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2016 Supreme(Ker) 1435

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
C.T. RAVIKUMAR, K.P. JYOTHINDRANATH, JJ.
K.P. Mohankumar - Petitioners
Versus
Kuniyel Ibrahim S/o. Moideen & Ors. - Respondents
M.A.C.A.Nos.2893 & 2947 of 2016
Decided On : 16-11-2016

Advocates Appeared:
For the Petitioners: Adv. Sri. V. Binoy Ram.
For the Respondents: Adv. Sri. R. Ajith Kumar.

Important points" A relevant document and its relevancy cannot be effaced by the existence of charge sheet-The words `sufficient prima facie evidence` itself would reveal that it is capable of being rebutted-In a case where any particular document is marked, the said marked document can be relied only by any of the parties to the extent it is legally permissible-

Headnote:The Code of Criminal Procedure Code Section 173 (2)- Motot Vehicles Act-Section 166-Indian Penal Code- Section 195, Section 255(1), Sections 279 and 338, Section 43,

       Facts of the case

       O.P.(M.V.)No.332/2009 passed by the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal, Vatakara- The former appeal has been preferred by the first respondent who is the owner of the vehicle involved in the accident viz. the bus bearing registration No.KL-18-D-2070, challenging the right to recover the amount to satisfy the award upon its satisfaction, granted to the insurer of the offending vehicle- The latter appeal has been preferred by the injured-petitioner seeking enhancement of the quantum of compensation awarded-

       Finding of the court:

       " The monthly income of the appellant as Rs.5,500/-, for calculation purpose- On re-assessing the compensation under the head `permanent disability` with substitution of the monthly income, the appellant would be entitled to get an amount of Rs.77,220/- (5500 x 12 x 13 x 9/100). After deducting Rs.49,140/- already granted by the Tribunal, the petitioner is entitled to get Rs.28,080/- additionally-

       " Loss of earning, the appellant would be entitled to get an amount of Rs.24,000/- (5500x12 months- 42000) additionally-

       " An amount of Rs.10,000/- additionally toward loss of amenities-

       " Grant Rs.500/- more towards damage to clothing

       " The Tribunal had committed an error in granting Rs.30,000/- towards loss of earning power after granting Rs.49,140/- towards compensation for permanent disability- Granting compensation under both the said heads is impermissible.

       " The compensation paid to the appellant under the head `permanent disability` can be maintained-The amount granted by the Tribunal towards mental agony viz., Rs.15,000/- also has to be deducted-

       " The appellant was granted an amount of Rs.40,000/- towards pain and suffering. The term `pain` relates to physical aspect and `suffering` relates to the mental agonies. In such circumstances, the said amount granted by the Tribunal has to be deducted. By virtue of the additional compensation granted by us, the appellant is entitled to get a total amount of Rs.62,580/-

       " An amount of Rs.45,000/- has to be deducted from Rs.62,580/-. On such deduction, the appellant would be entitled to get an additional sum of Rs.17,580/- which is rounded off to Rs.17,600/-

       " Appeal is disposed of with a direction to the third respondent to deposit an amount of Rs.17,600/- with interest at the rate of 8% from the date of the petition till realisation within two months from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment. The third respondent shall deposit the amount awarded by the Tribunal along with interest thereon based on our finding that the third respondent is liable to indemnify the first respondent.

       The offending vehicle was having a valid insurance coverage and there was no violation of conditions of policy, the third respondent is liable to indemnify the first respondent, insured-owner of the vehicle.

       Result : Disposed

JUDGMENT :

RAVIKUMAR, J.

1. The above appeals arise from the judgment and award dated 27.04.2016 in O.P.(M.V.)No.332/2009 passed by the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal, Vatakara. The former appeal has been preferred by the first respondent who is the owner of the vehicle involved in the accident viz. the bus bearing registration No.KL-18-D-2070, challenging the right to recover the amount to satisfy the award upon its satisfaction, granted to the insurer of the offending vehicle. The latter appeal has been preferred by the injured-petitioner seeking enhancement of the quantum of compensation awarded. In the said circumstances, the appeals were jointly heard and they are being disposed of by this common judgment. For the sake of convenience hereafter in this judgment the parties are referred to in accordance with their rank and status before the Claims Tribunal in O.P.(M.V.)No.332/2009 unless otherwise specially mentioned.

2. We have heard the learned counsel for the 1st respondent-appellant in MACA 2893/2016, the appellant -petitioner in MACA 2947/2016 as also the third respondent, the insurer of the offending vehicle. From the arguments advanced before this court it is evident that there is no dispute regarding the accident and also the insurance coverage of the offending vehicle. Virtually, the dispute is only with respect to the question as to who was driving the vehicle in question at the time of the accident. This assumes relevance as according to the third respondent-insurance company the vehicle was then being driven by the fourth respondent who was not then possessing a valid driving licence. However, the precise case of the claimant and also the first respondent, is that the offending vehicle was then being driven by the second respondent and he was having a valid driving licence at the time of the accident. In fact, the second respondent also endorsed the said contentions of the claimant and the first respondent.

3. In view of the nature of the arguments advanced before us and also the manner in which the Tribunal had appreciated the evidence on record and arrived at a conclusion on the aforesaid question a point of law crop up for consideration. In the claim petition as also before the Claims Tribunal the petitioner contended that it was the second respondent who drove the vehicle at the time of the accident. But, the learned counsel appearing for the third respondent submitted that the petitioner had amended the claim petition to incorporate an averment to the effect that the offending vehicle was driven by the fourth respondent at the time of the accident. The learned counsel for the petitioner, on the other hand, submitted it is incorrect to say that the petitioner had amended the claim petition. It is further submitted that it is a misconception that made the third respondent to make such a submission. According to him, I.A.Nos.909/2013 and 910/2013 which formed the basis for such a submission did not carry a prayer as alleged by the third respondent. It is submitted that taking note of the averment of the third respondent insurance company in its written statement that at the time of the accident the vehicle in question was being driven by one Anil who was then the cleaner of the said bus, in I.A.No.909/2013 prayer was only to implead the aforesaid Anil as supplemental 4th respondent. In I.A.No.910/2013 the prayer was to amend the cause-title by incorporating the name of the aforesaid Anil as supplemental 4th respondent and also to amend the claim petition by incorporating the word 'bus' instead of the word 'motorcycle' in the second line of paragraph 4 of the claim petition. It is submitted that these are the only interlocutory applications which were allowed by the Tribunal. The learned counsel, in the said circumstances, submitted that the granting of the aforesaid prayers made as per the aforesaid interlocutory applications, therefore, could not and would not result in deviation from the original pleadings, as

























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