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2001 Supreme(Raj) 501

Rajasthan High Court
Honble H.R. PANWAR, J.
United India Insurance Co. Ltd. - Appellant
Versus
Pavni & Ors. - Respondents
S.B. Civil Misc. Appeal No. 361 of 1994
Decided On : May 01, 2001

Advocates Appeared:
Rajendra Vyas, for Appellant J.R. Beniwal, for Respondents No. 1 and 2 None present, for the Respondents No. 3 and 4 though served

Headnote:Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, Sec. 147 and 166 – Appeal – Accident claim – Deceased was crushed under rear wheel of the vehicle while boarding – Tribunal awarded compensation of Rs.2,35,000/- – Appellant contended on the ground of breach of conditions of policy – Held – The appellant neither pleaded the terms and conditions of the policy nor willful breach of any obligation on the part of insured – Not led any evidence in this regard – By virtue of Section 147 the insurer is required to cover the risk of any person which even includes the gratuitous passengers – Though not established that the deceased was a passenger in the goods vehicle as before he could board the truck he was crushed – Deceased was third party being other than the contracting party – Appellant insurer has rightly been held liable. (Paras 14 & 15)

       It has not been established that the deceased was passenger in the goods vehicle as before he could board the truck he was crushed under the rear wheel of the truck and, therefore, cannot be said that he was gratuitous passenger. Even otherwise had he been gratuitous passenger then also by virtue of Section 147 of the new Act and in view of the aforesaid Supreme Court judgment in Satpal Singhs case (2000 ACJ I (SC)) the appellant insurer is held liable. (Para 15)

Honble PANWAR, J.–This appeal is directed against the judgment and award dated 15.1.1994 passed by Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, Barmer in Civil Misc. Case No. 3/92 whereby the Tribunal passed an award of Rs. 2,35,000/- in favour of the respondent-claimants No.1 & 2 (hereinafter referred to as ``claimants) along with interest and against the respondents No.3 and 4 who are driver and owner of the vehicle involved in the accident and against the appellant United Insurance Company Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as ``appellant).

(2). Being aggrieved by the judgment and award the appellant- insurer has preferred this appeal. Briefly stated facts which are necessary to dispose of this appeal are that a claim petition was filed by the claimants before the learned Tribunal claiming compensation for a sum of Rs. 6,10,000/- along with interest under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1998 (hereinafter referred to as ``the Act). It was averred that on 12.6.1991 at about 12:30 PM Babu Lal wanted to board the Nishan Truck No. RJ- 04/G0036 while Thakara and deceased Babu Lal were in process of boarding the truck, at that time the driver of the said truck respondent No.2 Piraram @ Hanumanram suddenly started and moved the said truck resulting thereby that Babu Lal was crushed under the rear wheel of the truck. He was taken to village Bhunia in very same truck and thereafter he was being taken to Barmer Hospital in a Jonga jeep. But while on the way to hospital, Babu Lal succumbed to injuries. It was further averred that deceased Babu Lal was 30 years of age and used to earn Rs. 50/- per day by doing the work of carpenter. As such his monthly income was Rs. 1,500/-.

(3). Respondent No.3, Ganeshmal and appellant filed their written statements. On the pleadings of the parties, learned Tribunal framed the issues. Claimants produced PW1 Pavni widow of deceased Babu Lal, PW2 Dhanni, PW3 Thakara Ram who is an eye-witness of the occurrence and PW4 Krishna. The claimants have also placed on record the certified copies of the First Information Report Ex.A- 1, Charge Sheet Ex.A-2, Site Plan Ex.A-3 and Post Mortem Report Ex.A-4.

(4). I have heard learned counsel for the appellant as well as learned counsel for the respondents and perused the record.

(5). It is contended by the learned counsel for the appellant that the driver of the vehicle involved in the accident was not having valid driving licence as also vehicle was plying without permit. He further contended that the owner of the vehicle failed to intimate about the accident to the appellant insurer and as such insured has committed breach of specified condition of the policy. He further submitted that the vehicle involved in accident was a goods vehicle and the same was not authorised to carry the passengers. Learned counsel for the appellant submitted that the deceased was not a third party and, therefore, according to the provisions of Section 147 of the Act the appellant insurer cannot be held liable.

(6). It is further contended by the learned counsel for the appellant that the deceased was passenger in goods vehicle and, therefore, the Tribunal fell in error in holding that the appellant insurer is liable for the compensation.

(7). Learned Tribunal has framed issues No.4 and 4-A on the pleadings of the appellant insurer and burden to prove these issues was squarely on the shoulders of the appellant insurer. Undisputedly, the appellant has not led any evidence and, therefore, issues No. 4 and 4-A have been decided against the appellant. There is no pleading and evidence to the effect that it was the insured owner of vehicle who violated the terms and conditions of the policy and that too wilfully and deliberately. Not only this the terms and conditions of the policy have not at all been pleaded by the appellant. So much so that the insurance policy has not been placed on record by the appellant and in absence of the contract of insurance it cannot be interpreted as to what were the terms and
















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