The Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991

Public Liability Insurance Notifications

While workers and employees of hazardous installations are protected under separate laws, members of the public who become victims to accidents arising out of handling of hazardous substances from with in these hazardous installations were not assured of any relief except through long legal processes. The Public Liability Insurance Act of 1991 was therefore an Act to provide for public liability insurance for the purpose of providing immediate relief to the persons affected by accidents occurring while handling any hazardous substances and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

Under this act every owner shall take out, before he starts handling any hazardous substance, one or more insurance policies providing for contracts of insurance whereby he is insured against liability to give relief under the following:

Where death or injury to any person (other than a workman) or damage to any property has resulted from an accident, the owner shall be liable to give such relief as is specified in the schedule for such death, injury or damage.