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2003 Supreme(AP) 157

Andhra Pradesh High Court
Judges : P.S.NARAYANA
United India Insurance Company Ltd., Adilabad - Appellant
Versus
Gorla Shankar - Respondent
C.M.A.No.3314/01
Decided On : 01-29-03
Advocates Appeared :
Mr.T.Mahendar Rao,Mr.S.Chandra Sekhar,Mr.P.Harinath Gupta

Headnote:MOTOR VEHICLES ACT - Violation of policy conditions - Liability of Insurance Company - Deceased aged 15 years, Shepherd while travelling in jeep died in accident due to rash and negligent driving by its driver - Tribunal granting compensation of Rs.70,000/- - Contention that jeep being plied as taxi in breach of policy condition and driver of jeep had no subsisting valid driving licence, Insurance Company not liable to pay compensation - Even though there is some breach of violations of policy conditions Insurance Company is still liable to pay compensation.

P. S. NARAYANA, J.

( 1 ) THIS Civil Miscellaneous Appeal is filed under Section 173 (1) of the Motor Vehicles act, 1988 by respondent No. 4 in O. P. No. 148 of 1998 on the file of the Motor Vehicles accident Claims Tribunal-cum-Additional district Judge, Adilabad.

( 2 ) THE appellant-4th respondent is the United India Insurance Company Limited, represented by its Divisional Manager, divisional Office, Adilabad.

( 3 ) THE facts in brief are as specified here under: the parents of the deceased Gorla Laxmi filed O. P. , claiming compensation stating that the said deceased Gorla Laxmi was travelling in a jeep bearing registration no. AP. 1. 8331 on 17-10-1997 from Boath towards Adilabad and 1st respondent, the driver of the jeep, drove the jeep in a high speed and in a rash and negligent manner and as a result, the jeep went out of control and dashed to a lorry bearing no. AP. 7v. 4579 coming in the opposite direction near Devapur Cross Roads on the national Highway No. 7 at about 1. 10 p. m. , and due to the said accident, on person died on the spot and the deceased Gorla Laxmi sustained grievous injuries and she was shifted to Government Hospital, Adilabad, where she succumbed to the injuries. On a report, the police of Adilabad registered crime No. 66 of 1997 under Sections 304-A, 337 and 338 of the Indian Penal Code against the driver of the jeep. The deceased was aged about 15 years and was hale and healthy and she was a Shepherd and she was also attending to the agricultural work and she used to earn Rs. 1,200/- per month and used to contribute her entire income to the claimants and she is the only daughter of the claimants and hence it was prayed by the claimants that compensation of rs. 1,00,000/- may be awarded. In the said o. P. No. 148 of 1998, respondents 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 remained ex parte. 4th respondent i. e. , the present appellant-insurance company of the jeep in question filed a counter denying all the allegations. It was pleaded that the facts leading to the accident, the rash and negligent driving attributed to the jeep driver, the age and income of the deceased all are denied. It was also pleaded that the driver of the jeep had no subsisting and valid driving licence and hence the insurance company is not liable to pay compensation in view of the violation of the policy conditions. It was further pleaded that the jeep in question was being plied as a taxi, which is against the terms of the policy. It was further pleaded that the compensation claimed is highly excessive, arbitrary and exorbitant. On the strength of the pleadings of the respective parties, the motor Accidents Claims Tribunal had settled the following issues: (1) Whether the deceased viz. , Gorla laxmi died in the accident occurred on 17-10-1997 due to rash and negligent driving of jeep no. AP. 1. 8331 and lorry no. AP. 7v. 4579 by its drivers? (2) Whether the petitioners are entitled to any compensation? If so, to what amount and against whom? (3) To what relief?the mother of the deceased i. e. , the 2nd petitioner was examined as P. W. 1 and also an eye-witness to the incident was examined as P. W. 2. Exs. A-1 to A-9 also were marked. No evidence was led on behalf of the respondents. The Motor Accidents Claims tribunal, on appreciation of the oral and documentary evidence and keeping in view all the facts, had arrived at a conclusion that the claimants are entitled to compensation amount of Rs. 70,000/- to be shared equally recoverable with 12% interest per annum from the date of claim petition till payment with proportionate costs jointly and severally from respondents 1 to 4 and time of 30 days had been granted for deposit and advocate s fee was fixed at Rs. 500/- and the rest of the claim was rejected. Aggrieved by the same, 4th respondent, insurance company referred to supra, had preferred the present appeal.

( 4 ) SRI T. Mahender Rao, learned counsel representing the appellant in all fairness had submitted that the findings recorded by the m





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