2019 Supreme(Gau) 297
IN THE HIGH COURT OF GAUHATI
Suman Shyam, J.
New India Assurance Co. Ltd. and another – Appellants
Versus
Jishu Bhattacharjee – Respondent
Second Appeal From Order No. 7 of 2009
Decided On : 30-05-2019
I. Alam, Adv.
Headnote:
Evidence Act, 1872 - Sections 101 and 102 - Accident and Damage - This case in a nutshell are that respondent is owner of a vehicle bearing which was insured with appellant Insurance Company under Policy insurance policy was valid during period - According to respondent his vehicle had met with an accident and was badly damaged - An F-I -R was lodged with Police Station based on which G -D Entry was made and matter was also informed to appellant No -2 - Accordingly appellant No -2 had deputed a surveyor to inspect damaged vehicle - After inspection was completed vehicle was removed by police from Thana premises and thereafter same was sent to a garage for repairing - According to respondent total expenditure incurred in repairing of damaged vehicle was which included cost of spare parts labour charges and other expenses - On completion of repairing works respondent had requested appellants to conduct a fresh inspection of vehicle for settling insurance claim but when appellants failed to do so respondent as plaintiff had filed Money Suit in Court of learned Civil Judge for recovery and for other consequential reliefs – Held, Likewise in case it has been held by this Court that before making an order of remand Appellate Court has to see if entire case can be disposed of on basis of materials available on record - Observing that no attempt was made on that behalf by Lower Appellate Court judgment and order remanding matter back to trial court was set aside - In case in hand it appears from record that neither party had sought re-trail or denovo trial of suit - There is also no valid reason recorded by learned court stating as to why suit was required to be remanded to trail court when sufficient evidence was available on record permitting lower appellate court to determine issues finally - It further appears that by impugned Judgment and order learned court below had granted relief to plaintiff by permitting him to adduce additional evidence in an appeal preferred by defendants - Therefore viewed from any angle in absence of any prayer made by plaintiff seeking re-trail of suit learned first appellate court in my considered opinion was not correct in remanding suit for retrial - Appeal is allowed.
JUDGMENT :
Suman Shyam, J.
Heard Mr. R. Goswami, learned counsel appearing for the appellants. None appears for the respondent. The learned counsel for the respondent did not appear even yesterday when the matter was called up for hearing although the names of the counsel have been shown in the Cause List.
2. This Second Appeal from Orders (SAO) is directed against the judgment and order dated 22.08.2008 passed by the learned Additional District Judge No.1, Tinsukia in Money Appeal No.3/2007 whereby, the learned Lower Appellate Court had set aside the judgment and decree dated 19.01.2007 passed by the learned trial court in Money Suit No.29/1999 and remanded the matter for re-trial of the suit.
3. The facts of this case, in a nutshell, are that the respondent is the owner of a vehicle (Mini Bus) bearing No.AS-01/7729 which was insured with the appellant Insurance Company under Policy No.3153010503741. The insurance policy was valid during the period from 28.03.96 to 27.03.97. According to the respondent, his vehicle had met with an accident on 11.05.1996 and was badly damaged. An F.I.R. was lodged with the Tinsukia Police Station based on which, G.D. Entry No.288/96 was made and the matter was also informed to the appellant No.2. Accordingly, the appellant No.2 had deputed a surveyor to inspect the damaged vehicle. After the inspection was completed, the vehicle was removed by the police from the Thana premises and thereafter, the same was sent to a garage for repairing. According to the respondent, the total expenditure incurred in the repairing of the damaged vehicle was Rs.1,45,629.76 which included the cost of the spare parts, labour charges and other expenses. On completion of the repairing works, the respondent had requested the appellants to conduct a fresh inspection of the vehicle for settling the insurance claim but when the appellants failed to do so, the respondent as plaintiff had filed Money Suit No.29/1999 in the Court of learned Civil Judge, Tinsukia for recovery of Rs.1,45,629.76 and for other consequential reliefs. By the judgment and decree dated 19.01.2007, the suit filed by the respondent was decreed as prayed.
4. Aggrieved by the judgment and decree passed by the learned trial court, the appellants had preferred Money Appeal No.3/2007 which was disposed of by the learned Lower Appellate Court by setting aside the decree passed by the learned trial court and remanding the matter for re-trial of the suit.
5. By referring to the impugned judgment and order dated 22.08.2008, Mr. Goswami submits that there was no justifiable ground for the learned Lower Appellate Court to remand the matter for re-trial. Referring to the provisions of Order XLI Rule 24 CPC Mr. Goswami submits that there were sufficient materials available on record permitting the learned Lower Appellate Court to determine the case finally and as such there was no justifiable ground for ordering a de-novo trial of the suit. In support of his above argument Mr. Goswami has placed reliance on a decision of the Supreme Court rendered in the case of Syeda Rahimunnisa vs. Malan Bi (Dead) by Legal Representatives and another, (2016) 10 SCC 315 and another decision of this Court in the case of R. K. Tombi alias Tombisana Singh vs. R. K. Maipaksana Singh and others, 2002 2 GauLT 186.
6. I have considered the arguments advanced by the appellants counsel and have also gone through the materials available on record.
7. After a careful reading of the impugned judgment and order dated 22.08.2008, I find that the learned Lower Appellate Court has set aside the decree passed by the learned trial court and remanded the matter for re-trial by holding that the plaintiff should be given another opportunity to examine some of the witnesses for proper adjudication of the claim. It is, however, not clear as to whether the respondent/plaintiff had made any such prayer before the lower appellate court. The impugned order dated 23.08.2008 also does not state any ground for de