IN THE HIGH COURT OF ALLAHABAD
BINOD KUMAR ROY, LAKSHMI BIHARI
ORIENTAL INSURANCE CO.LTD. - Appellant
Versus
NARESH CHANDRA AGRAWAL - Respondents
F. A. F. O. 191 Of 2000
Decided On : 02/17/2000
Legal Representatives - Interpretation of Section 166(1)(c) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 - The court held that the term 'legal representatives' includes brothers of the deceased victim of a motor accident, entitling them to compensation under the Act.
Fact of the Case:
The appellant argued that the claimants, who were not dependents of the deceased, were not entitled to compensation. The basis of the argument was section 166(1)(c) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
Finding of the Court:
The court analyzed the interpretation of the term 'legal representatives' and referred to a previous judgment to support the inclusion of brothers as legal representatives entitled to compensation. The court dismissed the appeal.
Issues: Interpretation of the term 'legal representatives' under section 166(1)(c) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
Ratio Decidendi: The court interpreted the term 'legal representatives' to include brothers of the deceased victim of a motor accident, based on a previous judgment.
Final Decision: The appeal was dismissed, affirming the entitlement of the claimants, who were brothers of the deceased, to compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
( 1 ) THE solitary point urged by Mr. S. C. Srivastava holding brief for Mr. S. K. Srivastava, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the appellant on the question of admission of this appeal is that even though the claimants were not dependants of the deceased, thus the judgment awarding compensation plus interest at the rate of 10 per cent in their favour has been illegally passed and thus the appeal be admitted.
( 2 ) WHEN we asked a question to Mr. Srivastava as to what is the basis of making his submission, he referred to section 166 (1) (c) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, which reads thus:"where death has resulted from the accident, by all or any of the legal representatives of the deceased. "
( 3 ) THE legislature has not used the word dependant rather it has used the words all or any of the legal representatives of the deceased. The words legal representative have not been defined under the motor Vehicles Act. Therefore, we are required to understand the aforementioned expression with reference to its ordinary dictionary meaning.
( 4 ) FIRSTLY, from the material as produced by the appellant it appears that the deceased was the brother of the claimants whose parents had already died. The Apex Court in Gujarat State Road trans. Corpn. v. Ramanbhai Prabhatbhai, 1987 ACJ 561 (SC), has held that legal representative ordinarily means a person who in law represents the estate of a deceased person or a person on whom the estate devolves on the death of an individual and hence legal representatives including brothers of the deceased victim of a motor accident are entitled to get compensation under section 110-A of the Motor vehicles Act, 1939.
( 5 ) WE thus do not find any substance in the solitary submission made by Mr. Srivastava and accordingly, dismiss this appeal in limine. Appeal dismissed.
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