THE NEW INDIA ASSURANCE CO LTD vs THE PERMANENT LOK ADALAT

CWP-13329-2026 -1- IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH 115 CWP-13329-2026 Date of Decision: 01.05.2026 The New India Assurance Co. Ltd. …Petitioners Versus The Permanent Lok Adalat, Fazilka and others …Respondents CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE JAGMOHAN BANSAL Present: - Mr. Vinod K. Kanwal, Advocate for the petitioner *** JAGMOHAN BANSAL, J. (Oral) 1. The petitioner through instant petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India is seeking setting aside of Award dated 17.02.2026 (Annexure P-3) whereby learned Permanent Lok Adalat (for short ‘PLA’) has allowed respondent’s application filed under Section 22C of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 (for short ‘1987 Act’). 2. The insured-respondent Nos.2 and 3 purchased an insurance policy through Punjab National Bank from petitioner-insurer. They paid premium of ₹21,039/-. The effective period of policy was from 03.05.2019 to 02.05.2020. They again paid premium of ₹46,050/- for the period from 03.05.2020 to 02.05.2021. The policy was floater Mediclaim. The sum assured was ₹10,00,000/- (₹5,00,000/- each). Respondent No.3 suffered pain in knee joints. She remained admitted in hospital from 13.12.2020 to 19.12