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Rajasthan High Court · body

2021 DIGILAW 557 (RAJ)

Oriental Insurance Co. Ltd. v. Kanaram Choudhary

2021-03-04

VINIT KUMAR MATHUR

body2021
JUDGMENT : Vinit Kumar Mathur, J. 1. The present appeal has been preferred against the judgment and award dated 29/07/2000 passed by Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, Balotra (District & Sessions Judge, Balotra, District Barmer) in Civil Misc. (Claim) Case No. 5/1998. Vide judgment dated 29/07/2000, the claim petition of the claimants was decided and an amount of Rs. 2,10,000/- was awarded to the claimants on account of the death of Smt. Nenu Devi. 2. Learned Tribunal after framing the issues, evaluating the evidence brought on record and hearing learned counsel for the parties, decided the claim petition of the claimants as stated hereinabove. 3. Heard. 4. Shri UCS Singhvi, learned counsel for the appellant/Insurance Company has attacked the finding of the Tribunal recorded on issue No. 3. Learned counsel submits that the Tribunal erred while recording the finding on issue No. 3 as the liability has been fastened on the Insurance Company only on the ground that the Insurance Company could not discharge its burden to prove the fact that at the time of the accident, the driver of the bus was holding a requisite licence or not. Learned counsel submits that it was discussed in detail that the police after investigation has filed charge sheet under Section 3/181 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 against the driver showing the fact that at the time of accident, the driver was not holding the requisite driving licence for driving the bus. He further submits that the owner of the bus was already charge-sheeted under Section 5/180 of the Motor Vehicles Act and, therefore, this clearly goes to show that the driver of the bus Prem Singh was not authorized to drive the bus at the time of accident. In these circumstances, learned Tribunal was not correct in holding the Insurance Company responsible for paying the compensation. He further submits that there was gross violation of the Insurance Policy as the bus was being driven by a person who was not holding the valid driving licence to drive the bus. Therefore, the Insurance Company cannot be burdened with the liability to pay the compensation in this case. 5. He further submits that there was gross violation of the Insurance Policy as the bus was being driven by a person who was not holding the valid driving licence to drive the bus. Therefore, the Insurance Company cannot be burdened with the liability to pay the compensation in this case. 5. E-converso, learned counsel for the claimants submits that the finding recorded on issue No. 3 is well reasoned and it was noted by the Tribunal that despite opportunity being given to the Insurance Company to discharge its burden, they failed to prove that driver of the bus Prem Singh was not holding a valid driving licence at the time of accident. He submits that neither the driver of the bus appeared before Tribunal nor any reply was filed, therefore, it cannot be said that he was not holding a valid driving licence. It was incumbent upon the Insurance Company to discharge its burden to prove before the Tribunal that the driver of the bus Prem Singh was not holding the valid licence at the time of accident. He has taken the Court to the statement of NAW. 1 Sagarmal who stated in his testimony that he did not go to the Office of the Transport Authorities to check whether any licence in the name of Prem Singh was issued or not. He, therefore, submits that the finding of fact recorded by the Tribunal does not suffer from any infirmity and no interference is called for by this Court in this case. 6. I have considered the submissions made at the Bar and have gone through the impugned judgment as well as other relevant record of the case. 7. The Tribunal dealt with the issue No. 3 in detail and came to the conclusion that the burden of proof was on the Insurance Company to prove the fact that driver of the bus Prem Singh was not holding any licence, muchless valid licence at the time of the accident. The representative, who appeared before the Tribunal as NAW1 Sagarmal, also stated that he did not take the requisite steps to find out whether the driver of the bus Prem Singh was holding any valid licence at the time of accident or not. He did not make any investigation with respect to the fact that whether the driver of the bus was holding any licence or not. He did not make any investigation with respect to the fact that whether the driver of the bus was holding any licence or not. For brevity, the findings recorded by the Tribunal on issue No. 3 is reproduced as under: ^^rudh la[;k 3 bl rudh dks lkfcr djus dk Hkkj chek dEiuh ij gS ,uŒ,ŒMCY;wŒ 1 lkxjey lgk;d Á'kklfud vf/kdkjh] vksfj;UVy bU';ksjsUl tks/kiqj ds c;ku djok;s x;s gS ftlus c;ku esa crk;k fd chek ikfylh Án'kZ ,&1 dh 'krZ esa nq?kZVuk ds le; okgu pykus okys O;fDr ds ikl ÁHkkoh MªkbZfoax yk;lsal gksuk pkfg;sA ;fn dksbZ ÁHkkoh yk;lsal ugha gks rks dEiuh dk dksbZ nkf;Ro ugha curkA iqfyl }kjk is'k fd;s x;s pkyku esa okgu pkyd Áseflag ds ikl MªkbZfoax yk;lsal ugha gksus ds dkj.k bl tqeZ esa pkyku ÁLrqr fd;k x;k gS tks pktZ'khV Án'kZ 1 gSA U;k;ky; dh i=koyh esa Hkh Áseflag okgu pkyd dk MªkbZfoax yk;lsal is'k ugha gqvk okLro esa Áseflag ds ikl nq?kZVuk ds le; okgu pkyd dk dksbZ MªkbZfoax yk;lsal ugha Fkk vr% chek dEiuh dh ftEesnkjh ugha gSA ftjg esa bldk dFku gS fd mlus ftyk ifjogu vf/kdkjh dk;kZy; esa tkdj MªkbZoj ds yk;lsal ds ckjs esa tkap ugha dh vkSj u gh ftyk ifjogu vf/kdkjh ds fdlh Hkh dk;kZy; esa tkdj tkap dhA tkapdrkZ dh fjiksVZ mlus is'k ugha dhA MªkbZoj ls Hkh mlus dksbZ iwNrkN ugha dh fd mlds ikl okgu pykus dk yk;lsal gS ;k ughaA mlus xkM+h ekfyd dks Hkh uksfVl ugha fn;k fd oDr okdk MªkbZoj ds ikl yk;lsal Fkk ;k ughaA tkap fjiksVZ is'k ugha djus dk dksbZ dkj.k ugha FkkA bl ckr ls budkj fd;k fd oDr okdk MªkbZoj ds ikl okgu pykus dk yk;lsal Fkk vkSj mlus mls ÁkIr djus dk dksbZ Á;kl ugha fd;kA pkyd Áseflag fdrus le; ls okgu pyk jgk gS mlds ckjs esa mUgsa dksbZ tkudkjh ugha gSA okgu ekfyd tks/kiqj dk jgus okyk gSA ;g Hkh Lohdkj djrk gS fd chek dEiuh ds }kjk okgu ekfyd ls Hkh blds ckjs esa dksbZ tkap ugha dh xbZA Áseflag dks okgu pykus ls v;ksX; ?kksf"kr fd;k x;k gks] blds ckjs esa Hkh mls dksbZ tkudkjh ugha gSA mijksDr lk{; ds lkFk ;ksX; vfHkHkk"kd vÁkFkhZx.k dh cgl jgh fd bl nq?kZVuk esa cl ekfyd ds f[kykQ /kkjk 5@180 eksVjokgu vf/kfu;e o MªkbZoj ds f[kykQ 3@181 eksVjokgu vf/kfu;e ds lkFk iqfyl us pkyku Hkh is'k fd;kA cl MªkbZoj bl Ádj.k esa is'k ugha gqvk gS mlds fo:) dk;Zokgh bdrjQk gS vkSj cl ekfyd ds }kjk bldk yk;lsal U;k;ky; esa is'k ugha fd;k x;kA vr% vÁkFkhZ ds xokg ds c;ku ij fo'okl fd; tkosa fd MªkbZoj ds ikl oDr okdk oS/k MªkbZfoax yk;lsal ugha FkkA blds foijhr ;ksX; vfHkHkk"kd ÁkFkhZx.k dh cgl jgh fd /kkjk 3@181 eksVjokgu vf/kfu;e ds rgr MªkbZoj ds fo:) pkyku is'k gqvk Fkk vkSj cl ekfyd ds fo:) 5@180 eksVjokgu vf/kfu;e ds rgr pkyku is'k gqvk exj U;k;ky; }kjk bl laca/k esa ;g fu.kZ; fn;k x;k gks fd blds ikl yk;lsal ugha gS ,slh lk{; ugha vkbZ gS iqfyl ds pSfdax ds le; ml le; dksbZ yk;lsal is'k ugha gqvk blh vk/kkj ij ;g pkyku is'k gqvk gSA mudk ;g Hkh rdZ gS fd chek daiuh ij ;g Hkkjh ftEesokjh gS fd og ;g Áekf.kr djsa fd cl dk MªkbZoj fcuk yk;lsal ds xkM+h pyk jgk FkkA MªkbZoj muds dUVªksy esa ugha jgk gS o mls U;k;ky; esa is'k ugha dj lds u og Lo;a gh mifLFkr vk;k gSA chek dEiuh ij bl rudh dks lkfcr djus dk Hkkjh Hkkj Fkk vkSj muds }kjk bl laca/k esa mfpr tkap dh tkuh pkfg;s Fkh u rks muds }kjk dksbZ tkap dh xbZ fd mlds ikl dksbZ MªkbZfoax yk;lsal ugh gks] u bl laca/k esa dksbZ lUrks"ktud lk{; gh nh gSA ,uŒ,ŒMCY;wŒ 1 lkxjey dk c;ku gS fd Áseflag ds ikl ÁHkkoh MªkbZfoax yk;lsal ugha gS ek= D;k'kksa ij vk/kkfjr gS ek= pktZ'khV mijksDr vijk/kksa esa is'k gksus ls gh ;g ugha ekuk tk ldrk fd vfHk;qDr Áseflag ds ikl yk;lsal ugha gksA eSaus nksuksa i{kks ds rdksZ ij fopkj fd;kA MªkbZoj dk yk;lsal is'k ugha gqvk gS oDr okdk MªkbZoj Áseflag ik;k x;k gSA ;g vuvksFkksjkbZTM ijlu gS tks xkM+h pyk jgk gks cl ekfyd ds f[kykQ Hkh iqfyl us pkyku is'k fd;k gS vkSj Áseflag ds fo:) vU; vijk/kksa ds vykok fcuk yk;lsal xkM+h pykus dk pkyku is'k fd;k x;k gS exj ek= bl vk/kkj ij fd mijksDr vijk/kksa esa pkyku ÁLrqr fd;k x;k mlls ;g fl) ugha gks tkrk fd MªkbZoj ds ikl dksbZ yk;lsal dHkh ugha jgk gks vkSj og dHkh okgu pykus ls v;ksX; ?kksf"kr fd;k x;k gksA pktZ'khV rQrh'k ds ckn ek= blh vk/kkj ij nh xbZ gS fd rQrh'kh vf/kdkjh dks nkSjkus rQrh'k dksbZ yk;lsal ÁLrqr ugha fd;k x;kA bl rjg ;g pktZ'khV ÁLrqr gqbZ gSA Vªk;y ds nkSjku vkxs D;k dk;Zokgh gqbZ ;g vHkh U;k;ky; ds lkeus rF; ugha vk;s gS vc bl Ádj.k esa tks lk{; vÁkFkhZ us ÁLrqr dh gS vkSj ,uŒ,ŒMCY;wŒ 1 lkxjey ds c;ku djok;s x;s gSA blh vk/kkj ij c;ku fn;s tks U;k;ky; esa Hkh pkyku ÁLrqr gqvk ftlesa MªkbZfoax yk;lsal ugha gksus ds Hkh tqeZ yxk;s x;s gS vr% yk;lsal ugha gksuk crk;k x;k vkSj ;g Hkh c;ku fn;k fd okLro esa mlds ikl dksbZ MªkbZfoax yk;lsal oDr okdk ugha Fkk exj lkxjey ftjg esa [kM+k ugha jg ldk gS mlus Li"V Lohdkj fd;k gS fd ftyk ifjogu vf/kdkjh ds dk;kZy; esa tkdj MªkbZoj ds yk;lsal ds ckjs esa tkap ugha dh vkSj u gh ftyk ifjogu vf/kdkjh dk;kZy; ds fdlh Hkh dk;kZy; esa tkdj tkap dh] u MªkbZoj ;k ekfyd ls iwNrkN dhA yk;lsal ds ckjs esa u ekfyd dks uksfVl fn;k fd oDr okdk MªkbZoj ds ikl yk;lsal Fkk vFkok ughaA tkapdrkZ us fjiksVZ dh Fkh exj og fjiksVZ Hkh U;k;ky; esa is'k ugha djokbZ xbZ gS bldh Hkh dksbZ tkudkjh ugha fd pkyd Áseflag fdrus le; okgu pyk jgk FkkA Áseflag dks okgu pykus ls v;ksX; ?kksf"kr fd;k x;k gks] blds ckjs esa mls dksbZ tkudkjh ugha gSA bl Ádkj ,uŒ,ŒMCY;wŒ 1 lkxjey us eq[; c;kuksa es tks ckr crkbZ gS fd okgu pkyd Áseflag ds ikl yk;lsal ugha Fkk exj ftjg esa og [kM+k ugha jg ldk gS u chek dEiuh dh rjQ ls Hkh dksbZ tkap fjiksVZ gh U;k;ky; esa is'k ugha dh xbZ tks ;g Áekf.kr djs fd Áseflag ds ikl dksbZ yk;lsal ugha FkkA chek dEiuh dh rjQ ls ekfyd ;k MªkbZoj dks uksfVl Hkh ugha fn;k x;k] u muds MªkbZoj] yk;lsal ds ckjs esa tkap dhA bl Ádkj U;k;ky; esa vkdj dguk fd vfHk;qDr ds ikl oDr okdk MªkbZfoax yk;lsal ugha Fkk blls chek dEiuh ds ftEes tks rudh dk Hkkj gS og lekIr ugha gks tkrkA bl laca/k esa ,uŒ,ŒMCY;wŒ 1 lkxjey ftjg esa [kM+k ugha jg ldk gS ek= pktZ'khV esa yk;lsal ugha gksus ds vijk/kksa esa pkyku is'k gksus ls ;g mi/kkj.kk ugha yh tk ldrh fd MªkbZoj ds ikl yk;lsal ugha gks ;g Vªk;y ds ckn gh ;fn mldk fu.kZ; gksrk rks Li"V gks ldrk FkkA QkStnkjh Ádj.k dk fu.kZ; nhokuh Ádj.kksa esa lqlaxr ugha gS exj D;k ltk gqbZ ;k cjh gqvk bl rF; dks vo'; ns[kk tk ldrk gSA vr% fcuk MªkbZfoax yk;lsal ds Áseflag ;fn xkM+h pyk jgk Fkk vkSj mls ;fn nf.Mr fd;k x;k] og vo'; U;k;ky; fu.kZ; ds ckn ns[k ldrh Fkh exj ,sls fu.kZ; dh udy Hkh chek dEiuh us is'k ugha dhA bl Ádkj ek= pktZ'khV is'k djus ds vk/kkj ij ;g ugha ekuk tk ldrk fd MªkbZoj ds ikl yk;lsal ugha gksA ÁkFkhZx.k ds ;ksX; vfHkHkk"kd dh cgl jgh fd Áseflag ds fo:) dk;Zokgh bdrjQk gS u mldh rjQ ls dksbZ tokc is'k gqvk gSA ekfyd ds }kjk Li"V tokc nkok esa Lohdkj fd;k x;k fd Áseflag ds }kjk cl pykbZ tk jgh Fkh MªkbZfoax yk;lsal MªkbZoj ds ikl Fkk vFkok ugha\ blds laca/k esa chek dEiuh ds Åij Hkkjh Hkkj Fkk muds }kjk gh ;g ,rjkt fy;k x;k Fkk fd oDr nq?kZVuk MªkbZoj ds ikl oS/k yk;lsal ugha FkkA exj bl laca/k esa chek dEiuh }kjk dksbZ Hkh fo'oluh; lk{; ykdj bl rudh dks Áekf.kr ugha dh gSA bl Ádkj chek dEiuh }kjk vius ftEes ds Hkkj dks Hkh fMLlpktZ ugha fd;k tk ldk gS pwafd MªkbZoj U;k;ky; esa is'k ugha vk;k vkSj mlds fo:) dk;Zokgh bdrjQk gS chek dEiuh pkgrh rks mls lk{; esa ryc djk ldrh Fkh ;k mlls nLrkost mlds ikl dksbZ yk;lsal gks og ryc djkus dh ÁkFkZuk dj ldrh Fkh og Hkh ugha dh xbZA cl ekfyd ds }kjk vo'; MªkbZoj dks is'k djus ds fy;s dkQh volj fy;s x;s exj Á;kl ds ckotwn Hkh dksbZ lk{; bl laca/k esa is'k ugha gks ikbZA exj ÁkjfEHkd Hkkj chek dEiuh ij Fkk tks iw.kZ :i ls chek dEiuh fMLlpktZ ugha dj ikbZ gSA vr% rudh la[;k 3 chek dEiuh ds fo:) vkSj ÁkFkhZx.k ds i{k esa r; dh tkrh gSA** 8. Learned Tribunal discussed and deliberated on the issue in detail and after analyzing the fact held that it was incumbent upon the Insurance Company to prove beyond doubt that driver of the bus, namely, Prem Singh was not holding the licence at the time of accident. Since they failed to discharge their burden, therefore the issue No. 3 was rightly decided against the Insurance Company. 9. In view of the discussions made above, I find no infirmity in the impugned judgment passed by the Tribunal. The appeal fails and the same being bereft of any merit stands dismissed.