2019 Supreme(Telangana) 424
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICDATURE FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA : HYDERABAD
T.AMARNATH GOUD, J.
Thakur Uma Rani – Appellant
Versus
Thakur Giridhar Singh – Respondent
M.A.C.M.A. Nos.282, 714 & 1871 OF 2018
Decided on : 03-09-2019
Important Points
Hon’ble Supreme Court, while remanding the matter, directed the Tribunal that if it arrives to the conclusion that the policy in question is a comprehensive/package policy, the liability would be fastened on the insurer. From the same, it is clear that if the vehicle is covered by comprehensive/package policy, the insurer is liable to pay the compensation.
Subject
Motor Accident Claims - Compensation for Death
Act Referred
Headnote
Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 - Sections 146 and 147 - Requirements of policies and limits of liability - Motor accident - Death- Compnesation granted - Liability of insurance company - When liable - Court am inclined to fix the income of the deceased at Rs.10,000/- per month. Apart from the same, the appellants are entitled to addition of 40% towards future prospects, as per the decision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in National Insurance Co. Ltd. Vs. Pranay Sethi, 2017(6) ALD 170 (SC).
Facts of the case: Appellants/claimants filed MACMA on ground that Tribunal awarded compensation against claim for death of Thakur Ashwan Singh, in a motor accident, while insurance company filed MACMA on ground that deceased is not a third party and hence, it has no liability to pay compensation - whether the deceased are third parties and whether the claimants are entitled to compensation, as directed by Tribunal - If so, whether there are any grounds to enhance the compensation in MACMA.No.282 of 2018 - Sought for enhancement of compensation -
Finding of the court: Offending vehicles cover by comprehensive/package policies. Though there are no specific terms and conditions in the policies with regard to covering of risk of kith and kin of the deceased, the insurance company is liable to pay the compensation, as per the ratio laid down in Balakrishnan’s case (supra), from which it can be construed that when the vehicle is covered under a comprehensive/package policy, the insurance company is liable to compensate for the death or injury of a pillion rider on a two wheeler or the occupants in private car. Therefore, it can be said that the deceased in these appeals are third parties and are entitled to compensation. Hence, the MACMA.Nos.714 and 1871 of 2018 are liable to be dismissed - aspect of enhancement of compensation in MACMA.No.282 of 2018, though appellants therein filed appointment letter of the deceased, they did not file any document to show the income of the deceased.
Result: MACMA.Nos.714 and 1871 of 2018 are dismissed and MACMA.No.282
Advocate Appeared:
For the Appellant : E. VENUGOPAL REDDY
For the Respondent: V. KRISHNA RAO
JUDGMENT :
Since these three appeals involve common question of law, they are being disposed of by this common judgment.
M.A.C.M.A.Nos.282 & 714 OF 2018:
2. Both these appeals arise out of an Award passed in M.V.O.P.No.292 of 2011, dated 25-09-2017, on the file of the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal-cum-Chief Judge, City Civil Court, Hyderabad, (for short, the Tribunal). The appellants/claimants filed MACMA.No.282 of 2018 on the ground that the Tribunal awarded compensation of Rs.14,21,000/-against the claim of Rs.15,00,000/- for the death of Thakur Ashwan Singh, in a motor accident, while the insurance company filed MACMA.No.714 of 2018, on the ground that the deceased is not a third party and hence, it has no liability to pay the compensation.
3. For the purpose of convenience, the parties in both the appeals are hereinafter referred to as they are arrayed in M.A.C.M.A.No.282 of 2018.
4. The brief facts of the case are that on appellant No.1 is the mother, appellant No.2 is the brother and respondent No.1 is the father of the deceased, Thakur Ashwan Singh. The deceased was working as Assistant Cook in Ocean Liner Cruise and earning 688 US $ per month i.e., Rs.31,000/- per month. The deceased had come to India to visit his family and friends. On the intervening night of 26/27.07.2010, while he was travelling in one of his friends car, and when they reached flyover at Khairatabad, the driver of the car lost control over it and collided with a street light pole, as a result of which, the deceased sustained fatal injuries and died on the spot. The appellants filed the aforesaid MVOP against respondent Nos.1 and 2, owner and insurer of the aforesaid car, respectively, claiming compensation of Rs.15,00,000/- for the death of the deceased.
MACMA.No.1871 of 2018:
5. This appeal is filed by the appellant/insurance company aggrieved by the Order and Decree dated 22.09.2017 passed in O.P.No.963 of 2014 by the XI Additional Chief Judge, City Civil Court at Hyderabad on the ground that the deceased is not a third party and hence, it has no liability to pay the compensation
6. The brief facts of the case are that on respondent No.1 is the wife, respondent Nos.2 to 4 are children, respondent No.5 is the mother and respondent No.6 is the father of the deceased, G.Venkatesham. On 14.10.2013, the deceased was proceeding on motorcycle bearing No.AP28DQ 6901. At about 19.00 hours, when he reached near Professor Ramreddy Engineering College, Nandigama Village, it was raining and at the same time, one lorry came from back side and one lorry came from opposite direction with heavy focus head lights, for which, the deceased to avoid accident, took his bike towards the left side of the road and hit a tree and fell down on the road. In the said accident, he received bleeding injuries and died on the spot. Respondent Nos.1 to 5 herein filed the aforesaid OP against owner of motorcycle (respondent No.6 herein) and the insurer of motorcycle (appellant herein), claiming compensation of Rs.9,00,000/- for the death of the deceased.
7. Sri E.Venugopal Reddy, learned counsel for the appellants in MACMA.No.282 of 2018 and Sri P.Chandra Mouli, learned counsel for respondent Nos.1 to 6 in MACMA.No.1871 of 2018, submitted that where the vehicle is covered under a comprehensive/package policy, there is no need for Motor Accident Claims Tribunal to go into the question whether the insurance company is liable to compensate for the death or injury of a pillion rider on a two wheeler or the occupants in private car. Therefore, the Tribunal rightly held that respondent No.2-insurnace company is liable to pay compensation to the claimants. He further submitted that the Tribunal ought to have considered the income of the deceased at Rs.32,000/- per month, instead of Rs.8,000/- per month and sought to enhance the compensation. In support of their arguments, they relied upon the decisions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Chanderi Devi V. Jaspal Singh, (2015) 11 SCC 703 and National