These two appeals, C.M.A. Nos. 212 and 213 of 1992, could be disposed of by a common judgment on a short ground.

2. The Insurance company, the appellant herein questioning the award mainly on the ground that the cover note issued to the vehicle in question which bears the date 3.10.87 was deliberately ante dated by the agent of the company, since the amount had been paid to the company by the agent only on 5.10.87, ie., subsequent to the accident and as such, the Insurance Company is not liable to pay the amount.

3. This ground cannot hold good, in view of the decision rendered by the Apex Court in Oriental Insurance Co Ltd v. Inderjit Karur and others (1998-I-L.W.ll), in which it has been held that once the cover note was issued on the basis of the receipt of cheque towards premium which might be bounced later, the policy coverage commences and in New India Assurance Co v. Ram Dayal (1990) 2 S.C.R. 570), wherein it has been held that in the absence of any specific time mentioned in that behalf, the contract would be operative from the mid-night of the day.

4. In the instant case, admittedly, the accident took place on 5.10.87. According to the Insurance company, the prem