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2005 Supreme(Guj) 113

Gujarat High Court
Judgename :Bhawani Singh, H.K.RATHOD
United India Insurance Co.Ltd. - Appellant
Versus
SHILPA JIGISHBHAI @ JIGNESH VYAS - Respondent
First Appeal 3839 of 1996
Decided On : 02/23/2005

Advocates Appeared: B.S.PATEL, P.V.NANAVATI, RANJAN B.PATEL

Headnote:Point in Issue :

       Motor accident claim - Award of - Sustainability.

       Head Note :

       Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (Central Act 59 of 1988) - Sections 166, 173 & 170 - Appeal - Compensation - Award of - Challenge against - Sustainability - Owner and driver did not file written statement nor appeared at any stage before the claim Tribunal to contest the claim - The Insurance Company also did not seek permission under Section 170 of the Act, therefore, it cannot be allowed to challenge the amount of compensation - That apart deceased was aged 23 having total income of Rs. 3,55,536.00 - After deduction one third dependency amount comes to Rs. 2,37,024.00 - Adopting multiplier of 14 Court held compensation admissible at Rs. 33,18,336.00 plus Rs. 5,000.00 for loss to the estate Rs. 5,000/- towards funeral expenses, Rs. 10,000/- for loss of expectancy of life and Rs. 15,000/- for pain and suffering a total of Rs. 33,53,336.00 - Court however reduced the rate of interest from Rs. 15% to 12% p.a.

       Held :

       The Insurance Company has not sought permission under Section 170 of the M.V. Act, 1988 to contest the claim on all available grounds, therefore, such challenge without permission under Section 170 of the M.V. Act, 1988 is not permissible. In the present case, the appeal is filed by the Insurance Company challenging quantum which is not available defence under these provisions, therefore, it cannot be raised by the Insurance Company. Owner did not file written statement nor appeared at any stage before the Claims Tribunal to contest the claim petition. Therefore, owner also cannot challenge the award on merits as no contention was raised by the owner before the Claims Tribunal. For these reasons, the appeal filed by the Insurance Co. is not maintainable. [Para 5]

       As regards multiplier, at the time of death, deceased was 23 year old. As per the Second Schedule, multiplier of 17 is applicable but looking to the extent of compensation worked out, Court choose lower multiplier of 14 instead of 17. Thus, applying the multiplier of 14 [2,37,024.00 x 14], compensation comes to Rs. 33,18,336.00. The claimants are also entitled to Rs. 5,000.00 towards loss to the estate, Rs. 5,000/- towards funeral expenses, loss of expectancy of life Rs. 10,000/-, Rs. 15,000/- pain and suffering, total amount of compensation comes to Rs. 33,53,336.00. [Para 10]

       Taking into consideration the extent of compensation payable to the deceased, present rate of interest, is reduced to 12% from the date of application till the date of payment from 15%, awarded by the Claims Tribunal. No other point has been urged. Consequently, appeals are disposed of in the terms indicated hereinabove leaving the parties to bear their own costs in this Court. [Para 11]

       Law Laid Down :

       Contest to the claim on all available grounds without permission under Section 170 of Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 is not permissible.

       Case Law Analysis :

       Oriental Insurance Co. Ltd. vs. Manjulaben Jayantibhai Patel & Ors., 2003 (3) GLH 204 [Para ].-Relied on

       Cases Referred :

       National Insurance Co. Ltd., Chandigarh vs. Nicolletta Rohtagi & Ors., AIR 2002 SC 3350;; United India Assurance Co. Ltd. vs. Bhushan Sachdev, 2002 ACJ 333;; New India Assurance Co. Ltd. vs. Smt. Tara Sundari Phauzdar & Ors., AIR 2004 Cal 1;; National Ins. Co. Ltd. vs. Challa Bharathamma & Ors., 2004 (8) SCC 517;; Chinnamma George & Ors. vs. N.K. Raju & Anr., 2000 ACJ 777;; Smt. Sarla Dixit & Anr. vs. Balvant Yadav & Ors., AIR 1996 SC 1274;; Ritaben alias Vanitaben & Anr. vs. Ahmedabad Municipal Transport Service & Anr., 2000 ACJ 153;; United India Insurance Co. Ltd., etc. etc. vs. Patricia Jean Mahajan & Ors., etc. etc., JT 2002 (5) SC 74.

       Decided in Favour of :

       Respondent

       Appeals Disposed of Accordingly

       

BHAWANI SINGH, C. J.

( 1 ) THESE appeals have arisen out of the award passed by the MACT (Aux) Baroda in MACP No. 386 of 1990 dated april 30, 1996. Whether reporters of Local Papers may be allowed to see the Judgment?

( 2 ) BRIEFLY stated, Jigishbhai alias Jignesh Patel (deceased) was going from Baroda to Dabhoi driving his fiat Car No. GA 8799 on correct side of the road. When his car reached between village Thuvavi and Fertikui, truck bearing Registration No. GTP 7094 driven by opponent No. 1 came from opposite direction at full speed it went on the the wrong side of the road and dashed with the front right portion of the Fiat Car. Car was completely smashed and deceased died on the spot due to injuries sustained by him. The allegation is that the death was caused due to rash and negligent driving by opponent no. 1 owner and driver of the truck, insured with m/s. United India Insurance Co. ltd. (opponent No. 2 ). Further, it is stated that the deceased was earning rs. 17,000. 00 p. m. He was young person of 23 years, quite healthy. His grand father (70) was alive at the time of accident, so also his grand mother. His father was aged 47 year old at that time. Initially, deceased was working honorary in Kishan Multipurpose Coop. Society ltd. at Dabhoi dealing in agricultural, vegetable produce, fertilizers, seeds, insecticides etc. and was supplying grams and fodder to the police department in the city of Baroda (Rural), Districts of Surat, Bharuch, anand and Idar etc. through other registered Cooperative societies. After rendering honorary service for six months, society was satisfied with his work, therefore, by resolution dated 7. 8. 88, appointed him in the society on salary of Rs. 3000. 00 p. m. plus 7% commission on sale proceeds. Security of Rs. 25000. 00 was also obtained from the deceased. During the year 1988-89, deceased was paid commission of Rs. 79,119. 75 ps. plus Rs. 36000. 00 as salary. For the period from 1. 7. 1989 to 31. 12. 1989, he was paid Rs. 37,337. 01 towards commission and Rs. 18,000. 00 as salary for six months. Besides, deceased was cultivating land admeasuring 18 acres situated at village tatarpura, Taluka Baroda in the joint names of deceased, his grand mother and mother. It was irrigated land and the deceased was taking crop of Jivar and Batoo for horses. The total gross income for the year 1988-89 out of the agricultural work was Rs. 62,000. 00. He was the only child in the family, therefore, family suffered great shock on his death. They claimed compensation for love and affection to the tune of Rs. 30,000. 00 and rs. 20,000. 00 for loss of expectancy of life. Initially, claimants claimed the compensation of Rs. 30 lac but later doubled the claim by amending the claim petition (Exh. 23)

( 3 ) OWNER and driver did not file written statement nor appeared at any stage before the claims tribunal to contest the claim. The Insurance Co. did not seek permission under section 170 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 to contest the claim on all available grounds. However, it filed the written statement Exh. 14 and submitted that the claimants were not entitled to get the compensation. Taking place of accident has been disputed. The manner in which the accident took place has also been disputed. It is denied that the truck dashed with the car and the deceased suffered injuries on account of which he died. Alternatively, it is submitted that the Fiat Car was being driven at excessive speed and negligently by the deceased, therefore, he was responsible for the accident. The claim is, otherwise, excessive and both, car driver and truck driver contributed to the accident, car driver should be held more responsible for the accident.

( 4 ) ON the pleadings of the parties, the Claims tribunal framed issues (Exh. 22 ). After recording the evidence, the tribunal held that the claimants have proved that the deceased died due to rash and negligent driving by driver of truck. Compensation of rs. 29,15,000. 00 with proporti






















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