Smt. Rajni Joshi v. United India Insurance Company Limited
Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 – Sections 166 & 173 – Personal accident cover for 'unnamed persons' (IMT-16)
Case brief
What is this about?
Chhattisgarh High Court at Bilaspur, MAC No. 1303 of 2016, delivered 04.03.2025 (reserved 25.02.2025) by Justice Sanjay Kumar Jaiswal: appeal under S.173 MV Act by Smt. Rajni Joshi (widow) against the 4th Additional MACT Bilaspur's order dated 28.06.2016 in Claim Case No.152/2015 rejecting her S.166 claim of Rs.70,00,000/- for the death of her husband Manoj Joshi, who as owner-driver of his Bolero (CG 17 D 1135) was killed in a Naxal IED blast during the Congress Parivartan Yatra Rally at Jheeram Ghati, Darbha, Bastar on 25.05.2013 (FIR No.25/13). Core issue: whether the owner-driver was covered as an 'unnamed person' under the Rs.450/- PA premium in the United India Insurance policy Ex.P-5 read with IMT-16. Held: unnamed persons are passengers other than the insured, paid driver, attendant/cleaner or insured's employees within the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1923; owner driving his own vehicle is not covered; no interference with dismissal; appeal dismissed. Keywords: unnamed passengers, owner-driver, IMT-16, personal accident cover, Naxal blast, Jheeram Ghati, Darbha, Bastar, claim rejection upheld.