Kerala High Court: Mere Alcohol Presence Not Sufficient to Deny Insurance Claim

The Kerala High Court has ruled that the mere presence of alcohol in a victim’s blood is not enough to reject an insurance claim unless the insurer can prove actual impairment due to intoxication.

The Court was hearing an appeal by the National Insurance Company challenging an order directing it to pay ₹7 lakh to the wife of a deceased policyholder under a group insurance scheme.

The insurer argued that the victim was under the influence of alcohol, leading to the fatal motor accident. The Court rejected this, upholding the compensation order.

[National Insurance Co. Ltd. v State of Kerala & Ors.]