The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (“ IRDAI / Authority ”) has issued the final order bearing reference number IRDAI/SUR/ORD/ONS/131/11/2025 in the matter of Shri Datta Maharudra Kore (“ Surveyor ”) pertaining to the receipt of application no. 500051018 for the renewal of his surveyor and loss assessor licence bearing no. IRDA/IND/SLA-31896.
Background:
Upon scrutiny of the application, the Authority observed certain discrepancies with the Regulatory requirements. The Authority asked the applicant to furnish his clarifications vide its letter dated May 08, 2025, and the applicant submitted his response vide letter dated May 16, 2025. Subsequently, the applicant submitted reply to the Show Cause Notice (“ SCN ”) dated August 05, 2025, and the personal hearing was held on September 19, 2025.
The observations raised by the Authority and decisions thereon are summarised below for your reference:
- Charge
- Violation
- Observation of the Authority
- Decision of the Authority
Violation of:
Violation of Regulation 13, 13(1)(d), 16(1) and 16(7) of IRDAI (Insurance Surveyors and Loss Assessors) Regulations, 2015 (“ SLA Regulations ”).
The relevant excerpts of SLA Regulation 13 of the SLA Regulations are as follows:
It shall be the duty of every Licensed Surveyor and Loss Assessor to investigate, manage, quantify, validate and deal with losses (whether insured or not) arising from any contingency, and report thereon to the insurer or insured, as the case may be., All Licensed Surveyors and Loss Assessors shall carry out the said work with competence, objectivity and professional integrity and strictly adhere to the code of conduct as stipulated in these Regulations.
(1) The following, shall, inter alia, be the duties and responsibilities of a Surveyor and Loss Assessor:
(d) conducting inspection and re-inspection of the property in question suffering a loss.
(f) conducting spot and final surveys, as and when necessary and comment upon franchise, excess/under insurance and any other related matter.
(j) surveying and assessing the loss on behalf of insurer or insured.’
The relevant excerpt of Regulation 16 of the SLA Regulations is mentioned hereunder as:
(16) Every Surveyor and Loss Assessor shall:
(1) behave ethically and with integrity in the professional pursuits. Integrity implies not merely honesty but fair dealings and truthfulness.
(7) carry out his professional work with due diligence, care skill and with proper regard to technical and professional standards expected of him.’
The Authority observed that:
- The Surveyor had left India on June 07, 2023, and re-entered India on June 13, 2023, while the survey register showed 101 surveys were recorded as having been conducted during the above period showing serious concerns regarding the authenticity of the surveys recorded and the way they were purportedly conducted.
The Surveyor had left India on June 07, 2023, and re-entered India on June 13, 2023, while the survey register showed 101 surveys were recorded as having been conducted during the above period showing serious concerns regarding the authenticity of the surveys recorded and the way they were purportedly conducted.
- The Surveyor conducted more than 30 surveys in a single day on 4 occasions during the financial year 2022-23 and on 13 occasions during the financial year 2023-24 which is humanly impossible indicating that the surveyor might have engaged unlicensed individuals to carry out survey activities on his behalf. Further, the aggregate distance travelled by the Surveyor to attend the surveys on a single day exceeded 200 kilometres, substantiated the impracticality of the claimed conduct of surveys.
The Surveyor conducted more than 30 surveys in a single day on 4 occasions during the financial year 2022-23 and on 13 occasions during the financial year 2023-24 which is humanly impossible indicating that the surveyor might have engaged unlicensed individuals to carry out survey activities on his behalf. Further, the aggregate distance travelled by the Surveyor to attend the surveys on a single day exceeded 200 kilometres, substantiated the impracticality of the claimed conduct of surveys.
- A surveyor cannot delegate, outsource, or cause to be performed by any unauthorised person any part of the functions for which the licence has been granted.
A surveyor cannot delegate, outsource, or cause to be performed by any unauthorised person any part of the functions for which the licence has been granted.
- The actions of the surveyor are not in conformity with the regulatory framework, specifically the “Code of Conduct” prescribed under Regulation 16 of SLA Regulation.
The actions of the surveyor are not in conformity with the regulatory framework, specifically the “Code of Conduct” prescribed under Regulation 16 of SLA Regulation.
Warning and Direction
The Authority issued warning to the Surveyor and directed him:
- To desist from utilizing any unlicensed individuals for any insurance survey-related work, including preliminary inspections;
To desist from utilizing any unlicensed individuals for any insurance survey-related work, including preliminary inspections
- To personally undertake and supervise all survey activities in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Regulations; and
To personally undertake and supervise all survey activities in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Regulations and
- To maintain complete, accurate, and verifiable records of all survey works undertaken, ensuring full conformity with the prescribed professional and ethical standards.
To maintain complete, accurate, and verifiable records of all survey works undertaken, ensuring full conformity with the prescribed professional and ethical standards.
The Authority further held that any recurrence in future shall be viewed seriously and may attract stringent regulatory action, including suspension or cancellation of the license of the Surveyor.
In case the Surveyor feels aggrieved by this Order, he may prefer an appeal to the Securities Appellate Tribunal as per the provisions of Section 110 of the Insurance Act, 1938.
A copy of the Order is attached for your ready reference.
Source category: IRDAI
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