JUDGMENT : 1. This appeal has been preferred against the judgment and award dated 31.10.2008 passed by the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, Jammu (for short, Tribunal) whereby an amount of Rs.21,11,000/- has been awarded as compensation along with interest @ 7.5% per annum. 2. The only ground on which the award has been challenged in the instant appeal is that having held that the driver of the offending vehicle was not possessed of a valid and effective driving licence, the insurance company should not have been saddled with the liability to pay compensation with liberty to recover the same from the owner of the offending vehicle. 3. Heard learned counsel for the appellant. 4. It is no longer res integra that even when there is a violation with regard to the condition of the insurance policy especially pertaining to the driver not possessing a valid and effective driving licence, the courts have adopted the principle of ‘pay and recover’. 5. In United India Insurance Co. Ltd vs. K.M. Poonam & ors, 2011 ACJ 917, the Apex Court affirmed the directions and principles laid down by a three-judge bench in National Insurance co. Ltd. Vs. Swaran Singh & ors, 2004 ACJ 1 and ordered the insurance company to pay the compensation with liberty to recover the same from the owner of the offending vehicle. This view was subsequently followed in Kusum Lata & ors vs. Satbir & ors, 2011(2) Supreme 207 . 6. In view of the above, the appeal is found to be without any merit and is accordingly dismissed along with connected application.