Partly allowed

Shriram General Insurance Co. Ltd. v. Smt Krishna Devi and Others

Rajasthan HC11 Oct 2023CMA/1385/2014

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

This High Court order in connected civil miscellaneous appeals held that the insurance company and the lower court were wrong to deny compensation. The vehicle stopped beyond the 'first hour' due to the accident. The driver was absent and an arbitrator also found him absent. The court ruled that in such circumstances, the subsidiary driver cannot be held liable for negligence, making the claim enf

What did the court decide?

S.B. Civil Miscellaneous Appeal No. 1385/2014 set aside and dismissed; S.B. Civil Miscellaneous Appeal No. 1620/2014 set aside.

Shriram General Insurance Co. Ltd. Vs Smt Krishna Devi and Others — Insurance | Rajasthan HC (2023)

¶1

[2023:RJ-JP:32935]

¶2

HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN BENCH AT JAIPUR

¶3

S.B. Civil Miscellaneous Appeal No. 1385/2014

¶4

Shriram General Insurance Company, Alwar, Having Its Head Office E-8, RIICO Industrial Area, Sitapura, Jaipur Through Its Constituted Attorney.

¶5

----Appellant

¶6

Versus

¶7

Smt. Krishna Devi W/o Late Shri Omprakash, Aged About 41 Years, R/o Kishore Ki Kothi, Tan Duhar, Chaugan, Teh. Thanagazi, Distt. Alwar.

¶8

Dimpal D/o Late Shri Omprakash, Aged About 12 Years, R/o Kishore Ki Kothi, Tan Duhar, Chaugan, Teh. Thanagazi, Distt. Alwar.

¶9

Mamta D/o Late Shri Omprakash, Aged About 10 Years, R/o Kishore Ki Kothi, Tan Duhar, Chaugan, Teh. Thanagazi, Distt. Alwar.

¶10

Hemlata D/o Late Shri Omprakash, Aged About 8 Years, R/o Kishore Ki Kothi, Tan Duhar, Chaugan, Teh. Thanagazi, Distt. Alwar.

¶11

Yunti D/o Late Shri Omprakash, Aged About 6 Years, R/o Kishore Ki Kothi, Tan Duhar, Chaugan, Teh. Thanagazi, Distt. Alwar.

¶12

Payal D/o Late Shri Omprakash, Aged About 4 Years, R/o Kishore Ki Kothi, Tan Duhar, Chaugan, Teh. Thanagazi, Distt. Alwar.

¶13

Smt. Parvati Devi W/o Girraj Prasad Sharma, Aged About 62 Years, R/o Kishore Ki Kothi, Tan Duhar, Chaugan, Teh. Thanagazi, Distt. Alwar.

¶14

Girraj S/o Durgaprasad, Aged About 64 Years, ClaimantsRespondents No. 2 to 6 Are Being Minor Through Their Natural Guardian And Mother Smt. Krishna Devi W/o Late Shri Omprakash, R/o Kishore Ki Kothi, Tan Duhar, Chaugan, Teh. Thanagazi, Distt. Alwar.

¶15

----Claimants-Respondents

¶16

Ramesh Kumar Jat S/o Shri Surja Ram Jat, R/o Dhani Nadala, Tan Bhankari, Teh. Kotputli, Distt. Jaipur (Driver of Vehicle No. HR-35-D-5600)

¶17

Rajesh Kumar S/o Shri Mahaveer Prasad, R/o Budhwal, Teh. Narnaul, Distt. Mahendragarh, Hariyana (Owner of Vehile No. HR-35-D-5600)

(2 of 8)

[2023:RJ-JP:32935]

[CMA-1385/2014]

Ramjilal S/o Mahadev, R/o Bhankari, Teh. Kotputli, Distt. Jaipur (Power of Attorney Holder of Vehicle No. HR-35-D5600)

¶22

----Non-Claimants-Respondents

¶23

Connected With

¶24

S.B. Civil Miscellaneous Appeal No. 1620/2014

¶25

Krishna Devi W/o Late Omprakash, Aged About 41 Years, R/o Kishore Ki Kothi, Tan Duhar, Chogan, Tehsil Thanagazi, District Alwar.

¶26

Dimpal D/o Late Omprakash, Aged About 12 Years, R/o Kishore Ki Kothi, Tan Duhar, Chogan, Tehsil Thanagazi, District Alwar.

¶27

Mamta D/o Late Omprakash, Aged About 10 Years, R/o Kishore Ki Kothi, Tan Duhar, Chogan, Tehsil Thanagazi, District Alwar.

¶28

Hemlata D/o Late Omprakash, Aged About 8 Years, R/o Kishore Ki Kothi, Tan Duhar, Chaugan, Tehsil Thanagazi, District Alwar.

¶29

Yunti D/o Late Omprakash, Aged About 6 Years, R/o Kishore Ki Kothi, Tan Duhar, Chaugan, Tehsil Thanagazi, District Alwar.

¶30

Payal D/o Late Omprakash, Aged About 5 Years, R/o Kishore Ki Kothi, Tan Duhar, Chaugan, Tehsil Thanagazi, District Alwar.

¶31

Smt. Parwati Devi W/o Girraj Prasad Sharma, Aged About 62 Years, R/o Kishore Ki Kothi, Tan Duhar, Chaugan, Tehsil Thanagazi, District Alwar.

¶32

Girraj S/o Durgaprasad, Aged About 64 Years, ClaimantsRespondents No. 2 to 6 Are Being Minor Through Their Natural Guardian And Mother Smt. Krishna Devi W/o Late Shri Omprakash, R/o Kishore Ki Kothi, Tan Duhar, Chaugan, Teh. Thanagazi, Distt. Alwar.

¶33

----Claimants-Appellants

¶34

Versus

¶35

1. Ramesh Kumar Jat S/o Surja Ram Jat, R/o Dhani Nadala, Tan Bhankari, Tehsil Kotputli, District Jaipur (Driver)

¶36

Rajesh Kumar S/o Mahaveer Prasad, R/o Budwal, Tehsil

(3 of 8)

[2023:RJ-JP:32935]

[CMA-1385/2014]

Narnaul, District Mahendragarh, Hariyana (Owner)

¶41

1. Ramjilal S/o Mahadev, R/o Bhankari, Tehsil Kotputli, District Jaipur (Power of Attorney Holder)

¶42

Shriram General Insurance Company Limited, Having Its Regional Office At E-8, EPIP RIICO Industrial Area, Sitapura, Jaipur Through Its Regional Manager. (Insurance Company)

¶43

----Non-Claimant-Respondents

¶44

For Appellant(s) : Mr. Virendra Agarwal (for Insurance Company) (In S.B.C.M.A. No. 1385/2014)

¶45

For Respondent(s) : Mr. Vinay Mathur (In S.B.C.M.A. No. 1385/2014)

¶46

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ASHUTOSH KUMAR

¶47

Order

¶48

11/10/2023

¶49

1- vihykFkhZ@chek daiuh dh vksj ls izLrqr vihy la[;k&1385@2014 ,oa DysesaVl@jsLiksaMsaVl dh vksj ls izLrqr vihy la[;k&1620@2014] nksuksa nhokuh fofo/k vihysa /kkjk&173 eksVj okgu vf/kfu;e&1988 ds rgr U;k;ky; eksVj nq?kZVuk okn U;k;kf/kdj.k 'kkgiqjk] ftyk t;iqj ¼ftls vkxs ^vf/kdj.k* ds uke ls lacksf/kr fd;k tk,xk½ }kjk Dyse ;kfpdk la[;k&267@2012] Jherh Ñ".kk nsoh o vU; cuke jes'k dqekj o vU; esa ikfjr fu.kZ; fnukad 21-03-2014 ¼ftls vkxs vk{ksfir fu.kZ; ds uke ls lacksf/kr fd;k tk,xk½ ds fo#) izLrqr dh xbZ gSA ftudk fuLrkj.k lqfo/kk dh n`f"V ls bl ,d fu.kZ; ds }kjk fd;k tk jgk gSA

¶50

2- DysesaVl@jsLiksaMsaVl }kjk vf/kdj.k ds le{k] vkseizdk'k dh eksVj okgu nq?kZVuk esa e`R;q gks tkus ds QyLo:i dqy 77]90]000@& #i;s Dyse izkIr djus gsrq Dyse ;kfpdk izLrqr dh x;h FkhA vf/kdj.k }kjk mDr Dyse ;kfpdk esa ;kphx.k dks dqy 9]91]000@& #i;s dh {kfriwfrZ jkf’k e; C;kt

[2023:RJ-JP:32935]

[CMA-1385/2014]

(4 of 8)

7 izfr’kr lkykuk dh nj ls fnyokbZ x;h gSA ftl vkns’k dks fujLr djus gsrq vihykFkhZ@chek daiuh dh vksj ls vihy la[;k&1385@2014 izLrqr dh x;h gS rFkk DysesaVl@jsLiksaMsaVl }kjk fo}ku vf/kdj.k ds mDr vkns’k ls O;fFkr gksdj vihy la[;k&1620@2014 fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk ikfjr {kfriwfrZ jkf’k esa c<+ksrjh fd;s tkus gsrq izLrqr dh x;h gSA

¶55

3- vihy la[;k&1620@2014 DysesaVl@jsLiksaMsaVl dh vksj ls {kfriwfrZ jkf'k esa c<+ksrjh fd;s tkus gsrq izLrqr dh x;h gSA fdUrq cgl ds nkSjku fo}ku vf/koDrk DysesaVl@jsLiksaMsaVl dh vksj ls O;Dr fd;k x;k fd os mudh vksj ls izLrqr vihy dks izR;kgr ¼Withdraw½ djuk pkgrs gSaA DysesaV~l@jsLiksaMsaV~l dks mDr vihy izR;kgr ¼Withdraw½ djus dh vuqefr nh tkrh gS rFkk izR;kgj.k ¼Withdraw½ ds vk/kkj ij DysesaVl@jsLiksaMsaVl dh vksj ls lafLFkr ;g vihy fujLr fd;s tkus ;ksX; gksus ds dkj.k fujLr dh tkrh gSA

¶56

4- nkSjkus cgl vihykFkhZ@chek dEiuh ds fo}ku vf/koDrk dk rdZ jgk gS fd ekeys dh ?kVuk esa izFke lwpuk fjiksVZ 8 fnu ds foyEc ls ntZ djokbZ xbZ gSA fo}ku vf/koDrk vihykFkhZ@chek dEiuh dk ;g Hkh rdZ jgk gS fd ekeys dh ?kVuk dks lkfcr fd;s tkus gsrq fdlh p{kqn'khZ lk{kh dks vf/kdj.k ds le{k ijhf{kr ugha djok;k x;k gSA fo}ku vf/koDrk vihykFkhZ@chek dEiuh dk ,d rdZ ;g Hkh jgk gS fd iz'uxr okgu ls dksbZ nq?kZVuk dkfjr ugha gqbZ gS] dsoyek= Dyse izkIr djus gsrq iz'uxr okgu dks izdj.k esa feF;k vkfyIr fd;k x;k gSA ,slh fLFkfr esa chek dEiuh bl ekeys esa nq?kZVuk ds QyLo:i {kfriwfrZ jkf'k dh vnk;xh gsrq ftEesnkj ugha gSA fo}ku vf/koDrk vihykFkhZ@chek dEiuh dk ,d rdZ ;g Hkh jgk fd bl ekeys esa vf/kdj.k }kjk {kfriwfrZ jkf'k vR;f/kd c<+&p<+dj fnyokbZ x;h gS rFkk xq.kd Hkh vf/kd yxk fn;k x;k gS rFkk erd dh fu/kkZfjr vk; esa 30 izfr'kr dh Hkfo";&of) dh tkdj =qfV dkfjr dh xbZ gSA ,slh fLFkfr esa vihykFkhZ@chek dEiuh dh vksj ls lafLFkr vihy dks

[2023:RJ-JP:32935]

[CMA-1385/2014]

(5 of 8)

Lohdkj fd;k tkdj vf/kdj.k }kjk ikfjr fu.kZ; o vokMZ dks vikLr fd;s tkus dh izkFkZuk dh x;hA

¶61

5- blds foijhr fo}ku vf/koDrk DysesaVl@jsLiksaMsaVl }kjk vihykFkhZ@chek dEiuh ds mijksDr rdksZa dk fojks/k fd;k x;k rFkk vf/kdj.k }kjk ikfjr fd;s x;s fu.kZ; dh iqf"V fd;s tkus rFkk chek dEiuh dh vksj ls lafLFkr vihy dks [kkfjt fd;s tkus dh izkFkZuk dh xbZA

¶62

6- nksuksa i{kksa dh cgl lquh x;hA vihy i=kofy;ksa o vf/kdj.k ds vfHkys[k dk voyksdu fd;k x;kA 7- i=koyh ds voyksdu ls izdV gksrk gS fd ekeys dh ?kVuk ds vuqlkj erd vkseizdk'k fnukad 04-08-2012 dks lka; djhc vkB cts Hkaojyky ds lkFk eksVjlkbZfdy ij cSBdj tk jgs Fks fd [kkrksykbZ ds ikl is'kkc djus ds fy, :d x;sA is'kkc djds erd vkseizdk'k T;ksa gh eksVjlkbZfdy ds ikl vkus yxk rks t;iqj dh rjQ ls ,d ek:fr oSxuvkj okgu uEcj ,pvkj&35&Mh&5600 rsth ls vkbZ vkSj vkseizdk'k ds VDdj ekjdj] ftlls nkSjkus bykt vkseizdk'k dh e`R;q gks x;hA

¶63

8- tgka rd fo}ku vf/koDrk chek dEiuh dh vksj ls yh xbZ ;g vkifŸk fd ekeys dh ?kVuk esa izFke lwpuk fjiksVZ vkB fnu ds foyEc ls ntZ djokbZ xbZ gS rks bl laca/k esa izFke lwpuk fjiksVZ izn'kZ&3 esa iz'uxr okgu pkyd dh xyrh ls nq?kZVuk dkfjr gksuk vafdr fd;k x;k gS rFkk e`rd ds bykt o fØ;kdeZ esa O;Lr gksus ds dkj.k nsjh ls izFke lwpuk fjiksVZ ntZ djok;k tkuk vafdr fd;k x;k gSA ,slh fLFkfr esa ekeys dh nq?kZVuk dks lafnX/k ugha ekuk tk ldrk rFkk ekeys dh ?kVuk esa izFke lwpuk fjiksVZ foyEc ls ntZ djok;s tkus ds rF; dks fdlh Hkh izdkj ls Dyse ;kfpdk ds fy, ?kkrd ugha ekuk tk ldrkA vr% bl laca/k esa vihykFkhZ@chek dEiuh dh vksj ls izFke lwpuk fjiksVZ foyEc ls ntZ djok;s tkus dk tks rdZ fn;k x;k gS] og mijksDr foospu ds vuqlkj ekus tkus ;ksx; ugha gSA

[2023:RJ-JP:32935]

[CMA-1385/2014]

(6 of 8)

9- tgka rd fo}ku vf/koDrk chek dEiuh dh vksj ls yh xbZ vU; vkifŸk fd izdj.k esa iz'uxr okgu ls dksbZ nq?kZVuk dkfjr ugha gqbZ rFkk iz'uxr okgu dks ekeys dh ?kVuk esa >waBk fyIr fd;k x;k gS rks bl laca/k esa fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk ;g fu"d"kZ fudkyk x;k gS fd ekeys dh ?kVuk ds p'enhn xokg Hkaojyky }kjk ;g Li"V rkSj ij dFku fd;k x;k gS fd ?kVuk iz'uxr okgu dks mis{kk o ykijokgh ls pykus ds dkj.k ?kfVr gqbZ gSA vuqla/kku vf/kdkjh }kjk ?kVuk ds laca/k esa uD'kkekSdk izn'kZ&4 cuk;k x;k gSA ftlesa ,Dl LFkku ij nq?kZVuk dkfjr gksuk vafdr fd;k x;k gSA ekeys ds vuqla/kku vf/kdkjh }kjk iz'uxr okgu ek:fr dkj dks tfj;s QnZ izn'kZ&7 ds tCr fd;k x;k gS rFkk iz'uxr okgu ds ekfyd jkethyky dks izn'kZ&8 /kkjk 133 eksVj;ku vf/kfu;e dk uksfVl fn;k x;k gSA ftlds tokc esa jkethyky }kjk Li"V :i ls ;g vafdr fd;k x;k gS fd iz'uxr okgu dks oDr ?kVuk jes'k dqekj pyk jgk FkkA blh izdkj vuqla/kku vf/kdkjh }kjk iz'uxr okgu pkyd jes'k dqekj dks izn'kZ&9 /kkjk 134 eksVj;ku vf/kfu;e dk uksfVl fn;k x;k gSA ftlds tokc esa Lo;a pkyd jes'k dqekj }kjk ;g Li"V :i ls vafdr fd;k x;k gS fd oDr ?kVuk iz'uxr okgu dks og Lo;a pyk jgk FkkA bu ifjfLFkfr;ksa esa fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk ;g ekuk x;k gS fd rFkkdfFkr ekeys esa iz'uxr okgu ds pkyd }kjk iz'uxr okgu dks mis{kk o ykijokgh iwoZd pykdj gLrxr nq?kZVuk dkfjr dh] ftlds ifj.kkeLo:i vkseizdk'k dh e`R;q dkfjr gqbZA fo}ku vf/kdj.k ds mDr fu"d"kZ esa ge dksbZ gLr{ksi fd;k tkuk mfpr ugha le>rs gSaA vr% vihykFkhZ@chek dEiuh dh vksj ls iz'uxr okgu dks ekeys esa >waBk fyIr fd;s tkus rFkk iz'uxr okgu ls dksbZ nq?kZVuk ?kfVr ugha gksus dk tks rdZ fy;k x;k gS] og mijksDr foospu ds vuqlkj ekus tkus ;ksX; ugha gSA vr% bl laca/k esa fo}ku vf/koDrk chek dEiuh dh vksj ls yh xbZ vkifŸk fujLr dh tkrh gSA

¶68

10tgka rd vf/kdj.k }kjk Dyse a sVl@jsLiksaMsaVl dks {kfriwfrZ jkf'k vf/kd fnyok;s tkus vFkok xyr xq.kd yxk;s tkus dk iz'u gS rks bl

[2023:RJ-JP:32935]

[CMA-1385/2014]

(7 of 8)

laca/k esa bl U;k;ky; dk ekuuk gS fd oDr ?kVuk erd vkseizdk'k dks eksckbZy dh nqdku djuk crkrs gq, izfrekg 15]000@& #i;s dh vk; vftZr djuk crk;k x;k gSA fdUrq erd dh vk; ds laca/k esa dksbZ Bksl lk{; DysesaVl@jsLiksaMsaVl dh vksj ls vf/kdj.k ds le{k izLrqr ugha dh xbZ gSA bu ifjfLFkfr;ksa esa fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk erd ds dk;Z dh izÑfr dks nf"Vxr j[krs gq, rRle; izpfyr U;wure etnwjh ds vk/kkj ij mldh vk; 5]000@& #i;s izfrekg fu/kkZfjr dj erd dh vk; esa 30 izfr'kr dh Hkfo";&of) djrs gq, rFkk erd ds O;fDrxr [kpZ dh dVkSrh ds en esa 1@4 Hkkx dh dVkSrh dj] erd vkseizdk'k dks 35 o"kZ ls vf/kd vk;q dk gksuk ekurs gq, us'kuy ba';ksjsal dEiuh fyfeVsM cuke iz.k; lsBh o vU;% ¼2017½ 16 ,l-lh-lh- 680 o ljyk oekZ o vU; cuke nsgyh VªkaliksVZ dkWiksZjs'ku o vU;% ¼2009½ 6 ,l-lh-lh- 121 okys U;kf;d n"Vkar ds vuqlkj erd dks 35 ls 40 o"kZ ds vk;q oxZ esa j[kk tkdj 16 dk xq.kd iz;ksx djrs gq, {kfriwfrZ fu/kkZfjr dh x;h gSA ftls ge fdl izdkj ls vf/kd gksuk ugha ikrs gSaA

¶73

11bl izdkj fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk bl ekeys esa DysesaVl@jsLiksaMsaVl dks tks {kfriwfrZ jkf'k fnyokbZ x;h gS] mls fdlh Hkh izdkj ls vR;f/kd ugha ekuk tk ldrk gSA vr% {kfriwfrZ dh jkf'k ds laca/k esa Hkh chek dEiuh dh vksj ls mBkbZ x;h vkifŸk fujLr fd;s tkus ;ksX; gSA 12vr% mijksDr foospu vuqlkj vihykFkhZ@chek dEiuh dh vksj ls izLrqr vihy la[;k&1385@2014 cyghu o lkjghu gksus ds dkj.k rFkk mlesa fy;s x;s vk{ksi Lohdkj fd;s tkus ;ksX; ugha gksus ds dkj.k vLohdkj dj [kkfjt dh tkrh gS rFkk DysesaVl@jsLiksaMsaVl dh vksj ls izLrqr vihy la[;k&1620@2014 izR;kgj.k ¼Withdraw½ ds vk/kkj ij fujLr dh tkrh gSA

¶74

13vkns’k dh izfr ds lkFk izdj.k dk vfHkys[k lacaf/kr vf/kdj.k dks ykSVk;k tkosA

¶75

14rn~uqlkj ;g vihysa fuLrkfjr dh tkrh gSA

(8 of 8)

[2023:RJ-JP:32935]

[CMA-1385/2014]

15lHkh yfEcr izkFkZuk&i=ksa dks Hkh mijksDrkuqlkj fuLrkfjr fd;k tkrk

¶80

gSA

¶81

(ASHUTOSH KUMAR),J

¶82

LOKESH RAJ /52-53

Shriram General Insurance Co. Ltd. v. Smt Krishna Devi and Others

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Shriram General Insurance Co. Ltd. v. Smt Krishna Devi and Others

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

Kalu Singh Vs Naina Devi

Smt. Ganga and Ors. Vs Bhola Ram and Others

Suresh Kumar Vs Santosh Bai and Ors.

Deependra Singh Rathore Vs Shiv Lal and Ors.

Prem and Ors. Vs Islam and Ors.

Brij Mohan and Ors. Vs Raj Kiran and Ors.