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2017 Supreme(MP) 1033

IN THE HIGH COURT OF MADHYA PRADESH
A.K. JOSHI, J.
UNITED INDIA INSURANCE CO. LTD. - Appellant
Versus
SMT JAISHREE - Respondent
Misc. Appeal No. 1642 of 2015
Decided on : 22-03-2017

Advocates:
Advocate Appeared:
For the Appellant : Shri Suresh Raj, learned counsel
For the Respondent: Shri Ishteyaq Hussain, learned counsel, Shri Sandeep Kachhi, learned counsel

The main legal point established in the judgment is the liability of the Insurance Company and non-claimants for compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act, based on the circumstances of the accident and previous legal interpretations.

Headnote:

Motor Vehicles Act - Compensation - Section 166, Section 173(1) - The court discussed the applicability of the Motor Vehicles Act, specifically Section 166 and Section 173(1), in a case involving a fatal accident caused by a tractor and rotovator machine. The court considered previous cases and legal interpretations to determine the liability of the Insurance Company and the non-claimants for compensation to the claimants.

Fact of the Case:

The claimants filed a petition under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act for compensation due to a fatal accident caused by a tractor and rotovator machine. The Insurance Company and non-claimants contested the liability for compensation, citing negligence of the deceased and contravention of insurance policy terms.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the fatal injuries to the deceased were caused by the rash and negligent driving of the tractor, and that the Insurance Company and non-claimants were jointly and severally liable to pay compensation to the claimants. The court also properly estimated the income of the deceased and calculated the compensation award-able to the claimants.

Issues: The issues involved negligence, contravention of insurance policy terms, and the liability of the Insurance Company and non-claimants for compensation.

Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the rash and negligent driving of the tractor led to the fatal injuries, and previous cases established the liability of the Insurance Company in similar circumstances. The court also applied proper calculations to determine the compensation award-able to the claimants.

Final Decision: The appeal filed by the Insurance Company was dismissed, and the Insurance Company and non-claimants were ordered to pay compensation to the claimants.

ORDER :

A.K. JOSHI, J.

1. The appellant-Insurance Company/original non-claimant No. 1 has filed this miscellaneous appeal under Section 173(1) of the Motor Vehicles Act against an award dated 11.05.2015 passed by the Member M.A.C.T, Harda in Claim Case No. 39/2013, whereby the appellant and present respondent Nos. 6 & 7/original non-claimant Nos. 2 & 3 have been jointly and severally ordered to pay the compensation of Rs. 9,44,625/- with interest at the rate of Rs. 7% per annum from presentation of claim petition till payment to the claimants/present respondent Nos. 1 to 5.

2. Original claimants have filed claim petition under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act against three non-claimants on pleadings that on 10.03.2013 Arun Kumar alias Kalu was doing his labour work of cutting of narwai (wheat crop) on rotovator machine which was attached to a tractor. During the work, narwai got entrapped in the rotovator machine, then tractor driver non claimant No. 3 Sudhir Kumar Jain asked Arun Kumar alias Kalu to expel the entrapped narwai from the rotovator machine and simultaneously Sudhir Kumar Jain suddenly started the rotovator machine and tractor in rash and negligent manner, thus Arun alias Kalu came in contact with rotovator machine attached with tractor and sustained fatal injuries on head and died on the spot in few seconds. The matter was reported at police station, Timarni, where an offence punishable under Section 304-A of the IPC was registered against the tractor driver Sudhir Kumar Jain. Non-claimant No.2 Pawan Kumar Paliwal was registered owner of tractor and the relating tractor was insured with the appellant-Insurance Company. Claimants were depended on the income of the deceased. Arun was 30 years old and was having annual income of Rs. 3 lacs from labor and agricultural work. Thus, under various heads mentioned in the claim petition, compensation of Rs. 17,08,000/- was demanded with interest from the non-claimants.

3. Non-claimant No.1 Insurance Company in its written statement filed before the tribunal pleaded that actually the accident had occurred due to negligence of the deceased Arun himself. No any intimation of incident was given by tractor owner and driver to the Insurance Company. The tractor driver Sudhir Kumar Jain was not having any valid driving license on the date of incident, thus the tractor was being driven by Sudhir Kumar Jain in contravention of the terms of insurance policy. Thus, the Insurance Company is not liable to pay any compensation to the claimants.

4. The tractor owner and driver non-claimant Nos.2 & 3 in their joint written statement filed before the tribunal pleaded that there was no any fault of non-claimant Nos.2 & 3 in the accident. The deceased was present on the spot only as a viewer and he himself without any cause tried to expel the entrapped narwai from the rotovator machine and introduced his hands in rotovator machine. Sudhir Kumar Jain was having driving license and the tractor was insured with the appellant. Thus, if any liability is found, then the Insurance Company only would be liable to pay the compensation to the claimants.

5. The tribunal framed issues on pleadings of the parties. Before tribunal, for claimants Arvind Kumar (PW-1), Ganesh (PW-2) and for Insurance Company Alok Mehta (NA.W-1) were examined. The learned tribunal recorded its finding in award that due to rash and negligent driving of the questioned tractor which was attached to the rotovator machine by non-claimant No.3 Sudhir Kumar Jain, the deceased Arun alias Kalu had received fatal injuries and resultantly died; it was not proved that at the time of accident, the tractor was being driven in contravention of the terms of the insurance policy; claimants are entitled for receiving compensation from all the three non-claimants jointly and severally. Deceased Arun Kumar alias Kalu's monthly income was estimated to Rs. 4,625/-, its th was deducted as expenses of the deceased on himself, thus the annual loss of





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