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2024 Supreme(Chh) 205

IN THE HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH, BILASPUR
Radhakishan Agrawal, J.
Oriental Insurance Company Limited - Appellant
Versus
Dharmendra Gajalwar, S/o Gangadhar Rav Gajalwar and ors. – Respondents
MAC No. 457, 458, 459 of 2016
Decided On : 09-05-2024

Advocate Appeared:
For the Appellant :Mr. Goutam Khetrapal and Ms. Rakshita Mishra, Advocates.
For the Claimant :Mr. Shivendu Pandya and Mr. Deepak Kaushik, Advocates.

IMPORTANT POINT
The main legal point established in the judgment is the principle of 'pay and recover' in case of third-party risks and the requirement for the insurer to prove the driver's lack of a valid driving license and breach of policy conditions.

Headnote:

Motor Vehicles Act - Liability of Insurance Company - Section 166 - 279, 337, 338 of IPC and Section 3/181 of Motor Vehicle Act - Summary of Acts and Sections: The court discussed the liability of the insurance company under the Motor Vehicles Act and the relevant sections of the IPC and Motor Vehicle Act. It highlighted the breach of policy conditions by the driver and the principle of 'pay and recover' in case of third-party risks.

Fact of the Case:

The claimants sought compensation for injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident. The Insurance Company challenged the liability part, arguing that the driver of the offending vehicle did not possess a valid driving license, thus breaching policy conditions.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the driver of the offending vehicle did not have a valid driving license, leading to a breach of policy conditions. It held that the Insurance Company was not liable to pay compensation and directed the company to pay the compensation amount to the claimants first and then recover the same from the owner and driver of the offending vehicle.

Issues: The main issue was the liability of the Insurance Company in the accident due to the driver's lack of a valid driving license.

Ratio Decidendi: The court relied on the principle of 'pay and recover' in case of third-party risks and the requirement for the insurer to prove the driver's lack of a valid driving license and breach of policy conditions.

Final Decision: The court allowed the appeals filed by the Insurance Company in part, directing the company to pay the compensation amount to the claimants first and then recover the same from the owner and driver of the offending vehicle.

JUDGMENT :

1. As all these appeals filed by the Insurance Company arise out of same accident that took place on 18.11.2012, therefore, they are being heard together and disposed of by this common judgment.

2. As per averments made in the claim petition on 18.11.2012, injured persons namely Dharmendra Gajalwar, wife-Sushma Gajalwar along with their minor daughter-Ku. Aaditi Gajalwar were returning to their home on motorcycle bearing registration No.CG04-CX-9488. However, on the way, non-applicant No.1 Sanjay Tandi / driver of the Motorcycle bearing registration No.CG04-KA-1604 (hereinafter called as 'offending vehicle) by riding the same in a rash and negligent manner, dashed the said motorcycle of claimants, as a result of which, claimants fell down and sustained grievous injuries over their bodies. At the time of accident, the offending vehicle was owned by non-applicant No.2- Shyam Tandi and insured with non-applicant No.3- Oriental Insurance Company Ltd.

3. On account of injuries sustained by the claimant- Dharmendra Gajalwar, a Claim Petition No.95/2014 was filed by him under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act seeking compensation to the tune of Rs.15,00,000/- along with interest at the rate of 12% from the date of application till its realization inter alia pleading that at the time of accident, claimant- Dharmendra Gajalwar, was aged about 45 years and was earning Rs.23,250/- per month by working as Deputy Manager Commercial in Uniworth Company. However, the learned 3rd Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, Raipur, C.G., vide impugned award dated 22.01.2016, after considering the evidence available on record, awarded a compensation of Rs.3,15,000/- to the claimant- Dharmendra Gajalwar with interest at the rate of 7.5% per annum from the date of application till its realization and fastened the liability upon the non-applicants Nos. 1 to 3 jointly and severally.

Similarly, on account of injuries sustained by the claimant- Sushma Gajalwar, a Claim Petition No.97/2014 was filed by her under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act seeking compensation to the tune of Rs.4,75,000/- along with interest at the rate of 12% from the date of application till its realization inter alia pleading that at the time of accident, claimant- Sushma Gajalwar, was aged about 40 years and was earning Rs.5,000/- per month by doing stitching work. However, the learned 3rd Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, Raipur, C.G., vide impugned award dated 22.01.2016, after considering the evidence available on record, awarded a compensation of Rs.31,500/- to the claimant- Sushma Gajalwar with interest at the rate of 7.5% per annum from the date of application till its realization and fastened the liability upon the non-applicants Nos. 1 to 3 jointly and severally.

Likewise, on account of injuries sustained by the claimant- Ku. Aaditi Gajalwar, a Claim Petition No.96/2014 was filed by her through legal guardian under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act seeking compensation to the tune of Rs.3,75,000/- along with interest at the rate of 12% from the date of application till its realization inter alia pleading that at the time of accident, claimant- Ku. Aaditi Gajalwar, was aged about 11 years and was studying in class 7th. However, the learned 3rd Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, Raipur, C.G., vide impugned award dated 22.01.2016, after considering the evidence available on record, awarded a compensation of Rs.43,000/- to the claimant-Ku. Aaditi Gajalwar with interest at the rate of 7.5% per annum from the date of application till its realization and fastened the liability upon the non-applicants Nos. 1 to 3 jointly and severally.

4. Learned counsel for the Insurance Company submits that he is not challenging the quantum part, but confines his argument only to liability part. He submits that at the time of accident, the driver of the offending vehicle was not possessing valid and effective driving licence to ride the offending vehicle, which is a fundamental breach of p

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