NO. 9702 OF 2016 PETITIONER:

LIFE INSURANCE CORPORATION OF INDIA, HAVING ITS DIVISIONAL OFFICE AT JEEVAN PRAKASH, PATTOM - 695 004, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, REPRESENTED BY ITS MANAGER(LEGAL), DIVISIONAL OFFICE AT JEEVAN PRAKASH, P.B NO.1133, M.G ROAD, ERNAKULAM - 682 011.

BY ADV SRI.R.S.KALKURA RESPONDENTS:

1 SMT.CHANDRIKA, RESIDING AT CHARUVILA PUTHEN VEEDU, MYLOM P.O, KOTTARAKKARA, KOLLAM DISTRICT - 691 560.

2 THE INSURANCE OMBUDSMAN, SECOND FLOOR, OPPOSITE COCHIN SHIPYARD, M.G ROAD, ERNAKULAM, KOCHI - 682 015, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRTARY.

BY ADV SRI.N.SASIDHARAN UNNITHAN (FOR R1)

THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 14.06.2024, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:

JUDGMENT This writ petition has been filed by the Life Insurance Corporation of India challenging Ex.P4 award of the Insurance Ombudsman under the Redressal of Public Grievances Rules, 1998 (hereinafter referred to as ‘1998 Rules’). The brief facts of the case are as follows:-

2. The 1^st respondent preferred a claim for amounts payable under a policy