Dismissed

National Insurance Co. Ltd. v. Smt Saroj Devi and Others

Rajasthan HC5 Dec 2023CMA/1324/2014

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

The High Court dismissed the appellant's appeal against the Motor Vehicles Act compensation order. Finding no evidence the deceased damaged the insured vehicle, the court rejected the defense claim. It upheld previous Supreme Court rulings against deducing compensation for funeral expenses or life insurance payouts.

What did the court decide?

Compensation claim dismissed; no reduction for life insurance or pension.

National Insurance Co. Ltd. Vs Smt Saroj Devi and Others — Cheque Dishonour | Rajasthan HC (2023)

¶1

HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN BENCH AT JAIPUR

¶2

S.B. Civil Miscellaneous Appeal No. 1324/2014

¶3

National Insurance Company Ltd. Through Regional Manager, Regional Office, Jeevan Nidhi, Ambedkar Circle, Jaipur

¶4

----Appellant

¶5

Versus

¶6

Smt. Saroj Devi W/o Balveer Prasad, R/o Village Tulsipura Pawata, Tehsil Kotputli, District Jaipur At Present Near Navodaya Vidhalaya, Pawata, Tehsil Kotputli, District Jaipur Raj.

¶7

Kumari Jyoti D/o Late Shri Balveer Prasad, R/o Village Tulsipura Pawata, Tehsil Kotputli, District Jaipur At Present Near Navodaya Vidhalaya, Pawata, Tehsil Kotputli, District Jaipur Raj.

¶8

Sunil Kumar Duchaniya S/o Late Shri Balveer Prasad, R/o Village Tulsipura Pawata, Tehsil Kotputli, District Jaipur At Present Near Navodaya Vidhalaya, Pawata, Tehsil Kotputli, District Jaipur Raj.

¶9

Ghudaram S/o Bhartaram, R/o Village Tulsipura Pawata, Tehsil Kotputli, District Jaipur At Present Near Navodaya Vidhalaya, Pawata, Tehsil Kotputli, District Jaipur Raj.

¶10

Smt. Sanjaya W/o Ghudaram, R/o Village Tulsipura Pawata, Tehsil Kotputli, District Jaipur At Present Near Navodaya Vidhalaya, Pawata, Tehsil Kotputli, District Jaipur Raj.

¶11

Bhim Singh S/o Jagdish Singh, R/o Dhani Jawan Singh, Village Jharli, Tehsil Srimadhopur, District Sikar Raj. Driver Of Vehicle Truck No. Rj-14G-7955

¶12

Gurminder Singh S/o Sardar Ajeet Singh, R/o Plot No. B- 227, 10-B Scheme, Gopalpura Byepass, Jaipur Raj. Owner Of Vehicle Truck No. Rj-14G-7955

¶13

----Respondents

¶14

For Appellant(s) : Mr. Praveen Jain For Respondent(s) : None

¶15

HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE SHUBHA MEHTA

[CMA-1324/2014]

(2 of 5)

Order

05/12/2023

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¶21

la{ksi esa izdj.k dh rF;kRed fLFkfr ds vuqlkj fnukad 09-01-2011 dks cyohj izlkn ds thi esa cSBdj tkrs gq, ds nkSjku jkLrs esa vkarsyk cl LVS.M ij fnYyh dh rjQ ls vkrs gq, Vªd ds pkyd }kjk viuk okgu rst o ykijokghiwoZd pykrs gq, ihNs ls VDdj ekjus ds ifj.kkeLo:i mDr O;fDr cyohj izlkn dh eR;q gksus ij erd ds vkfJrx.k ¼izR;FkhZx.k½ dh vksj ls fo}ku vf/kdj.k esa Dyse izkFkZuk i= izLrqr dj fofHkUu enksa esa {kfriwfrZ jkf'k fnyk, tkus dh izkFkZuk dh xbZA foi{kh@vihykFkhZ dh vksj ls tokc izLrqr fd;k x;kA fo}ku vf/kdj.k ds }kjk i{kdkjksa ds vfHkopuksa ds vk/kkj ij fook|d fojfpr fd;s x;sA i{kdkjksa dh lk{; ys[kc) dh xbZA rRi'pkr fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk nksuksa i{kksa ds rdZ lquus ,oa i=koyh ij miyC/k ekSf[kd ,oa nLrkosth lk{; ds vk/kkj ij vkyksP; fu.kZ; }kjk izR;FkhZx.k dks {kfriwfrZ jkf'k 54]34]239@& :i;s e; C;kt fnykbZ xbZ] ftl iapkV dks fujLr fd, tkus vFkok fodYi esa iapkV jkf'k dks de fd, tkus dh izkFkZuk ds lkFk vizkFkhZ@vihykFkhZ&chek dEiuh dh vksj ls ;g vihy izLrqr dh xbZ gSA

¶22

cgl lquh xbZA vihykFkhZ ds fo}ku vf/koDrk dk rdZ gS fd os dsoy nks vk/kkjksa ij vf/kdj.k ds fu.kZ; dks pqukSrh ns jgs gSaA mudk izFke rdZ ;g gS fd izdj.k esa erd cyohj izlkn dh Hkh ;ksxnk;h mis{kk Fkh D;ksafd og nq?kZVukxzLr thi ds ik;nku ij [kM+k Fkk vkSj mlh le; thi dks chfer okgu Vªd us ihNs ls VDdj ekjh vkSj blds dkj.k cyohj izlkn dh eR;q dkfjr gqbZ gSA ik;nku [kM+s gksus ds fy, ugha gskrk gS] ,slh fLFkfr esa e`rd dh ;ksxnk;h mis{kk ekudj mldk izfr'kr r; dj {kfriwfrZ jkf'k r; dh tk,A

¶23

[CMA-1324/2014]

¶24

(3 of 5)

¶25

bl rdZ ij gekjs }kjk i=koyh ij miyC/k lk{; ds izdk'k esa euu fd;k x;kA izdj.k esa izFke lwpuk fjiksVZ esa thi dks ihNs ls Vªd }kjk VDdj ekjuk vafdr gS rFkk izFke lwpuk fjiksVZ esa dgha Hkh ;g vafdr ugha gS fd erd ik;nku ij [kM+k FkkA izdj.k esa lk{kh ljkst ,0M02 ,oa t;iky flag ,0M02 ds :i esa ijhf{kr gq, gSaA nksuksa gh p{kqn'khZ lk{khx.k ds :i esa ijhf{kr gq, gSaA lk{kh Jherh ljkst us Li"Vr% dFku fd;k gS fd mldk ifr thi esa ihNs dh rjQ cSBk Fkk vkSj lhV ij cSBk FkkA bl lk{kh us chek dEiuh }kjk dh xbZ izfrijh{kk esa dgha Hkh ;g rF; izdV ugha fd;k gS fd erd thi ds ihNs ik;nku ij [kM+k gksA chek dEiuh dh vksj ls bl lk{kh dks ;g lq>ko rd ugha fn;k x;k gS fd erd ik;nku ij [kM+k Fkk vkSj mldh Hkh ;ksxnk;h mis{kk nq?kZVuk esa jgh gksA vU; lk{kh t;iky ,0M02 ijhf{kr gqvk gS] ftlus Hkh Li"Vr% ;g dFku fd;k gS fd erd cyohj thi esa ihNs lhV ij cSBk Fkk vkSj bl lk{kh ls Hkh dksbZ iz'u chek dEiuh dh vksj ls ,slk ugha fd;k x;k gS rFkk lq>ko Hkh ugha fn;k x;k gS fd erd thi ds ik;nku ij [kM+k gksA chek dEiuh dh vksj ls Hkh ,slh dksbZ lk{; is'k ugha dh xbZ gS] ftlls izdV gksrk gks fd erd thi ds ik;nku ij [kM+k gks ,oa bl dkj.k VDdj yxus ls mls pksVsa vkbZa gksaA

¶26

,slh fLFkfr esa izdj.k esa ,slh dksbZ lk{; ugha gS ftlls ;g izdV gksrk gks fd erd nq?kZVukxzLr thi ds ik;nku ij [kM+k Fkk vkSj rc Vªd }kjk VDdj ekjus ds dkj.k mls vkbZ pksVksa ds dkj.k eR;q dkfjr gqbZ gksA ,slh fLFkfr esa e`rd dh fdlh izdkj dh ;ksxnk;h mis{kk nq?kZVuk esa izekf.kr ugha gS] vr% fo}ku vf/koDrk vihykFkhZ@chek dEiuh dk mDr rdZ Lohdkjs tkus ;ksX; ugha gSA

¶27

chek dEiuh ds fo}ku vf/koDrk dk nwljk rdZ ;g gS fd fo}ku vf/kdj.k us {kfriwfrZ dh jkf'k r; dh gS mls r; djus ds fy, tks fof/k fl)kUr gSa] mlds vuq:i ugha dh gSA mudk rdZ gS fd e`rd dh mez Hkh xyr fu/kkZfjr djds xyr xq.kd dk iz;ksx fd;k x;k gSA

¶28

geus bl rdZ ij euu fd;kA erd dh mez ds lEcU/k esa mldh nloha d{kk dh vadrkfydk U;k;ky; izn'kZ&1 iznf'kZr gqbZ gS] ftlesa erd dh tUefrfFk 01-12-1962 vafdr gSA nq?kZVuk fnukad 09-01-2011 dks gqbZ gS vkSj mlds

¶29

(4 of 5) [CMA-1324/2014]

¶30

vuqlkj nq?kZVuk dh fnukad dks erd dh mez 48 o"kZ gksrh gS rFkk fo}ku vf/kdj.k us Hkh erd dh vk;q 48 o"kZ ekudj 13 dk xq.kd iz;qDr fd;k gSA ,slh fLFkfr esa ;g ugha dgk tk ldrk gS fd vf/kdj.k us fcuk fdlh vk/kkj ds e`rd dh mez r; dh gksA mYys[kuh; gS fd ekuuh; mPpre U;k;ky; us vius U;kf;d fofu'p; National Insurance Co. Ltd. Vs. Pranay Sethi & Ors. (2017) 16 SCC 680 esa 48 o"kZ dh mez ds fy, 13 dk xq.kd iz;ksx djus dk gh fl)kUr izfrikfnr fd;k gSA ,slh fLFkfr esa fo}ku vf/kdj.k dk mDr rdZ Hkh Lohdkjs tkus ;ksX; ugha gSA

¶31

fo}ku vf/koDrk vihykFkhZ@chek dEiuh dk ,d rdZ ;g Hkh gS fd e`rd dh iq=h ds }kjk vuqdEikRed lsok izkIr dh tk pqdh gS ftlls mls izkIr gksus okyk osru vk; dh {kfr dh {kfriwfrZ jkf'k esa ls de fd;k tkuk vko';d gSA

¶32

geus bl rdZ ij euu fd;kA fof/k dk ;g lqLFkkfir fl)kUr gS fd erd ds LFkku ij fdlh vkfJr dks vuqdEik fu;qfDr fey tkus ek= ls gh mldh eR;q ls gqbZ vk; dh {kfr dh HkjikbZ@{kfriwfrZ ugha gks ldrh gS] D;ksafd ;fn vkfJr dks e`rd ds LFkku ij vuqdEik fu;qfDr izkIr ugha gksrh] rks mlds vU; fdlh Lkzksr ls vk; vtZu djus dh iw.kZ lEHkkouk jgrhA

¶33

ekuuh; mPpre U;k;ky; us U;kf;d fofu'p; Sebastiani Lakra vs. National Insurance Comp. Ltd. Civil Appeal Nos. 10588-89/2018 D/d 12.10.2018 esa ;g fu.khZr fd;k gS fd&

¶34

"12. The law is well settled that deductions cannot be allowed from the amount of compensation either on account of insurance, or on account of pensionary benefits or gratuity or grant of employment to a kin of the deceased. The main reason is that all these amounts are earned by the deceased on account of contractual relations entered into by him with others. It cannot be said that these amounts accrued to the dependents or the legal heirs of the deceased on account of his death in a motor vehicle accident. The claimants/dependents are entitled to ‘just compensation’ under the Motor Vehicles Act as a result of the death of the deceased in a motor vehicle accident. Therefore, the natural corollary is that the advantage which accrues to the estate of the

¶35

(5 of 5) [CMA-1324/2014]

¶36

deceased or to his dependents as a result of some contract or act which the deceased performed in his life time cannot be said to be the outcome or result of the death of the deceased even though these amounts may go into the hands of the dependents only after his death."

¶37

;gh fl)kUr ekuuh; mPpre U;k;ky; us U;kf;d fofu'p; 1. Vimal Kanwar vs. Kishore Dan Civil Appeal No. 5513/2012 D/d 03.05.2013 o 2. National Insurance Co. Ltd. vs. Rekhaben Civil Appeal No. 8867/2012 D/d 07.03.2017 esa Hkh izfrikfnr fd;k gSA

¶38

vr% ,slh fLFkfr esa mi;qZDr U;kf;d fofu'p;ksa dh jks'kuh esa erd dh iq=h dks vuqdEik fu;qfDr ls izkIr gksus okys ekfld osru dks erd dh ekfld vk; esa ls de djrs gq, {kfriwfrZ jkf'k dk fu/kkZj.k fd, tkus gsrq izLrqr rdZ Lohdkj fd, tkus ;ksX; ugha gSA

¶39

vU; dksbZ rdZ chek dEiuh dh vksj ls izLrqr ugha fd;k x;k gSA

¶40

vr% fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk lk{; dk ewY;kadu djrs gq, erd dh eR;q ls gqbZ {kfr dh {kfriwfrZ dk fu/kkZj.k fd, tkus lEcU/kh fu"d"kZ gekjs fopkj ls mfpr gS] ftlesa fdlh izdkj dh dksbZ fof/kd =qfV ugha gksus ls mlesa gLr{ksi dk dksbZ vk/kkj ugha gSA

¶41

mi;qZDr foospukuqlkj vihykFkhZ@chek dEiuh dh vksj ls izLrqr vihy Lohdkj fd, tkus ;ksX; ugha gS] fujLruh; gS] vr% fujLr dh tkrh gSA LFkxu ,oa vU; dksbZ izkFkZuk&i= ;fn yfEcr gksa rks os Hkh mDrkuqlkj fuLrkfjr fd, tkrs gSaA

¶42

(SHUBHA MEHTA),J

¶43

AJAY KUMAR SINGHAL/16

National Insurance Co. Ltd. v. Smt Saroj Devi and Others

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

National Insurance Co. Ltd. v. Smt Saroj Devi and Others

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

What the court decided

A compact analysis

Issues for consideration

Cases cited

Statutes considered

Parties & counsel

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