Allowed

Divisional Manager, United Ind v. Shankar Prasad Sah and Ors.

Patna HC17 Sept 2018MA/527/2010

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

This single-bench judgment allowed three miscellaneous appeals filed by United India Insurance Company Ltd. against a Motor Vehicle Accident Claim Tribunal's award. The High Court set aside the order awarding compensation, held the Tribunal failed to decide the framed issue of composite negligence, and remitted the cases to re-assess liability between the truck and tempo owners.

What did the court decide?

Three appeals allowed; judgments and awards of the Tribunal set aside and all three cases remitted to the Tribunal to decide the issue of composite negligence and extent of liability of vehicles withi

Divisional Manager, United Ind Vs Shankar… — Contract and Commercial Disputes | Patna HC (2018)

¶1

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

¶2

Miscellaneous Appeal No.527 of 2010

¶3

=========================================================== Divisional Manager, United India Insurance Company Ltd. Rajendra Prasad Road, Khalifabagh, Bhagalpur through the Deputy Manager and Constituted attorney, Regional office, United India Insurance Compny Ltd., 3^rd Floor, Chanakya Commercial Complex, “R” Block, Patna. .... .... Appellant/s Versus

¶4

Shankar Prasad Sah, S/o. Late Mahabir Prasad Sah.

¶5

Hira Devi, W/o. Shankar Prasad Sadh, both R/o. Bishnath Nagar, Falka, P.S.Falka, District- Katihar.

¶6

Md. Imam Husain, S/o. not mentioned, R/o. Khiribandh, P.S.- Jagdishpur, District- Bhagalpur (Driver of truck) …….. O.P.-1/ Respondent.

¶7

Md. Dilsad, S/o. Md. Nasim, R/o. Amodh, P.S.- Sabour, District- Bhagalpur (Driver of Tempo) ……… O.P.-2/ Respondent.

¶8

Afrinaz, W/o.- Md. Imam Hussain, R/o. Khiribandh, P.S.- Jagdishpur, DistrictBhagalpur (Owner of truck) ………….. O.P.-3/ Respondent.

¶9

Satyendra Narayan Singh, S/o. Late Ram Chandra Prasad Singh, R/o. Sukhliya Bazar, P.S.Gopalpur, DistrictBhagalpur (Owner of ……. O.P.-4/ Respondent.

¶10

Divisional Manager, the Oriental Insurance Company Ltd., Divisional Office, Bhagalpur (Insurer of Truck) ……….. O.P.-5/ Respondent

¶11

WITH

¶12

=========================================================== Miscellaneous Appeal No. 526 of 2010 =========================================================== Divisional Manager, United India Insurance Company Ltd. Rajendra Prasad Road, Khalifabagh, Bhagalpur through the Deputy Manager and Constituted attorney, Regional office, United India Insurance Compny Ltd., 3^rd Floor, Chanakya Commercial Complex, “R” Block, Patna. .... .... Appellant/s Versus

¶13

Jhuna Devi @ Jhun Devi, W/o. Late Indrajeet Singh

¶14

Shiv Shankar Singh, S/o.- Late Indrajeet Singh

¶15

Pramod Singh, S/o. Indrajeet Singh, all the above are resident of Charhana, P.S.- Boushi, District- Banka ….. Claimants/Respondents

¶16

Md. Imam Husain S/o.- not mentioned, R/o. of Kharibandh, P.S.- Jagdishpur, District- Bhagalpur (driver of truck) …….. O.P.-1/ Respondent

¶17

Md. Dilsad, S/o. Md. Nasim, R/o. Amdoh, P.S.- Sabour, District- Bhagalpur (Driver of Tempo) …….. O.P.-2/ Respondent

¶18

Afrinaz, W/o. Md. Imam Hussain, R/o. of Khiribandh, P.S.- Jagdishpur, District- Bhagalpur (Owner of truck) …….. O.P.-3/ Respondent

¶19

Satyendra narayan Singh, S/o. Late Ram Chandra Prasad Singh, Resident of Sukhliya Bazar, P.S.- Gopalpur, District- Bhagalpur (Owner of Tempo) …….. O.P.-4/ Respondent

¶20

Divisional Manager, the Oriental Insurance Company Ltd., Divisional Office, Bhagalpur (Insurer of Truck) …….. O.P.-5/ Respondent

¶21

WITH

¶22

Patna High Court MA No.527 of 2010 dt.17-09-2018

¶23

2/ 7

¶24

=========================================================== Miscellaneous Appeal No. 528 of 2010

¶25

===========================================================

¶26

Divisional Manager, United India Insurance Company Ltd. Rajendra Prasad Road, Khalifabagh, Bhagalpur through the Deputy Manager and Constituted attorney, Regional office, United India Insurance Compny Ltd., 3^rd Floor, Chanakya Commercial Complex, “R” Block, Patna. .... .... Appellant/s

¶27

Versus

¶28

Ashok Paswan, S/o. Late Dukhkho Paswan

¶29

Chandan Kumar Paswan, S/o. Ashok Paswan

¶30

Ranjan Kumar Paswan, S/o. Ashok Paswan

¶31

Banti Paswan, S/o. Ashok Paswan

¶32

Lawlesh Kumar Paswan, S/o. Ashok Paswan

¶33

Mosam Kumari, D/o. Ashok Paswan, all the above are residents of Bari Makanpur, P.S.- Gopalpur, District- Bhagalpur

¶34

…… Claimants/Respondents

¶35

Md. Imam Husain, S/o. not mentioned, R/o. Kharibandh, P.S.- Jagdishpur,

¶36

District- Bhagalpur (Driver of truck) ….. O.P.-1/Respondent

¶37

Md. Dilsad, S/o. Md. Nasim, R/o. Amdoh, P.S.- Sabour, District- Bhagalpur (Driver of Tempo) ….. O.P.-2/Respondent

¶38

Afrinz, W/o. –Md. Imam Hussain, R/o. Khiribandh, P.S.- jagdishpur, DistrictBhagalpur (Owner of truck) ….. O.P.-3/Respondent

¶39

Satyendra Narayan Singh, S/o. Late Ram Chandra Prasad Singh, R/o. Sukhliya Bazar, P.S.- Gopalpur, District- Bhagalpur (Owner of Tempo) ….. O.P.-4/Respondent

¶40

Divisional Manager, The Oriental Insurance Company Ltd., Divisional Office, Bhagalpur (Insurer of Truck) ….. O.P.-5/Respondent

¶41

=========================================================== Appearance : (In MA No.527 of 2010) For the Appellant/s : Mr. Durgesh Kumar Singh, Adv. For the Respondent/s : Mr. Sanjay Singh, Adv. Mr. B.K. Jha, Adv. (In MA No.526 of 2010) For the Appellant/s : Mr. Durgesh Kumar Singh, Adv. For the Respondent/s : Mr. Barun Kumar Chaudhary, Adv. (In MA No.528 of 2010) For the Appellant/s : Mr. Durgesh Kumar Singh, Adv. For the Respondent/s : Mr. Bimlesh Kumar Jha, Adv.

¶42

=========================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE PRAKASH CHANDRA JAISWAL

¶43

ORAL JUDGMENT

¶44

Date: 17-09-2018

¶45

Heard learned counsel for the appellants and learned counsel

¶46

for the respondent Oriental Insurance Company Limited on these

¶47

Patna High Court MA No.527 of 2010 dt.17-09-2018

¶48

3/ 7

¶49

appeals. None turned up on behalf of the claimants/respondents and owner of the truck and tempo despite service of notice.

¶50

2. These miscellaneous appeals have been preferred against the judgment dated 11.02.2010 and award dated 03.04.2010 passed by the learned 7^th Additional District Judge-cum-Motor Vehicles Accident Claim Tribunal, Bhagalpur (hereinafter referred to as the „Tribunal‟), in claim cases No. 208 of 2004, 38 of 2005 and 41 of 2005 whereby the learned Tribunal directed the appellants-United Insurance Company Limited to pay compensation of Rs. 2,49,500/along with interest at the rate of 8 percent from the date of claim to Ashok Paswan the claimant of Claim Case No. 208 of 2004, Rs 2,64,500/- along with interest at the rate of 8 percent from the date of claim to the claimants of Claim Case No.38 of 2005 and Rs.1,69,500/along with interest at the rate of 8 percent from the date of claim to the claimants of Claim Case No.41 of 2005.

¶51

3. The factual matrix of the case is that three claim petitions were filed by the claimants for awarding compensation under Section 166 of M. V. Act on account of death of the three deceased in the motor vehicle accident, namely, Manju Devi of Claim Case No.208 of 2004, Pravin @ Chhuna Sah of Claim Case No.38 of 2005 and Indrajeet Singh of Claim Case No.41 of 2005 with the case in succinct

¶52

Patna High Court MA No.527 of 2010 dt.17-09-2018

¶53

4/ 7

¶54

that on 23.11.2004 at 1 PM the aforesaid deceased were travelling by tempo bearing registration no.BR 10D 5229 from Bhagalpur to Naugachia and while they were passing through Bikramshila Setu a truck, bearing registration no.BRJ 8539, coming from opposite direction, being driven rashly and negligently by its driver, dashed the aforesaid tempo resulting into the severe injury to the aforesaid deceased who were rushed to the hospital but they were declared brought dead. Regarding the aforesaid accident Parbatta P.S. Case No.428 of 2004 dated 23.11.2004 was instituted. The tempo is hailing to one Satyendra Narayan Singh and insured by the United India Insurance Company Limited while the truck in question is hailing to Afrinaz and allegedly insured by the Oriental Insurance Company Limited.

¶55

4. The United India Insurance Company Limited and Oriental Insurance Company Limited put their appearance in the case and filed their separate written statement but the owner of both the vehicles did not turn up before the learned Tribunal despite service of notice, hence the case proceeded ex parte against them. Claimants adduced ocular as well as documentary evidence in buttress of their case.

¶56

5. During pendency of the case, Oriental Insurance Company Limited by filing a petition before the learned Tribunal prayed to

¶57

Patna High Court MA No.527 of 2010 dt.17-09-2018

¶58

5/ 7

¶59

expunge its name from the record as the aforesaid truck was not insured by the Oriental Insurance Company Limited and the policy certificate filed by the claimants is fake. The Oriental Insurance Company Limited by filing written statement has inter alia submitted that the policy of the truck in question was valid from 27.11.2004 to 26.11.2005 but the accident is of 23.11.2004, i.e. preceding to coming into force of the aforesaid policy. Hence, the Oriental Insurance Company is not liable to pay any compensation and it may be exonerated from payment of compensation.

¶60

6. After hearing the parties and perusing the record, the learned Tribunal passed the aforesaid judgment and award as detailed in earlier paragraph.

¶61

7. Being aggrieved and dissatisfied with the aforesaid judgment and award, the United India Insurance Company Limited has preferred the aforesaid three appeals.

¶62

8. It is submitted by learned counsel for the appellants that as per the F.I.R. and pleadings itself there was a head on collision when the tempo in question was passing through the Bikramshila Setu a truck coming from the opposite side being rashly and negligently driven by its driver dashed the tempo resulting into grievous injury to three of its passengers which proved fatal. Hence, the aforesaid

¶63

Patna High Court MA No.527 of 2010 dt.17-09-2018

¶64

6/ 7

¶65

accident was due to rash and negligent driving by the driver of the truck so the owner of the aforesaid truck is squarely liable to pay compensation, if any, and the owner or the insurer of the tempo is not liable for the same.

¶66

9. From perusal of record it appears that after perusing the pleadings of the parties and record, the learned Tribunal has framed several issues including issue no.4, which is reproduced herein below:

¶67

10. Whether it is a case of composite negligence?

¶68

11. Though the learned Tribunal has framed the aforesaid issue of composite negligence but has not given any specific finding on the said issue rather saddled the entire liability of payment of compensation on the insurer of the tempo finding the tempo liable for the accident. Once the Tribunal has framed the aforesaid issue it ought to have decided the same in specific and extent of liability of each of the vehicle as owner and insurer of the both the vehicles have been made parties to the case to come to the right conclusion in the case.

¶69

12. In the facts and circumstances of the case, the aforesaid judgment and award passed by the learned Tribunal is hereby set aside and all the three cases are remitted back to the learned Tribunal to decide the aforesaid issue and extent of liability of the vehicles after according opportunities to the parties to adduce the evidence and also

¶70

Patna High Court MA No.527 of 2010 dt.17-09-2018

¶71

7/ 7

¶72

after hearing the parties to the case within three months from the date of receipt/production of a copy of this judgment. Accordingly, these appeals stands disposed of.

¶73

13. Let the statutory amount deposited by the appellants in all the three appeals be returned to the United India Insurance Company Limited through cheque.

¶74

(Prakash Chandra Jaiswal, J)

¶75

Trivedi/-

¶76

AFR/NAFR	NAFR
CAV DATE	NA
UploadingDate	20.09.2018
Transmission Date	20.09.2018

Divisional Manager, United Ind v. Shankar Prasad Sah and Ors.

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Divisional Manager, United Ind v. Shankar Prasad Sah and Ors.

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

What the court decided

A compact analysis

Issues for consideration

Parties & counsel

Coram

Case details

Similar cases

Mohammad Yunus Ansari @ Md. Yunus Vs The State Of Bihar and Ors.

Nageshwar Singh and Anr. Vs The State Of Bihar

The Branch Manager, United India Insurance Company Limited, Patna Vs Renu Pathak and Ors.

Divisional Manager, United Ind Vs Jhuna Devi and Ors.

Divisional Manager, United Ind Vs Ashok Paswan and Ors.

Md. Mazlum and Ors. Vs The State Of Bihar