(1.) Aggrieved by the orders of the District Forum, Guntur in C.D. Nos. 89/2007 to 262/2007, 540/2006 to 573/2006, 793/2006 to 808/2006 opposite party No. 2 i.e. Oriental Insurance Co. Ltd., preferred these appeals and aggrieved by the orders in C.D. Nos. 89/2007, 118/2007, 147/2007, 164/2007, 180/2007, 560/2006, 794/2006, 806/2006, 805/2006 and 803/2006, the complainants preferred F.A. Nos. 1581/2007 to 1590/2007.
(2.) These appeals are disposed of by a common order since the facts are similar in all these appeals.
(3.) The brief facts as set out in the complaint are that the complainants are agriculturists, who have deposited their stocks of chilis with first opposite party, cold storage for safe custody. The first opposite party is Himabindu Cold Storage represented by its Managing Director, second opposite party is the Branch Manager, Oriental Insurance Company Limited. The first opposite party to safeguard the interest of the complainants, insured the stock by Standard Fire and Special Perils Policy covering the entire stock holding of the complainants and others. Second opposite party issued the Standard Fire Policy No. 2001/9007 covering the period from 1.5.2000 to 30.4.2001 for a total insured sum of Rs. 6,35,00,000 and first opposite party paid a premium of Rs. 1,64,687. This policy is based on the declaration of stocks held with the first opposite party. Some of the complainants obtained loans on the stocks from the Syndicate Bank for which 1st opposite party stood as a guarantor and the bank authorities after verifying the machinery and satisfying themselves with respect to the maintenance and management of the cold storage, voluntarily issued loans to the farmers after mortgaging the bonds. The understanding is that after eventual sales by the complainants, they would repay the bank loan and utilise the rest of the value of the stocks for their use.