The High Court upheld the lower court's finding that the appellant driver was 25% negligent in a motorcycle collision causing the respondent's death. The court approved the liability ratio based on precedent, rejected the appellant's claim for discharge, and dismissed the appeal against the compensation award.
This page shows the compact analysis of this judgement. The full analysis — procedural history, issue-by-issue holdings with ratio and obiter, advocates, and paragraph-level evidence for every claim — is being added to the record in batches and will appear here when this judgement has been through it.
HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN AT JODHPUR
S.B. Civil Misc. Appeal No. 391/2003
R S R T C And Anr
----Appellant
Versus
Smt. Gurvinder Kaur And Ors
----Respondent
For Appellant(s) : Mr. Dinesh Kumar joshi For Respondent(s) : Mr. G.R. Goyal
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MADAN GOPAL VYAS
Judgment
Pronounced On 01/04/2022
1- /kkjk 173 eksVj ;ku vf/kfu;e 1988 ds rgr ;g vihy vihykFkhZ&vizkFkhZx.k us eksVj ;ku nq?kZVuk nkok U;k;kf/kdj.k ¼ftyk U;k;k/kh'k½] Jhxaxkuxj ds }kjk ,e-,-lh-Vh- Dyse izdj.k la[;k 286@94 esa ikfjr fu.kZ; fnukad 18-08-1998 ds fOk:) izLrqr dh gSA
2- bl vihy ds fu.kZ; gsrq izdj.k ds la{ksi esa rF; bl izdkj gS fd izkFkhZx.k us vius Dyse izkFkZuk i= esa ;g vafdr fd;k gS fd fnukad 27-12-1993 dks eksVj lkbfdy ls tlfiUnz flag chdkusj ls lwjrx< tk jgk FkkA tc og lwjrx< pkSjkgk ds ikl igqapk rks lkeus ls jktLFkku jkT; iFk ifjogu fuxe dh cl vizkFkhZ la[;k 3 us rsth o ykijokgh ls pykrs gq, tlfiUnz flag dh eksVj lkbfdy ds VDdj ekjh ftlls tlfiUnz flag lM+d ij fxj x;k vkSj mlds 'kjhj ij pksVsa dkfjr gqbZa ftlls mldh e`R;q gks xbZA mDRk nq?kZVuk dh lwpuk iqfyl Fkkuk lwjrx< esa ntZ djokbZ xbZA
3- vihykFkhZ&vizkFkhZx.k us tokc izLrqr dj izkFkhZx.k ds Dyse vkosnu ds rF;ksa dks vLohdkj dj nq?kZVuk Lo;a e`rd }kjk eksVj lkbfdy dks rsth o ykijokgh ls pykus ds dkj.k gksuk crk;k gS rFkk cl pkyd }kjk dksbZ VDdj ugha ekjs tkus dk dFku fd;kA
4- i{kdkjku ds vfHkopuksa ds vk/kkj ij vf/kdj.k us fuEufyf[kr fook|d fojfpr fd, %&
(2 of 5)
[CMA-391/2003]
rd tlfiUnz flag ds eksVj lkbfdy ds flj o 'kjhj ds vU; Hkkxksa ij izk.k?kkrd pksVsa igqapk dj eR;q dkfjr dhA"Viq"V] O;lu jfgr ukStoku Fkk o Hkkjr ljdkj dh fu;fer lsok esa Fkk vkSj ljdkj ls mls nks&<kbZ gtkj :i, izfrekg osru ds vykok vU; lHkh [kpsZ] onhZ o [kku&iku fu%'kqYd miyC/k Fks vkSj erd viuk leLr osru vkonsdx.k dks gh nsrk FkkArd tlfiUnz flag vxj thfor jgrk rks og yxHkx 31 o"kZ rd vkSj jktdh; lsok esa jgdj lsok fuor gksrk vkSj mls bl vof/k esa fu/kkZfjr inksUufr o osru o`f) izkIr gksrhArd tlfiUnz flag ds fof/kd mRrjkf/kdkjhx.k csok Jherh xqjfoUnz dkSj o nksuksa iqf=;ka izkFkhZx.k l **a** [;k 2 o 3 vizkFkhZx.k ls erd tlfiUnz flag dks eksVj nq?kZVuk esa e`R;q gksus ds QyLo:i {kfriwfrZ dh jkf'k 19]45]583@&:i;s izkIRk djus ds vf/kdkjh gSA5- mijksDr fook|dksa dh iqf"V esa izkFkhZx.k us ih-M-01 Jherh xqjfoUnz dkSj dh lk{; ys[kc) djokbZ rFkk N% nLrkost iznf'kZRk djok,A vizkFkhZx.k dh vksj ls Mh-M-01 vejflag ds dFku ys[kc) djok, x, vkSj 8 QksVksxzkQl iznf'kZr djok, x,A rRi'pkr fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk mHk;i{kksa dh cgl lqu dj vk{ksfir fu.kZ; ds }kjk izkFkhZx.k ds i{k esa 2]35]000@&:i;s dh izfrdj jkf'k o ml ij 12 izfr'kr dh nj ls C;kt jkf'k vnk djus dk vkns'k ikfjr fd;k] ftlls O;fFkr gksdj vihykFkhZ&vizkFkhZx.k us ;g vihy izLrqr dh gSA
6- eSaus i{kdkjku ds ;ksX; vf/koDRkkx.k dh cgl lquh] vfHkys[k o vk{ksfir fu.kZ; dk voyksdu fd;kA
(3 of 5)
[CMA-391/2003]
7- ;ksX; vf/koDrk vihykFkhZ&vizkFkhZx.k us ;g rdZ fn;k gS fd vf/kdj.k us vfHkys[k ij miyC/k lk{; ds ifjizs{; esa fook|d la[;k 01 o 05 dks lgh izdkj ls fu.khZr ugha fd, gSaA xokg ih-M-01 xqjfoUnz dkSj us izfrijh{kk esa Lohdkj fd;k gS fd nq?kZVuk ds le; og ekSds ij ugha FkhA nq?kZVuk dk dksbZ vU; p{kqn'khZ lk{kh ijhf{kr ugha gqvkA nq?kZVuk ds [k.Mu e a s ijhf{kr lk{kh Mh-M-01 vejflag us eksVjlkbfdy pkyd dh mis{kk ,oa ykijokgh Li"V :i ls crkbZ gS vkSj iqf"V esa izn'kZ ,&1 ls ,&8 QksVksxzkQ~l izLrqr fd, gSa] ftuls ;g izdV gksrk gS fd nq?kZVuk esa cl pkyd dh xyrh ugha FkhA vf/kdj.k us cl pkyd dks Hkkjh okgu dk pkyd gksus ds dkj.k 75 izfr'kr nq?kZVuk ds fy, mRrjnk;h ekuk gS tks fcYdqy xyr o voS/k gSA
8- ;ksX; vf/koDrk izR;FkhZ&DysesaV us mDr rdksZa dk fojks/k djrs gq, vk{ksfir fu.kZ; dk leFkZu fd;k vkSj rdZ fn;k fd nq?kZVuk cl pkyd dh mis{kk o ykijokgh ds ifj.kkeLo:i ?kfVr gqbZ gSA uD'kk ekSdk o gkykr ekSdk ls Hkh nq?kZVuk esa cl pkyd dh xyrh gksuk Li"V izdV gksrk gSA
9- eSaus mi;qZDr ijLij fojks/kh rdksZa ij fopkj fd;kA fo}ku vf/kdj.k us cl pkyd dks 75 izfr'kr xyrh ds fy, mRRkjnk;h ekuk vkSj fook|d la[;k 01 o 05 dk fu.kZ; blh izdkj ls izkFkhZx.k ds i{k esa o vizkFkhZx.k ds fo:) fd;k gSA bl fofu'p; dks vihy esa pqukSrh nh xbZA izkFkhZx.k us viuh lk{; esa ih-M-1 erd dh iRuh Jherh xqjfoUnz dkSj dks ijhf{kr djok;k gSA ;g fufoZokfnr rF; gS fd Jherh xq:foUnz dkSj nq?kZVuk dh p{kqn'khZ lk{kh ugha gSA blds [k.Mu esa Mh-M-1 vej flag cl pkyd ijhf{kr gqvk gSA mlus nq?kZVuk esa erd tlfiUnz flag eksVj lkbfdy pkyd dh xyrh gksuk crk;kA vej flag us ;g Hkh dFku fd;k fd mlus cl dks lM+d ds uhps mrkj fn;k vkSj cl dks ogha [kM+k dj fn;k ysfdu mldk ;g dFku fo'oluh; izrhr ugha gksrk gS D;ksafd izn'kZ ih-5 gkykr ekSdk ds voyksdu ls ;g izdV gksrk gS fd cl ds ihNs ds ckbZ rjQ ds Vk;jksa ls Vk;jksa ds cszd yxus ls jxM+ tSls fu'kku gSA cl ds djhc 30 QqV ihNs ls cszd yxk, x,A dksbZ Hkh okgu ;fn rst xfr esa gksrk gS vkSj vpkud czsd yxk, tkrs gSa rc okgu ds Vk;jksa ds fu'kku lM+d ij gksrs gSaA mYya?kudkjh cl ds Hkh djhc 30 QqV ihNs ls cszd yxkuk o jxM+ ds fu'kku gkykr ekSdk izn'kZ ih-5 ls nf'kZr gksrk gSA ,slh ifjfLFkfr;ksa esa ;g ugha dgk tk ldrk fd cl dks cl pkyd us nq?kZVuk ds le; jksd dj lkbZM esa [kM+h dj nh gksA ;fn okgu pkyd dk okgu dh xfr ij fu;a=.k gks rc cl ds vpkud czsd yxkus ij Vk;jksa ds fu'kku lM+d ij ugha vkrs gSaA mYya?kudkjh cl ds czsd yxkus ls lM+d ij Vk;jksa ds fu'kku 30 QqV ihNs ls gksuk
(4 of 5)
[CMA-391/2003]
izdV gksrk gS blfy, nq?kZVuk ds le; mYya?kudkjh cl rst xfr esa gksuk nf"Vxr gksrk gSA mYya?kudkjh cl o eksVj lkbfdy ds VDdj vkeus&lkeus gksus ls vk{ksfir fu.kZ; esa fook|d la[;k 1 o 5 ds laca/k esa tks foospu fd;k x;k gS og i=koyh ij miyC/k lkexzh ds ifjizs{; esa mfpr ,oa U;k;laxr izrhr gksrk gSA fo}ku vf/kdj.k us 1990 ACJ 618 Kerala state Road. Corpn. VS Bhargavi Amma and another dh uthj esa dsjy mPp U;k;ky; }kjk izfrikfnr fl)kar ds vuqlkj cl pkyd dh 75 izfr'kr o eksVj lkbfdy pkyd dh 25 izfr'kr nq?kZVuk esa ykijokgh ds fy, mRRkjnk;h ekuk gSA mij m)r uthj Kerala state Road. Corpn. VS Bhargavi Amma and another esa ;g vfHkfu/kkZfjr fd;k gS fd %&
Negligence-Contributory negligence-Appointment of liability-Collision between a motorcycle and bus coming from the opposite directions and the motor-cyclist sustained injuries. Motor-cyclist went to the wrong side of the road and hit the left side headlight of the bus. Bus was going upgradient at slow speed. Driver of the bus deposed that immediately after he negotiated the curve, he saw the motorcycle at a distance of 150 ft. Driver of the bus could have averted the accident by using ordinary care. Tribunal found that both the motor-cyclist and the bus driver were negligent in causing the accident and apportioned the blame in the ratio of 75:25. Tribunal's finding upheld in appeal.
10dqy feykdj vfHkys[k ij miyC/k lkexzh vkSj mDr uthj esa izfrikfnr fl}karksa ds vuqlkj vf/kdj.k us fook|d la[;k 1 o 5 ds laca/k tks fu"d"kZ fn;k gS og U;k;ksfpr gksus ls iqf"V fd, tkus ;ksX; gSA
11;ksX; vf/koDrk vihkyFkhZ us vxyk rdZ ;g fn;k fd erd dh vk; esa ls erd ds Lo;a ds thou&;kiu ds fy, 1@3 jkf'k de dh tkuh pkfg, Fkh tks vf/kdj.k us ugha dh gSA bl izdkj vf/kdj.k us fook|d la[;k 2 ls 4 dk fofu'p; Hkh lgh ugha fd;k gSA 12Tkcfd ;ksX; vf/koDRkk izR;FkhZ&DysesaV us bldk fojks/k fd;k vkSj ;g rdZ fn;k fd izn'kZ ih-1 osru fooj.k ds vuqlkj erd dk ekfld osru 2]307@&:i, FkkA vk{ksfir fu.kZ; ds i"B la[;k 5 esa ;g Hkh vafdr gS fd e`rd dks 1026@&:i, [kkuk] diM+k vkfn ds fy, feyrs Fks tks dqy feykdj 3]333@&:i, gksrs gSaA blfy, vf/kdj.k us 1@3 jkf'k de djds izfrdj dh jkf'k dk lgh izdkj ls fu/kkZj.k fd;k gSA
13eSaus mi;qZDr ijLij fojks/kh rdkZsa ij fopkj fd;kA vk{ksfir fu.kZ; esa vf/kdj.k us erd dk ekfld osru 2157@&:i, vafdr fd;k gS ysfdu izn'kZ ih-1 esa 2157$150 dqy 2307@&:i, ekfld osru vafdr gSA vk{ksfir fu.kZ; ds vuqlkj 1026@&:i, [kkuk diM+k vkfn ds vafdr gaSA bl izdkj 2307$1026 dk ;ksx 3]333@&:Ik, gksrk gSA vf/kdj.k us erd dh ekfld vk; 2]000@&:i, fu/kkZfjr
(5 of 5) [CMA-391/2003]
dh gSA ;fn erd ds Lo;a ds thou&;kiu gsrq 1@3 jkf'k de Hkh dh tk, rks Hkh 2]000@&:i, ls vf/kd erd dh ekfld vk; gksrh gSA pwafd izR;FkhZ&DyseasV dh dksbZ ØkWl vihy ugha gSA blfy, izfrdj jkf'k esa of) ugha dh tk ldrh gSA vk{ksfir fu.kZ; esa vf/kdj.k us Li"V :i ls erd ds Lo;a ds thou&;kiu ds fy, 1@3 jkf'k de djus dk mYys[k ugha fd;k gS] ysfdu ;fn 1@3 jkf'k de Hkh dh tkrh gS rks jkf'k 2]222@&:i, gksrh gSA tcfd vf/kdj.k us e`rd dh ekfld vk; 2000@&:i, ekfld fu/kkZfjr dh gSA blfy, bl ekfld vk; dks vf/kd gksuk ugha dgk tk ldrk gSA izfrdj dh x.kuk esa fdlh izdkj dh dksbZ =qfV gksuk Hkh ugha dgk tk ldrk gSA dqy feykdj vf/kdj.k ds }kjk fu/kkZfjr izfrdj jkf'k dks vf/kd gksuk ugha dgk tk ldrk gSA
14;ksX; vf/koDrk vihykFkhZ dh vksj ls ;g rdZ fn;k x;k fd vf/kdj.k us vokMZ dh jkf'k ij 12 izfr'kr okf"kZd C;kt fnyk;k tks vf/kd gSA nq?kZVuk fnukad 27-12-1993 dh gS] Dyse izkFkZuk i= vf/kdj.k ds le{k fnukad 4-07-1994 dks izLrqr fd;k gS] vf/kdj.k us Dyse dk fu.kZ; 18-8-1998 dks ikfjr fd;k gSA rRle; izpfyr C;kt nj D;k Fkh] ;g Li"V ugha fd;k x;k gSA oSls Hkh C;kt njsa le;≤ ij de&T;knk gksrh jgrh gSA ,slh ifjfLFkr;ksa esa vf/kdj.k }kjk vk{ksfir fu.kZ; esa vokMZ dh jkf'k ij tks C;kt fnyk;k gS mlesa gLr{ksi fd, tkus dk dksbZ i;kZIr vk/kkj ugha gSA
15dqy feykdj mi;qZDr foospu ds ifj.kkeLo:Ik vk{ksfir fu.kZ; esa dksbZ vuqfprrk o voS/krk n`f"Vxr ugha gksrh gSA vfHkys[k ij miyC/k lkexzh ds ifjizs{; esa vk{ksfir fu.kZ; fcYdqy mfpr o fof/klEer gS ftlesa gLr{ksi fd, tkus ds dksbZ i;kZIr vk/kkj ugha gSA vihy lkjghu gksus ls [kkfjt fd, tkus ;ksX; gSA
16ifj.kker% vihykFkhZ dh vksj ls izLrqr ;g vihy [kkfjt dh tkrh gS rFkk fo}ku U;k;k/kh'k] eksVj;ku nq?kZVuk nkok U;k;kf/kdj.k] ¼ftyk U;k;k/kh'k½] Jhxaxkuxj ds }kjk ,e-,-lh-Vh izdj.k la[;k&286@1994 Jherh xqjfoUnz dkSj vkfn cuke jktLFkku jkT; iFk ifjogu fuxe vkfn esa ikfjr fu.kZ; fnukad 18-8-1998 dh iqf"V dh tkrh gSA
17bl fu.kZ; dh izfr lfgr fo}ku U;k;ky; dk vfHkys[k 'kh?kz izsf"kr gksA
(MADAN GOPAL VYAS),J
Suresh/-
;g vkns'[email protected]; Hkkjrh; lafo/kku ds vuqPNsn 348(i) ds rgr Hkkjr ljdkj dh vf/klwpuk jkti= la[;k 1] fnuakd 2 tuojh 1999 ,oa jktLFkku jkti= fnukafdr 10-3-1971 ds rgr fgUnh Hkk"kk ds iz;ksx dk s izkf/kd`r fd, tkus ds ifj.kkeLo:i fgUnh Hkk"kk esa fy[kk;k x;kA
3 issues framed by the court
Whether the apportionment of negligence between the deceased and the driver in the impugned order is legal.
Whether the enhanced damages amount awarded is correct.
Whether the appellant deserves any damages given the stability of the finding.
Colour shows how this judgement treated each authority
1990 ACJ 618 Kerala State Road. Corp'n. vs Bhargavi Amma and anotherRelied on¶33
R S R T C And Anr
Smt. Gurvinder Kaur And Ors
Madan Gopal Vyas
As recorded by the court registry
Judgements on the same questions, provisions and authorities, from every court