NEW DELHI: The

on Monday said mere delay in intimating the

about theft of a vehicle should not be a ground to deny

if the aggrieved person had informed police on time.

A bench of Justices N V Ramana, R Subhash Reddy and B R Gavai agreed with the SC's verdict of 2017 in which it had held that it would be taking a hyper technical view if the claimant is denied claim on the ground that there is some delay in intimating the insurance company about the theft. The insurance company, however, claimed it is stipulated in the Standard Form for

that claimant will immediately inform the company in case of theft and claim can be denied in case of not complying with the condition.

Rejecting the plea of the company, the bench said, "...if police is immediately informed about the theft, the police machinery can be set in motion and steps for recovery of the vehicle could be expedited. In a case of theft, the insurance company or a surveyor would have a limited role...We, therefore, hold that when an insured has lodged an FIR immediately after the theft..., mere delay in intimating the insurance company... cannot be a ground to deny the claim of the insured".