India, Dec. 17 -- More than two decades after torrential rain and floods wrought havoc in Mumbai on July 26, 2005 (aka the "26/7" floods), the Bombay High Court dismissed an appeal filed by an insurance company that had turned down a claim raised by a housing society that suffered structural damage in the deluge.

The court upheld the findings of the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC), which directed New India Assurance Company to pay compensation amounting to Rs.34.78 lakh to Gayatridham Cooperative Housing Society Phase II in Titwala. The court said the society had paid the insurance policy premium by cheque to buy the Standard Fire and Special Perils Policy and it was the insurer's own operational deficiency that h...