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2023 DIGILAW 154 (JHR)

New India Assurance Company Ltd. v. Ranjeet Lohra son of late Gunwa Lohra

2023-02-10

SANJAY KUMAR DWIVEDI

body2023
JUDGMENT : Heard Mr. Alok Lal, learned counsel for the appellant, Mrs. Rakhi Rani, learned counsel for the respondent nos.1 and 2 and Mr. Anupam Anand, learned counsel for the respondent no. 3. 2. Aggrieved with judgment dated 19.09.2014 passed by the Presiding Officer Motor Vehicle Accident Claims Tribunal, Ranchi in Compensation Case No. 234 of 2010, the appellant has preferred this appeal. 3. Compensation Case was filed stating therein that the accident took place on 30.06.2010 at about 7 P.M. by a tractor bearing Registration No. JH-01B- 3850 driven by Prakash Chandra Kumhar and owned by Ram Kumar Mahto and insured by New India Assurance Co. Ltd. It is claimed that Chito Lohra was engaged as a labour for the purpose of loading and unloading articles in the tractor and on 30.06.2010 the driver of the said tractor was driving rashly and negligently leading to the accident wherein the deceased fell down and came beneath the tractor. The deceased was severely injured and died instantly. The claimant has claimed Rs. 4 lac and for funeral expenses, loss of estate and interest at the rate of 9% per annum. 4. Learned tribunal looking into the documents as well as oral evidences made on behalf of parties the learned tribunal awarded compensation to the tune of Rs. 5,61,000/- in the joint name of the applicant no. 1 namely Ranjeet Lohara and applicant no. 2 namely, Bindu Devi along with 6% per annum interest from the date of filing i.e 20.11.2010 till the date of realization, subject to deduction of any payment made under section 140 of the M.V. Act within 30 days from the date of receipt of a copy of the order. On failure to make payment within the said stipulated time the interest shall be chargeable @ 9% per annum from the date of expiry of the said period of one month. 5. Mr. Alok Lal, learned counsel for the appellant submits that in the F.I.R it has been disclosed that Deval Lohra was driving the tractor wherein the chargesheet the name of Prakash Chandra Kumhar has been disclosed. He submits that Prakash Chandra Kumhar has been acquitted by the trial court considering that no evidence was there. He further submits that in that view of the matter the camouflage has been made so far as driver is concerned. He submits that Prakash Chandra Kumhar has been acquitted by the trial court considering that no evidence was there. He further submits that in that view of the matter the camouflage has been made so far as driver is concerned. He further submits that terms and conditions of the policy has been violated as tractor in question was being driven alongwith trailer and there was no permit. He further submits that quantum is not in accordance with law as 50% has been provided in future prospect which is against the mandate of law. On these grounds he submits that the appeal may be allowed. 6. On the other hand, Mrs. Rakhi Rani, learned counsel for the claimants submits that there are so many heads in which the compensation has not been provided to the claimants. She further submits that in the head of estate consortium amount has not been awarded. She further submits that income of the deceased was assessed as 4500/-per month however at Rs. 3,000/- calculation has been made and on these grounds she submits that there is no illegality so far as quantum is concerned. 7. Learned counsel for the owner of the tractor submits that the driver was having valid licence and that aspect of the matter has been dealt with by the learned tribunal at paragraph 19 of the judgment. The policy of the tractor was package policy. He further submits that there is no illegality in the award. 8. In view of above submission of the learned counsel for the parties the Court has gone through the judgment as well as L.C.R and finds that admittedly the accident has occurred. The death has occurred. On the basis of information only F.I.R. has been registered and in that view of the matter the name of the Deval Lohra as a driver was recorded however after investigation police submitted chargesheet in which the name of driver was disclosed as Prakash Chandra Kumhar. Since after thorough investigation chargesheet has been submitted stating therein that Prakash Chandra Kumhar was driving the tractor the court finds that there is no force in the argument of the learned counsel for the appellant and that has been answered by the learned tribunal as Issue No. 3 in para 17 of the judgment. The policy is on record. L.C.R. has been received pursuant to order of this court. The policy is on record. L.C.R. has been received pursuant to order of this court. On perusal of Exhibit-X2 it transpires that limitation as to use:- The policy does not cover (i) Use for hire or reward or for racing pace taking reliability trial or speed testing. (ii). Use for the carriage of passengers for hire or reward. (iii) use whilst drawing a greater number of trailers in all than is persisted by law. 9. Thus, it appears that policy was package policy. Learned tribunal has considered about the valid licence as well as policy in paragraph 19 of the judgment and held that insurance company has appointed surveyor for making investigation and submitting report to the insurance company. The investigation is made with regards of this facts. i.e. whether the vehicle in question was properly insured or not as to whether there was any breach of the terms and conditions or as to whether the driver of the concerned vehicle was having valid and effective driving licence or not. The surveyor report/investigation report is not brought on record by the insurance company. The court concluded that withholding of the best evidence by the O. P. No. 2 is adversely affecting the insurance company. It is an admitted fact that the owner after appearance has not contested the case and if the owner was not there in the case, onus lies upon the company to prove the case in view of section 101 of the Indian Evidence Act. The weakness of the other side will not help a person making any claim and onus lies upon them which is well settled provision of law. So far quantum is concerned the court finds that although claimants are entitled for consortium, loss of estate, however under these heads no compensation has been awarded. Further the income of the deceased was assessed to the tune of Rs. 4500/- whereas the learned tribunal has taken 3,000/- per month in that view of the matter, the argument of the learned counsel for the appellant is not accepted by the Court. Accordingly, this appeal is dismissed. 10. It is pointed out that pursuant to order dated 12.04.2022 a sum of Rs. 8,00,000/- and odd has been paid by the insurance company to the claimants. Accordingly, this appeal is dismissed. 10. It is pointed out that pursuant to order dated 12.04.2022 a sum of Rs. 8,00,000/- and odd has been paid by the insurance company to the claimants. If in terms of award, the entire amount has not been satisfied it is open to the claimants to move before the learned tribunal and demonstrate their case. 11. The statutory amount deposited by the appellant shall be transmitted to the learned tribunal to satisfy the award within six weeks from the date of receipt/production of a copy of this order. 12. I.A. No. 1134 of 2022 filed by the respondent no. 3-owner of the tractor is belated one and the said I.A. is not fit to be allowed and accordingly, I.A. No. 1134 of 2022 is dismissed. 13. Let L.C.R. be remitted back to the concerned court forthwith.