Agriculture Insurance Company of India Limited v. State of Haryana and Others

CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-1-oo 2023:PHHC:166153o

INoTHEoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoHIGHoCOURToATo CHANDIGARHo o o (12oconnectedocases)ooo o o o o o o o o Reservedoono :o04.10.2023.o DateoofoDecisiono :o17.11.2023.o o 230oo CWP-2282-2022o(O&M)o AGRICULTUREoINSURANCEoCOMPANYoOFoINDIAoLIMITEDo V/SoSTATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSoo o CWP-7106-2021o(O&M)o SARVAoHARYANAoGRAMINoBANKoV/SoSTATEoOFoHARYANAo ANDoOTHERSoo o CWP-2668-2022o(O&M)o UNIONoBANKoOFoINDIAo(ERSTWHILEoCORPORATIONoBANK)o V/SoSTATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSo o CWP-18296-2022o(O&M)o CANARAoBANKoV/SoSTATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSoo o CWP-12041-2021o(O&M)o PUNJABoNATIONALoBANKoV/SoSTATEoOFoHARYANAoANDo OTHERSoo o CWP-17171-2021o(O&M)o STATEoBANKoOFoINDIAoV/SoSTATEoOFoHARYANANDoOTHERSo o CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-2-oo 2023:PHHC:166153o

CWP-21459-2021o(O&M)o PUNJABoANDoSINDoBANKoV/SoSTATEoOFoHARYANAoANDo OTHERSoo o o CWP-1658-2022o(O&M)o CENTRALoBANKoOFoINDIAoV/SoSTATEoOFoHARYANAoANDo OTHERSoo o CWP-3062-2022o(O&M)o IDBIoBANKoV/SoSTATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoANOTHERoo o CWP-12816-2022o(O&M)o BAJAJoALLIANZoGENERALoINSURANCEoCOMPANYoLTD.oV/So RAMESHoANDoOTHERSoo CWP-13097-2022o(O&M)o BAJAJoALLIANZoGENERALoINSURANCEoCOMPANYoLTD.oV/So SURESHoANDoOTHERSo CWP-10763-2023o BANKoOFoBARODAoV/SoSTATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSoo ******o Present:oo Mr.oSuniloChadha,oSr.oAdvocate,owithoo Mr.oRajesh,oAdvocateoandoo Ms.oKashishoAggarwal,oAdvocateoforotheopetitionersoo inoCWP-2282-2022.o o Mr.oRajneeshoMalhotra,oAdvocateoo forotheoapplicantoinoCM-2860-CWP-2022.oo o Mr.oPunitoJain,oAdvocateoforopetitionersoinoo CWP-12816-2022oando13097-2022oandofororespondentoNo.3o inoCWPoNo.21459oofo2019.oo o Mr.oKamaloSatija,oAdvocate,o foropetitioneroinoCWP-2668-2022.oo o Ms.oAdarshpaloKaur,oAdvocate,oo forotheopetitioneroinoCWP-21459-2021.o CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-3-oo 2023:PHHC:166153o

o Mr.oRahuloGarg,oAdvocateoo forotheopetitioneroinoCWP-10763-2023.o Mr.oBhushanoBhatia,oAdvocateoforotheopetitionersoinoo CWP-7106-2021,oCWP-12041-2021,oCWP-17171-2021,oo CWP-1658-2022,oCWP-3062-2022,oo CWP-18296-2022oandoo fororespondent-BankoinoCWP-2282oofo2022,o CWP-12816-2022oandoCWP-13097-2022.oo o Mr.oPankajoMulwani,oDAG,oHaryana.oo o Mr.oVirajoGandhi,oAdvocateofororespondentoNo.4oinoo CWP-12041-2021oando21459oofo2021oandoo fororespondentoNo.3oinoCWP-2668-2022.oo o Mr.oAmitoJain,oSenioroAdvocateowithoo Mr.oRajneeshoMalhotra,oAdvocateoo fororespondentoNo.5oinoCWP-10763-2023oandoo fororespondentoNo.2oinoCWP-3062-2022.oo o Mr.oSandeepoSuri,oAdvocateofororespondentsoNo.3o&o7oinoo CWP-12041-2021,oCWP-1658-2022,oCWP-17171-2021,o CWPoNo.7106oofo2021oandoCWP-21459-2021oandoo foroBajajoAllianceoinoCWP-12816-2022oandoCWP-13097-o 2022.oo o Mr.oPrateekoGupta,oAdvocateoandoMr.oNitinoGupta,oAdvocateo fororespondentoNo.6oinoCWP-21459-2021,oo CWP-17171-2021o&oCWP-7106-2021,oCWP-2668-2022,o CWP-18296-2022,oCWP-12041-2021oandoCWP-10763-2023.oo o Mr.oAmitoJhanji,oSr.oAdvocateowithoo Mr.oShashankoShekharoSharma,oAdvocateo fororespondentoNo.5oinoCWP-12041-2021.o o Mr.oAnkuroGupta,oAdvocateoo fororespondentoNo.7oinoCWP-10763-2023.oo o Mr.oNitinoThatai,oAdvocate,ofororespondentoNo.8oinoo CWP-7106-2021,oCWP-12041-2021,oCWP-17171-2021,oo CWP-21459-2021,oCWP1658-2022,oCWP-18296-2022o andoCWP-10763-2021.o o Mr.oSatpaloDhamija,oAdvocateoforoo Mr.oAshwanioTalwar,oAdvocateoo fororespondentoNo.2oinoCWP-21459-2021o andoCWP-10763-2021.o CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-4-oo 2023:PHHC:166153o

VINODoS.oBHARDWAJ,oJ.o o o o Theo presento batcho ofo 12o writo petitionso raisingo ao commono disputeoareobeingodecidedobyoaosingleojudgment.oNineo(09)owritopetitionso haveobeenofiledobyoBank(s)owhileotheoremainingo03owritopetitionsohaveobeeno filedo byo theo Insuranceo Companieso againsto theo decisiono relatingo too indemnificationounderotheoPradhanoMantrioFasaloBimaoYojnao(hereinaftero referredotooaso"PMFBY").o o o oo Foro theo facilityo ofo referenceo factso areo beingo referredo fromo CWPo No.2282o ofo2022otitledo aso 'AgricultureoInsuranceo Companyoofo IndiaoLimitedoVs.oStateoofoHaryanaoandoothers.'ooooo o FACTSo o o Challengeoinotheopresentowritopetitionoisotootheoordersodatedo

14.01.2021o(AnnexureoP-11)oando03.09.2021o(AnnexureoP-28)opassedobyo theoStateoLeveloGrievanceoRedressaloCommitteeo(SLGC)oinotheomeetingoofo theoDirectoroGeneraloofoAgricultureoandoFarmers'oWelfare,oDepartmentoofo Agricultureo ando Farmers'o Welfare,o wherebyo theo petitioner-Insuranceo CompanyohasobeenodirectedotoopayoclaimotootheotuneoofoRs.9,95,57,413.03o (Rupeeso Nineo Croreso Ninetyo Fiveo Lakhs,o Fiftyo Seveno Thousando Fouro HundredoThirteenoandothreeopaise)owhichoareoallegedotoohaveobeenodirectedo withouto providingo anyo supportingo documentso oro detailso regardingo theo claimso too beo paid.o Ao furthero prayero haso beeno soughto foro directingo theo respondento No.2o too passo fresho orderso quao theo claimso ino whicho theo Banks/Farmers/StateoGovernmentsoareoatofaultoandodespiteotheosame,otheo petitioner-InsuranceoCompanyohasobeenoheldoliable.oo CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-5-oo 2023:PHHC:166153o

o o Theo petitioner-Insuranceo Companyo hado beeno formedo ono

20.12.2002oexclusivelyotoodealowithoagricultureoandoalliedoinsuranceoatotheo behestoofotheoGovernmentoofoIndiaoconsequentotootheoannouncementomadeo byotheothenoFinanceoMinisteroinohisoGeneraloBudgetoSpeechoforotheoFinanialo Yearo 2002-2003.o Theo petitioner-Insuranceo Companyo tooko overo theo implementationo ofo Nationalo Agriculturalo Insuranceo Schemeo (foro shorto 'NAIS')o w.e.f.o 01.04.2003o fromo theo Generalo Insuranceo Corporationo ofo India.oInoaddition,oNationaloAgriculturaloInsuranceoSchemeoalsootransactso othero insuranceo businesseso directlyo aso wello aso indirectlyo concerningo agricultureoandoitsoalliedoactivities.oo o o TheoGovernmentoofoIndiaoissuedoitsoadministrativeoapprovalotoo theo Pradhano Mantrio Fasalo Bimao Yojnao (hereinaftero referredo too aso "PMFBY")oandooperationaloguidelinesowereocirculatedobyotheoDepartmento ofoAgricultureoandoFarmeroWelfare,oMinistryoofoAgricultureoandoFarmero Welfare,oGovernmentoofoIndia.oAdministrativeoapprovalsowereoissuedovideo lettersoofodifferentodatesoforosubsequentoseasons.oTheosaidoguidelinesowereo revisedobyotheoGovernmentoofoIndiaovideoletterodatedo28.09.2018oandowereo madeoapplicableow.e.f.o01.10.2018.oAoclarificationowasothereafteroissuedobyo theoGovernmentoofoIndiaovideoletterodatedo16.01.2019otootheoeffectothato whereotheotendersohadoalreadyobeenofloatedoandoacceptedoasoperotheooldo guidelines,o theo provisionso ofo Thresholdo Yieldo Calculation,o Localizedo CalamitiesoandoPost-HarvestoLossesowillobeoasoperotheotenderoconditionso andoasoperotheooldoguidelinesoapplicableoasoonodateoofofinalizationoofotendero beforeotheoissuanceooforevisedoguidelines.oooo CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-6-oo 2023:PHHC:166153o

o o Subsequently,oGovernmentoofoHaryana,oissuedoaoNotificationo datedo 24.05.2019o througho theo Directoro ofo Agricultureo ando Farmers'o Welfare,o Haryana,o foro implementationo ofo PMFBYo duringo theo seasono Kharif-2019o ando Rabio 2019-2020.o Aso pero theo aboveo Notificationo Fouro KharifocropsoofoMaize,oPaddy,oBajraoandoCottonoandoFiveoRabioCropsoofo Wheat,o Gram,o Barley,o Mustardo ando Sunflowero wereo notified.o Clustero 1o comprisingo ofo seveno Districtso namelyo Panchkula,o Bhiwani,o Rewari,o Kurukshetra,o Kaithal,o Faridabado ando Sirsao hado beeno allottedo too theo Agricultureo Insuranceo Companyo ofo Indiao i.e.o theo petitionero hereino foro implementationo ofo theo PMFBYo foro theo aboveo mentionedo seasons.o Accordingly,o ao Corrigendumo datedo 19.06.2019o waso issuedo byo theo DepartmentoofoAgricultureoofoHaryanaopertainingotoopremiumosharingoforo BajraoandoMaize.oBasedoonotheoaboveosaidoguidelinesoissuedobyotheoStateoofo Haryana,o theo petitionero Insuranceo Companyo issuedo guidelineso too theo Bankerso aso wello aso theo controllingo headso ono 27.05.2019.o Theo saliento featureso ofo theo aboveo saido operationalo guidelineso reliedo upono byo theo petitioneroInsuranceoCompany,oareoextractedoasounder:-o o "A.o Allo theo farmerso includingo sharecropperso ando tenanto farmersogrowingotheonotifiedocropsoinotheonotifiedoareasoareo eligibleoforotheocoverageounderotheoScheme.o o B.oTheoSchemeoisocompulsoryoforoloaneeofarmersoi.e.oallotheo farmerso availingo Seasonalo Agriculturalo Operationso (SAO)o loanso fromo theo Financialo Institutionso (FIs)o foro theo notifiedo cropso wouldo beo coveredo compulsorily.o Theo concernedo banks/banko brancheso musto uploado individualo farmer-wiseo detailso ono Nationalo Cropo Insuranceo Portalo CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-7-oo 2023:PHHC:166153o

(www.pmfby.gov.in)oandoremitotheofarmer'soshareoofopremiumo withinotheoprescribedocut-offodates.oAsoperotheoprovisionsoofo theoScheme,oAIC/ImplementingoAgencyodisbursesotheoclaims,oifo any,otootheoFlsoandoinoturn,oFlsocreditotheosameoinorespectiveo farmers'oaccount.oAsoperotheoScheme,oonlyofarmersowhoseodatao isouploadedobyotheirobanksoonotheoNationaloCropoInsuranceo Portalo shallo beo eligibleo foro insuranceo coverageo ando theo premiumosubsidyofromotheoStateoandoCentraloGovt.oisoreleasedo accordingly.o o C.o o Theo Schemeo iso optionalo foro non-loaneeo farmers.o Nono loaneeofarmersoareorequiredotoosubmitonecessaryodocumentaryo evidenceo ofo lando recordso and/oro applicableo contract/agreementodetails/otherodocumentonotified/permittedo byotheoconcernoStateoGovt.o(inocaseoofosharecroppers/tenanto farmers).o Theiro coverageo detailso areo alsoo requiredo too beo uploadedo ono Nationalo Cropo Insuranceo Portalo (www.pmfby.gov.in)obyotheoconcernedobankobranch,oCSCooro authorizedochannelopartner/directlyobyofarmeroonlineoetc.o o D.ooAsoperotheoprovisionoofotheoScheme,otheosumoinsuredopero hectareoforobothotheoloaneeoandonon-loaneeofarmersowillobeo theosameoandoequivalentotootheoScaleoofoFinanceoasodecidedobyo theo Districto Levelo Technicalo Committeeo ando wouldo beo pre-declaredobyotheoStateoLeveloCo-ordinationoCommitteeoonocropo Insuranceo(SLCCCI)oandonotifiedoinoNotification.o o E.ooActuarialoPremiumoRateo(APR)owouldobeochargedoundero PMFBYobyoImplementingoAgencyo(IA).oTheorateoofoinsuranceo chargesopayableobyotheofarmersohasobeenorationalizedoforotheo cropsothroughoutotheocountryoandoreducedotooaolowerolevelo subjectotooaomaximumoceilingoofo2%oofosumoinsuredoforoKharifo foodo grains,o pulseso ando oilseedo crops,o 1.5%o foro Rabio foodo CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-8-oo 2023:PHHC:166153o

grains,opulsesoandooilseedocropsoando5%oforoKharifo&oRabio annualocommercial/annualohorticulturalocrops.oDifferenceoofo APRoandoFarmersopremiumoareosharedobetweenotheoCentralo Govt.o ando Stateo Govt.o ono 50:50o bases.o Claimso liabilityo iso borneobyotheoIA.oIfopremiumotooclaimoratiooexceedso1:3.5ooro percentageoofoclaimsotoosumoinsuredoexceedso35%,owhichevero iso higher,o ato theo nationalo levelo ino ao cropo season,o theno GovernmentsowilloprovideoprotectionotooIAs.o o F.o Theo Schemeo iso beingo implementedo ino Haryanao ino associationowithotheoStateoGovt.oTheoStateoLeveloCo-ordinationo Committeeo ono cropo Insuranceo (SLCCCI)o iso overseeingo theo implementationo ofo PMFBY.o Ino accordanceo too theo GOIo AdministrativeoInstructionsoandoOperationaloGuidelines,otheo SLCCCIo meetingo iso heldo ando notificationo iso issuedo foro implementationoofoPMFBYoduringoKharifo&oRabioseasonsoino theoState.oTheoDirectorateoofoAgriculture,oHaryana,omaintainso theorecordsoregardingotheocrop-wise,onotifiedoareaowise,ocropo yieldo datao basedo upono requisiteo numbero ofo Cropo Cuttingo Experimentso(CCEs)oasoperoGeneraloCropoEstimationoSurveyo

(GCES)oandosendsotheosameotootheoIAofromotimeotootime.oEveryo season,oStateoGovt.oassessesotheocropoyieldoforoeachonotifiedo cropoinoeachonotifiedoarea.o o G.oooAsoperoRevisedoPMFBY,ofollowingorisksoareocovered:o o StandingoCropo(SowingotooHarvesting):oComprehensiveorisko insuranceo iso providedo too covero yieldo losseso dueo too non-preventableorisks,oviz.oDrought,oDryospell,oFlood,oInundation,o widespreadoPestsoandoDiseaseoattack,oLandslides.oFireodueotoo naturalo causes,o Lightening,o Storm,o Hailstormo ando Cyclone.o Schemeooperatesoonotheoprincipaloofo'AreaoApproach'oinotheo selectedo Definedo Areaso calledo Insuranceo Unito (IU).o Stateo CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-9-oo 2023:PHHC:166153o

Govt/UTohasotoonotifyotheocropsoandodefinedoareasocoveredo duringotheoseasonoinoaccordanceowithodecisionotakenoinotheo meetingo ofo SLCCCI.o Ifo Actualo Yieldo (AY)o pero hectareo ofo insuredocropoforotheoinsuranceounito(calculatedoonobasisoofo requisiteonumberoofoCCEs)oinoinsuredoseason,ofallsoshortoofo specifiedo Thresholdo Yieldo (TY),o allo theo insuredo farmerso growingothato cropo ino theodefinedoareaoareo deemedotoo haveo sufferedoshortfalloinotheiroyieldoofosimilaromagnitude.oPMFBYo seekso tooprovideo coverageoagainstosuchocontingency.o Claimo shallobeocalculatedoasoperotheofollowingoformula.o o o (thresholdo Yield-o ActualoYieldo ClaimsoPayableo?oo ________________o Xosumoinsuredoo o ThresholdoYieldo o o Where,oThresholdoYieldoforoaocropoinoaonotifiedoareaoiso theoaverageoyieldoofopastosevenoyearso(excludingoaomaximumo ofo2ocalamityoyears,oifoany,oasonotifiedobyotheoStateoGovt./UT)o multipliedobyoapplicableoIndemnityoLevelo(IL)oforothatocrop.o o UnderoPMFBY,oafteroreceiptoofoyieldoDataofromoStateo Govt.o theo Actualo Yieldo obtainedo iso comparedo witho theo Thresholdo Yield.o Anyo insuredo cropo ino ao notifiedo areao recordingo lowero actualo yieldo thano theo Thresholdo yieldo becomesoautomaticallyoeligibleoforoclaimoandoallotheoinsuredo farmerso ofo thato notifiedo area/cropo areo compensatedo ato theo sameorateoirrespectiveoofotheofactothatowhetheroanoindividualo farmerohasosufferedolossooronot.oNooclaimsobecomeopayableoino caseothereoisonooshortfalloinoyieldoforotheonotifiedocropoinotheo notifiedoareaooroifothereoisonoocoverageounderoPMFBY.oClaimo underotheoSchemeoisosettledostrictlyoasoperotheoprovisionsoando guidelinesodescribedoinotheoScheme.oTheoclaimounderoPMFBYo iso settledo onlyo ono theo basiso ofo yieldo datao furnishedo byo CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-10-o o 2023:PHHC:166153o

Directorateo ofo Agriculture,o Haryanao arrivedoato througho regularocropoestimationosurveysoforoproductionoestimatesoi.e.o plannedocropocuttingoexperimentsoandonotoonoanyootherobasiso sucho aso Annavari,o declarationo ofo drought,o declarationo ofo floodso byo Gazetteo notificationo byo anyo department/authority.o Claim,oifoany,oisodisbursedotootheobanks/directlyotootheoinsuredo farmers,o whicho credito theo sameo too theo accountso ofo theo respectiveoeligibleobeneficiaries.o o H.oBesidesoabove,ofourootherotypesoofoclaimsodeterminationo processesoareoalsooenvisagedoinotheoSchemeo(PMFBY),owhicho areomentionedogivenobelowoinobrief:o o I)o On-accounto paymento ofo claimso dueo too mid-seasono adversityo(atoNotifiedoAreaoLevel):oInsuranceocoverowillobeo providedotootheofarmersotooprovideoimmediateoreliefoinocaseoofo adverseo seasonalo conditionso duringo theo cropo seasono viz.o floods,o prolongedo dryo spells,o severeo droughto etc.,o whereino expectedoyieldoduringotheoseasonoisolikelyotoobeolessothano50%o ofoNormaloYield.o o II)o Prevented/failedo sowingo claimso (ato Notifiedo Areao Level):oInsuranceocoverowillobeoprovidedotoofarmersoinocaseoofo widespreadoincidenceoofoeligibleoriskso(Sectiono5,oparao5.1.1,o i.e.o Preventedo Sowing/Planting/Germinationo Risk:o Insuredo areaoisopreventedofromosowing/oplanting/germinationodueotoo deficito rainfallo oro adverseo seasonal/weathero conditions)o affectingocropsoinomoreothano75%oofoareaosownoinoaonotifiedo unitoatoearlyostage,obutonotolaterothano15odaysofromocutooffodateo foroenrolment,oleadingotoototalolossoofocropoorotheofarmersoareo notoinoaopositionotooeitherosowoorotransplantotheocrop.o o CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-11-o o 2023:PHHC:166153o

III)oPost-harvestolossesoclaimso(atoIndividualoFarmoLevel):o Provisiono haso beeno madeo foro assessmento ofo yieldo losso ono individualo ploto basiso ino caseo ofo occurrenceo ofo hailstorm,o cyclone,o cyclonico rainso ando unseasonalo rainso resultingo ino damageo too harvestedo cropo lyingo ino theo fieldo ino 'cuto ando spread/smallo bundledo conditiono foro dryingo uptoo maximumo periodo ofo twoo weekso (14o days)o fromo harvesting,o foro soleo purposeoofodrying.oForotheopurposeoofoindemnificationoofoposto harvestocropolosses,ounseasonalorainsoshallobeotriggeredowheno theoexcessorainfalloisomoreothano20%ooverolongoperiodoaverageo overotheomonthoforothatodistrictosubjectotooconfirmationoofotheo damageo ino theo Jointo surveyo too beo conductedo byo concernedo StateoGovt.oandoInsuranceoCompanyo o IV)oLocalizedoRiskoclaimso(atoIndividualoFarmoLevel):oTheo Schemeoprovidesoforoinsuranceocoveroatoindividualofarmolevelo toocropolossesodueotoooccurrenceoofolocalizedoperils/calamitieso viz.o Hailstorm,o Landslide,o Inundation,o Cloudo bursto ando Naturalofireodueotoolighteningoaffectingo isolatedofarmsoinoao notifiedoareaooroaoplot.o o Forotheopurposeoofoindemnificationoofocropolossesodueotoo inundationoasolocalizedoclaim,oinundationoisoaosituationowhereo insuredofieldoisocoveredoorosubmergedobyowaterodueotooriseoino waterolevelobyorainwaterothatohasofallenonaturallyofromotheoskyo orofromoanoartesianowelloorofloodowaterolocallyoandowhereo waterostaysoforoprolongedoperiodoandocausesovisibleodamageo tootheocrop.o o Asoperoparao5.1.8oofotheoRevisedoPMFBY,otheoyieldolosso damageoforolocalisedocalamitiesoandopostoharvestolossesowillo beoassessedoonotheobasisoofoindividualoinsuredofarmoleveloando henceo lodgingo ofo losso informationo byo farmer/designatedo CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-12-o o 2023:PHHC:166153o

agenciesoisoessential.oFororemainingorisksolossesoareodueotoo widespreado calamities.o Henceo lodgingo ofo informationo foro claimsobyoinsuredofarmers/designatedoagenciesoforosuchowideo spreadocalamitiesoisonotoessential.oClaimsowillobeocalculatedo basedoonotheolossoassessmentoreport/averageoyieldosubmittedo byoconcernedoStateoGovt.o o Aso pero paragraphso 21.5,o 21.5.4.1,o 21.5.4.2,o 21.5.9.1o (Table)oofotheoRevisedoPMFBY,otheolocalizedointimationomusto containo detailso ofo survey-number-wiseo insuredo cropo ando acreageoaffected.oDulyofilled-inolossointimationoisomandatoryo too ascertaino theo insurableo interest.o Thereo areo prescribedo timelinesoalsootoolodgeolossointimationo(72ohours)oasowelloasoitso forwardingotooICo(48ohours).oAccordingly,oAICoshouldonotobeo heldoliableoforoincompleteolossointimation,odelayedointimations,o intimationsowithoutohavingodetailsolikeosurveyono.owiseoinsuredo cropoandoacreageoaffected.o o Similaro provisionso areo mentionedo w.r.t.o Post-Harvesto Lossesoinoparagraphono.o21.4oofoRevisedoPMFBY.o o Stateo Govt.o ofo Haryanao iso maintainingo ao dedicatedo portaloPMU-MISoforotheoreceiptoofocropolossointimationsofromo theo individualo farmerso w.r.t.o localisedo calamitieso ando post-harvesto losses.o Ao uniqueo PMUo IDo iso beingo providedo too localisedointimation.o o

21.5.2.4oofoRevisedoPMFBY-o o Itoisopertinentotoomentionohereothatoifotheopayooutoundero areaoapproacho(basedoonoCCESodata)oisomoreothanolocalizedo losses,otheohigheroclaimsoofotwoowillobeopayableotooinsuredo CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-13-o o 2023:PHHC:166153o

o

1.k PMFBYoisoaomulti-agencyoSchemeoandobeingooperatedobyo theo multipleo agencieso viz.,o Stateo Govt.,o Insuranceo Companies,o Govt.o ofo India,o Bankers,o Commono Serviceo CentersoInsuranceoIntermediariesoandoFarmers.oTheoroleo ofoeachoagencyoisolimitedoandowellodefinedoinotheoSchemeo provisionsoandoStateoGovt.oNotification.oAICoisomereooneoofo implementingo Agencyo ando strictlyo functionso aso pero theo SchemeoprovisionsoandoStateoGovt.oNotification."o o o o o TheorevisedoPMFBYomadeoeffectiveofromo01.10.2018ocalledo forofollowingoproceduralorevisions:o "Asoperoparao2oofotheoRevisedoPMFBYoregardingoAdoptiono ofooTechnologyoforoSchemeoAdministration:o o

2.1o Ino ano endeavouro too integrateo Technologyo ino implementationo ando executiono ofo theo Scheme,o theo Govt.o ofo IndiaohasodesignedoandodevelopedoaoNationaloCropoInsuranceo Portalo(NCIP)o(www.opmfby.gov.in).oThisowillobringoinobettero administrationo ando coordinationo amongsto stakeholderso viz.o Farmers,o States,o Insurerso ando Bankso aso wello aso realo timeo disseminationoofoinformationoandotransparency.o o

2.2oTheosuccessfulorunningoofotheoPortalocallsofororesponsibleo participationo byo differento stakeholderso whoo willo haveo theo responsibilityo foro censuso codingo ando updatingo revenue/administrativeo units,o AWSo codeo mappingo ando updatingorequisiteoinformation/detailsoasoperologinocredentialo module.o o

2.3o Implementingo Stateso ando Insuranceo Companieso duringo eachocroposeasonoareorequiredotoodigitizeoandouploadoonotheo webo Portalo ino theo relevanto module,o basico informationo likeo CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-14-o o 2023:PHHC:166153o

notifiedo areas,o crops,o sumo insured,o Govto subsidy,o ando premiumotoobeopaidobyofarmersoandonameoofotheoimplementingo Insuranceo Companieso ino theo particularo insuranceo unito etc..o wellowithinotheoprescribedotime.oThisowillofacilitateofarmerso ando othero stakeholderso too geto theo relevanto informationo ono Interneto ando througho SMSo Stateo Govt,o ando concernedo Insuranceo Companyo willo beo responsibleo foro anyo incorrecto entry/errors/oomissionsoetc.o o o o xxxo xxxo xxxo

2.6oAlloStakeholdersohaveodefinedorolesoandoresponsibilitieso ando accessibilityo too relatedo moduleso ono theo Portalo foro administrationoofotheoScheme.oDetailsoofooperationalizationoofo modulesoforoeachostakeholderoareoavailableoonotheoPortaloforo readyoreference.o xxxo xxxo xxxo

2.9o Onlyo farmerso whoseo datao iso uploadedo ono theo Nationalo Cropo Insuranceo Portalo shallo beo eligibleo foro Insuranceo coverageo ando theo premiumo subsidyo fromo Stateo ando Centralo Govt.owillobeoreleasedoaccordingly.o xxxo xxxo xxxo

2.11oBanks/FinancialoInstitutions/otherointermediariesoneedotoo compulsorilyo transfero theo individualo farmer'so datao electronicallyo too theo Nationalo Cropo Insuranceo Portal.o Accordinglyo Banks/Flso mayo endeavouro too undertakeo CBSo integrationoinoaotimeoboundomannerofororealotimeotransferoofo information/data.o o AsoperoParao9.2o-oBanks,oCSCoandoInsuranceoAgentsoareo requiredo too remito theo premiumo paymento too respectiveo Insuranceo Companyo mandatorilyo througho RTGS/NEFTo followedo byo mandatoryo uploadingo ofo paymento detailso ono NationaloCropoInsuranceoPortalowithinostipulatedodate.o o CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-15-o o 2023:PHHC:166153o

Clause/Parao17oofoRevisedoPMFBYo-oregardingocollectionoofo proposaloandopremiumofromofarmers:o o

17.2o Consolidatedo declaration/o proposalo formatso too beo submittedophysically/oelectronicallyobyoNodalobanks/Brancheso shallocontainodetailsoaboutoInsuranceoUnit,osumoinsuredopero unit,o premiumo pero unit,o totalo areao insuredo ofo theo farmers,o numberoandocategoryoofofarmersocoveredo(smalloandomarginalo oro other)o ando numbero ofo farmerso undero othero categorieso (SC/ST/others)/Womenoalongowithotheirobankoaccountodetailso etco(bank/theirobranches)oasoperotheoapplicationoformoprovidedo onotheoNationaloCropoInsuranceoPortal.oBanksoareorequiredotoo uploadotheoinsuredofarmers'odataomandatorilyoonotheoNationalo CropoInsuranceoPortal.oNoootheroplatformoshallobeousedoforo uploading/submissionoofofarmers'odata.oThoseofarmersowhoseo dataoisouploadedoonotheoNationaloCropoInsuranceoPortaloshallo onlyobeoeligibleoforoInsuranceocoverageoandoaccordinglyotheo premiumo subsidyo willo alsoo beo released.o Ino caseso whereo farmerso areo deniedo cropo insuranceo dueo too incorrect/o partial/non-uploadingo ofo theiro detailso ono Portal.o concernedo Banks/Intermediarieso shallo beo responsibleo foro paymento ofo claimsotoothem.o o

17.4.5o Cropo loanso sanctionedo througho Kisano Credito Cardso

(KCC)o areo coveredo undero compulsoryo coverageo ando bankso shallomaintainoallobackouporecordsoandoregistersorelatingotoo complianceo witho PMFBYo ando itso seasonalityo disciplineo ando cut-off-dateofororemittanceoofopremium/submittingoofocoverageo detailsoasoinotheocaseoofonormalocropoloans.oBankobranchowillo apportionocoverageoamongoinsurableocrops,obasedoonoacreageo mentionedoinoloanoapplicationooroonotheobasisoofoactualoareao sownoasodeclaredobyotheofarmerosubsequently.o o CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-16-o o 2023:PHHC:166153o

17.4.6oBankobranchesoofoCommercialobanksoandoRRBs/oNodalo Banko ino caseo ofo PACSo undero itso jurisdictiono shallo submito individualo insuredo farmer'so detailso alongo witho NEFT/RTGS/UTRodetailsoofopremiumoonlineothroughoNationalo CropoInsuranceoPortal.oAdditionally,oconsolidatedoinsuranceo proposals/o statements/declarationso fromo theo banko branch/o NodaloBankoinocaseoofoPACSounderoitsojurisdiction,oshallobeo forwardedotootheoconcernedoInsuranceoCompanyoalongowitho detailsooforemittance/oRTGSotowardsoinsuranceopremium,oino accordanceowithocutooffodates,oasospecifiedobyoSLCCCIoforoao particularocropoandoseason.oItoshallobeotheoresponsibilityoofo ICsotoocollectotheoconsolidatedostatementofromotheoconcernedo bankobranches/oPACS.o o

17.4.7oDifferentooptionsoareoavailableoforobankobranchesotoo provideo detailso ofo beneficiarieso ino ao moreo transparento ando authenticomechanism.oBankobranchocanouploadotheodetailsoofo insuredofarmersothroughoonlineoapplicationomode.oBanksoareo requiredotooupload/enterotheoinformationocontinuouslyowithouto waitingoforolastodayoforopremiumodebitoandodataoentry.o o

17.4.8oAsoanoalternative,odirectointegrationoofoCoreoBankingo Solutiono(CBS)owithoNationaloCropoInsuranceoPortalohasoalsoo beeno successfullyo initiatedo ando theo sameo mayo beo usedo byo ScheduledoCommercialoBanks/RRBs/DCCBsoavailableoonoCBSo foropushingotheofarmers'odetailsoinobulkodirectlyowithoutofillingo theoindividualofarmer'sodetailsoonoweb-portaloorooff-lineoutility.o o Asoperoparao17.5.7oofoRevisedoOGoofoPMFBYo-oForofarmerso buyingocropoinsuranceothroughoCSCsooroonline,oOTP/Adhaaro enabledo verificationo shallobeo construedoaso signatureo byotheo applicantoforocoverageounderocropoinsurance.o o CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-17-o o 2023:PHHC:166153o

17.9o Theo concernedo brancheso ofo bankso ando Nodalo Banks/o DCCBsoinocaseoofoPACSowillouploadotheodetailsoofoindividualo insuredofarmerso(botholoaneeoandonon-loanee)olikeofarmer'so name,ofather'soname,oBankoAccountonumber.oAdhaaroNumber,o village,o categorieso -o Smallo ando Marginal/SC/ST/Women,o insuredoacreage,odetailsoofoinsuredoland,oinsuredocrop(s)oetco aso prescribedo ino onlineo applicationo form.o availableo ono NationaloCropoInsuranceoPortalooroCBSointegrationomoduleo andosubmitotheosameowithinostipulatedocut-offodateoasoperotheo seasonalityodiscipline/oTheoBanks/oPACSomustoalsooensureotheo premiumo amounto iso remittedo too theo concernedo Insuranceo Companyo electronicallyo withino theo stipulatedo time,o failingo whichotheyoshallobeoresponsibleoforopaymentoofoclaims,oifoanyo tootheofarmers.oHowever,oanyodisputeoinotheomatteromayobeo referredotootheoStateoGovt.obyotheoconcernedoAgency/Bankoforo takingoappropriateoactionowithinotheoprescribedocutooffodateo fororeconciliationoofopremiumobyobanksowithoallodetails.o o

17.11oInsuranceoCompaniesoshouldoalsooreconcileotheodetailso ofoindividualoinsuredofarmersouploadedoonotheoPortalowithotheo premium/consolidatedo declarationo receivedo fromo eacho branch/nodalo banko withino theo stipulatedo dateo ando anyo deficiency/o mismatcho mayo beo reportedo too concernedo banko branch/nodalo bank.o Theo Banko Branch/Nodalo Banko shouldo furthero send/uploado theo requisiteo informationo ino respecto ofo sucho farmerso foro whomo clarificationo haso beeno sought,o immediatelyo withino 7o days.o Ifo sucho rectificationo iso noto done/completedo byo banko brancho /nodalo banko withino theo stipulatedoperiod,oInsuranceoCompaniesomayorecommendotoo takeo necessaryo actiono too Stateo Govt.o undero intimationo too Centralo Govt.o Stateo Govto ino consultationo witho SLBCo mayo recommendo suitableo administrativeo actiono againsto sucho defaultingo branch/bank.o However,o claimso (ifo any)o ino sucho CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-18-o o 2023:PHHC:166153o

casesoofosuchofarmersoshallobeoborneobyotheoconcernedobanko only.o o

17.12o Insuranceo Companieso shouldo verifyo ando satisfyo themselveso abouto theo coverageo ofo farmers/o cropso ando giveo acceptanceo too theo applicationso submittedo byo bankso electronicallyothroughoNationaloCropoInsuranceoPortal.oTheo insuredo farmer'so personalo detailso likeo AADHAARo numbers,o Bankingo Details,o Address,o mobileo nos.o ando allo sucho detailso prohibitedo undero RBI,o IRDAo oro UIDAIo Act,o shallo noto beo displayed/disclosedo publicly.o Insuranceo Companieso willo reconcileotheodetailsoalongowithofarmer'soshareoofopremiumo receipto beforeo approachingo theo Govt.o too releaseo theo finalo instalmentoofosubsidyo(thirdoInstalment)ounderotheoScheme.o o

17.13oAlloInsuranceoCompaniesowillocompulsorilyoverifyoando takeo necessaryo actiono includingo approval/rejectiono ofo proposalo oro policyo ofo anyo farmero througho Nationalo Cropo Insuranceo Portalo withino stipulatedo date.o Aftero stipulatedo periodo foro reconciliationo &o obtainingo furthero clarificationo fromo stakeholders,o allo pendingo proposals/informationo ofo insured/coveredofarmersouploadedoonoCropoInsuranceoPortalo willo beo treatedoasoapprovedo ando Insuranceo Companieso willo ceaseotheirorightoforoanyofurtheroverification.oHowever,oanyo losseso too theo Govt.o includingo excesso paymento ofo premiumo subsidyodueotoodelayed/non-overificationoofodata/informationo ofo individualo covered/insuredo farmerso ono cropo insuranceo Portalo willo beo recoveredo fromo concernedo Insuranceo Companiesoonly.o o

17.14o Bankso willo ensureo distributiono ofo Acknowledgemento ReceiptoalongowithoFoliootooeachoinsuredofarmerowithino7odayso fromo theo acceptanceo ofo applicationso byo theo concernedo CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-19-o o 2023:PHHC:166153o

insuranceo company.o Theo Acknowledgemento Receipto willo beo generatedothroughoNationaloCropoInsuranceoPortaloitself.o o Asoperoparao24.2oofotheoRevisedoPMFBYoitohasobeenomentionedo thatoinocaseoofoanyosubstantialomisreportingobyonodalobanko /brancho ino caseo ofo compulsoryo farmerso coverage,o theo concernedobankoonlyoshallobeoliableoforosuchomisreporting.o o Asoperoparao27.1.1oofotheoRevisedoPMFBYoBankoandoothero financialoinstitutionsoetc.oshallobeopaidoserviceochargeso@o4%o ofotheofarmer'soshareoofopremiumobyoInsuranceoCompanyoaso generatedo fromo theo Portalo ando withino theo 15o dayso ofo finalizationo ofo businesso statistics.o Ruralo agentso engagedo ino providingoinsuranceorelatedoservicesotoofarmersomayobeopaido appropriateocommissionoasodecidedobyoInsuranceoCompany,o subjectotoocapoprescribedounderoIRDAIoregulations.oIfothereoiso delayoinopaymentoofoserviceochargesobyoInsuranceoCompanyo beyondo15odaysoofofinalizationoofobusinessostatistics,oamounto needsotoobeopaidowithointeresto@12%op.a.o o Aso pero parao 27.1.2o ofo theo Revisedo PMFBYo -o Eveno ifo theo farmer'so shareo ofo premiumo iso contributed/financedo byo theo concernedoStateoGovt.otheoapplicableoserviceochargesoshallobeo paidobyotheoconcernedoInsuranceoCompanyoonly.o o Aso pero parao 27.1.3o ofo theo Revisedo PMFBYo -o Noo serviceo chargesowillobeopayableotootheoconcernedobank/branchoforotheo applicationso foro whicho anyo anomaly/deficiency/o misrepresentationoofodetails/dataoisofound.o o Aso pero parao 35.5.2.8o ofo theo Revisedo PMFBYo -o Theo Nodalo Banks/Administrativeooffices/BankoBranchesoshalloalsoouploado theo detailso ofo eacho individualo insuredo farmero ono Nationalo CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-20-o o 2023:PHHC:166153o

CropoInsuranceoPortalothroughoweb-formooroCBSoonoorobeforeo finalocut-offodate.o o Asoperoparao35.5.2.9oofotheoRevisedoPMFBYo-oTheoInsuranceo Companyoshalloacknowledgeotheoreceiptoofofarmersopremiumo ando declarationso submittedo byo theo bankso ando anyo clarification/rectificationo soughto byo Insuranceo Companieso shouldocompulsorilyobeoreplied/addressedobyotheobankowithino 7odays.oTheobanksoshouldocrossocheckowithotheirorecordsoando aberrations,o ifo any,o shouldo beo broughto too theo noticeo ofo theo InsuranceoCompanyoimmediately.oIfonooresponseoisoreceivedo fromo bankso withino cuto offo time/reconciliationo period,o theo detailsosubmittedoonotheoPortaloshallobeoconsideredofinaloando noochangesowouldobeoacceptedolateroon.oInsuranceoCompanieso willothereafteroactoasodeemedofitoasoperoapplicableoprovisions.o o Asoperoparao35.5.2.13oofotheoRevisedoPMFBYo-Banksoshouldo ensureothatocultivatoroareonotobeodeprivedoofoanyobenefitoundero theo Schemeo dueo too errors/omissions/commissionso ofo theo concernedo branch/o PACS,o ando ino caseo ofo sucho errors,o theo concernedoagenciesoshallohaveotoomakeogoodoallosucholosses.o o Asoperoparao35.6.8oofoRevisedoOGoofoPMFBYoCSC-SPVowillo beo responsibleo foro accuracyo ofo detailso ando documento ofo individualo farmerso uploadedo ono Nationalo Cropo Insuranceo Portalo ando liableo foro claimo paymento dueo too errorso ando omissionsocommittedobyoSPV/VLE.o o Asoperoparao35.7.5oofotheoRevisedoPMFBYo-oTheoCSCo(VLEs)o areo requiredo too fillo upo theo correcto detailso ofo non-loaneeo cultivatorso ando uploado theo requisiteo documentso alongwitho theiromobileonumberoonoNationaloCropoInsuranceoPortaloando remitotheopremiumoamountothroughoCSCoPortalowellowithinotheo CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-21-o o 2023:PHHC:166153o

stipulatedo time.o Dueo careoshouldo beo takeno ino fillingo upo theo detailsoinotheoapplicationoformoofoeachoinsuredonon-oloaneeo farmero ando ito shouldo beo matchedo witho documentso attachedo withotheoapplication.o o Asoperoparao35.7.6oofotheoRevisedoPMFBY-oTheoVLEoshouldo ensureothatoinsuredofarmersoareonotodeprivedoofoanyobenefito underotheoSchemeodueotooerrors/oomissions/ocommissionsobyo them,o ando ino caseo ofo benefitso beingo impacted,o necessaryo administrativeoandolegaloactionowilloalsoobeotakenoforolapsesoino service/malpractices.......o o Asoperoparao5.1.8oofoRevisedoPMFBY,otheoYieldolossodamageo foro localisedo calamitieso ando posto harvesto losseso willo beo assessedo ono theo basiso ofo individualo insuredo farmo levelo ando henceo lodgingo ofo losso informationo byo farmer/designatedo agenciesoisoessential.oFororemainingorisksolossesoareodueotoo widespreado calamities.o Henceo lodgingo ofo informationo foro claimsobyoinsuredofarmerso/odesignatedoagenciesoforosuchowiseo spreadocalamitiesoisonotoessential.oClaimsowillobeocalculatedo basedoonotheolossoassessmentoreport/averageoyieldosubmittedo byoconcernedoStateoGovt.o o Asoperoparaso21.5,o21.5.4.1,o21.5.4.2,o21.5.9.1o(Table)oofotheo RevisedoPMFBY,otheolocalizedointimationomustocontainodetailso ofo survey-number-o wiseo insuredo cropo ando acreageo affected.o Dulyofilled-inolossointimationoisomandatoryotooascertainotheo insurableo interest.o Thereo areo prescribedo timelineso alsoo too lodgeolossointimationo(72ohours)oasowelloasoitsoforwardingotoo InsuranceoCompanyo(48ohours).o o Similaroprovisionsoareomentionedow.r.t.oPost-HarvestoLosseso atoparaso21.4oofoRevisedoPMFBY."o CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-22-o o 2023:PHHC:166153o

oo o Ino theo lighto ofotheo aboveoprovisions,o theo detailsoofo notifiedo crops,onotifiedoareaso(villages),ofarmeropremiumsorates,oStateoandoCentreo Governmentoshareoofosubsidyorates,opre-declaredosumoinsuredovalues,obanko branches,o implementingo agencieso areo updatedo ino theo Nationalo Cropo InsuranceoPortaloofotheoGovernmentoofoIndiaoforoadministrationoofotheoCropo Insuranceo Programme.o Ito iso furthero averredo thato noo lando records/normalo duesoandocroposownodeclarationsoareouploadedobyotheobanksowithorespectotoo theoloaneeeofarmersoandoonlyotheocoverageodetailsoincludingotheocrop/areao insured/landosurveyoandolandodescriptiononumbersoetc.oareouploadedobyotheo concernedo banko brancho ando consolidatedo premiumo iso remittedo too theo InsuranceoCompanyofororeconciliationoofotheopremiumoremittedowithotheo NationaloCropoInsuranceoProgrammeoData.oEvenothoughoasoperotheorevisedo PMFBY,otheoGovernmentsoareoadvisedotoodigitizeotheorevenueorecordsosoo thatotheoindependentolandorecordoofotheofarmersocanobeoaccessedothroughotheo NationaloCropoInsuranceoPortal,ohowever,otheointegrationoofotheodigitalolando recordoisostatedotoobeopendingoinotheoStateoofoHaryana.oInotheocasesowhereo thereoisoanointegrationoofotheolandorecord,otheobankoisoableotoofetchotheo concernedofamer'solandodetailsoeliminatingotheocasesoofovillageomis-match,o oroanyootheromis-matchoetc.oUnderotheooperationaloguidelines,otheoInsuranceo Companiesoareogiveno15odaysoforoloaneeofarmersoando30odaysoforonon-o loaneeofarmersotooacceptoororejectotheodataoonoportaloandoverifyotheoonlineo data,owhichoisoalsoodoneobyotheoInsuranceoCompany,obyocheckingotheodatao uploadedobyotheobank.oItoisoclaimedothatophysicalocheckingoofothousandsoofo farmers'olandoholdingsoandotheocropsosownocannotobeocarriedooutobyotheo InsuranceoCompanyoasotheodataoisotoobeofedobyotheoBankowhichoisoextendingo CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-23-o o 2023:PHHC:166153o

loanotootheofarmersoandohasotheodocumentsoprovidedobyotheofarmeroinoitso possession.oTheoInsuranceoCompanyohasobeenogivenotheooptionotooreporto anyodiscrepancy,oifofound,oinotheodata,obutothereoisonoodutyolaidoonotheo InsuranceoCompanyotoophysicallyoverifyotheodataoofotheofarmeroasoprovidedo byotheobankowhichohasoextendedotheoloan.oSuchodutyoofotheodataocollection,o feedingoandofurnishingohasobeenocastouponotheoconcernedobankounderotheo operationaloguidelines.oTheopetitioner-InsuranceoCompanyodownloadsotheo dataofromotheoportalowhereoitoisouploadedobyotheobankoandocross-checksotheo sameoforoduplicityoofotheoareaoinsured,ocropsosownoandopremiumopaidobuto withoutotheophysicalocheckingothereof.oTheopetitioner-InsuranceoCompanyo merelyo reconcileso theo totalo premiumo paido byo theo banko brancho ando theo farmers'o shareo mentionedo ino theo portalo datao ando aftero approvalo ofo theo applicationsoonotheoportal,oexcessopremium,oifoanyoreceived,oisorefunded.oo TheoprocedureoforosettlementoofotheoclaimsohasobeenoprovidedoinoClauseo23o ofotheorevisedoPMFBYoandoisoextractedoasounder:-o o "23.oProcedureoforoSettlementoofoClaimsoofotheofarmerso o

23.1oTentativeofinaloshareoofoGovt.osubsidyo(2ndoinstallment),o botho Centralo ando State,o ono theo basiso ofo businesso statisticso finalizedoonoportaloaftero30odaysoofoperiodospecifiedoforoautoo approvaloofoapplicationsoonoportaloshouldohaveobeenoreceivedo byo Insuranceo Companyo too enableo themo too settleo theo Actualo Yieldobasedoclaimsoarisingooutoofowide-spreadocalamityoasowello aso foro claimso againsto posto harvesto losses.o However,o foro settlemento ofo On-o Accounto paymento ofo claims,o preventedo sowing/planting/germinationo claimso ando Localizedo calamityo claims,oadvanceosubsidyo(1stoinstallment)oofo50%oofo80%oofo respectiveo Central/Stateo Govt.o shareo ino correspondingo CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-24-o o 2023:PHHC:166153o

previouso seasono shouldo haveo beeno receivedo foro theo season/area(s).o o o

23.2oThresholdoYieldoforoallonotifiedocropsoatoeacho"insuranceo unit"o shallo compulsorilyo beo parto ofo theo notificationo foro theo seasonoandoshallonotochangeoatoanyopointoduringothatoseason.o Crop-insuranceo unit,o historicalo Averageo Yield,o Calamityo Years,oIndemnityoleveloandoThresholdoYieldoshallobeouploadedo onotheoPortalobyotheoconcernedoStateoNodaloDepartmentoatotheo timeooforeleaseoofonotificationoonlyoandoshallobeoverifiedoando acceptedobyotheoconcernedoInsuranceoCompanyowithinogiveno timelines.o Ino ordero too avoido manipulation/misuseo ofo informationoatofieldolevel,othresholdoYieldoshallonotobeoaoparto ofo publico informationo beforeo paymento ofo claimso foro thato season.o o o

23.3oTheo"DistrictoLeveloMonitoringoCommittee"oi.e.oDLMCo willobeorequiredotooupload/enterotheodetailsoofocropolossoasopero theoJointoLossoSurveyoconductedobyoDLJCoLe.o"DistrictoLevelo Jointo Committee"o foro allo intermediateo losso eventso vizo preventedosowing/planting/germinationofailureo&oMid-seasono AdversityoonotheoNationaloCropoInsuranceoPortal.oSimilarly,o theocropolossodetailsoforolocalizedolossesoandopost-harvestolosso eventsoshallobeoenteredobyotheoconcernedoInsuranceoCompanyo onotheoPortal.oOnceotheoActualoYieldodataoisoavailableoonotheo Portal,o theo sameo shallo beo verifiedo ando approvedo byo theo concernedo District/Stateo authorities.o Foro thoseo experimentso whichowereoconductedooffline/withoutomobileoapplication,otheo ActualoYieldodataoshallobeouploadedobyotheoconcernedoDistricto administrationooroStateonodalodepartmentoonotheoPortaloitself.o o CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-25-o o 2023:PHHC:166153o

23.4o Theo losso reportso ando Actualo Yieldo datao shallo beo approved/revertedo(inocaseoofoanyodiscrepancy/concernoonotheo authenticity/correctnesso ofo report/data)o byo theo Insuranceo Companyo basedo ono whicho theo eligibleo claimso shallo beo calculatedothroughotheoPortaloandoaccordinglyotheopaymentoofo claimsoshallobeoinitiatedobyotheoconcernedoInsuranceoCompanyo ando remittedo directlyo intoo beneficiaryo accounto aso pero pre-definedotimelines.oTheoapplicationowiseopaymentodetailsoviz.o amount,o referenceo number,o dateo etc.o shallo beo entered/synchronizedo witho theo Nationalo Cropo Insuranceo Portaloforofutureoreferenceoandoauditopurpose.o o

23.5oInocaseoofowidespreadocalamityo(endoofoseasonoclaims),o onceoyieldodataoisoreceived/finalizedofromoStateoGovt.oasopero theocut-off-datesodecided,oclaimsowillobeoworkedooutoonotheo NationaloCropoInsuranceoPortaloasoperodeclarations/approvedo proposalso &o coveredo farmer'so datao receivedo fromo banks/channelo partners/insuranceo intermediarieso foro eacho notifiedoareaoandocropsoandoaccordinglyotheoclaimsowillobeo approvedobyoCompetentoAuthorityoofoimplementingoInsuranceo Company.o o

23.6oo Ino caseo ofo farmerso coveredo througho Financialo Institution,oclaimsoshallobeoreleasedoonlyothroughoelectronico transfero directlyo intoo insuredo farmer'so giveno banko account,o followedobyodetailsocontainingoclaimoparticulars,otooindividualo bankobranches/nodalobanks;oBankoBranchoshouldoalsoodisplayo particularso ofo claimo disbursalo ono noticeo boardo too enableo spreado ofo awarenesso ando inclinationo amongsto farmingo communityo foro risko mitigationo througho cropo insurance.o InsuranceoCompanyoisorequiredotoocompulsorilyouploadotheo claimodetailsoagainstoeachoinsuredofarmeroonoNationalocropo CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-26-o o 2023:PHHC:166153o

23.7oInocaseoofofarmersocoveredoonovoluntaryobasisothrougho intermediaries,opayableoclaimsowillodirectlyobeocreditedotootheo bankoaccountsoofoconcernedoinsuredofarmersoandodetailsoofotheo claimsomayoalsoobeointimatedotoothem.oTheolistoofobeneficiarieso shallo alsoo beo uploadedo ono Nationalo Cropo Insuranceo Portalo immediately.o o

23.8o Ino caseo ofo claimso undero prevented/failedo sowing,o localizedocalamities.opost-harvestolosses;oInsuranceoCompanyo willoprocessotheoclaimsoafteroassessmentoandoshalloreleaseotheo claimsoasoperodetailedoprocedureogivenoinotheorelevantosectionso above.o o

23.9o Theo claimo settlemento intimationo shallo beo sento too eacho beneficiaryofarmerothroughoSMSofromotheoPortaloitself.oStateo Govts.,o Bankso &o Insuranceo companieso shallo ensureo correctnessoofodataobeforeohandoviz.oThresholdoYield,oActualo Yield,oInsuredoArea,oSumoInsuredoandoIndemnityolevelsoetc.o Responsibilityoofoanyoerror,oomissionsoandomisreportingoshallo lieowithotheoconcernedoStateoNodaloDepartmentoandoinsuranceo Company.oStateoGovto&oInsuranceoCompaniesoshalloresolveo allo theo grievanceso ofo theo insuredo farmerso ando othero stakeholdersoinotheoshortestopossibleotime.o o

23.10oInoanyosituation,oStateoGovt.ocanonotoreopen/recalculateo claimsoaftero30odaysoofoclaimsosettlementoforonotifiedocrop(s)o atonotifiedounit.oDisputedoclaims/sub-standardoclaims,oifoany,o dueo too erroneouso datao mayo beo referredo withino thiso timeo too SLCC/STACo ando furthero too Technicalo Advisoryo Committeeo

(TAC),oiforequired,oforoconsiderationoandodecision."o o o o TheoguidelinesoforotheoGrievanceoRedressaloMechanismohaveo beenoprescribedoinotheorevisedoPMFBYowhichoareoextractedoasounder:-oo CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-27-o o 2023:PHHC:166153o

o "30.oGrievanceoRedressaloMechanism-o o

30.1oAtotheoinitialolevel,oforogrievanceoredressal,oeachodistricto shallo designateo districto levelo grievanceo redressalo officero preferablyo Districto Agricultureo Officero too respondo too theo grievancesoofoFarmers,oBanks,oICsoetcowithino7odaysooforeceipto ofo grievance.o Ino caseo ofo dissatisfactiono theo mattero mayo beo broughtobeforeoDistrictoLeveloGrievanceoRedressaloCommitteeo

(DGRC).o o

30.2oDistrictoLeveloGrievanceoRedressaloCommitteeo(DGRC):o aodistrictolevelomonitoringoCommitteeoshalloactoasoaogrievanceo redressaloCommitteeofororedressaloofogrievancesoofoFarmers,o Banks,o Insuranceo Company,o Districto Authority/Department.o Thiso Committeeo willo beo headedo byo Districto Magistrate/Collectoro ando representativeso ofo Farmers,o LDM/Banks,o DDMo NABARD,o Insuranceo Companyo ando concernedoDistrictoAuthority/Departmentoshallobeoappointedo aso members.o Thiso Committeeo mayo alsoo inviteo subjecto specialists/expertso fromo University/IMD/commodityo Boards/o Researcho Institutions,o SRSCo etc.o ifo deemedo necessary.o Theo Committeeo willo disposeo theo mattero withino 15o days.o Theo decisionoofotheoCommitteeoshallobeoacceptedobyoallotheopartieso andoinocaseoofodisagreementowithotheodecision;otheosameoshallo beo representedo too theo Stateo Levelo Grievanceo Redressalo Committeeo (SGRC)o withino 15o dayso fromo theo decisiono ofo DGRC.o Ino caseo theo DGRCo doesn'to takeo theo mattero foro discussionowithino7odaysofromosubmissionoofogrievanceoorotheo grievanceohasowideroscopeoofoeffectoimpactingomoreonumberoofo districtso oro thereo iso ao breacho ofo guidelineso byo anyo ofo theo stakeholderoorotheogrievanceomatteroexceedsoRs.o25oLakhoino CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-28-o o 2023:PHHC:166153o

monetaryo terms,o theo mattero mayobeodirectlyoraisedo atoStateo LeveloGrievanceoRedressaloCommittee.o o

30.3oStateoLeveloGrievanceoRedressaloCommitteeo(SGRC):oao Stateo levelo monitoringo Committeeo shallo acto aso ao grievanceo redressaloCommitteeofororedressaloofogrievanceoofoFarmers,o Banks,o Insuranceo Company,o Districto Authority/Departmento whichodoesonotogetosettledoatoDGRC.oThisoCommitteeowillobeo headedo byo Principalo Secretary/Secretaryo ofo Nodalo Department,o SLBC/Banks,o CGMo NABARD,o Insuranceo CompanyoandoconcernedoStateoAuthority/Departmentoshallobeo appointedo aso members.o Thiso Committeeo mayo alsoo inviteo subjecto specialists/expertso fromo University/IMD/researcho institutions/commodityoBoards/,oStateoRemoteoSensingoAgency,o STSU,o STACo etc.o ifo deemedo necessary.o Theo Committeeo willo disposeo theo grievanceo withino 15o dayso timeo ofo receipto ofo grievance.oTheodecisionoofotheoCommitteeoshallobeoacceptedobyo allotheoparties."o o o o Owingotoocertainodisputesopertainingotootheopaymentoofocropo insurance,o theo mattero waso consideredo byo theo Stateo Levelo Grievanceso RedressaloCommitteeoinitiallyoono02.07.2019owhereotheoclaimsohadobeeno decidedo mutuallyo ando theo Bankso hado beeno directedo too payo theo claimo whereverotheobanksowereoatofaultoandotheoinsuranceocompaniesohaveobeeno askedotoomakeotheoclaimsowhereverotheoCommitteeofoundotheoInsuranceo Companyotoobeoatofault.oTheopetitioner-InsuranceoCompanyowasothereaftero servedo witho lettero datedo 13.01.2021o witho respecto too theo Stateo Levelo Grievanceso Redressalo Committeeo too beo heldo ono 14.01.2021o undero theo Chairmanshipo ofo Directoro General,o Agriculturalo ando Farmer'so Welfare,o Haryanaowhichodealtowithotheoissuesoofolocalizedoclaims.oo CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-29-o o 2023:PHHC:166153o

oo o Theo Stateo Levelo Grievanceso Redressalo Committeeo ino itso meetingoheldoono14.01.2021odecidedoandodirectedothatotheobanksohadotoopayo theoclaimsounderotheothreeoheadsoi.e.ovillageonameomis-match,ocropomis-matcho ando theo datao noto uploaded.o Theo Committeeo alsoo tooko upo certaino localizedo intimationso whicho wereo noto consideredo byo theo Insuranceo Companyoonotheobasisoofoinvalidolandodetails,okhasraonumbersoandoKCCo detailsonotoavailable,oincompleteoinformationoinolossointimationoandoorderedo theosameotoobeotreatedoasominoromistakesoandoliabilityowasothusoimposedo uponotheoInsuranceoCompany.oo oo Theo petitionero Insuranceo Companyo haso averredo thato theo versionoofotheopetitioner-InsuranceoCompanyohasonotobeenoconsideredobyo theo Stateo Levelo Grievanceso Redressalo Committeeo ando theo Insuranceo Companyohadobeenodirectedotoosettleo3147oclaims.oLetterodatedo26.08.2021o witho respecto too theo meetingso ofo Stateo Levelo Grievanceso Redressalo Committeeo too beo heldo ono 03.09.2021o waso servedo upono theo petitioner-Insuranceo Companyo whereino againo ito iso allegedo thato theo versiono ofo theo petitioner-InsuranceoCompanyowasonotoconsidered.oTheodecisionothereofoiso aosubjectomatteroofochallengeoinotheopresentopetition.o o o TheopresentosetoofowritopetitionsoareothusofiledobyotheoInsuranceo CompaniesoagainstotheoissuesowhereotheoInsuranceoCompanyohasobeenoheldo liableo ando byo theo bankso againsto theo issueso whereo theo liabilityo haso beeno fastenedoonotheorespectiveobanks.oTheotabulationoofotheorespectiveoclaimsoiso extractedoasounder:-o o CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-30-o o 2023:PHHC:166153o

S.N CASEo IMPUGNEDo PETITI PETITIO RESPECTIV Oo NO.o&o ORDERo ONo NoFILEDo EoHEADo NAMEo DATEo FILEDo BYo UNDERo BYo INSURA WHICHo BANKo NCEo LIABILITYo COMPA ISo NYo FASTENEDo 1o CWPo 14.o 01.o 2021o Noo Yeso TheoCommitteeo No.o2282o &o03.09.2021o hasodirectedotheo ofo 2022o Insuranceo –o Companyo too Agricult Payo theo claimso ureo underotheoheado Insuranc ofo "Minoro eoCo.oOfo Mistakeo Indiao Claims".o Ltd.o Vs.o Stateo ofo Haryanao &oOrs.o 2o CWPo 14.01.2021o Yeso Noo TheoCommitteeo No.o hasodirectedotheo 12041oofo Banko too Payo 2021o –o theo claimso Punjabo underotheoheadso Nationalo ofo:-o BankoVs.o (1)kVillageo Stateo ofo Mis-Haryanao match;o &oOrs.o (2)kCropo Mis-match;o

(3)kDatao noto uploadedo ono Portal.o 3o CWPo 14.01.2021(A Yeso Noo TheoCommitteeo No.o7106o nnexureoP-2)o hasodirectedotheo OFo 2021o Banko too Payo –o Sarvao theo claimso Haryanao underotheoheadso Gramino ofo:-o BankoVs.o (1)kVillageo Stateo ofo Mis-Haryanao match;o &oOrs.o (2)kCropo Mis-match;o

(3)kDatao noto CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-31-o o 2023:PHHC:166153o

uploadedo ono Portal.o 4o CWPo 14.01.2021o Yeso Noo TheoCommitteeo No.o (Annexureo P-hasodirectedotheo 17171oofo 2)o Banko too Payo 2021o –o theo claimso Stateo underotheoheadso Banko ofo ofo:-o IndiaoVs.o (1)kVillageo Stateo ofo Mis-Haryanao match;o &oOrs.o (2)kCropo Mis-match;o

(3)kDatao noto uploadedo ono Portal.o 5o CWPo 14.01.2021o Yeso Noo TheoCommitteeo No.o (Annexureo P-hasodirectedotheo 18296oofo 2)o Banko too Payo 2022o –o theo claimso Canarao underotheoheadso BankoVs.o ofo:-o Stateo ofo (1)kVillageo Haryanao Mis- &oOrs.o match;o

(2)kCropo Mis-match;o

(3)kDatao noto uploadedo ono Portal.o 6o CWPo 14.01.2021o Yeso Noo Theo Committeeo No.o1658o (Annexureo P-hasodirectedo theo ofo 2022o 2)o BankotooPayotheo –oCentralo claimsounderotheo Banko ofo headsoofo:-o IndiaoVs.o (1)k Villageo Stateo ofo Mis-match;o Haryanao (2)k Cropo &oOrs.o Mis-match;o

(3)k Datao noto uploadedo ono CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-32-o o 2023:PHHC:166153o

7o CWPo 14.01.2021o Yeso Noo Theo Committeeo No.o3062o (Annexureo P-hasodirectedo theo ofo 2022o 2)o BankotooPayotheo –o IDBIo claimsounderotheo BankoVs.o headsoofo:-o Stateo ofo (1)k Villageo Haryanao Mis-match;o &oOrs.o (2)k Cropo Mis-match;o

(3)k Datao noto uploadedo ono Portal.o 8o CWPo 30.11.2021o Yeso Noo TheoCommitteeo No.o2668o (Annexureo P-hasodirectedotheo ofo 2022o 4)o Banko too Payo –o Uniono theo claimso Banko ofo underotheoheadso IndiaoVs.o of:-ooo Stateo ofo o Haryanao (1)k Theo &oOrs.o Banko haso failedo too entero theo detailso ofo theo farmerso ono Nationalo Cropo InsuranceoPortalo

(NCIP).o

(2)k o

(3)k Theo Banko haso sento theo Premiumo too Wrongo Insuranceo Companyo situatedo ino anothero Districto (Bankso ino Sonipato Deductedo theo Premiumo ando sentotheoamounto too Insuranceo Companyo ino Panipat).o 9o CWPo 12.03.2020o Noo Yeso Dueo too heavyo No.o (Annexureo P-rainowheatocropo 13097oofo 1)o againsto theo ofo theo 2022o –o Awardo passedo Respondentogoto Bajajo byo Permanento damagedo ando Allianzo Loko Adalat,o Insuranceo CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-33-o o 2023:PHHC:166153o

Generalo Jind.o Companyo waso Insuranc heldo liableo too eoCo.oVs.o payo theo Suresho compensationo &oOrs.o foro theo Losso sufferedobyotheo Respondent.o 10o CWPo 12.03.2020o Noo Yeso Dueo too heavyo No.o (Annexureo P-rainowheatocropo 12816oofo 1)o againsto theo ofo theo 2022o -o Awardo passedo Respondentogoto Bajajo byo Permanento damagedo ando Allianzo Loko Adalat,o Insuranceo Generalo Jind.o Companyo waso Insuranc heldo liableo too eoCo.oVs.o payo theo Ramesho compensationo &oOrs.o foro theo Losso sufferedobyotheo Respondent.o 11o CWPo 14.01.2021o Yeso Noo TheoCommitteeo No.o (Annexureo P-hasodirectedotheo 10763oofo 6).o Banko too Payo 2023o –o theo claimso Banko ofo underotheoheadso Barodao ofo:-o Vs.oStateo (1)kVillageo ofo Mis-Haryanao match;o &oOrs.o (2)kCropo Mis-match;o

(3)kDatao noto uploadedo ono Portal.o 12o CWPo 14.01.2021o Yeso Noo TheoCommitteeo No.o (Annexureo P-hasodirectedotheo 21459oofo 4).o Banko too Payo 2021o –o theo claimso Punjabo underotheoheadso &o Sindo ofo:-o BankoVs.o (1)k Villageo Stateo ofo Mis-match;o Haryanao (2)k Cropo &oOrs.o Mis-match;o

(3)k Datao noto uploadedo ono Portal.o o CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-34-o o 2023:PHHC:166153o

o o o Separateo writteno statementso haveo beeno filedo ono behalfo ofo respondentsoNo.1oando2oi.e.otheoStateoofoHaryanaowhereinotheorespondento Stateo ofo Haryanao haso noto disputedo theo factso aso narratedo aboveo ando theo operationaloguidelinesowithoregardotootheoPMFBYoincludingotheorevisedo PMFBYooperationaloguidelines.oItoisoaverredothatotheoInsuranceoCompanyoiso theoimplementingoagencyoinotheosaidoSchemeoandohasotoofunctionoasoperotheo SchemeoprovisionsoandotheoGovernmentoGuidelines.oAsoperotheooperationalo guidelinesoissuedoinotheoyearo2016,oClauseoXXIVo(4)o(e),oitoisoprovidedothato theoleadobankohasotooensureothatoalloeligibleocropoloansoareofullyoinsuredoando noo farmero shouldo beo deprivedo ofo theo insuranceo cover.o Saido clauseo iso extractedoasounder:-o o "e)o Leado bank/o Nodalo Bankso shouldo ensureo thato allo theo eligibleo cropo loans/seasonalo operationalo loanso takeno foro notifiedocrop(s)oareofullyoinsuredoandotheoconditionsostatedoino theo declarationso submittedo haveo beeno compliedo with.o Noo farmerso shouldo beo deprivedo fromo insuranceo cover.o Nodalo banksotherefore,oshouldomakeoallooutoeffortsoandopursueotheiro brancheso foro enrollingo allo eligibleo loaneeo farmerso ando interestedonon-loaneeofarmersounderocropoinsurance.oInocase,o claimsohaveoarisenoduringocroposeasonothenorespectiveobanko andoitsobranchesowouldobeoresponsibleotoomakeopaymentoofotheo admissibleoclaimsotooloaneeofarmersowhoowereodeprivedofromo insuranceocoverotootheirocrops."o o oo o Subsequently,o theo saido guidelineso wereo revisedo ino theo yearo 2018owhereinoconditionoNo.17o(2)oregardingotheoprovisionoforosubmittingo physically/electronicallyodetailsoaboutotheoInsuranceounit,osumoinsuredopero CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-35-o o 2023:PHHC:166153o

unit,o premiumo pero unit,o totalo areao insuredo ofo theo farmers,o numbero ando categoryoofotheofarmersocoveredo(smalloandomarginaloandoother)oetc.oo ooo o Afteroreceivingotheoapplication,otheoconcernedobank(s)ois/areo requiredo too uploado theo detailso ofo eacho individualo insuredo farmer'so datao mandatorilyo ono theo Nationalo Cropo Insuranceo Portal.o Ifo theo concernedo bank(s)ofailsotoouploadotheodataoonotheoportal,otheobankoisoresponsibleoforo paymentoofoclaimsotootheoconcernedofarmer.oConditiono17.2oofotheorevisedo PMFBYoGuidelinesoisoextractedoasounder:-o o "Consolidatedodeclarationo/proposaloformatsotoobeosubmittedo physically/electronicallyobyonodalobanks/branchoshallocontaino detailsoaboutoinsuranceounit,osumoinsuredoperounit,opremiumo pero unit,o totalo areao insuredo ofo theo farmers,o numbero ando categoryoofofarmersocoveredo(smalloandomarginalooroother)o andonumberoofofarmersounderootherocategoriesosc/st/others)/o womenoalongowithotheirobankoaccountodetailsoetc.o(bank/theiro branches)o aso pero theo applicationo formo providedo ono theo NationaloCropoInsuranceoportal.oBanksoareorequiredotoouploado theoinsuredofarmer'sodataomandatorilyoonotheoNationaloCropo Insuranceo Portal.o Noo othero platformo shallo beo usedo foro uploading/submissionoofofamers'odata.oThoseofarmers'owhoseo dataoisouploadedoonotheoNationaloCropoInsuranceoPortaloshallo onlyobeoeligibleoforoinsuranceocoverageoandoaccordinglyotheo premiumosubsidyowilloalsoorelease.oInocasesowhereofarmersoareo deniedocropoinsuranceodueotooincorrect/portal/non-uploadingo ofo theiro detailso ono portal,o concernedo banks/intermediaries/o shallobeoresponsibleoforopaymentoofoclaimsotoothem."o o o o ReferenceoisoalsoomadeotooConditionoNo.35.5.2.8oasoperowhicho theoNodaloBanks/AdministrativeoOfficers/BankoBranchesoareoalsoorequiredo CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-36-o o 2023:PHHC:166153o

toouploadotheodetailsoofoeachoindividualoonotheoNationaloCropoInsuranceo Portal.oTheorelevantoconditionoisoextractedoasoundero o "35.5.2.8-Theo Nodalo Banks/o Administrativeo offices/o Banko Brancheso shallo alsoo uploado theo detailso ofo eacho individualo insuredofarmeroonoNationaloCropoInsuranceoPortalothrougho web-formooroCBSoonoorobeforeofinalocut-offodate."o o o o oIto waso alsoo averredo thato Governmento ofo Haryanao issuedo notificationoregardingoarea,ocrops,oindemnityolevel,osumoinsured,opremiumo ratesoandoseasonalityodisciplineoetc.oandoconditionoNo.18othereofoprovidedo monitoringoofotheoScheme.oClauseoXXIothereoforeadsothus:-o o "xxi)o Timeo frameo foro losso assessmento (Preventingo Sowing,o Localizedorisks,omid-termoadversities,opost-harvestoloss)oando submissionooforeport:o o

(a)oTheoInsuranceoCompanyoshalloappointolossoassessorsoforo assessmentoofolossesodueotoolocalizedoriskoinoaccordanceowitho IRDIoProvisions.o o

(b)oShalloappointolossoassessorowithino48ohoursooforeportingoofo localizedorisk.o o

(c)oShallocompleteotheolossoassessmentoprocessowithinonexto10o days.o o

(d)oShallosettleotheoclaimoinotheonexto15odaysofailingowhichoRs.o 10000/-openaltyowillobeoimposedoperocaseoinoadditionotootheo claimoamount.o o

(e)oTheoassessmentoofoaffectedoareaoshallobeodoneoinotermsoofo percentageoofosumoinsured."o CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-37-o o 2023:PHHC:166153o

o o o ItowasoaverredothatotheoGovernmentohadoissuedoNotificationoforo implementationoofotheoPMFBYoduringoKharif-2019oandoRabio2019-20oaso perotheoadministrativeoapprovaloandoimplementingoagencyoforotheoclusters.oo o o Onotheobasisoofotheosaidoguidelines,ofurtheroguidelinesowereo issuedo byo theo Insuranceo Companieso too theo Bankerso ando controllingo agencies.oTheoPMFBYohadobeenorevisedoandorelevantopartoofotheorevisedo guidelinesoisoasounder:-o o "A.o Allo theo farmerso includingo sharecropperso ando tenanto farmersogrowingotheonotifiedocropsoinotheonotifiedoareasoareo eligibleoforotheocoverageounderotheoscheme.o o B.oTheoschemeoisocompulsoryoforoloaneeofarmersoi.e.oallotheo farmerso availingo seasonalo Agricultureo Operationso (SAO)o loanso fromo theo Financialo Institutionso (FIs)o foro theo notifiedo cropso wouldo beo coveredo compulsory.o Theo concernedo banks/banko brancheso musto uploado individualo farmer-wiseo detailso ono Nationalo Cropo Insuranceo portalo (www.pmfby.gov.in)oandoremitotheofarmer'soshareoofopremiumo withinotheoprescribedocut-ooffodates.oAsoperotheoprovisionsoofo theoscheme,oAIC/ImplementingoAgencyodisbursesotheoclaims,oifo any,otootheoFlsoandoinoturn.oFIsocreditotheosameoinorespectiveo farmersoaccount.oAsoperotheoscheme,oonlyofarmersowhoseodatao isouploadedobyotheirobanksoonotheoNationaloCropoInsuranceo Portalo shallo beo eligibleo foro insuranceo coverageo ando theo premiumosubsidyofromotheoStateoandoCentraloGovernmentoiso releasedoaccordingly.o o C.oTheoschemeoisooptionaloforonon-loaneeofarmers.oNonoloaneeo farmerso areo requiredo too submito necessaryo documentaryo CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-38-o o 2023:PHHC:166153o

evidenceo ofo lando recordso and/oro applicableo contract/o agreementodetails/ootherodocumentsonotified/opermittedobyotheo concernoStateoGovernmento(inocaseoofosharecropper's/otenanto farmers.)o Theiro coverageo detailso areo alsoo requiredo too beo uploadedo ono Nationalo Cropo Insuranceo Portalo (www.pmfby.gov.in)obyotheoconcernedobankobranch,oCSCooro authorizedochannelopartner/directlyobyofarmeroonlineoetc.o o D.oAsoperotheoprovisionoofotheoscheme,otheosumoinsuredopero hectareoforobothotheoloaneeoandonon-loaneeofarmersowillobeo theosameoandoequivalentotootheoScaleoofoFinanceoasodecidedobyo theo Districto Levelo Technicalo Committeeo ando wouldo beo pre-declaredobyotheoStateoLeveloCo-ordinationoCommitteeoonocropo Insuranceo(SLCCCI)oandonotifiedoinoNotification."o o o o Ito iso furthero averredo thato theo Stateo Levelo Coordinationo Committeeoco-ordinatesowithotheoStateoofoHaryanaoinotheoimplementationoofo cropoinsuranceoandothatotheorecordoisobeingomaintainedobyotheoDepartmento OfoAgriculture.oAsoperoprovisiono17.11oofotheosaidoScheme,oanoInsuranceo Companyo iso requiredo too verifyo theo detailso ofo o theo individualo insuredo farmer'souploadedoonotheoportal,opremiumoandoconsolidationodeclarationo receivedofromoeachobranch/nodalobankoandotooreportotheomis-matchotootheo branch.o Theo nodalo banko iso furthero requiredo too uploado theo relevanto informationoonotheoclarificationowithino07odaysoandoifotheoneedfuloisonoto doneowithinotheostipulatedoperiod,otheoInsuranceoCompanyomayorecommendo actionoagainstotheonodalobankotootheoStateoGovernment.oo oo Provisiono 17.13o ofo theo Schemeo mandateso theo Insuranceo Companyotoocompulsorilyoverifyoandotakeonecessaryoactionoincludingotheo approval/rejectiono ofo theo approvalo withino theo stipulatedo dateo i.e.o cut-offo CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-39-o o 2023:PHHC:166153o

dateoforoverifyingotheodataoandoafterostipulatedoperiodoforore-conciliationo ando obtainingo furthero clarificationso fromo stakeholders,o allo pendingo proposal/informationo ofo theo insured/coveredo farmerso uploadedo ono theo NationaloCropoInsuranceoPortalowillobeotreatedoasoapproved.oTheoInsuranceo Companieso thereaftero ceaseo theiro rightso foro furthero verificationo ofo theo farmers'odata.oAnyolossesotootheoGovernmentoincludingoexcessopaymentoofo premiumosubsidyodueotoodelayed/non-verificationoofotheodata/informationo ofo individualo coveredo willo beo recoveredo fromo theo concernedo Insuranceo Company.o Theo bankso areo requiredo too ensureo distributiono ofo acknowledgementoreceiptoalongowithoFoliootooeachoinsuredofarmersowithino 07odays.oo oo Itoisofurtheroaverredothatoforotheoclusteroinopresentodispute,otheo banksowereotoodeductotheopremiumoofotheoloaneeofamersoandotheosameowaso toobeoforwardedotootheoInsuranceoCompany.oThereowereodiscrepanciesowitho respectotoovariousodataodetailsouploadedoandoinoreferenceotootheoDistrictsoino theo saido cluster.o Hence,o theo mattero waso puto upo beforeo theo Stateo Levelo Grievanceo Committeeo foro settlingo theo claimso ofo theo concernedo farmers.o Representativeso ofo theo banks,o theo insuranceo companyo ando thato ofo DepartmentoparticipatedoinotheosaidomeetingoandotheoSLGCogaveodirectionso tootheopetitionerotoosettle/makeopaymentotoocertainofarmersowhoseocropohado beenodamagedoinoitsomeetingoheldoono14.01.2021.oAosecondomeetingoofo SLGCowasoheldoono03.09.2021oandoafterohearingotheoconcernedoparties,otheo directionsowereogivenotootheopetitionersotoosettleotheoclaimsoofocertainoothero CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-40-o o 2023:PHHC:166153o

o o Ito iso averredo thato theo petitioner-Insuranceo Companyo hado receivedotheopremiumoforotheocropsofromotheoconcernedofarmersobutowheno theo cropso wereo damaged,o theo claimso wereo repudiatedo too escapeo theo liabilitiesoandotheopremiumowasoorderedotoobeoreturned.oOnceotheopremiumo hadobeenoacceptedoandoremainedodepositedowithotheopetitioner-Insuranceo Company,oitobecameoboundotoosettleotheoclaimsoandograntocompensationoaso envisagedounderotheoguidelinesoissuedounderoofoPMFBY.oItoisoaverredothato theo directionso giveno byo theo Stateo Levelo Coordinateo Committeeo ino itso meetingoheldoono14.01.2021oando03.09.2021owereoproperoandothatotheowrito petitionsodeserveotoobeodismissed.oo o o Separateowrittenostatementohadoalsoobeenofiledoonobehalfoofotheo PunjaboNationaloBankowhooisoimpleadedoasorespondentoNo.5oinoCWP-2282-2022oandoisoalsooaopetitioneroinoCWP-12041-2021.oo o o Thereowasonoodisputeoraisedowithorespectotootheofactualoaspectso noticedo aboveo ando theo conditionso mentionedo undero theo PMFBYo witho respectotoocollectionoofoproposaloandopremiumofromotheofarmers.oRelianceo wasoplacedoonoClauseo17.11oofotheooperationaloguidelinesopointingooutotheo actionotoobeotakenobyotheoInsuranceoCompaniesoafterotheopremiumoisopaidotoo themobyotheobanks.oTheosameoisoextractedoasounder:-o o "Insuranceo Companieso shouldo alsoo reconcileo theo detailso ofo individualoinsuredofarmersouploadedoonotheoPortalowithotheo premium/consolidatedo declarationo receivedo fromo eacho branch/nodalo banko withino theo stipulatedo dateo ando anyo deficiency/o mismatcho mayo beo reportedo too concernedo banko branch/nodalo bank.o Theo Banko Branch/Nodalo Banko shouldo furthero send/uploado theo requisiteo informationo ino respecto ofo CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-41-o o 2023:PHHC:166153o

sucho farmerso foro whomo clarificationo haso beeno sought,o immediatelyo withino 7o days.o Ifo sucho rectificationo iso noto done/completedo byo banko brancho /nodalo banko withino theo stipulatedoperiod,oInsuranceoCompanieso(RespoNoo2otoo8)omayo recommendo too takeo necessaryo actiono too Stateo Govt.o undero intimationotooCentraloGovt.oStateoGovt.oinoconsultationowitho SLBComayorecommendosuitableoadministrativeoactionoagainsto suchodefaultingobranch/bank.oHowever,oclaimso(ifoany)oinosucho casesoofosuchofarmersoshallobeoborneobyotheoconcernedobanko only."o o o o oo Ito iso thuso submittedo thato theo SLGCo rightlyo heldo thato theo petitioner-Insuranceo Companyo iso liableo ando thato theo writo petitionso beo dismissed.oo o o Separateo replieso hado alsoo beeno filedo ono behalfo ofo theo Stateo BankoofoIndia-respondentoNo.6oasowelloasorespondentoNo.4-SarvoHaryanao Gramino Banko whicho iso petitionero ino CWP-7106-2021o takingo theo sameo stand.oTheoavermentsoareonotobeingoreiteratedotooavoidorepetition.oo o o Noo replication/rejoindero hado beeno filedo too theo writteno statement(s)ofiledoonobehalfoofotheorespondents.oooo oo Learnedoseniorocounseloappearingoonobehalfoofotheopetitioner-Insuranceo Companyo haso arguedo thato aso pero theo PMFBYo Scheme/Guidelines,o theo datao witho respecto too theo lando aso wello aso theo ownershipoandocropoetc.owasotoobeofurnishedobyotheobanks.oTheorespectiveo banksobeingoinopossessionoofotheorelevantodocumentsoandotheopetitioner-InsuranceoCompanyohavingonoosourceotooverifyoorocheckotheosaidodetailso sinceo theo revenueo recordo ino theo Stateo ofo Haryanao eithero haso noto beeno digitizedo oro noo accesso thereofo haso beeno providedo too theo Insuranceo CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-42-o o 2023:PHHC:166153o

Company,ohence,oevenothoughothereoisoaoprovisionoforoverificationoofotheo data,o however,o ino theo absenceo ofo anyo provisiono oro uploadingo ofo theo correspondingodetailsoonotheoPortal,otheoInsuranceoCompanyohasonoomeanso too cross-checko theo same.o Theo bankso haveo nevero furnishedo accesso oro informationo oro eveno theo documentso too enableo verificationo ofo theo datao uploadedo ono theo Portal.o Insuranceo Companyo thuso onlyo compareso theo informationo availableo ono theo Portalo ando pointso outo anyo duplicationo pertainingotootheoarea/villageoandoanyootheromismatch.ooTheocasesoinohand,o however,o reflecto ao lapseo abouto theo datao discrepancyo whicho iso solelyo attributableotootheobank(s).oTheocontractoofoinsuranceoisoofoutmostogoodo faitho ando theo obligationo undero theo contracto ariseo onlyo witho respecto too propertyowhichoisosubjectoofoinsuranceoforowhichodataoisofedoinotheosystem.o AnoInsuranceoCompanyowouldobeodeemedotoohaveotakenouponoitselfotheorisko andoliabilityoonlyowithorespectotootheospecificolandodescribedoandoinorelationo tootheocroporeflectedoandothatoinotheoeventoofotheolandodescriptionobeingo invalid,o ito cannoto beo construedo thato theo lando oro cropo waso nonethelesso coveredounderotheoinsuranceopolicy.oAnyosuchoconstructionowouldoextendo theoinsuranceocoveroandotheobenefitotootheopeopleowithotheorespectotootheo land/cropo quao whicho noo premium/paymento haso beeno receivedo byo theo InsuranceoCompany.ooFurther,oinoreferenceotooCWP-13097-2022oandoCWP-12816-2022,o ito iso heldo thato theo premiumo ando theo informationo hado beeno furnishedoafterotheocut-offodateoandothatotheocut-offodateocanobeoextendedo onlyobyotheoconcernedoMinistry.oTheobank(s)ohas(ve)otoobeoheldoliableoforo noto depositingo theo premiumo ino timeo ando anyo sucho claimo haso too beo summarilyo rejected.o Theo bank(s)o can,o ato best,o claimo theo premiumo soo CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-43-o o 2023:PHHC:166153o

deposited.o Ito cannoto fasteno theo liabilityo despiteo non-paymento ofo theo premium.oo o oo Pero contra,o learnedo counselo foro theo respondento Bank(s)o haso arguedothatotheoSchemeostipulatesoverificationoofotheoinformationouploadedo onlineobyotheoInsuranceoCompanyoandotoocommunicateoanyodiscrepancyo and/orodataomismatchotootheobank(s)owithinoaospecifiedoperiod.oTheofailureo onotheopartoofotheopetitioner-InsuranceoCompanyocannotobeocitedoasoaobasiso too denyo theiro obligationo especiallyo wheno theo respondento bank(s)o haso receivedotheoinsuranceopremiumoandoretainedotheosameotillotheotimeowheno theoclaimsowereolodged.oTheoactoofotheopetitioner-InsuranceoCompanyoino neithero raisingo anyo disputeo noro pointingo outo anyo discrepancy/mismatcho withinotheoprescribedotimeoframeoandofurtherohavingoretainedotheopremiumo forotheoentireodurationoestopsotheoinsuranceocompanyofromorepudiatingotheo claimsoandodisowningoitsoobligationotoooreleaseocompensationounderotheo insuranceoschemeotootheoaggrievedoparty.oTheoobligationoofotheobank(s)otoo furnishoclarificationoarisesoonlyoinoaocaseowhereosuchomismatch/discrepancyo iso notifiedo ando thatoino theoabsenceoofo suchodiscrepancy/mismatchobeingo notified,oaopresumptionoarisesothatotheodataohasobeenoverifiedobyoinsuranceo companyoandothatotheyohadonotofoundoanythingoerroneousotherein.oTheosameo wouldobeothenodeemedotoohaveobeenoapprovedoasoperotheoschemeobindingo theo Insuranceo Company.o Hence,o theo insuranceo companyo cannoto beo permittedotootakeobenefitoofoitsolapseoandotooescapeofromoperformingoitso obligationonotwithstandingotheoschemeodocument.ooTheohardship,oifoany,o withorespectotootheoallegedohandicapoinoverificationoofotheouploadedodatao cannotobeocitedoasoaobasisotooavoidotheoresponsibilityoasotheosaidoaspecto CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-44-o o 2023:PHHC:166153o

wouldocalloforotheomodification/rectificationoinotheoSchemeoitselfoandothato theobank(s),onotobeingotheoauthoroofotheosaidoScheme,ocannotobeoheldoliableo forotheodifficultiesofacedobyotheoInsuranceoCompanyoinophysicaloverificationo ofotheodataoorofailureotoohaveoaccessotootheoodigitizedorecord,owhichotheoStateo Governmentoisorequiredotoomakeoavailable.oTheoinsuranceocompanyohavingo chosenonototooseekoanyomodificationoofotheoschemeodocumentoand/orotoo raiseoanyochallengeotootheosameocannotobeopermittedotooseekorepudiationoofo theoclaimsoafterohavingoenjoyedotheobenefitoofopremiumoforoaoprolongedo period.oTheoliability,ohence,oisotoobeodischargedobyotheoinsuranceocompanyo itselfoandotheobank(s)ocannotobeoheldoliableotoopayotheosame.oItoisofurthero submittedo byo theo partieso thato ono ano earliero occasiono wheno ao similaro controversyoarose,otheostandoofotheoStateowasodifferentothanotheodecisiono takenoinotheoyearo2021.oo o o Iohaveoheardotheolearnedocounseloappearingoforotheorespectiveo partiesoandohaveoalsoogoneothroughotheodocumentsoappendedoalongowithotheo presentobatchoofopetitions.o o o Forotheofacilityooforeference,oreferenceoisorequiredotoobeomadeo too theo minuteso ofo theo meetingo ofo theo Stateo Levelo Grievanceo Redressalo Committeeo(SLGC)oheldounderotheoChairmanshipooforespondentoNo.2oono

14.01.2021o aso wello aso ino theo meetingo heldo ono 03.09.2021o whicho areo impugnedoherein.oo o o AoperusaloofotheominutesoofotheomeetingoshowsothatotheoJointo Directorso(Statistics)ohadoinformedothatoaototaloofo16126ogrievancesowereo pendingosinceoinceptionoofotheoSchemeoi.e.ofromoKharifo2016,oforodifferento CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-45-o o 2023:PHHC:166153o

reasonsowhereinodecisionsohadoalreadyobeenotakenobyotheoStateoandoDistricto LeveloGrievancesoSettlementoCommittee.o9648ocasesowereorelatedotootheo banksowhileo5828ocasesowereorelatedotootheoinsuranceocompany.o576ocaseso wereorejectedowhereaso74ocasesowereofoundotoobeosettled.oTheoaspectsoaso regardso heavyo worko loado ono theo bankso ando theo difficultieso ino verifyingo individualocrops/land/villageodetailsowereoalsooraisedoandoconsidered.oTheo discussionsoheldoinotheomeetingopertainedotoofollowingoaccounts:-o "1.o Villageo Nameo Mismatch:o Jointo Directoro (Statistics)o informedothato3612ocasesoofodifferentodistrictsoareoofovillageo nameo mismatch.o Theo villageo mismatcho areo dueo too wrongo villageonameoenteredobyotheobankoonoNationaloCropoInsuranceo Portalo(NCIP)owhereoactuallyocroponotosownobyotheofarmer.o JointoDirectoro(Statistics)oinformedothatoinocaseoofoShrioSatpalo SinghoS/ooShrioJasbiroSinghoR/ooGhasitpur(126)ovillage,otheo sameorecordoisoinobankorecordobutobankoenteredotheovillageo nameoDukherio(161)oinsteadoofoGhasitpuroonoNCIP.oHeoalsoo appraisedotheohouseothatoasoperotheoguidelinesoofoPMFBYoiso veryoclearoatoclauseono.oXXIV(4)o(e)oforotheoyearoKharifo2016o tooKharifo2018oofoOperationaloGuidelinesoandoclauseono.o17.2o forotheoyearoRabio2018-19,oKharif-2019oandoRabio2019-20oofo RevisedoOperationaloGuidelinesoofoPMFBYothatoconcernobanko branchoisoliableotoopayotheoclaimoofoaffectedofarmers.o o Afterodeliberateodiscussion,oitowasodecidedobyotheoCommitteeo thatoinoaboveomentionedocaseotheonegligenceoofobankoisoshowno clearocutoandobankoisoliableotoopayotheoclaimotoocomplainant.o Committeeoalsooisoinoviewothatotheodecisionoisoapplicableoino othero3612osimilarocases.oTheoDistrictowise/Bankowiseodetailo ofofarmersoisoatoAnnexure-1.o o CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-46-o o 2023:PHHC:166153o

2.oCropoMismatch:oJointoDirectoro(Statistics)oinformedothatoino 163o caseso ofo Hisar,o Panipat,o Faridabad,o Sonipat,o Jind&o GurugramoDistrictowhereoinsuredocropoandoactualocroposowno isodifferent.oJointoDirectoro(Statistics)oinformedothatoinocaseoofo ShrioSurenderoSinghoS/ooShrioRanoSinghoR/ooShekhupuroMajrio

(3)ovillageotheocroponameoasoperoformo3o(Surveyoreport)oiso Cotton,otheosameoisoinobankorecordobutobankoenteredotheocropo nameoPaddyo(Dhan)oinsteadoofoCottonoonoNCIP.oTherefore,o wrongocropoinsuredodueotoonegligenceoofobank.oItoisoalsootheo responsibilityoofobankotoouploadotheocorrectodetailoofocropoono NationaloCropoInsuranceoPortalo(NCIP).oCommitteeodecidedo thatobankoisofullyoliableotoopayotheoclaimoinoaboveomentionedo caseso(asoperoclauseogivenoinopoint-1).oTheoDistrictowise/Banko wiseodetailoofofarmersoisoatoAnnexure-2.o o

3.oPremiumosubmittedobyoBankotooInsuranceoCompanyoaftero cut-offo date:o Jointo Directoro (Statistics)o informedo thato 223o farmerso ofo Bhiwanio districto foro theo seasono kharifo 2017o areo deprivedo fromo theo benefito ofo theo schemeo dueo too Premiumo submittedobyoBankotooInsuranceoCompanyoafterocutooffodate.oIno theo guidelineso ofo theo schemeo clauseo no.o XXIV(4)(f)o thato "Ifo concernedo Banko ando It'so brancheso keepo theo amounto ofo premiumocollectedobeyondotheodefinedotimelinesothenotheyowillo beo liableo too payo interesto (ato prevailingo rateo ofo interesto foro savingo account)o foro theo delayo periodo too theo insuranceo company".oTheseocasesowereoalreadyodecidedoinoSLGCoheldoono

02.07.2019.o Concernedo Banko haso showno theo proofo ofo remito premiumo too concernedo insuranceo companyo ino theo SLGCo meetingo heldo ono 14.01.2021.o LDMo Bhiwanio informedo thato bankotriedotoopayotheopremiumoofotheseofarmersoono14.08.2017o butodueotoosomeotechnicaloreason,otheoamountocouldonotoremito tooinsuranceocompanyodueotootransactionofailureothereafter,o

15.08.2017o iso Nationalo Holidayo ando theo amounto paido too CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-47-o o 2023:PHHC:166153o

insuranceocompanyoono18.08.2017oonlyodelayoofo4odays.oTheo premiumoisopendingowithoinsuranceocompanyotillonow.oAftero discussion,oCommitteeorecommendedotoopayotheoclaimobyotheo insuranceo companyo i.e.o ICICIo Lombardo GICo too concernedo farmersoasoperoaboveomentionedoprovision.oBankohasotoopayo theo savingo interesto foro delayo periodo too insuranceo company.o TheoDistrictowise/BankowiseodetailoofofarmersoisoatoAnnexure-

3.o o

4.o Non-Availabilityo ofo Aadhar:o Jointo Directoro (Statistics)o informedo thato 576o caseso ino Bhiwanio ando Panipato Districto whereofarmersonotoinsuredodueotoononoavailabilityoofoAadhar.o ChiefoManager,oSLBCoHaryanaoapprisedotheohouseothatosomeo farmersodenyotooshareotheoAadharoandoitobecomesodifficultotoo geto Aadharo forcefully,o whicho iso mandatoryo foro enrolmento undero PMFBYo througho Gazetteo Notificationo issuedo byo GovernmentoofoIndiaoono08.02.2017.oTheoDistrictowise/Banko wiseo detailo ofo farmerso iso ato Annexure-4.o Theo Committeeo decidedothatotheseocasesoconsideredoasorejected.o o

5.oDataonotouploadedoonoportal/premiumodebitoafterocutooffo date:oJointoDirectoro(Statistics)oinformedothato5874ofarmerso areodeprivedofromotheobenefitoofotheoschemeodueotoodataonoto uploadedoonoportal.oTheoguidelinesoofotheoschemeomentionedo inotheoresponsibilityoofotheobanksoato35.5.2.8othato"TheoNodalo Banks/Administrativeooffices/BankoBranchesoshalloalsoouploado theo detailso ofo eacho individualo insuredo farmero ono Nationalo CropoinsuranceoPortalothroughoweb-formooroCBSoonoorobeforeo finalocut-offodate"oando35.5.2.9othato"TheoInsuranceoCompanyo shallo acknowledgeo theo receipto ofo farmerso premiumo ando declarationso submittedo byo theo bankso ando anyo clarification/o rectificationo soughto byo Insuranceo Companieso shouldo compulsorilyobeoreplied/addressedobyotheobankowithino7odays.o CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-48-o o 2023:PHHC:166153o

Theo bankso shouldo crosso checko witho theiro recordo ando aberrations,o ifo any,o shouldo beo broughto too theo noticeo ofo theo InsuranceoCompanyoimmediately.oIfonooresponseoisoreceivedo formobankowithinocutotimeo/oreconciliationoperiod,otheodetailso submittedoonotheoPortaloshallobeoconsideredofinalonoochangeso wouldo beo acceptedo latero on.o Insuranceo Companyo willo thereafteroactoasodeemedofitoasoapplicableoprovisions".o o Afterodiscussion,oCommitteeorecommendedotoopayotheoclaimobyo theobankotooconcernedofarmers.oTheoDistrictowise/Bankowiseo detailoofofarmersoisoatoAnnexure-5.o o

6.oMinoroError:oDuringotheomeetingoitowasoobservedothato5604o farmersoareodeprivedodueotoominoroerror."o o o o o Inotheo matterso pertainingo too minoro errors,o theo farmerso wereo heldoentitledotootheobenefitsoofotheoSchemeoandoInsuranceoCompanyowaso heldoliableotoopayotheosame.oFinally,oino9649ocasesotheobank(s),oino5827o casesoInsuranceoCompaniesowereoheldoliableotoopayotheoclaimsowhileo576o casesowereorejectedoandoothero74ocasesooutoofotheototalo16126ocasesowereo settled.oTheogistoofotheocasesoisotabulatedoasounder:-o Sr.No.o Categoryoo No.o ofo No.oofonewo Totalono.o Decisiono ofo casesofromo caseso ofocasesoo theo theo listo ofo Committeeo 7640o caseso 1o Villageo 2596o 1016o 3612o Banko haveo Mismatchoo too payo theo claimoo 2o Cropomismatcho 0o 163o 163o Banko haveo CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-49-o o 2023:PHHC:166153o

claimo 3o Premiumo 223o 0o 223o Insuranceo submittedo byo Companyo Banko too haveo too payo Insuranceo theoclaim.o Companyo aftero cut-offodateo 4o Non-0o 576o 576o Rejectedo availabilityo ofo Aadharo 5o Datao noto 4747o 1127o 5874o Banko haveo uploadedo ono too payo theo portaloo claimo 6o Minoroerroroo 0o 5604o 5604o Insuranceo Companyo haveo too payo theoclaim.oo 7o Alreadyosettledo 74o 0o 74o --o o Totalo 7640o 8486o 16126o o o o o o Inotheo meetingo ofotheo SLGCo heldoono03.09.2021,o theo issueo pertainedotooreviewoofotheodecisionoofotheomeetingoheldoono14.01.2021oandoo itowasoinformedothatotheobank(s)ohadopaidoonlyo09ocasesooutoofo8447.ooIno viewoofotheodecisionotakenothereunder,oaostatusoreportowasosoughtofromotheo respectiveobanksoandocertainoindividualoclaimsowereorevisedoafteronoticingo theodiscrepanciesoasoperotheolistoattached.oo o o Theogrievanceoinotheopresentocaseoraisedobyotheobankoisothato theyobeoabsolvedofromotheoliabilityowhereotheosameohasobeenofastenedoono them.oTheoinsuranceocompanyoonotheootherohand,ohasoapproachedothisoCourto againsto theo decisiono ofo theo SLGCo whereino ito haso beeno heldo liableo too CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-50-o o 2023:PHHC:166153o

compensateo theo farmerso i.e.o ino relationo too theo minoro discrepancieso ando whereotheopremiumohasobeenoreceivedoafterotheocut-offodate.oHence,obotho theseoaspectsoi.e.otheoissueowhereotheobanksohaveobeenoheldoliableoandotheo issueowhereotheoinsuranceocompaniesohaveobeenoheldoliableoareobeingodealto withoseparately.oo o o Beforeoproceedingofurtherointootheomatter,otheofurtherorelevanto clausesowhichowouldohaveoaomaterialobearingoonotheorespectiveoliabilityoareo extractedoasounder:-o o o o o "OPERATIONALoGUIDELINESo o o o PradhanoMantrioFasaloBimaoYojanaoo o o o o o o (PMFBY)o o o o o o o o o o o Revisedoo o o o oooooxxxo xxxo xxxo "2.5o Sinceo theo Nationalo Cropo Insuranceo Portalo haso beeno conceptualizedoforoautooadministrationooandoseamlessoflowoofo data/information/reportsoonorealotimeobasis,oStateoGovt.owouldo notobeoallowedotoocreate/useoseparateoPortal/websiteoforoCropo InsuranceoPurposes.oo o o o o o xxxo xxxo xxxo o o o InsuranceoCompanyo o o o o o xxxo xxxo xxxo

6.3.1o Aadhaarohasobeenomadeomandatoryoforoavailingo Cropo insuranceo fromo Kharifo 2017o seasono onwards.o Therefore,oallobanksoareoadvisedotoomandatorilyoobtaino Aadhaaronumberoofotheirofarmersoandotheosameoapplieso CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-51-o o 2023:PHHC:166153o

foro non-loaneeo farmerso enrolledo througho banks/Insuranceocompanies/insuranceointermediaries.oo o o o o o xxxo xxxo xxxo

6.3.3o Allo Bankso haveo too compulsorilyo takeo Aadhaar/Aadhaaroenrolmentonumberoasoperonotificationo underoAadhaaroActobeforeosanctionoofocropoloan/KCCo underoInterestoSubventionoScheme.oHence,otheocoverageo ofoloaneeofarmersowithoutoAadhaarodoesonotoariseoando suchoaccountsoneedotoobeoreviewedobyotheoconcernedo bankobranchyoregularly.ooo 17o Collectiono ofo Proposalso ando Premiumo fromo Farmers.oo

17.1oTheoNodaloBankosystemoadoptedounderoNAIS/NCIPo whereino theo implementingo Insuranceo Companyo iso noto requiredotoodealowithoallotheoloanodisbursingopointsoando insteado dealso onlyo witho designatedo Nodalo banks,o willo continueo undero PMFBYo onlyo foro Cooperativeo Banks,o However,oforoCommercialoBanks/RRBs,otheoindividualo banko brancheso shallo acto aso Nodalo brancho foro thiso purpose.o Theo concernedo Leado banko ando Regionalo offices/Administrativeo officeso ofo Commercialo banks/RRBso willo provideo necessaryo guidelineso too concernedobankobranchesoandocoordinateowithothemotoo ensureothatoalloconcernedobranchesocompulsorilyoremito theo farmerso premiumo electronicallyo througho NEFT/RTGSotoobeoroutedothroughoNCIPotooconcernedo Insuranceo Companieso ando submito theo consolidatedo proposals/informationoinoprescribedoformatowellowithino theostipulatedocut-offodatesoandoalsoouploadotheodetailso ofoindividualocovered/insuredofarmersoonoNationaloCropo Insuranceo Portal.o Besides,o foro theo coverageo ofo non-CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-52-o o 2023:PHHC:166153o

loaneeofarmersoonly,oInsuranceoCompanyomayoalsoouseo IRDAIo approvedo microo insuranceo agents/o insuranceo intermediaries.oHowever,odetailsoofosuchoagentsoshouldo compulsorilyobeosubmittedotooStateoGovt.oandoGovt.oofo Indiaowellobeforeotheostartoofotheoseasonoforocreatingo theirocredentialsoandosubsequentouploadingoofodetailsoofo individualo insured/coveredo farmerso ono Portalo withino stipulatedotimelines.oo o

17.2oConsolidatedodeclaration/oproposaloformatsotoobeo submittedo physically/o electronicallyo byo Nodalo banks/BranchesoshallocontainodetailsoaboutoInsuranceo Unit,osumoinsuredoperounit,opremiumoperounit,ototaloareao insuredoofotheofarmers,onumberoandocategoryoofofarmerso coveredo(smalloandomarginalooroother)andonumberoofo farmerso undero othero categories(SC/ST/others)/Womeno alongowithotheirobankoaccountodetailsoetc.o(bank/theiro branches)oasoperotheoapplicationoformoprovidedoonotheo NationaloCropoInsuranceoPortal.oBanksoareorequiredotoo uploado theo insuredo farmers'o datao mandatorilyo ono theo Nationalo Cropo Insuranceo Portal.o Noo othero platformo shallo beo usedo foro uploading/submissiono ofo farmers'o data.o Thoseo farmerso whoseo datao iso uploadedo ono theo NationaloCropoInsuranceoPortaloshalloonlyobeoeligibleo foroInsuranceocoverageoandoaccordinglyotheopremiumo subsidyowilloalsoobeoreleased.oInocasesowhereofarmerso areodeniedocropoinsuranceodueotooincorrect/partial/non-uploadingo ofo theiro detailso ono Portal,o concernedo Banks/Intermediariesoshallobeoresponsibleoforopaymento ofoclaimsotoothem.o o o o o o o xxxo xxxo xxxo o CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-53-o o 2023:PHHC:166153o

17.10o Insuranceo companieso shallo uploado requisiteo informationo includingo necessaryo documentationo ino respectoofonon-loaneeofarmersoenrolledothroughochannelo partnero othero thano CSCso ono theo Nationalo Cropo InsuranceoPortalowithinotheostipulatedodateoofocoverageo ofononoloaneeofarmersoAllointermediariesoshalloensureo thatotheodocumentationoisocompleteoinoallorespectobeforeo acceptingotheo premium.o Ito isotheo responsibilityoofotheo concernedoInsuranceoCompaniesotoocollect/obtainoanyo documentationoofotheoinsuredofarmerso(botholoaneeoando non-loanee)o fromo theo bank/financialo institutions/o intermediaries/o agentso ifo necessaryo foro verification/acceptanceooforiskoandoalsootoofacilitateotheo banks/ofinancialoforoinstitutions/ointermediaries/oagentso toosubmit/ouploadoallorequisiteodocuments,otheofinancialo NationaloCropoInsuranceoPortalowithinotimelines.o o o o o o o xxxo xxxo xxxo o o

35.5.2.13ooBanksoshouldoensureothatocultivatoroareonoto beo deprivedo ofo anyo benefito undero theo Schemeo dueo too errors/omissions/commissionsoofotheoconcernedobranch/o PACS,o ando ino caseo ofo sucho errors,o theo concernedo agenciesoshallohaveotoomakeogoodoallosucholosses."o o Theootheroclausesohaveoalreadyobeenoextractedoinoearlieroparto ofotheojudgment.oo Itoisoevidentofromoaoperusaloofotheoaboveosalientoguidelinesoofo theo Schemeo thato itso objectiveo iso too supporto sustainableo productiono ino agricultureobyoprovidingofinancialosupportotootheofarmersotoostabilizeotheiro income.o o Theo farmerso whoseo datao iso uploadedo ono theo Nationalo Cropo CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-54-o o 2023:PHHC:166153o

InsuranceoPortalowasoeligibleoforoinsuranceocoverageoandopremiumosubsidyo fromotheoStateo&oCentraloGovernment.oo AadharohadobeenomadeomandatoryoforoavailingoCropoInsuranceo andoBanksohadobeenoadvisedotooobtainotheosame.ooo Theocollectionoofoproposalsoandopremium,oinotheopresentosetoofo cases,owasobeingodoneobyotheoleadoBank.oAoconsolidatedodeclarationowasotoo beo submittedo byo theo banko containingo detailso abouto theo informationo mentionedoinoClauseo17.2-viz-sumoinsuredo-,opremiumoperounit,ototaloareao ofo ao farmero insured,o o No.o ando categoryoofo farmero ando farmersoofo othero categories.o Onlyo theo farmerso registeredo ono theo NCIPo wereo eligibleo ando whereo insuranceo deniedo dueo too incorrecto details,o theo Banko wouldo beo responsibleoforothem.ooo Clauseo 17.11o ofo theo Schemeo requiredo Insuranceo Co.o too reconcileo theo detailso ofo farmerso uploadedo ono porto witho consolidatedo declarationo&oreportomismatcho&ocorrectodetailobeouploadedobyotheoBank.oIfo suchorectificationoisonotodoneothenocasesoofofarmersoshallobeoborneobyotheo concernedoBank.oTheoInsuranceoCo.oisorequiredotooverifyo&osatisfyoitselfo aboutotheocoverageo&ogiveoacceptanceotootheoapplicationosubmitted.ooInocaseo ofoanyo"substantialomisreporting"obyoNodaloBranch,otheoconcernedoBanko shallobeoliableoforotheosame.ooTheoobligationohasobeenocostoonoBankotoo ensureothatocultivatoroisonotodeprivedoofoanyobenefit.oIfodiscrepancyoisonoto conveyed,o ito shallo beo ao deemedo approvalo undero Clauseo 17.13o ofo theo Scheme.o Whileo theo claimo ofo theo Insuranceo Co.o iso thato ifo correcto particularsoareonotofurnished,oonlyotheoBankoisoliableotoocompensateotheo CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-55-o o 2023:PHHC:166153o

farmer,otheoclaimoofotheoBankoisothatotheoInsuranceoCo.owasoobligatedotoo indicateomismatch/discrepanciesoandoifononeoisoconveyed,oitoisoaodeemedo approval.oTheoInsuranceoCo.oreceivedoandoretainedotheopremiumo&outilizedo theosame,oitocannotodenyotheoliability.oTheoInsuranceoCompany,ohowever,o contendsothatoinotheoabsenceoofoanyoaccessotootheosupportingodocuments,o thereo cano beo noo verificationo ofo mismatch/discrepancieso othero thano reconciliationoofopremiumoandothoseoinsured.ooTheosaidoaspectohavingonoto beenodeniedobyotheoBank,otheoInsuranceoCompanyocannotobeoheldoliableoforo notobeingoableotoopointooutodiscrepancies.o Theo issueo whicho arises,o however,o iso aso too whethero everyo misinformationoorodiscrepancyoisosufficientotooassumeothatoonlyotheoBankoiso liableoorothatoonlyoaosubstantialomismatch/mis-declarationomustoexistobeforeo InsuranceoCompanyocanodenyoitsoliabilityotoocompensate.oClauseo24oofotheo Schemeodocument,ohowever,odealsowithoImportantoConditionsooroClauseso applicableoforocoverageooforisks.ooClauseo24.2othereinocasesotheoexpressiono "substantialomisreporting"obyoBankoforoitotoobeoliable.oTheouseoofosucho expressiono iso significanto sinceo theo saido clauseo fallso undero "Importanto Conditions/Clausesoapplicableoforocoverageooforisks".oAsoperotheoSchemeo&o title,otheseoClausesobeingospecialo&oimportant,omustobeogivenopriorityoovero theo othero generalo conditionso &o theo Clauseso needo too beo harmoniouslyo reconciledotoogiveoeffectiveomeaningotooalloconditionsoandonototoorenderoanyo Clauseosuperfluous.o EvenothoughotheoBankohasorestedoitsoentireocaseoonoabsenceoofo pointingo outo anyo mismatcho oro discrepancyo culminatingo intoo deemedo approval,ohowever,oitodoesonotodisputeothatotheodocumentsotoosubstantiateo CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-56-o o 2023:PHHC:166153o

detailsosubmittedoalongowithotheoproposaloformowereonotouploaded.ooThereo isoalsoonoodenialoofotheofactothatotheoInsuranceoCompanyodidonotohaveoanyo accessotooanyodigitizedorevenueorecord.oTheoaboveosaidoaspectsoareohenceo alsoorequiredotoobeokeptoinomind.o AtotheosameotimeoitoisoalsoonoticeableothatoClauseo17.2oofotheo Schemeoguidelinesorequiresoconsolidatedodeclarationotoobeofurnishedobyotheo Bankoandodescribedo"sumoinsuredoperounit,opremiumoperounit,ototaloarea,ono.o andocategoryoofofarmeroalongowithoaccountodetails."oHowever,oinoClauseo

17.11,o wheno obligationo ofo Insuranceo Companyo too reconcileo detailso iso concerned,otheoreconciliationoisoaboutotheopremiumowithotheoconsolidatedo declaration.ooThereoisothusoaomarkedo&onoticeableodeviationoofodeclarationo too beo madeo vis-a-viso theo reconciliationo too beo doneo byo theo Insuranceo Company.o Similarlyo Clauseo 17.12o alsoo talkso abouto verificationo &o satisfactionoaboutocoverageoofofarmers/cropso&oreconcileotheosameowitho premiumoreceipt.o BothotheoaboveoClausesocastingodutyoonoInsuranceoCompanyo useotheoexpressionoverificationoofodetailsowithotheopremiumo&odoonotouseo theoexpressiono"satisfactiono&overificationoofoconsolidatedodeclarationo&o theoparticularsofurnishedothereunder".oTwooseparateoexpressionsothatoareo distinctohaveobeenousedoinotheoSchemeodocumentoandohaveotoobeounderstoodo inotheosameolighto&ocontext.o Itocannotobeoassumedothatoevenothoughodifferentodutiesohaveo beeno casto ono theo Banko foro furnishingo declarationo ando ono theo Insuranceo Companyoforoverification,oyetoitomustobeoreadoasosame.o CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-57-o o 2023:PHHC:166153o

ItoisoaocardinaloprincipleoofolawothatowhenoaoStatuteooroSchemeo usesoseparateoexpressions,otheyohaveotoobeoassignedodifferento meanings.oo Literalointerpretationoruleorequiresoeacholettero&ophraseotoobeointerpreted.oo Readingodifferentoandodistinctocontextsoandolanguageoasosynonymsowouldo amountotooviolatingotheointentoandorewritingotheoSchemeodocument.ooIfotheo authoritiesointendedothemotoomeanooneoandosame,otheoauthorityowouldohaveo usedotheosameoexpressions.ooTheodigressionobeingoconscious,ohasotoobeoreado ando interpretedo accordingly.o o Theo importanceo ofo importanto conditiono ino Clauseo24.2ohasotoobeoappreciatedoinotheoaboveobackground.o Theo contentiono ofo theo Banko thato theo Insuranceo Companyo wouldo beo liableo aso pero deemedo approvalo iso thuso noto basedo ono correcto readingoofotheoSchemeodocumentoandoisobasedouponoreadingosaidoClausesoaso one,owhichoisoimproperoreadingoasoperolaw.o ItonowoneedsotoobeoseenoasotoowhetherotheoInsuranceoCompanyo canoclaimoinsulationoandoimmunityofromopaymentoonoeveryoandoanyomis-declaration.o Clauseo 24.2,o however,o useso theo expressiono "substantialo misreporting"o foro holdingo theo Banko liable.o Hence,o aso pero theo necessaryo inferenceothatoflowsofromotheospecificoClauseo(importantocondition)oisothato ifo misreportingo iso noto substantial,o theo Banko cannoto beo heldo liable.o Theo aboveointerpretationoreconcilesoallotheoClausesoandogivesoeffectotooallotermso withoutodoingoviolenceotootheoSchemeodocument.o Ito iso alsoo requiredo too beo kepto ino mindo thato ao contracto ofo insuranceoisoaocontractoofogoodofaithoandoeveryomaterialoinformationowhicho impactsotheodecisionoofoinsuranceocompanyotoounderwriteotheoriskoorogiveso riseo too ano insurableo interesto ino ao propertyo musto beo unambiguouso ando CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-58-o o 2023:PHHC:166153o

specific.oAoclearodescriptionoofoproperty/insurableointerestowouldodiscloseo consensusoamongstopartieso&oexactonatureooforiskoundertaken.oHowever,otheo informationorequiredohasotoobeomaterialoandonotoeveryodiscrepancyowouldo beosufficientotoorepudiateoorodeclineoaoclaim.o Havingoheldoso,oitoisoheldothatopoweroofojudicialorevieworelateso tooillegality,oimpropriety,operversityoorounreasonableness.ooTheoHighoCourto doesonotositoinoappealooverotheosaidodecisionoandosupplantoitsoreasonsooro sufficiencyooforeasons.ooHence,owhereotheoobjectionsohaveobeenoconsideredo andodecisionsoreflectoobjectivity,otheosaidodecisionoisonototoobeointerferedo withomerelyobecauseoanyootheroviewoisoalsoopossible.o Theocasesoareohenceobeingoconsideredofromodifferentosetsoi.e.o holdingotheoBankoliable;oandoholdingotheoInsuranceoCompanyoliable.oo Whereotheobanksohadobeenoheldoliableo o o o Theoauthoritiesohaveoheldotheobankoliableoinocaseowhereothereo iso ao villageo mis-match;o cropo mis-matcho oro whereo datao haso noto beeno uploaded.oTheoaboveosaidoinformationolaysocrucialofoundationoforocontracto ofo insuranceo ando theo natureo ofo risko oro propertyo underwritten.o Theo saido informationo beingo primaryo wouldo beo substantialo ando anyo misreportingo thereofowouldoholdotheobankoliable.ooooooo o o Foro fasteningo ofo anyo liabilityo ono theo insuranceo company,o subjectomatteroofoinsuranceohasotoobeowellodescribed.oWhereotheosubjecto matteroisoatovariance,oeitherobyovirtueoofotheolocationoofotheolandoi.e.otheo villageoorotheodescriptionoofotheolandoorotheocropodescriptionoitselfooroinotheo circumstanceso whereo theo dueo premiumo haso noto beeno transferredo byo theo CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-59-o o 2023:PHHC:166153o

concernedobank(s)otootheoinsuranceocompany,otheoinsuranceocontractocannoto beopresumedotoocomeointooexistenceoquaoaodifferentolandoand/oroaocropo whichoisonotoinsuredoorowhereotheopremiumohasonotobeenotransferred.oTheo obligationoofodeductionoofotheopremiumoandotransferoofotheosaidopremiumotoo theoinsuranceocompany,owithinotheoprescribedotimeoalongowithouploadingo theocorrectodetails,ohasobeenocastouponotheobanks.oTheobank(s)ocannotoclaimo thatonotwithstandingoitsofailureotoosubmitotheocorrectodetails,oitobeoabsolvedo ofoitsoobligationomerelyobecauseotheodiscrepancyohadonotobeenopointedoouto especiallyowhenotheospecificoclaimoofotheoinsuranceocompanyohasobeenothato theosupportingodocumentsoonotheobasisowhereofotheouploadedoinformationo ono theo Nationalo Cropo Insuranceo Portalo couldo beo verifiedo hado noto beeno suppliedotoothemoandowhenotheoInsuranceoCompanyoisoalsoonotoobligatedoaso alreadyoheldoabove.ooThus,otheoscopeoofore-verificationowasorestricted.oThereo wasothusonoooccasionooropossibilityoforotheoinsuranceocompanyotooverifyotheo discrepanciesoinotheoinformationouploadedobyotheobank.oInotheoabsenceoofo theorequisiteodetails,othereowasonoooccasionotoodoubtotheodataouploadedoando ifosuchouploadedodataoisofactuallyoincorrect,oitowouldoamountotoocreatingo legaloliabilityoandoenforceabilityoofoaocontract,odespiteotheosubjectomattero whereo theo losso actuallyo occurred,o noto beingo insuredo undero theo contract.o Disregardingosuchodiscrepancyoinotheodataouploadedobyotheoconcernedobank,o (whicho chargeso percentageo ofo premiumo foro renderingo services),o wouldo amountotoorecognizingoexistenceoofoaovalidocontractoandodilutingotheorole,o responsibilityo ando o obligationo ofo theo banko ino uploadingo theo correcto informationoandoreducingotheorequirementoofouploadingotheodataoasoaomereo CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-60-o o 2023:PHHC:166153o

oo o Theo Schemeo documento haso laido downo theo ruleso ando responsibilitiesoinodetailoandowhereotheoprimaryoobligationoforouploadingo theodataohasobeenocastouponotheobankoonlyoforouploadingoofotheocorrecto information.o Further,o theo banko havingo failedo too provideo accesso too theo documents,oonotheostrengthowhereofotheoinformationofurnishedoonotheoportalo couldobeoverified,ocannotowashoawayoitsohandobyomerelyoconveyingothatoito hasonoofurtheroresponsibilityoonceotheoperiodoprescribedoforonotifyingotheo discrepanciesoisoover.oTheobankohavingowithheldotheoinformationofromotheo insuranceo companyo wouldo theno beo heldo boundo foro anyo consequentialo failure.oTheoobligationoisothusotakenouponoitself,obyotheoconcernedobank,o thatotheoinformationofurnishedobyoitoonotheonationaloportaloisocorrectoandoaso perotheorecordsoavailableowithotheoconcernedobanks.oo o o WhereotheoInsuranceoCompanyoheldoliableo o o Inosoofaroasotheoissueowhereotheoinsuranceocompanyohasobeeno heldo liableo i.e.o whereo theo caseso whichopertainotoo minoro errors,o theo saido errorsoareonotosubstantialooroinofundamentalotootheocontractoofoinsuranceoando areo onlyo ino theo natureo ofo disputeo pertainingo too identificationo ofo theo beneficiaryoandonototheosubjectomatteroofoinsurance.oTheonatureoofominoro discrepancies,oareodemonstratedoinotheotableobelow:-o Districto Seasono Nooofo Remarkso Caseo Y/Nagaro Kharifo 1o Payableo buto noto paido byo theo ICICIo 2016o LombardoInsuranceoCompanyo Kharifo 84o DueotoowithheldoStateoShareoSubsidyo 2018o againstopenaltyoimposedoonoUniversalo SompooGICoLtd.o Rabio2018-518o DueotoowithheldoStateoShareoSubsidyo 19o againstopenaltyoimposedoonoUniversalo CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-61-o o 2023:PHHC:166153o

SompooGICoLtd.o Jhajjaro Kharifo 69o Duringo surveyo representativeo ofo 2018o InsuranceoCompanyonotoavailable.oAso peropointoNo.o15o(d)o(v)onotificationo No.o941-Agri-II(I)-2018/4332,oissuedo ono datedo 30-03-2018.o Theo concerno InsuranceoCompanyoUniversaloSompoo GICoLtd.oisoliableotoopayotheoclaim.o Panipato Kharifo 35o DueotoowithheldoStateoShareoSubsidyo 2018o againstopenaltyoimposedoonoUniversalo SompooGICoLtd.obyotheoStateoGovt.oo Bhiwanio Kharifo 98o InvalidoLandoDetails.o 2019o Sirsao Kharifo 2394o Killa/Murabao No.o ando KCCo Detailo 2019o notoavailable.o Kharifo 2095o Someo informationo wereo missingo ino 2019o Form-1.o Fatehabado Rabio2018-3o DueotoowithheldoStateoShareoSubsidyo 19o againstopenaltyoimposedoonoUniversalo SompooGICoLtd.obyotheoStateoGovt.o Kharifo 149o Payableo buto noto paido byo theo ICICIo 2016o &o LombardoInsuranceoCompanyo Rabio2016-17o Sonipato Kharif-1o Farmeronameomismatcho 2017o Kharif-1o Farmeronameomismatcho 2018o Kharif-22o Payableo buto noto paido byo theo Bajajo 2017o AllianzoGICoo Rabi-2017-4o Payableo buto noto paido byo theo Bajajo 18o AllianzoGICo Kharif-107o DueotoowithheldoStateoShareoSubsidyo 2018o againstopenaltyoimposedoonoSBIoGICo Ltd.obyotheoStateoGovt.o Rabi-2018-7o DueotoowithheldoStateoShareoSubsidyo 19o againstopenaltyoimposedoonoSBIoGICo Ltd.obyotheoStateoGovt.o Gurugramo Kharifo 11o Farmeronameomismatcho 2018o Kaithalo Rabio2017-5o Premiumoofocropodepositedoinotimeotoo 18o insuranceo Companyo ICICIo Lombardo buto insuranceo companyo repliedo thato theofarmerodetailsoisonotouploadedoono portalo ando tillo nowo premiumo iso noto refundo byo Insuranceo too banko LDMo Kaithalo toldo thato allo caseso areo uploadedo ono portalo ando thereo CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-62-o o 2023:PHHC:166153o

(1053137486,o 1053473723,o 1053693493,o 1053690196,o o ando 1053164258)o Totalo o 5604o o o o o oo TheonatureoofodiscrepanciesoareoStateoshareosubsidyowithheldo proportionateotoopenaltyoleviedobyotheostateoofotheoInsuranceoCompany.oIfo theopenaltyohasobeenosetooff,otheoproportionateopremiumowouldobeodeemedo paid.oOtheroobjectionsoareoaboutomis-matchoofonameoofofarmersoorofarmero detailonotouploadedothoughopremiumo paid.o Theno ao fewo relateo too certaino missingodetailo inoForm-Io lifeo Killao Numbero oro KCCodetailsoorotheolando detailoinotheoclaimoisoinvalid.oTheosameoareomereoministerialoirregularitieso andocanobeorectifiedoandoverifiedofromotheorecordoalreadyoavailableowitho InsuranceoCompany.oo oooo o Io amo ofo theo opiniono thato hyper-technicalo approacho ino sucho matterso cannoto beo allowed.o Theo benefitso accruedo ino favouro ofo ao farmero cannoto beo withheldo ono accounto ofo ao mismatcho ofo nameo oro irrelevanto discrepanciesoinotheouploadedoinformation.oSuchominorodiscrepanciesohaveo noobearingosoofaroasotheosubjectomatteroofoinsuranceoisoconcerned.oNotoeveryo oroanyodiscrepancyoentitlesoinsuranceocompanyotoorepudiateotheoclaim.oAo discrepancyohasotoobeoofoaomagnitudeoasoisofundamentalotootheocontractoofo insuranceoandoisomaterialotooanoextentothatoitoisoaorelevantofactoroforotakingoao decisionotoounderwriteoaoriskooronot.oAnyowithholdingoofotheosubsidyobyotheo Stateo Governmento witho ao viewo too seto offo theo penaltyo leviedo upono theo insuranceo companyo etc.o cannoto beo perceivedo aso ao valido reasono foro theo insuranceocompanyotoodenyotheoliabilityoasotheoissueowithorespectotootheolevyo ofopenaltyoagainstotheoinsuranceocompanyobyotheoStateoGovernmentohasotoo CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-63-o o 2023:PHHC:166153o

beoresolvedobyotheoinsuranceocompanyoinotheomanneroprovided.oHavingo chosenonototooagitateotheosaidoissueoinotheomanneroprescribed,otheoinsuranceo companyowouldonotobeopermittedotoodenyotheoliabilityoofohavingotoopayotheo insuranceoasotheonatureoofotheodisputesoareodifferent.oWhileotheoclaimoofo subsidyoisoaoclaimointeroseobetweenotheoinsuranceocompanyoandotheooStateo Government,otheoclaimounderotheoPMFBYoisoaocontractobetweenotheoinsuredo andotheoinsuranceocompanyothroughotheobank.oThereowasonoobreach/defaulto inotheoconductoofotheobankoand/orotheofarmersoandothatoifotheodeductionohado beenomadeoonoaccountoofoanyolapseoonotheopartoofotheoinsuranceocompanyo itself,oitocannotowriggleooutoofotheoliabilityowhichoensuesoasoaoresultothereof.o Similarly,oasoisoreflectedofromotheotable,otheoinsuranceocompanyohasofailedo toopointooutoasotoohowoanyoofotheoreasonsocitedothereinowereocrucialoforo determinationo ofo theo finalo liabilityo ando wouldo haveo ao bearingo ono theo decisionoofoinsuranceocompanyoitself.ooAoplayoinojointoisorequiredotoobeo prescribedoinopoliciesoofosuchomagnitudeoandowhereotheodiscrepanciesoareo notofundamentaloorobasicotoolayingodownotheocontractualoobligationsoando prescribingotheoliabilities,otheoinsuranceocompanyocannotobeopermittedotoo absolveoofoitsoliability.oo o o Counseloforotheoinsuranceocompanyohasofailedotoopointooutoifo anyo crucialo information,o whicho waso materialo ando contraryo too theo consolidatedodeclarationofiledobyotheobank,owasotheobasisofororejectionoofo claim.oTheoKCCodetailoonlyorelatesotootheobankoloanoaccountoandoinvalido landodetailoisoaboutocertainotypographicalomistakesoinodataoentryoandonotoino relationotootheototaloareaoofotheofarmers,opremium;osumoensuredoorocrop-o description.oTheopetitionerohasoalsoonotogivenoanyodetailsoofosuchominoro CWP-2282-2022o(O&M).oo ooooo-64-o o 2023:PHHC:166153o

discrepanciesoinoitsopleadingsoasowell.oHence,othereocanobeonoopresumptiono ofoaofactothatoisonotopleadedooroestablishedofromotheodocumentsoplacedoono record.oTheoburdenolayoonotheoInsuranceoCompanyoinoitsocases,oandoitofailedo toodischargeotheosame.oIofindothatothereoisohenceonooillegality,operversityooro grossomis-appreciationoofotheotermsoandoconditionsoofotheoPMFBYobyotheo respondents.oo o o o o o o o o o o Iofindothatothereoareonoosufficientogroundsowhichowouldocalloforo ano interferenceo byo thiso Court.o Ao mereo minoro discrepancyo oro certaino irrelevanto factualo disputeso cannoto layo theo foundationo foro undoingo ofo ao decisiono whicho iso basedo ono ao valido interpretationo ando ono equitableo considerationsoofotheorivaloclaimsoandoisoinoconsonanceowithotheotermsoando conditionsoofotheoScheme.oo o o o o o o o o Anyoattemptoofomakingoaosuggestiononotosubstantiatedofromo theodocumentsoonorecordowouldobeoaodisputedoquestionoofofact.oTheosameo havingoalreadyobeenoexaminedobyotheoauthorities,oHighoCourtowouldonoto ventureoinotheodisputedoquestionsoandohasotooacceptotheosameotoobeominoro discrepanciesoonly.ooooo o o o o o o o o o Theopresentopetitionsoareoaccordinglyodismissed.oo o o o Pendingomisc.oapplication(s),oifoany,oinotheopresentobatchoofo writopetitionsoshalloalsoostand(s)odisposedoofoaccordingly.ooo o o o Ao photocopyo ofo theo ordero beo placedo ono theo fileo ofo eacho connectedocase.oo Novembero17,o2023o o o oooooooooo(VINODoS.oBHARDWAJ)o rajoarorao o o o oooooo o ooooooJUDGEo o o o Whetherospeaking/reasonedoo :oYes/Noo Whetheroreportableoo o :oYes/Noo