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2025 DIGILAW 822 (JHR)

United India Insurance Co. Ltd. v. Shivnath Gorain, S/o Late Guthulu Gosain

2025-03-10

GAUTAM KUMAR CHOUDHARY

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JUDGMENT : GAUTAM KUMAR CHOUDHARY, J. Heard, learned counsel for the parties. 1. Insurance Company is in appeal against the impugned judgment of Award passed by learned District Judge I-cum- MACT.I, Simdega in M.A.C.C. No.30 of 2010 whereby and whereunder compensation for the death of one Jhalo Devi [wife and mother of the claimants] has been awarded under Section 166 of the M.V. Act. 2. The facts of the case are not in dispute that said Jhalo Devi died in a motor vehicle accident involving a pick-up van bearing Registration No.WB-29A 1623 which was under the insurance cover of the appellant-Insurance Company. 3. The instant Misc. Appeal has been preferred mainly on the ground that there has been breach of terms and conditions of the Insurance policy as the permit of the vehicle was not produced and further the driving licence was adduced into evidence on behalf of the Insurance Company for driving non-commercial vehicle whereas the offending vehicle was the commercial vehicle. 4. It is argued by the learned counsel for the appellant- Insurance Company that the onus was upon the owner of the offending vehicle to have adduced into evidence that the said vehicle was plying on a valid and effective permit and the driver had valid and effective driving licence at the time of accident. It is argued that perusal of Ext.4 will show that Jahangir was not having valid driving licence for driving the commercial vehicle. 5. On quantum of the compensation amount, it is argued that a total sum of Rs.2,30,000/- has been awarded under the Conventional Head which is not in consonance with the ratio laid down by the Apex Court in the case of National Insurance Company Ltd. vs. Pranay Sethi, reported in (2017) 16 SCC 680 and further rate of interest has also been awarded @9% per annum which is also not as per the settled law. 6. The notices were earlier issued upon the owner and claimant(s), but none ppeared despite valid service. Accordingly, the instant Misc. Appeal is being heard ex-parte. 7. So far the issue of driving licence is concerned, from Ext.4, it is apparent that driver was having a valid driving licence at the time of accident. 6. The notices were earlier issued upon the owner and claimant(s), but none ppeared despite valid service. Accordingly, the instant Misc. Appeal is being heard ex-parte. 7. So far the issue of driving licence is concerned, from Ext.4, it is apparent that driver was having a valid driving licence at the time of accident. Law is settled that until and unless, there is some material evidence to show that the owner of the vehicle had colluded by permitting the driver in driving the vehicle without having any driving licence, he cannot be saddled with liability to pay the compensation amount as it will not amount to breach of terms and conditions of the Insurance policy. 8. So far non-production of permit is concerned, in the written statement, it has not been pleaded that the vehicle was being driven without having any valid permit and there is denial of averment made in Para-14 and 16 of the claim application. Consequently, no issue was framed with regard to breach of the terms and conditions of the policy for non-production of the permit. 9. In this view of the matter, this plea cannot be raised at this stage. Accordingly, I do not find that there is material infirmity in the impugned order with regard to liability of the Insurance Company. 10. However, there is merit in the argument advanced on behalf of the appellant-Insurance Company that the amount awarded under the conventional head is excessive and not as per the ratio laid down in the case of Pranay Sethi (supra). 11. In view of the fact that since the quantum of compensation has been challenged in the instant Misc. Appeal, it will be incumbent on the part of this Court to revisit the quantum and award a fair and just compensation to the claimant(s). 12. Accordingly, final compensation taking age of the deceased to be 45 years and Rs.48,000/- as Annual income, 1/5 th as personal and living expense while taking seven dependents and multiplier as 14, as such, the final compensation amount will be as under :- Annual income of the deceased taking Rs. 12. Accordingly, final compensation taking age of the deceased to be 45 years and Rs.48,000/- as Annual income, 1/5 th as personal and living expense while taking seven dependents and multiplier as 14, as such, the final compensation amount will be as under :- Annual income of the deceased taking Rs. Rs.4,000/- as monthly income + 30% as Future prospect Rs.48,000/- + Rs.48,000/- X 30% as Future prospect] i.e. 14,400/- = Rs.62,400/- Annual Dependency after deducting as 1/5th Rs.62,400/- Minus Rs.12.480/- = Rs.49,920/- Multiplier taking 14 years as the age of the deceased to be 45 years at the time of the accident 14 Rs.49,920/-X 14=Rs.6,98,880/- Loss of Estate, Funeral Expenses and Loss of Consortium Rs.84,000/- Rs.84,000/- Total Rs.7,82,880/- 13. The Appellant- Insurance Company is liable to pay the aforesaid compensation amount along with interest at the rate of 6% per annum from the date of filing of the claim application till its realization. The payment shall be made within a month from the date of this order by the Insurance Company to the learned Tribunal and thereafter the Tribunal will disburse the same as per the terms fixed to the claimants within two weeks. 14. It goes without saying that the amount already paid shall be deducted in final compensation amount. 15. The statutory amount, if any, deposited at the time of preferring the instant Misc. Appeal shall be sent to the learned Tribunal so as to adjust/ disburse to the claimant(s). Misc. Appeal is accordingly disposed of. Pending I.A(s), if any, stands disposed of.