Settlement by insurance company and procedure therefor.

1[Settlement by insurance company and procedure therefor. -- (1) The insurance company shall, upon receiving information of the accident, either from claimant or through accident information report or otherwise, designate an officer to settle the claims relating to such accident.

1. (2) An officer designated by the insurance company for processing the settlement of claim of compensation may make an offer to the claimant for settlement before the Claims Tribunal giving such details, within thirty days and after following such procedure as may be prescribed by the Central Government.
2. (3) If, the claimant to whom the offer is made under sub-section (2),--
   • (a) accepts such offer,--
     • (i) the Claims Tribunal shall make a record of such settlement, and such claim shall be deemed to be settled by consent; and
     • (ii) the payment shall be made by the insurance company within a maximum period of thirty days from the date of receipt of such record of settlement;
   • (b) rejects such offer, a date of hearing shall be fixed by the Claims Tribunal to adjudicate such claim on merits.]