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2023 DIGILAW 1541 (AP)

NATIONAL INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED v. SHAIK MASTAN VALI

2023-12-08

B.V.L.N.CHAKRAVARTHI

body2023
JUDGMENT : B.V.L.N. CHAKRAVARTHI, J. Heard Smt. Anuradha, learned counsel representing on behalf of Smt. S..A.V.Ratnam, learned counsel for the appellant/Insurance Company and Sri B.Parameswara Rao, learned counsel for the respondent No.1/claimant. 2. This appeal directed by the appellant/respondent No.2/Insurance Company challenging the Order and Decree dated 31.12.2007 passed in M.V.O.P.No.1159 of 2005 passed by the Chairman-cum-District Judge, Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal, Guntur (hereinafter referred to ‘Tribunal’). 3. Parties are referred to as they were arrayed in the proceedings before the learned Tribunal, for the sake of convenience. 4. The case of the claimant is that on 13.10.2005 around 4.30 PM he along with one J.Rambabu Naik were returning on a cycle from their employer and when they reached Chandravanka bridge of Macherla town, one tractor and Trailor bearing registration Nos.AP7W 1438 and AP7W 1439 driven by the respondent No.1 in a high speed and in rash and negligent manner coming from Macherla towards Guntur side, dashed their cycle and the wheels of the Trailor ran over their legs; as a result, the claimant and the person who accompanied the claimant, fell down and sustained injuries; the claimant sustained fracture to his right leg thigh, injuries on his waist, knees; the claimant was shifted to the Government Hospital; the claimant spent Rs.10,000/- towards medical expenses and in spite of that, the injuries were not healed; the claimant prior to the accident, worked as lorry driver, but due to the said accident he could not work as lorry driver. 5. The respondent No.1/owner of the lorry remained exparte. The respondent No.2/Insurance Company i.e., Insurer of the respondent No.1 filed counter contending that the accident occurred due to the negligence of the claimant and Rambabu Naik, who accompanied the claimant; the injuries sustained by the claimant are completely healed and there is no permanent disability; the amount claimed by the claimant is excessive. 6. The learned Tribunal, basing on the rival contentions, framed the following issues for trial: 1. Whether the accident occurred due to rash and negligent driving of the tractor and trailor bearing Nos.AP7W 1438 and AP7W 1439 by its driver? If so, whether the petitioner sustained injuries? 2. Whether the petitioner would be entitled for compensation? If so, what would be the just amount of compensation that the petitioner would be entitled and against whom? 3. To what relief? 7. If so, whether the petitioner sustained injuries? 2. Whether the petitioner would be entitled for compensation? If so, what would be the just amount of compensation that the petitioner would be entitled and against whom? 3. To what relief? 7. During enquiry, the claimant examined himself as P.W.1 and filed five (05) documents which are marked as Ex.A.1 to Ex.A.5 and Ex.X.1 and Ex.X.2 documents. The claimant also examined the Doctor as P.W.2., who issued Ex.A.2/Wound Certificate, On behalf of the respondents, Officer of the respondent No.2/ Insurance Company was examined as R.W1 and Junior Assistant of R.T.O., Office, Narasaraopet as R.W.2 and exhibited Ex.B.1 and Ex.B.2 documents. 8. The Tribunal, on consideration of the evidence placed before it, on issue No.1 regarding rash and negligent driving held that the accident was occurred due to rash and negligent driving of the respondent No.1 i.e., driver of the tractor and trailor. 9. The only contention of the respondent No.2/ Insurance Company is that the driver of the offending vehicle i.e., tractor and trailor had LMV license only and therefore, he cannot drive the tractor and trailor and therefore, the respondent No.2/Insurance Company is not liable to indemnify the owner of the tractor and trailor. 10. Learned counsel for the respondent No.2/Insurance Company would submit that the respondent No.2/ Insurance Company has examined R.W.2, an Officer from R.T.O., Narasaraopet and the evidence of R.W.2 would establish that the driver of the offending vehicle was having LMV license only and therefore, he is not authorized to drive the tractor and trailor and as such, the Tribunal erred in holding that the respondent No.2/Insurance Company is liable to indemnify the owner of the crime vehicle and fastening the liability on the respondent No.2/Insurance Company. 11. 11. Learned counsel for the claimant would submit that the Tribunal in its Judgment discussed and considered the evidence of R.W.2 and found that the driver of the offending vehicle was having LMV license, but, in view of the Judgment of the Hon’ble Apex Court in Ashok Gangadhar Maratha vs. Oriental Insurance Company Limited, 2000 ACJ 319 held that the Insurance Company did not place any evidence to establish that the Trailor was carrying a load of more than 6,000 kilograms at the time of accident and as such, it cannot contend that the driver who was holding LMV license is not competent to drive the offending vehicle and in that view of the matter, both the respondents i.e., owner of the offending vehicle and the Insurance Company are jointly and severally liable to pay the compensation. 12. Considering the above rival contentions, the points that would arise for consideration in this appeal are as under: 1. Whether the compensation awarded by the Chairman-cum-District Judge, Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, Guntur, in M.V.O.P.No.1159 of 2005 vide Order and Decree dated 31.12.2007 warrants interference of this Court? 2. To what relief? 13. POINT NO.1: The evidence placed by the respondent No.2/ Insurance Company through R.W.2 i.e., Official from R.T.O. Office, Narasaraopet would show that the driver of the offending vehicle i.e., tractor-cum-trailor was having LMV license at the time of accident and he is competent to drive LMV vehicle. The evidence placed before the Court does not disclose that the tractor was carrying a load of goods in the trailor exceeding 6,000 kgs. Therefore, in the said circumstances, the learned Tribunal relying upon the Judgment of the Hon’ble Apex Court in Ashok Gangadhar Maratha case (supra) opined that the license held by the driver of the offending vehicle is sufficient to drive tractor-cum-trailor, and held that the owner as well as the insurer of the vehicle are jointly and severally liable to pay the compensation to the claimant. In that view of the matter, this Court is of the considered opinion that there are no grounds to interfere with the said finding of the learned Tribunal. 14. In that view of the matter, this Court is of the considered opinion that there are no grounds to interfere with the said finding of the learned Tribunal. 14. While coming to the quantum of compensation, the Tribunal considering the medical evidence and documents placed by the claimant, categorically held that he suffered fractures and on account of the same, he sustained partial permanent disability to an extent of 30% and on account of permanent disability he cannot walk freely as he was doing earlier and he has to limp while walking and further, it is difficult for him to drive the lorry which he was doing prior to the date of accident and therefore, considering the said facts and circumstances, awarded compensation towards loss of future income on account of partial permanent disability at 30%, considering his monthly income at Rs.2,500/- per month. 15. In that view of the matter, this Court is of the considered opinion that there are no grounds to interfere with the quantum of compensation awarded by the Tribunal. 16. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, this Court do not find any grounds to interfere with the order and decree passed by the learned Tribunal. Accordingly, point No.1 is answered. 17. POINT NO.2: In the light of finding on point No.1, the appeal is liable to be ‘Dismissed’. 18. IN THE RESULT, the Appeal is ‘Dismissed’, by confirming the Order and Decree dated 31.12.2007 passed by the learned Chairman-cum-District Judge, Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal, Guntur in M.V.O.P. No.1159 of 2005. There shall be no order as to costs. As a sequel, miscellaneous applications pending, if any, shall stand closed.