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ANIL R.DAVE, ADARSH KUMAR GOEL
MALATI SARDAR – Appellant
Versus
NATIONAL INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED – Respondent
Key Points: - The Tribunal's territorial jurisdiction under Section 166(2) can be based on where the accident occurred or where the claimant resides or carries on business, or where the defendant resides, allowing flexibility to facilitate remedies (!) . - A lack of prejudice or failure of justice can prevent appellate intervention against a Tribunal’s territorial jurisdiction; hyper-technical refusals are discouraged, as per Mantoo Sarkar principles (!) , (!) , (!) . - The decision reinforces that Section 21 CPC doctrine (no objection to place of suing unless there is failure of justice) applies to territorial jurisdiction in motor accident claims, and that tribunals have broader jurisdiction than civil courts (!) , (!) . - In the specific case, the Kolkata Tribunal had jurisdiction despite the accident occurring in Hooghly because the insurance company had business/residence connections within Kolkata, aligning with Mantoo Sarkar and related precedents (!) , (!) , (!) , (!) . - The High Court’s reason to set aside the Tribunal’s award solely on lack of territorial jurisdiction was found inappropriate; appeal allowed and Tribunal’s award restored (!) .
Judgment :
Adarsh Kumar Goel, J.
1. Leave granted. The question raised in this appeal is whether the High Court was justified in setting aside the award of the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal, Kolkata only on the ground that the Tribunal did not have the territorial jurisdiction.
2. On 7th May, 2008, the deceased Diganta Sardar, aged 26 years, a school teacher, unmarried son of the appellant was hit by Bus No.WB/15-A-4959 insured with the respondent company at Hoogly, in the State of West Bengal and died. He was travelling on motor cycle of his colleague, Uttam Samui as a pillion rider. The appellant filed an application under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (“the Act”) for compensation before the Tribunal at Kolkata.
3. Rash and negligent driving by the driver of the bus having been established, the Tribunal, applying the multiplier of 13 on account of age of the appellant being 47 years, and taking into account the income of the deceased and other relevant factors, fixed compensation of Rs.16,12,200/-with interest at the rate of 6% p.a. from the date of filing of claim petition vide its Award dated 7th February, 2012.
4. The respondent company preferred an appeal before th
United India Insurance Company Limited VS Sarwan Rabidas - 2016 0 Supreme(Pat) 33: Followed - Describes Malati Sardar v. National Insurance Co. (AIR 2016 SC 247) as "further supported" and quotes its holding positively.
SEEMA PANDEY VS MANOJ KUMAR - 2016 0 Supreme(All) 507: Relied upon - Cites National Insurance Company Limited, 2016 (3) SCC 43 positively in context of claim petitions.
Chandrika Bai W/o Late Kaushal Das Manikpuri VS Narayan Das @ Naru S/o Gaumal Madhwani - 2016 0 Supreme(Chh) 356: Relied upon - Reiterates the holding of National Insurance Company Limited and others [(2016) 3 SCC 43] positively; references Malati Sardar and Mantoo Sarkar neutrally.
Roopsingh Mahadevappa Lamani Alias Jadhav VS Somappa Sangappa Handi - 2017 0 Supreme(Kar) 1615: Relied upon - Cites Malati Sardar v. National Insurance Company Ltd. (2016)3 SCC 43 positively regarding jurisdiction.
Sushila Behara VS Narsingh @ Shrikant - 2017 0 Supreme(Chh) 132: Relied upon - Quotes paragraph 16 of National Insurance Company Limited [2016 (3) SCC 43] positively; references Oriental Insurance (2009 (2) SCC 244).
COUNTRY CLUB HOSPITALITY & HOLIDAYS LTD. VS NAVRATAN NAHATA - Consumer (2017): Relied upon - Cites National Insurance Company Limited and Others, (2016) 3 SCC 43 positively; lists Malati Sardar as supporting argument.
Oriental Insurance Company VS Bunty Harijan - 2018 0 Supreme(Raj) 1129: Relied upon - References National Insurance Co. and Sardar v. positively in context.
Dipak Das VS Abdul Mannan (Md. ) - 2018 0 Supreme(Gau) 837: Relied upon, but interpreted - Tribunal relied on Malati Sardar v. National Insurance Co.; counsel argues it was "misinterpreted" but decision permits filing (neutral to positive treatment).
Manager Royal Sundaram Alliance Insurance Company Limited VS A. Rajendra, Aged about 53 years, S/o A. Narasimhulu - 2018 0 Supreme(Kar) 309: Relied upon - Cites NATIONAL INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED AND OTHERS (2016) 3 SCC 43 positively re: no bar to filing claims where insurance company is contesting party.
Shriram General Insurance Co. Ltd. VS Renu Sharma - 2018 0 Supreme(Del) 2936: Relied upon - Cites National Insurance Company Limited and Others, (2016) 3 SCC 43 to support arguments in instant case.
Living Media India Ltd. VS Government of National Capital of Territory of Delhi - 2018 0 Supreme(Del) 3237: Relied upon - Cites Oriental Insurance Co. Ltd. (2009) 2 SCC 244 and Malati Sardar vs. National Insurance Co. positively.
Ganapati Son of Dhareppa Pujari VS Vinod Son of Rajratna Aathwale - 2018 0 Supreme(Kar) 1117: Relied upon - Cites Malati Sardar vs. National Insurance Co.Ltd., (2016) 3 SCC 43 positively.
Km. Renu Negi VS Union of India - 2019 0 Supreme(UK) 10: Relied upon - References Hon’ble Apex Court in Malathi Sardar vs. National Insurance Company Ltd. positively.
Bina Garg VS Sushil Kumar - 2020 0 Supreme(P&H) 357: Relied upon - Cites National Insurance Company Limited and others (2016) 3 SCC 43 and quotes its holding positively ("wherein it was held as under").
Bapu VS V M Matere Infrastructure India Pvt. Ltd. - 2020 0 Supreme(Kar) 922: Relied upon - Cites National Insurance Company Limited and others, (2016) 3 SCC 43 positively; places "gainfully" reliance on Malati Sardar.
Sakshi VS Laxman - 2020 0 Supreme(Kar) 878: Relied upon - Relies upon National Insurance Company Limited and Others, (2016) 3 SCC 43 and Malati Sardar positively.
National Insurance Company Ltd. VS Seema Devi - 2020 0 Supreme(All) 888: Relied upon - Cites National Insurance Company Limited 2016 (3) SCC 43 and quotes paragraphs 14 and 16 of Malati Sardar positively.
Saddam Husain VS Ram Prasad - 2021 0 Supreme(Del) 2287: Relied upon - Cites National Insurance Company Ltd., 2016 3 SCC 43 positively re: no bar in filing where insurance company carries business.
Shyamu VS Rashid Ahmad - 2022 0 Supreme(All) 382: Relied upon - References National Insurance Company Limited & Others, 2016 (3) SCC 43 in context of insurance and compensation.
National Insurance Company Ltd. VS Tara Chand Rawat - 2022 0 Supreme(Raj) 1245: Relied upon - Cites v. national Insurance Company Ltd. & Ors., 2016 (3) SCC 43 positively.
New India Assurance Co Ltd VS Shyam Sunder - 2022 0 Supreme(Del) 1898: Relied upon - Cites National Insurance Company Limited and Others (2016) 3 SCC 43 positively, alongside other cases.
FAIM @ FAHIM vs COMMISSIONER EMPLOYEES COMPENSATION - 2022 Supreme(Online)(DEL) 5088: Relied upon - Discusses Malati Sardar v National Insurance Co. as precedent on jurisdiction positively.
Navnath VS Aditya - 2022 0 Supreme(Bom) 1814: Relied upon - Cites Sardar Versus National Insurance Company Limited (2016) 3 SCC 43 positively.
Navnath s/o Shripati Bhawar VS Aditya s/o Vishnu Jayebhaye - 2022 0 Supreme(Bom) 1638: Relied upon - Cites Sardar Versus National Insurance Company Limited (2016) 3 SCC 43 positively.
IN THE MATTER OF: United India Insurance Co. Ltd. VS Sima Devi - 2023 0 Supreme(Del) 99: Relied upon - Cites National Insurance Company Limited and Others (2016) 3 SCC 43 positively.
Mumtaz Begum VS Saddam Hussain - 2023 0 Supreme(Del) 144: Relied upon - Cites National Insurance Company Limited and Others (2016) 3 SCC 43 positively.
Malaya Ranjan Kanungo vs Dibakar Naik - 2023 Supreme(Online)(Ori) 6675: Relied upon - References Malati Sadar vs. National Insurance Company Limited positively.
Balveer Batra VS New India Assurance Company - 2024 4 Supreme 276: Relied upon - Cites National Insurance Company Limited, (2016) 3 SCC 43 and Malati Sardar positively alongside others.
Magma General Insurance Company Limited VS Vinod Kumar S/o Ruparam - 2024 0 Supreme(Raj) 833: Relied upon - Cites Malti Sardar v. National Insurance Co. (2016) 3 SCC 43; notes it was passed after award but does not treat negatively ("it does not" [implying continued validity]).
SHIVAJI @ SHIVALAL S/O NEELAKANTH RATHOD vs RAJENDRA S/O MAHAVEER PADHYE - 2025 Supreme(Online)(KAR) 3172: Relied upon - Relies on Malati Sardar Vs National Insurance Company Limited as Apex Court judgment establishing jurisdiction principles positively.
Universal Sompo General Insurance Company Limited VS Prakash Chandra - Consumer (2025): Relied upon - Cites Malati Sardar Vs National Insurance Company Limited (2016) 3 SCC 43 positively alongside others.
Oriental Insurance Co. Ltd vs Niva Gogoi - 2025 0 Supreme(Gau) 1360: Relied upon - Cites Sardar–Vs- National Insurance Company Limited (2016) 3 SCC 43 positively; respondents rely on it.
UNION OF INDIA VS COL. GS GREWAL - 2014 4 Supreme 399: Neutral/Unrelated - Discusses tribunal differing with coordinate bench and promotion rights; no clear treatment indicators for specific precedents; appears unrelated to main cases on jurisdiction/insurance.
Jagmittar Sain Bhagat VS Dir. Health Services, Haryana - 2013 5 Supreme 631: Neutral/Unrelated - States government servant cannot approach Consumer Protection Act forum; no treatment indicators; unrelated context.
Koppisetty Venkat Ratnam (D) through LRs. VS Pamarti Venkayamma - 2009 2 Supreme 728: Neutral/Unrelated - Mentions High Court interference on substantial questions of law; no treatment indicators; unrelated context.
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