Research › Search › Judgment

Gujarat High Court · body

2022 DIGILAW 1291 (GUJ)

Faibaben Jagubhai Khachar v. Mansukhbhai Kalubhai Vaghela

2022-10-10

GITA GOPI

body2022
ORDER : 1. Ms. Falguni Trivedi, learned advocate for the appellants submits that the claimants are challenging the order dated 24.5.2019 pronounced in MACP No.727/13 when the compensation granted is only Rs.50,000/- by the Tribunal when it was a specific case that Jagabhai Merambhai had died due to accident during the treatment. Ms. Trivedi submits that the learned Tribunal ought to have believed the examination-in-chief of the applicant no.3 - father of the deceased who had very categorically stated that his son was traveling from Tramba to Rajkot in his rickshaw on 19.11.2012 at 8-00 p.m. in a moderate speed with all caution on the correct side of the road. A luxury bus no.GJ-4 Z-514 came in an excessive speed and dashed the rickshaw from behind and as a result, the deceased lost control over the rickshaw and sustained serious injuries. Ms. Trivedi submits that father had stated that thereafter, the son was hospitalized and during the course of treatment, he died. Over and above chief examination, the claimants had produced FIR, Panchnama, school leaving certificate of the deceased, driving license of the bus driver, R.C. Book of bus no.GJ-4 Z-514 and medical bills below Exh.24 in support of the contention. After relying on the medical certificate at Exh.23 which showed that Jagabhai Merambhai sustained grievous injuries and the charge sheet was also filed against driver of the bus no. GJ-4 Z-514 and on that basis, the learned Tribunal came to the conclusion that the accident took place because of the sole negligence on the part of bus driver and because of the accident, Jagabhai Merambhai sustained grievous injuries and accordingly, issue no.1 was answered in affirmative. 2. Ms. Falguni Trivedi submits that issue no.2 was raised regarding the entitlement of the right of the applicants to the compensation amount. While deciding the issue, the learned Tribunal had observed the fact that Jagabhai Merambhai has sustained grievous injuries in the accident and he was receiving the treatment. Ms. Falguni Trivedi submits that the father has clearly stated about the death of the deceased Jagabhai Merambhai, but the death certificate could not be produced on record. While deciding the issue, the learned Tribunal had observed the fact that Jagabhai Merambhai has sustained grievous injuries in the accident and he was receiving the treatment. Ms. Falguni Trivedi submits that the father has clearly stated about the death of the deceased Jagabhai Merambhai, but the death certificate could not be produced on record. The learned Tribunal also considered that since in absence of the post-mortem report, the death of person does not get reflected nor the charge sheet reflects the death of Jagabhai Merambhai and hence, no report was filed by the I.O. for adding sections after the charge sheet and further the learned Tribunal making contrary observation has observed that the claimants have produced bills of Jagabhai Merambhai, but there is no document which could show that Jagabhai Merambhai had died due to accident or in the midst of the treatment. While the learned Tribunal has found from the documentary evidence that the accident occurred due to rash and negligent driving of the opponent no.1, while the claimants have not produced any disability certificate of the deceased nor the evidence of death, but has placed reliance on the medical bills of Jagabhai Merambhai worth Rs.3,42,810.62 and concluded that the entire record reflects that Jagabhai Merambhai has previous injuries due to the accident and therefore, the learned Tribunal awarded a lumpsum amount of Rs.50,000/-, while deducting the amount of Rs.25,000/- which was passed under Section 140 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. 3. Ms. Falguni Trivedi submits that the claimants as legal heirs of Jagabhai Merambhai had filed the claim petition. The very fact itself suggests that the death of the deceased was accidental. However, Ms. Falguni Trivedi submits that the learned Tribunal had to take appropriate steps by calling for the death certificate which would certainly have been registered before the competent authority, which in this case is Talati-cum-Mantri, Chanpa/Kherdi Gram Panchayat. Ms. The very fact itself suggests that the death of the deceased was accidental. However, Ms. Falguni Trivedi submits that the learned Tribunal had to take appropriate steps by calling for the death certificate which would certainly have been registered before the competent authority, which in this case is Talati-cum-Mantri, Chanpa/Kherdi Gram Panchayat. Ms. Trivedi submits that the claim petition is required to be filed under format form and no further details could be added and since the deceased had initially sustained injuries and thereafter, during the course of the treatment, he died, the date of death could not be noted in the claim petition since the claim petition format does not permit and thus, submits that under these circumstances, in failure of production of death certificate, the learned Tribunal ought to have called upon the claimants to produce the same and further submits that no challenge has been given to the date of death or the death itself, as none had appeared from the side of the opponents as had been observed in Paragraph 4 of the judgment. Hence, the evidence of the claimants had remained unchallenged. 4. A copy of the death certificate registered with Talati-cum-Mantri, Chanpa/Kherdi Gram Panchayat shows the date of death as 23.4.2013 and the claim petition was filed on 4.7.2013. Necessary documents were produced on record regarding the medical bills and about the involvement of the vehicles. Considering this fact, it would be in the interest of justice that the matter is remanded back to the Tribunal concerned so that the death certificate could be produced on record and the compensation amount be decided in accordance with law. 5. Mr. Y.H. Vyas, learned advocate for the owner of the bus no. GJ-4 Z-514 submits that the owner of the vehicle is also required to be granted opportunity to produce the evidence on record since prior to the accident, the ownership of the vehicle has changed twice and therefore, the owner would like to bring all the evidence on record during the trial. 6. Considering this fact, let MACP No.727/13 is remanded back and is restored on the file of the concerned Tribunal with permission to the claimants to produce the death certificate on record and at the same time, opportunity is granted to the opponents to cross-examine the claimants and also to produce necessary evidence to defend the case. 6. Considering this fact, let MACP No.727/13 is remanded back and is restored on the file of the concerned Tribunal with permission to the claimants to produce the death certificate on record and at the same time, opportunity is granted to the opponents to cross-examine the claimants and also to produce necessary evidence to defend the case. Let this exercise of adducing the evidence be completed within five months of receipt of the order of the writ of this Court. Accordingly, the present appeal is disposed of.