2007 Supreme(MP) 648
A.K. Mishra and K.S. Chauhan, JJ.
Shakuntala Pare (Smt.) and others v. Narmada
Ghati Vikas Pradhikaran
Miscellaneous Appeal No. 1757 of 2004 (J); Decided on 9.7.2007.*
Dinesh Kaushal for appellants; Sudesh Verma, Government Advocate for respondent.
Headnote:Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 -- Ss. 168 and 140 -- deceased a driver -death caused in accident occurred of his own negligence and not failure of vehicle -- heirs not entitled to compensation except under S. 140 for no fault liability. [Paras 10, 12 & 14
eksVj ;ku vf/kfu;e] 1988 && /kkjk 168 rFkk 140 && e`rd Mªkboj && mldh Lo;a dh mis{kk ls ?kfVr nq?kZVuk esa e`R;q u fd ;ku ds foQy gks tkus ls && mRrjkf/kdkjh /kkjk 140 ds v/khu =qfV fcuk nkf;Ro ds vfrfjDr izfrdj ds fy, gdnkj ugha gSA ¼iSjk 10] 12 ,oa 14½
Chauhan, J. -- 1. This appeal has been preferred by the appellants being aggrieved by the award dated 19.3.2007 passed by II Additional Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, Bhopal, in MCC No. 33/2002, whereby the claim petition filed by the appellants under section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 for awarding the compensation on account of the death of Anokhilal has been dismissed.
2. The brief facts of the case in short are that in the intervening night of 27th and 28th of October, 1999 at about 12 O'clock Anokhilal was coming from his office by driving Jeep (CPZ 5996) which fell down in a ditch on account of brake failure. Consequently, he received serious injuries. He was carried to Hamidia Hospital, Bhopal where he succumbed to injuries on 28.10.1999. The report was lodged at Police Station, Govind pura wherein the Merge No. 73/1999 was registered.
It was also averred that Anokhilal was the driver at the time of incident in the office of Narmada Valley Tribunal and was getting a sum of Rs. 5,360/- per month. The appellants have suffered a great loss on account of death of Anokhilal, therefore, they filed the claim petition for compensation of Rs. 10,25,000/- with interest at the rate of 18% per annum.
3. The respondent submitted written statement denying the claim and its liability mainly contending that the accident occurred due to rash and negligent driving by the deceased himself, therefore, the appellants are not entitled for any compensation.
4. After appreciating the evidence the Tribunal found that the accident occurred due to rash and negligent driving by Anokhilal himself and therefore the appellants are not entitled for any compensation, hence dismissed the claim. Being aggrieved with the said award the appellants have filed this appeal under section 173 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 on the ground mentioned therein to set aside the award and to grant the compensation.
5. The learned counsel for the appellants have submitted that the Tribunal has not appreciated the evidence in the proper perspective and has committed illegality in holding that the accident occurred due to rash and negligent driving of the deceased himself.
6. The learned counsel for the respondent supported the award and submitted that it was not proved that the accident occurred due to brake failure and hence the Tribunal has rightly dismissed the claim petition. It does not require for interference.
7. In this appeal the main point for consideration is that whether the Tribunal has committed any illegality in holding that the accident occurred on account of rash and negligent driving by the deceased himself and not by the brake failure.
8. Shakuntala (AW 1) is the widow of the deceased Anokhilal Pare. She has stated in her evidence that her husband died in the accident. Her husband was driver and was getting the salary a sum of Rs. 5,000/- per month from his office. She has further deposed that she obtained the document from S.P. Office, which she has filed in the claim petition.
9. In the cross-examination, she has admitted that she was not present at the spot when this accident occurred. She has admitted that brake of the vehicle did not fail but the accident occurred due to rash and negligent driving of the deceased himself. She has further admitted that the respondent is not responsible for the negligence committed by her husband and she has instituted this claim petition on the instance of an Advocate.
10. Appellants Shakuntala Pare herself has admitted that the accident had occurred due to rash and negligent driving by her husband. No document relating to mechanical failure of that vehicle has been filed. There is no evidence that the accident occurred due to brake failure of the vehicle. The case was also registered against her husband under sections 279 and 337 of the IPC In Govindpura Police Station but ultimately the FR was filed.
11. The Tribunal has discussed at length about this aspect and rightly came to the conclusion that this accide