INSURANCE REGULATORY AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF INDIA ACT, 1999

Subject Matter : ESTABLISHMENT AND INCORPORATION OF AUTHORITY &
DUTIES, POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF AUTHORITY
POWER TO MAKE REGULATION
Relevant Section : Section 3: (1) With effect from such date as the Central Government may, by notification, appoint, there shall be established, an Authority to be called "the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority".
Section 9: The Chairperson shall have the powers of general superintendence and direction in respect of all administrative matters of the Authority.
Section 14: (1) The Authority shall have the duty to regulate, promote and ensure orderly growth of the insurance business and re-insurance business.
Key Issue : Does IRDA Act give wide powers to regulatory authority?
Citation Details : Wills India Insurance Brokers Pvt. Ltd. vs. Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (07.03.2011 - BOMHC): MANU/MH/0326/2011
Summary Judgment :

Facts: The first Petitioner is a company registered in India incorporated under the laws of Netherlands. The first Petitioner for the period from 2003 till 18th August, 2010 was a joint venture amongst the second Petitioner which held 74% of the issued capital. Since the earlier license granted to the first Petitioner was to expire in 2009, the first Petitioner applied, on 16th February, 2009, for the renewal of their composite broking license. At the time of submitting the renewal application, a show cause notice was issued to the first Petitioner for cancellation of the composite broking license of the first Petitioner. It was challenged by the Petitioners. The first Respondent, IRDA, established under Section 3(1) of the IRDA Act is the authority within the meaning of the IRDA Regulations. The IRDA consists of a Chairman and not more than 5 whole time members and not more than 4 part time members. The second and third Respondents are permanent members (life and non life) of the first Respondent.

Held: In view of the Act, while deciding the renewal application afresh, it will be open to the authority to consider any other relevant material by which it may not be possible to renew the license such as any legal impediments in this behalf. The authority to take a fresh decision in accordance with law. The earlier Committee which took the decision now may take a fresh decision on the renewal application in accordance with law. It is clarified that if there is any other ground available with the authority, the same may also be considered provided the same should be brought to the notice of the Petitioners. It is, however, clarified that since they have found that nondisclosure of the dispute between Bhaichand and ECGC was not a relevant aspect, the same may not be taken into consideration while deciding the renewal application afresh.

Subject Matter : RULES AND REGULATIONS TO BE LAID BEFORE PARLIAMENT.
Relevant Section : Section 27: Every rule and every regulation made shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before each House of Parliament, while it is in session, for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one session or in two or more successive sessions.
Key Issue : Can any regulation drafted come into effect without notified and passed by the Parliament?
Citation Details : Indian Institute Of Insurance Surveyor and Loss Assessor vs Union Of India & Ors. (20.08.2020 DE HC): MANU/DE/1689/2020
Summary Judgment :

Facts: The challenge raised in the present writ petition is to the decision taken in the board meeting by which the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Insurance Surveyors and Loss Assessors) (Amendment) Regulations, 2020 was approved by the Board. By the said Regulations, the earlier regulations of 2015 are sought to be amended. The challenges raised by the Petitioner are multi-fold. Broadly, the Petitioner's stand is that the amendments proposed are arbitrary, unjust and illegal. The prayer is that the decision of the Board Meeting held on 13th August, 2020 be quashed and the Regulations not be given effect to.

Held: The Court considering the fact that the regulations which are sought to be challenged are still in a draft form, and the stand of the IRDAI that the same would not be given effect to until they are notified and passed by Parliament, in the opinion of this Court, the challenge is premature. Accordingly, the writ petition is disposed of as premature, leaving open the rights of the Petitioner to avail its remedies in accordance with law once the regulations are duly notified and placed before the Parliament.

Subject Matter : DUTIES, POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF AUTHORITY
Relevant Section : Section 14: (1) The Authority shall have the duty to regulate, promote and ensure orderly growth of the insurance business and re-insurance business.
(2) The powers and functions of the Authority shall include, -
(a) issue to the applicant a certificate of registration, renew, etc or cancel such registration;
(b) protection of the interests of the policy holders;
(c) specifying requisite qualifications, code of conduct and practical training for intermediary or insurance intermediaries, agents, surveyors and loss assessors;
(f) promoting and regulating professional organisations connected with the insurance and re-insurance business;
(g) levying fees and other charges for carrying out the purposes of this Act;
(h) calling for information from organisations connected with the insurance business;
(k) regulating investment of funds by insurance companies;
(l) regulating maintenance of margin of solvency;
(m) adjudication of disputes between insurers and intermediaries or insurance intermediaries;
(o) specifying the percentage of premium income of the insurer to finance schemes for promoting and regulating professional organisations.
(p) specifying the percentage of life insurance business and general insurance business to be undertaken by the insurer in the rural or social sector.
Key Issue : a. Whether the fixation of premium rates for third party liability by the IRDA was without jurisdiction?
b. Whether it is arbitrary and violative of Article 14 of the Constitution as well as ultra vires of the provisions of the Insurance Act, 1938?
Citation Details : Erode District Bus Owners Association and Ors. vs. Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority and Ors. (14.06.2011 - MADHC): MANU/TN/2249/2011
Summary Judgment :

Facts: the subject matter of the challenge is to the order, dated 15.4.2011 issued by the first Respondent, i.e., Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (for short IRDA) constituted under the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 1999. By the impugned order, the IRDA had fixed the Motor Insurance Premium Rates for third party liability only cover. The Petitioners in all these writ petitions were either associations of bus operators, lorry operators, trade union of Auto rickshaw drivers and associations of matriculation schools, self finance colleges and deemed universities.

Held: The Court held that even if the parameters shown by the Supreme Court are applied, the Petitioners have not made out any case. The impugned order is based upon rational classification and subject to sound reasoning and evolved after public consultation with the stake holders. And thus, all the writ petitions will stand dismissed. The Petitioners are given eight weeks time to pay the balance of the premium amounts to the respective insurers without fail. However, there will be no order as to costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions stand closed.