NEW INDIA ASSURANCE CO. LTD. vs SURESH CHANDRA AGGARWAL

The Supreme Court upheld the decision of the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, affirming the order of the Madhya Pradesh State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission which directed The New India Assurance Company Ltd. to pay Rs.1,00,000/- as compensation for the total loss of a vehicle. The Court found that the deceased driver held a valid driving licence at the time of the accident, as it had been renewed, and thus the claim could not be repudiated on the grounds of licence validity. The Court emphasized that the renewal of the licence, although not timely, did not disqualify the driver from holding a valid licence at the time of the incident.