Archive for November, 2010

Recommended Reading

Posted on November 11, 2010. Filed under: Insurance |

The foundation of Indian Insurance Law rests upon common law principles and doctrines. These doctrines are similar to the law of contract with slight variations. Therefore, one must develop a sound understanding of the essential features of the law of contract to appreciate the similarities and dissimilarities with a contract of insurance. The principles are spread over many case laws. These case laws are essentially English and have subsequently been followed in India or hold good in the absence of any other decision on that point.

In the classes taken by me I have endeavored to cover most of the principles contained in, inter alia, these case laws. Therefore, if one is conversant and updated with my lectures there shall be no requirement to open any book or study these case laws independently. For those of you, who wish to study in greater depth or have missed lectures the list of cases is fairly reasonable.

It is difficult to endorse a single commentary/student edition as I have not come across any book which exhaustively covers all points. And a detailed study from multiple books may be time consuming and prolix. Certain references can be made to:

1. Manual on Insurance Law
2. Justice Ranganath Mishra’s Commentary on Insurance Law
3. Colinvaux on Insurance Law
4. Books by the Insurance Institute of India
5. Howard Bennet’s Commentary on Marine Insurance Law (optional)
6. There are certain student editions

(However, judge a suitable one for yourself as I have not studied any (student editions) to endorse one)

IMPORTANT CASE LAWS

GENERAL

1. Prudential Insurance Co. v. Inland Revenue Commissioner, (1904) 2 KB 658
2. NIC v. Seema Malhotra, (2001) 3 SCC 151
3. DTI v. St. Christopher Motorists Association, (1974) 1 AllER 395
4. General Insurance Society Ltd. v. Chandmull Jain, AIR 1966 SC 1644
5. Modern Insulators Ltd. v. OIC, (2000) 2 SCC 734
6. Anglo-African Merchants Ltd. and Exmount Clothing Co. Ltd. v. Bayley, (1969) 1 Lloyd’s Rep 268
7. [1987] 2 AllER 923
8. Marthi Crustal Salt Co. Ltd. v. OIC, AIR 2001 Mad 288
9. Biman Krishna Bose v. UII, (2001) 6 SCC 477

10.  Vania Silk Mills (P) Ltd. v. CIT, (1991) 4 SCC 22

11.  OIC v. R.H.Narayanappa, ILR 1997 Kar 2173

12.  Survyor’s Welfare Association v. Union of India, AIR 1995 Del 382

13.  NIC v. New Darjeeling Union Tea Co. Ltd. (2001) 1 CalLT (HC) 218

14. NIC v. Parvathneni, (2009) 4 CTC 798

MOTOR VEHICLE INSURANCE

1. NIC v. Swaran Singh & Ors., (2004) 3 SCC 297
2. Rekhi Ram & Anr. V. Sukhrania & Ors. (2003) 3 SCC 97
3. Capps v. Miller, (1989) 2 AllER 333
4. OIC v. Gowramma, (1988) 2 ACJ 119
5. NIA v. Shailesh Yadav, 1998 ACJ 755 (MP)
6. Skaaaadi Insurance Co. v. kokilaben, (1987) 2 SCC 654, 663
7. NIC v. Jugal Kishore, (1988) 1 SCC 626, 630.
8. NIA v. Asha Rani, (2003) 2 SCC 223
9. NIA v. Vedwati, (2007) 3 MLJ 117 (SC)

10.  Bhagyalaxmi v. UII,

11.  NIC v. Laxmi Narain Dhoot, 2007ACJ721(SC)

12.  NIC v. Nicolletta Rohtagi & Ors., 2002 ACJ 1950

13.  NIA v. Satpal Singh, (2000) 1 SCC 237

FIRE INSURANCE

1. UII v. Roshan Lal Oil Mills Ltd., (2000) 10 SCC 19
2. Austin v. Drewe, (1816) 6 Taunt 436
3. Everett v. London Assurance Co., 13 WR 862
4. NIC v. A.K. Bararoo, AIR 2003 J&K 9
5. WoolCott case, (1978) 1 AllER 253
6. Leppard v. Excess Insurance Co. (1979) 2 AllER 668

LIFE INSURANCE

1. LIC v. Vishwanath Verma, 1994 Supp (3) SCC 569
2. LIC v. Bindulal, AIR 2002 J&K 61
3. LIC v. Asha Goel, (2001) 2 SCC 160
4. LIC v. Smt. Kiran Sinha, (1985) Supp SCC 72
5. LIC v. Komalavalli, (1984) 2 SCC 719
6. Beach v. Pearl Life, (1938) AllER Rep 193-39, page 3
7. Castellain v. Preston, (1883) 11 QBD 380, 388.