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2010 Supreme(Raj) 721

2010(2) CCR 1134 (Raj.)
(Rajasthan High Court)
Lila Devi (Smt.) Vs. Bobby @ Balwinder Singh (Totla, J.)
HON'BLE C.M. TOTLA, J.
Lila Devi (Smt.) & Ors.
Versus
Bobby @ Balwinder Singh & Ors.
S.B. Civil Misc. Appeals Nos. 356 & 506 of 1999, decided on 29.07.2010

Advocates Appeared
R.K. Singhal & G.R. Goyal, for Appellants;
V.K. Agrawal and A.K. Dadhich, for Respondents

Headnote:(a) Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, Secs. 147, 168 & 173 — Requirements of policies and limits of liability — Tribunal exonerated insurance company to pay compensation — Owner handed over vehicle for repair to repairer at workshop — Mistry of workshop committed accident driving the said vehicle — Appeal by owner for imposition of liability on insurance company — Held — The vehicle is driven by a unauthorized person, then it can not be said to be in knowledge or instruction of the owner — It came from evidence that vehicle was in workshop at the time of accident — Owner cannot beheld liable in absence of his knowledge or connivance — Insurance company is also liable to make payment of compensation to claimant as effective insurance policy was in force u/Sec. 147.

       (Paras 19 to 23)

       ¼d½ eksVj ;ku vf/kfu;e] 1988] /kkjk;sa 147] 168 ,oa 173 & ikWfyfl;ksa dh vis{kk,a rFkk nkf;Ro dh lhek,a & vf/kdj.k us chek daiuh dks izfrdj Hkqxrku djus ls eqDr fd;k & ekfyd us odZ'kksi esa ejEerdrkZ dks ejEer djus gsrq okgu lqiqnZ fd;k & odZ'kki ds feL=h us dfFkr okgu pykrs gq, nq?kZVuk dkfjr dh & ekfyd }kjk chek daiuh ij nkf;Ro vf/kjksfir djus gsrq vihy & vfHkfu/kkZfjr & ;fn okgu vizkf/kd`r O;fDr }kjk pyk;k x;k rks bls ekfyd ds tkudkjh ;k funsZ'k esa gksuk ugha dgk tk ldrk gS & lk{; ls ;g vk;k fd okgu nq?kZVuk ds le; odZ'kksi esa Fkk & ekfyd dks mlds tkudkjh ;k ekSuuqdqyrk ds vHkko esa nk;h ugha Bgjk;k tk ldrk & bl izdkj chek daiuh Hkh nkosnkjksa dks izfrdj Hkqxrku djus gsrq nk;h gS D;ksafd izHkkoh chek ikWfylh /kkjk 147 ds vUrxZr izorZu esa FkkA

       vihysa Lohdkj dhA ¼in la[;k 19 ls 23½

       (B) Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, Secs. 168 & 173 — Claimants are widow, four children, Parents and two brothers of deceased — Determination of dependency of brother — Tribunal gave order to disbursed the compensation amount between them — Appeal for quashing order to pay part of compensation to father and brothers of deceased — Held — Brothers are not legal representative of deceased — Disbursement of compensation amount in favour of brothers is set aside — If amount is not disbursed, then only 1/4 amount in favour of parents is appropriate —If amount has already been paid to parents and brother then same not to be recovered now. (Paras 25 to 29)

       Appeal partly allowed.

       ¼[k½ eksVj ;ku vf/kfu;e] 1988] /kkjk;sa 168 ,oa 173 & nkosnkjx.k e`rd ds fo/kok] pkj cPps] ekrk-firk ,oa nks HkkbZ gS & HkkbZ ds vkfJrk dk fu/kkZj.k & vf/kdj.k us mu yksxksa ds chp izfrdj jkf'k laforfjr djus dk vkns'k fn;k & e`rd ds HkkbZ;ksa ,oa firk dks izfrdj dk Hkkx Hkqxrku djus ds vkns'k dks vfHk[kafMr djus gsrq vihy & vfHkfu/kkZfjr & HkkbZ e`rd ds fof/kd izfrfuf/k ugha gS & HkkbZ;ksa ds i{k esa izfrdj jkf'k dk laforj.k vikLr fd;k & ;fn jkf'k laforfjr ugha dh x;h gS rks ekrk firk ds i{k esa flQZ 1@4 jkf'k leqfpr gS & ;fn jkf'k ekrk-firk ,oa HkkbZ dks igys gh Hkqxrku fd;k tk pqdk gS rks mls vc olwy ugha fd;k tk;sA ¼in la[;k 25 ls 29½

       vihy va'kr% Lohdkj dhA

Hon'ble TOTLA, J.—Above two appeals, first by claimants for also holding insurer liable and quashing order to pay part of compensation to father and brothers of deceased l and other by owner for holding insurer liable to pay, arise out of the same judgment, so are being decided together.

2. On 31.10.88, at about 10.45 p.m., Shri Madan Gopal, on a public way, was hit by car No. RSK 2700, resulting death due to injuries sustained compensation claim by wife, two minor sons, two minor daughters, parents of two brothers. Allowed and awarded, accepted by the tribunal for Rs.2,86,680/- and interest and in relation to award are the appeals.

3. Relevant brief facts, per claimants, are that Shri Madan Gopal, 30 years, at the relevant time, was employed in government hospital as ward boy – was getting salary about Rs.750/- who also employed as home guard, used to get allowance Rs.15/- per day. On that day, deceased, along with three other home guards, reporting at police station and than riding on cycle, was going to duty place at food corporation. Then, on Suratgarh road, a car fastly and negligently driven, came and struck cycle, made Madan Gopal fell down, than car speedily escaped and injured admitted to hospital, where succumbed in evening on 1.11.88. Averred that FIR No.178/88 was registered on 1.11.88 on complaint of Chandi Prasad and that the vehicle owned by Roop Chand, was given for repairs at workshop of mistry Babulal and one Shri Bobby @ Balvinder Singh as such and worker employee of mistry on his behest was driving the vehicle. For earning Rs.1230/- per month, estimating loss for 30 years, Rs.10,42,800/- and deducting Rs.42,800/- for own expenses of deceased, Rs.75,000/- for pain, agony, deprivation of love and affection and Rs.5,000/- for expenses, claimed compensation Rs.10,80,000/-.

4. Owner Shri Roop Chand asserted that the vehicle for substantial repair and body work given to and was with Babulal and he did not know of any accident and also when driven by whom. The owner, accepting the deceased to be employed as above, asserted that the deceased fast moving cycle on, was chasing the car and cycle striking, he fell down.

5. Said repairer respondent mistry Babulal replied that he since a day earlier, was away to Delhi and not in know of any accident and the vehicle when driven by whom, and that named person Bobby at that time or ever was not in his employment. Stated vehicle if driven by anyone, was not under instructions.

6. Bobby @ Balwinder Singh replied denying all – stated that he neither driving, nor involved in accident and falsely implicating him, is charge-sheet against him for the offence.

7. Appellant insurance company, denying claim petition averments, stated that per claimants themselves, the vehicle was not driven by a person in control or supervision of employer and that even if the vehicle was for repair at workshop during which any accident occurred, still insurer not responsible. Also asserted that insurer was never informed of such accident which is mandatory and that so stated driver did not possess valid driving license.

8. Compensation was claimed from owner, repairer mistry, said driver and the insurer.

9. Issues seven were framed relate to questions if incident occurred due to negligence of the said driver and caused is death in accident – dependency of claimants and necessity of succession certificate – relation of said repairer and compensation quantum. Issue No.6 is regarding whether vehicle owner did not inform insurer and if so, to what effect. Issue No.7 is whether vehicle driver had a valid license – if not, effect thereto.

10. On behalf of the claimants, evidence is wife of deceased, father, police officer Sandeep Prasad, and Chandi Prasad who, per him, was with the deceased and lodged first information report. In defence are statements of owner Roop Chand and said driver Bobby @ Balwinder. For insurance company are statements of administrative officer. Placed on record and exhibited are certain co































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