Further to the update reported earlier (please refer to the e-mail in trail), the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (“MoEFCC”) has notified the Public Liability Insurance (Amendment) Rules, 2024 (“Amendment Rules”), with immediate effect, amending the Public Liability Insurance Rules, 1991 (“Principal Rules”).
Key Changes:
- Modifications has been made to the provision relating to making an application for claim of relief and added filing of an application for claim for restoration of property by any person or entity who holds an interest in the affected public property.
- A new provision has been inserted which requires an industrial unit to publicize among the affected people regarding their right to claim for relief in case any accident has occurred in any industrial unit.
- The Amendment Rules substitutes the Form II under the Principal Rules, for giving notice for a complaint to Central Pollution Control Board or Secretary to Government of India, in case the offence is committed in Union Territory and State Pollution Control Board or Secretary of the State Government, in case the offence is committed in the State. The notice will now be given in Form IV through registered speed post or electronic mail. The requirement of sending such notice to MoEFCC has been done away with.
- Further, the Amendment Rules increases the maximum aggregate of insurance policy, in case of an accident from Rs. 5 crores to an aggregate not exceeding Rs. 250 crores and in case of more than one accident during the currency of insurance policy or one year, whichever is less, the maximum aggregate has been increased from Rs. 15 crores to an amount not exceeding Rs. 500 crores.
- A new provision has been inserted which requires any person to file a complaint in Form V through electronic means or speed post or by hand to the adjudicating officer for the contravention of provisions under Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991.
- Form of Application for relief or restoration of property has been updated.
Source: Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change
