United India Insurance Company Limited v. Nilkanth
2015-08-19
A.P.BHANGALE
body2015
DigiLaw.ai
JUDGMENT A.P. BHANGALE, J. 1. This First Appeal is directed against the Judgment and Order dated 13.3.2003 passed by the learned Member, Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, Nagpur in Claim Petition No. 647 of 1997 whereby the Claim Petition under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 was partly allowed with proportionate costs. The learned Member, M.A.C.T. held the truck owner and truck insurer and the jeep owner and jeep insurer jointly and severally responsible to pay compensation in the sum of Rs. 50,000/- with interest @ 9% per annum from 7.7.1997 till realization of payment. The said Judgment and Order is under challenge in this appeal by the appellant/Insurance Company. 2. It is the case of the appellant that there was a motor vehicle accident on 22.3.1997 at 5.00 p.m. at village Dongargaon, near Orange processing factory, within the limits of Katol Police Station when jeep bearing registration No. MH-31-H-1825 owned by Vikas Fuke and insured by the United India Insurance Company (hereinafter referred to as Jeep) collided with truck bearing registration No. MTG-2425 owned by Mrs. Shobha Sawarkar and insured by National Insurance Company (hereinafter referred to as ‘Truck’). The jeep was driven by Narayan Ramrao Chaudhari (whose death Claim Petition No. 838 of 1997 was filed by his dependents Mother and Sisters). The Truck was driven by Harischandra Uike. The jeep and the truck driven rashly and negligently collided with each other. Ownership of the truck and jeep and insurance cover as on the date of the accident is not denied. 3. In that accident stated as head on collision between the jeep and the truck, the inmates of the jeep and the truck were injured. Some of them succumbed to injuries. On the fateful day, claimant's eldest daughter Shilpa, middle son Nitin and youngest son Sachin were travelling from Katol to Sawargaon in the offending jeep. The jeep was in a high speed. The offending truck came from front side in a high speed. Both the vehicles collided against each other near juice factory. Claimant's youngest son Sachin died in that accident. He was school going 11 years old. Compensation for his death to the tune of Rs. 3,00,000/- was claimed. Insurer of the truck denied liability to pay compensation on the ground that the jeep was used to carry 14 passengers beyond permit limits of 9+1 in it for reward or hire.
Claimant's youngest son Sachin died in that accident. He was school going 11 years old. Compensation for his death to the tune of Rs. 3,00,000/- was claimed. Insurer of the truck denied liability to pay compensation on the ground that the jeep was used to carry 14 passengers beyond permit limits of 9+1 in it for reward or hire. The jeep owner, though served did not appear to contest the Claim Petition. The truck driver was not holding valid driving license as on the date of the accident, but it was renewed subsequently after few days. Insurer of the Truck denied liability to pay compensation on this ground. The Tribunal found that there was rash and negligent driving of the truck and the jeep resulting in collision thereof. Based upon the evidence, all the respondents were held jointly and severally responsible to pay the compensation. 4. It is the case of the insurer that there was a breach of policy condition as there were 14 excessive passengers in the jeep. According to the appellant, both the truck as well as the jeep collided due to contributory negligence of the drivers of both offending motor vehicles. Therefore, truck owner and insurer and jeep owner and insurer were equally liable to pay compensation. The motor vehicular accident occurred on 22.3.1997 at about 7.55 pm between commander jeep bearing registration No. MH-31-H-1825 and truck bearing registration No. MTG-2425. Both the offending motor vehicles were insured with the United India Insurance Company Limited. 5. Learned Counsel for the appellant submits that the drivers of both the vehicles were responsible as their contributory negligence resulted in the accident, whereby family of the claimants suffered effects of the accident and as a result of which, life of victim was cut short. 6. It is submitted by learned counsel for the insurer that the Insurance Company is not liable to compensate the claimants. According to Mr. S.N. Dhanagare, learned Counsel for the appellant, liability of the Insurance Company was NIL because excess passengers were travelling in the offending motor vehicle i.e. jeep. 7. On the other hand, learned Counsel for the claimants submits that the Tribunal should have taken into consideration the pleadings as well as the evidence led on record to arrive at just and proper compensation payable to the claimants.
7. On the other hand, learned Counsel for the claimants submits that the Tribunal should have taken into consideration the pleadings as well as the evidence led on record to arrive at just and proper compensation payable to the claimants. It is submitted by learned Counsel for the claimants that once it is proved that the accident had occurred arising out of motor vehicles, the Tribunal should prove the pleadings of the parties and legal evidence on record in its entirety to arrive at just and fair compensation. 8. According to the learned Counsel for the appellant, the liability of the Insurance Company is NIL for breach of policy for exceeding the seats limits in the jeep. He submits that the Insurance Company was not liable. It is submitted that the Tribunal was bound to consider the pleadings and legal evidence on record and appreciate it before the Award is passed. 9. Learned Tribunal appears to have considered the evidence on record that the jeep left for Katol to Sawargaon in which the claimants were travelling. Both the truck and jeep were driven by respective drivers rashly and negligently and in a high speed resulting into fatal accident. The Tribunal held that the motor accident occurred due to the negligence of both the drivers of jeep and truck. The police papers were also produced in the form of F.I.R., Inquest Panchanama and Post Mortem report. Learned Member of the Tribunal considered the Spot Panchanama with map of the Scene and found that the accident had occurred in which both vehicles were dashed against each other due to rashness and negligence of drivers of jeep and truck. The truck insurer contended that, on the date of accident, the driver of the truck did not held valid driving licence. 10. Even assuming for the sake of argument that, according to the Insurance Company, there was breach of Insurance Contract by the owner of the offending motor vehicle, the rule is that the Insurer has liability to pay compensation first as awarded by the Tribunal and then, if it thinks fit, it may recover the amount so paid from the Insured, if according to the Insurer, the insured was liable to pay the amount. The Tribunal may, if necessary be moved for that purpose.
The Tribunal may, if necessary be moved for that purpose. The joint and several liability is the rule in such cases and the exception pleaded and established to the satisfaction of the Tribunal can be considered by the Tribunal while executing the Award fully and finally and if necessary, even after the payment made to the claimants, when insurer disputed or disowned it's liability and sought to recover the amounts paid to the claimants towards compensation; from the owner/driver of the offending motor vehicle or vehicles, the insurer who pays is at liberty to recover accordingly by moving the Tribunal concerned. 11. Cross-Objection is raised in this appeal regarding quantum of compensation awarded on the ground that is on lower side. Deceased victim was nearly 11 years old body – a student studying in 4th Std. His loss to his parents for untimely demise of their son was irreparable. He was studying in 4th Std. and would have supported the parents in their old age contributing atleast Rs. 1,500/- per month = Rs. 18,000/- per year. Notwithstanding the consideration of imponderables or probability of untimely death of victim in future, old age of parents or their untimely death in near future etc. we may reasonably consider average age of parents around 50 years and less and may award compensation on the basis of atleast “10” as reasonable multiplier to enhance the compensation to Rs. 1,80,000/- adding Rs. 2,000/- as funeral expenses and Rs. 20,000/- as loss of love and affection etc. total making it Rs. 2,02,000/- inclusive of no fault liability along with interest at the rate of Rs. 9 % per annum On the amount from the date of Claim Petition till realisation thereof. Cross-objection is allowed accordingly in the above terms. The appeal is found without merits and it is dismissed accordingly. No order as to costs.