insurer. At the same time, it was stated that such a clause cannot be interpreted so that it conflicts 1 Oriental Insurance Co. Ltd. v. Sony Cheriyan, (1999) 6 SCC 451. 2 United India Insurance Co. Ltd. v. Levis Strauss (India) (P) Ltd., (2022) 6 SCC 1. 3 New India Assurance Co. Ltd. v. Rajeshwar Sharma, (2019) 2 SCC 671; Canara Bank v. United India Insurance Co. Ltd., (2020) 3 SCC 455; Oriental Insurance Co. Ltd. v. Samayanallur Primary Agricultural Coop. Bank, (1999) 8 SCC 543. 4 (2023) 1 SCC 428. 13with the main intention of the insurance. It is, therefore, the duty of the insurer to plead and lead cogent evidence to establish the application of such a clause5. The evidence must unequivocally establish that the event sought to be excluded is specifically covered by the exclusionary clause.6 The judicial positions on the nature of an insurance contract, and how an exclusion clause is to be proved, shall anchor our reasoning in the following paragraphs. 18. Seeking to justify their