IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH ****

Date of Decision: 01.04.2026 THE NEW INDIA ASSURANCE COMPANY LTD. ...Petitioner Vs.

PERMANENT LOK ADALAT, PUBLIC UTILITY SERVICES & ORS.

…Respondents CORAM:- HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE JAGMOHAN BANSAL Present:- Mr. Abhimanyu Kalsy, Advocate for the petitioner ***

JAGMOHAN BANSAL, J. (ORAL)

1. The petitioner through instant petition under Article 226/227 of the Constitution of India is seeking setting aside of award dated 19.01.2026 passed by learned Permanent Lok Adalat (for short “PLA”)

whereby insurance claim of respondents has been allowed.

2. One Rakesh Kumar got insured his vehicle bearing registration No.HR-85A-5364 from insurer-petitioner for the period from 10.03.2023 to 09.03.2024. He met with an accident and succumbed to his injuries on 20.09.2023. At the time of accident, he was driving a two- wheeler bearing registration No.HR-85W-2743. Family members of Rakesh Kumar i.e. respondents No.2 to 6 filed claim before PLA on 01.01.2026. They approached PLA without filing claim before the insurer-petitioner. The petitioner in its reply objected claim petition on the ground that claimants have not approached insurer. They filed perso