Allahabad High Court
I.C.I.C.I. LOMBARD GENERAL INSURANCE CO. LTD AND ANOTHERversusPERMANENT LOK ADALAT AND ANOTHER
- Decided
Holding
The Permanent Lok Adalat's order is set aside because it failed to conduct the mandatory conciliation proceedings, and the matter must be reheard.
Summary
The petitioners, I.C.I.C.I. Lombard General Insurance Co. Ltd and another, challenged an order dated 22 April 2026 passed by the Permanent Lok Adalat, Aligarh in PLA Case No.55 of 2025. The High Court examined the submission of counsel Ankur Verma and found that, in line with the earlier judgment in Manager Life Insurance Corporation of India v. Permanent Lok Adalat (2021), the required conciliation proceedings had not been conducted before the Lok Adalat’s order. Consequently, the court held that the impugned order could not stand as it defeated the purpose of the conciliation process mandated by law. The order was set aside and the matter was remanded to the Permanent Lok Adalat to pass a fresh order within three months after hearing both parties. The writ petition was thereafter disposed of.
Issues considered
- Whether the Permanent Lok Adalat complied with the statutory requirement of conducting conciliation proceedings before passing its order.
Subjects
- Permanent Lok Adalat
- conciliation proceedings
- writ petition
- set aside
- remand
- procedural compliance
- consumer dispute
Judgment
HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD
WRIT - C No. - 39859 of 2026
I.C.I.C.I. Lombard General Insurance Co. Ltd And
Another .....Petitioner(s)
Versus
Permanent Lok Adalat And Another
.....Respondent(s)
Counsel for Petitioner(s) : Ankur Verma
Counsel for Respondent(s) :
Court No. - 36
HON'BLE SAURABH SHYAM SHAMSHERY, J.
1. Heard learned counsel for the parties.
2. Court takes note of submission of Sri Ankur Verma, learned counsel for
the petitioner and the materials available on record and find that it it in the
teeth of a judgment passed by this Court in Manager Life Insurance
Corporation of India, Basti vs. Permanent Lok Adalat, Basti and others,
2021:AHC:151400 that requisite conciliation proceedings were not carried
out, therefore, observations made in the impugned order so far as
conciliation proceedings are concerned, would not justify the object of
conciliation proceedings, therefore, impugned order dated 22.4.2026 passed
in P.L.A. Case No.55 of 2025 passed by Permanent Lok Adalat, Aligarh is
set-aside and matter is remanded to concern respondent to pass a fresh order
within a period of 3 months after hearing both the parties.
3. Writ Petition is accordingly disposed of.
(Saurabh Shyam Shamshery,J.)
October 1, 2026
SB
Digitally signed by :-
SANDEEP BHATTACHARYA
High Court of Judicature at Allahabad
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