Allowed

R S R T C Thr Chief Manager v. Smt Sharda Devi and Ors.

Rajasthan HC13 Oct 2023CMA/2933/2017

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

The High Court quashed a low compensatory award by a District Court in a motor accident claim involving minor victims. It held the liable driver escaped responsibility, the compensation violated statutory limits for minors and pregnant women, and reduced amounts were illegal.

What did the court decide?

Impugned order awarding compensation quashed; appeal allowed to refer matter for reconsideration in accordance with law.

R S R T C Thr Chief Manager Vs Smt Sharda Devi and… — Motor Accident Claims | Rajasthan HC (2023)

¶1

[2023:RJ-JP:41398]

¶2

HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN BENCH AT JAIPUR

¶3

S.B. Civil Miscellaneous Appeal No. 2933/2017

¶4

Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation, Through Chief Manager, Beawar Depot, Beawar (Raj.) (Owner of Bus)

¶5

----Appellant-Non Claimant

¶6

Versus

¶7

Smt. Sharda Devi W/o Late Shri Ugam Singh, Aged About 33 Years, R/o Vill. Godata Ka Badiya, Post Borwa, Tehsil Bheem, District Rajsamand (Raj.)

¶8

Master Suresh Singh S/o Late Shri Ugam Singh, Aged About 17 Years, R/o Vill. Godata Ka Badiya, Post Borwa, Tehsil Bheem, District Rajsamand (Raj.)

¶9

Kumari Komal D/o Late Shri Ugam Singh, Aged About 14 Years, R/o Vill. Godata Ka Badiya, Post Borwa, Tehsil Bheem, District Rajsamand (Raj.)

¶10

Kumari Kavita D/o Late Shri Ugam Singh, Aged About 12 Years, R/o Vill. Godata Ka Badiya, Post Borwa, Tehsil Bheem, District Rajsamand (Raj.)

¶11

Smt. Amri Devi W/o Late Beeramsingh, Aged About 53 Years, R/o Vill. Godata Ka Badiya, Post Borwa, Tehsil Bheem, District Rajsamand (Raj.) (Claimants-Respondents No. 2 to 4 Being Minor Through Natural Guardian & Mother Smt. Sharda Devi)

¶12

----Claimants-Respondents

¶13

Raghuveer Singh S/o Shri Karan Singh, R/o Govindi Marwar, Police Station Natwa, District Nagaur (Raj.) (Driver of Roadways Bus No. RJ-36-PA-1917)

¶14

----Non-Claimant-Respondent

¶15

For Appellant(s) : Mr. Virendra Agarwal for Mr. Surendra Meel For Respondent(s) : Mr. Prashant Sharm on behalf of Mr. J.P. Gupta

(2 of 7)

[2023:RJ-JP:41398]

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HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ASHUTOSH KUMAR

¶20

Order

¶21

13/10/2023

¶22

1- vihykFkhZ vkj-,l-vkj-Vh-lhdh vksj ls izLrqr vihy la[;k&2933@2017] /kkjk&173 eksVj okgu vf/kfu;e&1988 ds rgr U;k;ky; eksVj;ku nq?kZVuk nkok vf/kdj.k] ¼vij ftyk ,oa ls'ku U;k;k/kh'k la[;k&3½ C;koj ¼ftls vkxs ^vf/kdj.k* ds uke ls lacksf/kr fd;k tk,xk½ }kjk Dyse ;kfpdk la[;k&112@2016] Jherh 'kkjnk nsoh o vU; cuke j?kqohj flag o vU; esa ikfjr fu.kZ; fnukad 28-02-2017 ¼ftls vkxs vk{ksfir fu.kZ; ds uke ls lacksf/kr fd;k tk,xk½ ds fo#) izLrqr dh xbZ gSA

¶23

2- nkokdrkZ@jsLiksaMsaV~l ¼ftUgsa vkxs nkokdrkZx.k ds uke ls lacksf/kr fd;k tk,xk½ }kjk vf/kdj.k ds le{k] mxeflag dh eksVj okgu nq?kZVuk esa e`R;q gks tkus ds QyLo:i dqy 1]29]05]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 11]53]400@& #i;s dh {kfriwfrZ jkf’k e; C;kt 6 izfr’kr lkykuk dh nj ls fnyokbZ x;h gSA vf/kdj.k ds mDr vk{ksfir fu.kZ; dks fujLr djokus gsrq vkj-,l-vkj-Vh-lh- dh vksj ls ;g vihy bl U;k;ky; ds le{k izLrqr dh x;h gSA

¶24

3- nkSjkus cgl fo}ku vf/koDrk vkj-,l-vkj-Vh-lh- dk rdZ jgk gS fd vf/kdj.k }kjk nLrkosth lk{; ds vHkko esa erd dh ekfld vk; 4]900@& #i;s fu/kkZfjr dh tkdj xaHkhj =qfV dkfjr dh gSA fo}ku vf/koDrk vkj-,l-vkj-Vh-lh- dk ,d rdZ ;g Hkh jgk gS fd vf/kdj.k }kjk erd dh fu/kkZfjr vk; esa 50 izfr'kr dh Hkfo";&o`+f) dj xaHkhj =qfV dkfjr dh gS] ftls la'kksf/kr fd;k tkdj de fd;k tkosA fo}ku vf/koDrk vkj-,l-vkj-Vh-lh- dk ,d rdZ ;g Hkh jgk gS fd vf/kdj.k us dalksfVZ;e dh en esa rFkk vU; enksa esa Hkh vR;f/kd jkf'k fnyokbZ xbZ gS tks =qfViw.kZ gSA fo}ku vf/koDrk vkj-,l-vkj-Vh-lh- dh vksj ls ,d rdZ ;g Hkh fy;k

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[CMA-2933/2017]

(3 of 7)

x;k gS fd gLrxr ekeys esa Lo;a e`rd ;ksxnk;h mis{kk dk nks"kh jgk gS] bl dkj.k nkokdrkZx.k dksbZ {kfriwfrZ jkf'k izkIr djus ds vf/kdkjh ugha gSA vr% mijksDr vk/kkjksa ij fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk ikfjr fu.kZ; dks =qfViw.kZ gksuk crkrs gq, vf/kdj.k ds fu.kZ; dks fujLr fd;s tkus dh izkFkZuk dh x;hA

¶29

4- blds foijhr fo}ku vf/koDrk nkokdrkZx.k }kjk vkj-,l-vkj-Vh-lhds mijksDr rdksZa dk fojks/k djrs gq, vf/kdj.k }kjk fu/kkZfjr fd;s x;s ;ksxnk;h mis{kk ds fcUnq dks fujLr fd;s tkus rFkk vU; fcUnqvksa dh dh gn rd vk{ksfir fu.kZ; dh iqf"V fd;s tkus dk rdZ fn;kA vr% mijksDr vk/kkjksa ij fo}ku vf/koDrk vkj-,l-vkj-Vh-lh- dh vihy dks [kkfjt fd;s tkus dh izkFkZuk dh xbZA

¶30

5- nksuksa i{kksa dh cgl lquh x;hA vihy i=koyh o vf/kdj.k ds vfHkys[k dk voyksdu fd;k x;kA 6- vihykFkhZ@vkj-,l-vkj-Vh-lh- dh vksj ls lafLFkr dh x;h vihy vf/kdj.k }kjk ikfjr vk{ksfir fu.kZ; dks fujLr djok;s tkus gsrq izLrqr dh x;h gSA nkokdrkZx.k dh vksj ls vf/kdj.k ds fu.kZ; ds fo#) dksbZ vihy lafLFkr ugha dh xbZ gSA

¶31

7- fo}ku vf/koDrk vkj-,l-vkj-Vh-lh- dh vksj ls yh x;h ;g vkifŸk fd gLrxr ekeys esa erd Lo;a ;ksxnk;h mis{kk dk nks"kh jgk gS] ftlus oDr ?kVuk 'kjkc ih j[kh Fkh rFkk Lo;a erd us jksMost cl esa ihNs ls VDdj ekjh gSA bl laca/k esa xokg ,u-,-MCY;w&1 j?kqohj flag tks fd iz'uxr okgu dk pkyd gS] ds c;ku vf/kdj.k ds le{k ys[kc) djok;s x;s gSaA ftlus vius c;kuksa esa ;g dFku fd;k gS fd mlus e`rd ds u'ks esa /kqr gksus dh f'kdk;r dh Fkh ij MkWDVjksa us xkao okyksa ds ncko esa tkap ugha dhA dkSu ls MkWDVj dks 'kjkc dh fjiksVZ fy[kus ckcr~ crk;k] xokg dks irk ugha gSA bl xokg ds dFkuksa ij fopkj djrs gq, vf/kdj.k }kjk fu.kZ; fn;k x;k gS fd iqfyl }kjk r¶rh'k djus ds mijkar iz'uxr okgu pkyd ds fo#) vkjksi&i= U;k;ky; esa is'k fd;k x;k gS] ftlds fo#)

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[CMA-2933/2017]

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okgu pkyd us dksbZ vkifŸk izLrqr ugha dh gSA tgka rd oDr ?kVuk erd 'kjkc ihdj okgu dks pyk jgk Fkk rks ,slh dksbZ lk{; Hkh i=koyh ij ugha vkbZ gS] ftlls fd ;g lkfcr gksrk gks fd oDr ?kVuk erd us 'kjkc ih j[kh FkhA dsoyek= iz'uxr okgu pkyd ds c;kuksa ds vk/kkj ij ;g ugha ekuk tk ldrk gS fd oDr ?kVuk erd 'kjkc ds u'ks esa /kqr Fkk rFkk mldh xyrh ds dkj.k nq?kZVuk ?kfVr gqbZ gSA lkFk gh iz'uxr okgu dh eSdsfud eqvk;uk fjiksVZ izn'kZ&8 i=koyh ij layXu gSA ftlds voyksdu ls Hkh ;g izdV gksrk gS fd iz'uxr okgu {kfrxzLr gqvk gS] ftlds jkbZV lkbZM dh gsMykbZV QwVh gqbZ gS] jkbZV lkbZM dh baMhdsVj ykbZV QwVh gqbZ gS rFkk vkxs yxs gq, cEij esa cS.M vk;k gqvk gS] eSu 'kh'kk QwVk gqvk gS o ihNs dk 'kh'kk o ys¶V lkbZM ds ikap 'kh'ks QwVs gq, gSaA ckn vuqla/kku iqfyl }kjk iz'uxr okgu pkyd ds fo#) vkjksi&i= Hkh izLrqr fd;k x;k gSA bu leLr ifjfLFkfr;ksa ls ;g Li"V lkfcr gS fd iz'uxr okgu ls gh nq?kZVuk dkfjr gqbZ gS rFkk ekeys dh ?kVuk esa iz'uxr okgu pkyd dh mis{kk o ykijokgh jgh gSA tgka rd erd ds oDr ?kVuk 'kjkc ih, gksus dk iz'u gS rks bl laca/k esa vkj-,l-vkj-Vh-lh- dh vksj ls dksbZ lk{; izLrqr ugha dh xbZ gS rFkk erd 'kjkc ih;s gq, Fkk] bl laca/k esa fpfdRld }kjk dksbZ tkap Hkh ugha djokbZ xbZ gSA uD”kkekSdk izn”kZ&3 ds vuqlkj eksVjlkbZfdy pkyd C;koj dh rjQ tk jgk FkkA xokg ,u-,-MCY;w-1 iz”uxr okgu jksMost dk MzkbZoj gS] ftlus ;g Lohdkj fd;k gS fd og cl dks mn;iqj ls C;koj yk jgk gSA ftlls Li"V gksrk gS fd iz'uxr okgu jksMost us eksVjlkbZfdy dks ihNs ls VDdj ekjh gSA bl izdkj mDr ekeys esa fdlh izdkj ls erd dh ;ksxnk;h mis{kk ugha ekuh tk ldrhA Lo;a jksMost cl pkyd }kjk cl dks rst xfr o ykijokghiwoZd pykrs gq, e`rd dh eksVjlkbZfdy esa ihNs ls VDdj ekjh xbZ gSA bl izdkj vkj-,l-vkj-Vh-lh- dh vksj ls yh xbZ vkifŸk vLohdkj dj [kkfjt dh tkrh gSA

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[CMA-2933/2017]

(5 of 7)

8- nkSjkus cgl fo}ku vf/koDrk vihykFkhZ@vkj-,l-vkj-Vh-lh- dh vksj ls ,d vU; vkifRr ;g yh xbZ gS fd fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk {kfriwfrZ jkf'k vR;f/kd fnyokbZ xbZ gS rFkk erd dh vk; esa 50 izfr'kr dh Hkfo"; of) dj =qfV dkfjr dh xbZ gSA gLrxr ekeys esa erd Lofu;ksftr O;olk;h Fkk rFkk mldh 32 o"kZ dh vk;q dks nf"Vxr j[krs gq, 40 izfr'kr dh Hkfo"; o`f) fd;k tkuk visf{kr FkkA fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk vU; enksa esa Hkh vR;f/kd jkf'k fnyokbZ xbZ gS] ftls de fd;k tkosA vr% mijksDr vk/kkjksa ij fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk ikfjr fu.kZ; dks =qfViw.kZ gksuk crkrs gq, vf/kdj.k ds fu.kZ; dks fujLr fd;s tkus dh izkFkZuk dh x;hA

¶40

9- blds foijhr fo}ku vf/koDrk nkokdrkZx.k@jsLiksaMsUV~l us bldk fojks/k fd;k rFkk rdZ izLrqr fd;k fd nkokdrkZx.k us erd dh ekfld vk; 20]000@& :i;s crkbZ FkhA fdUrq lk{; vHkko esa fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk ?kVuk dh fnukad 02-08-2014 dks izpfyr U;wure etnwjh ds vk/kkj ij erd dh ekfld vk; fu/kkZfjr dh gSA oDr ?kVuk vdq'ky Js.kh ds O;fDr dh U;wure etnwjh 189@& :i;s izfrfnu Fkh] rnuqlkj erd dh ekfld vk; 5]670@& :i;s fu/kkZfjr dh tkuh pkfg, FkhA fdUrq vf/kdj.k }kjk 189@& :Ik;s dks 26 fnu ds vk/kkj ij fu/kkZfjr dj =qfV dkfjr dh gSA fo}ku vf/koDrk vihykFkhZ }kjk ;g Hkh rdZ j[kk x;k gS fd vf/kdj.k }kjk dalksfVZ;e dh en erd ds cPpksa o erd dh ekrk dks dsoy ek= 5&5 gtkj :i;s dh jkf'k fnyokbZ xbZ gSA tcfd U;kf;d n"VkUr ;wukbZVsM bf.M;k ba';ksjsal dEiuh fyfeVsM cuke lfrUnj dkSj mQZ lrfoUnj dkSj o vU; % ¼2021½ 11 ,llhlh 780 o vU; U;kf;d n`"Vkar esxek tujy ba';ksjsal dEiuh fyfeVsM cuke ukuw jke mQZ pqg: jke o vU; % ¼2018½ 18 ,llhlh 130 ds vk/kkj ij 40 gtkj :Ik;s dh jkf'k fnyokbZ tkuh pkfg, FkhA bl izdkj ls {kfriwfrZ jkf'k dks fdlh izdkj ls T;knk ugha ekuk tk ldrkA vr% vihykFkhZ vkj-,l-vkj-Vh-lh- dh vihy [kkfjt dh tkosA

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[CMA-2933/2017]

(6 of 7)

10i=koyh ds voyksdu ls izdV gksrk gS fd fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk fdlh Bksl lk{; ds vHkko esa erd dh vk; U;wure etnwjh ds vk/kkj ij fu/kkZfjr dh gSA fdUrq ?kVuk ds le; tks U;wure etnwjh 189@& :i;s izfrfnu curh Fkh] og dsoy ek= 26 fnuksa ds vk/kkj ij ekuh xbZ gS] tcfd 30 fnuksa ds vk/kkjh ij ekuh tkuh pkfg, FkhA ;n~;fi erd tks fd 32 o"kZ dk Lofu;ksftr O;olk;h Fkk] bu ifjfLFkfr;ksa esa us'kuy ba';ksjsal dEiuh fyfeVsM cuke iz.k; lsBh o vU; % ¼2017½ 16 ,l-lh-lh- 680 ds ekeys esa izfrikfnr fl)kar ds vk/kkj ij erd dh Hkfo"; esa gksus okyh vk; dh c<+ksrjh dh en esa 40 izfr'kr dh gh c<+ksrjh dh tkuh pkfg, FkhA fdUrq ge lexz :i ls fnyokbZ xbZ {kfriwfrZ dks ns[ks rks erd dh iRuh dks vo'; 50]000@& :i;s dh jkf'k dalksfVZ;e dh en esa fnyokbZ xbZ gSA fdUrq erd ds cPpksa o erd dh ekrk dks dsoy 5&5 gtkj :i;s dh {kfriwfrZ jkf'k dalksfVZ;e dh en esa fnyokbZ xbZ gSA tcfd U;kf;d n"VkUr ;wukbZVsM bf.M;k ba';ksjsal dEiuh fyfeVsM cuke lfrUnj dkSj mQZ lrfoUnj dkSj o vU; % ¼2021½ 11 ,llhlh 780 o vU; U;kf;d n"Vkar esxek tujy ba';ksjsal dEiuh fyfeVsM cuke ukuw jke mQZ pqg: jke o vU; % ¼2018½ 18 ,llhlh 130 ds vk/kkj ij erd ds cPps vihykFkhZ la[;k 2 yxk;r 4 o erd dh ekrk vihykFkhZ la[;k 5 izR;sd 40&40 gtkj :Ik;s {kfriwfrZ jkf'k ikus ds vf/kdkjh FksA ,slh fLFkfr esa fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk tks {kfriwfrZ jkf'k fnyokbZ xbZ gS] mls fdlh Hkh izdkj ls T;knk ugha ekuk tk ldrkA vr% bl fcUnq ij Hkh vkj-,l-vkj-Vh-lh- dh vksj ls izLrqr vihy [kkfjt fd, tkus ;ksX; gSA

¶45

11rnuqlkj vkj-,l-vkj-Vh-lh- dh vksj ls lafLFkr vihy lkjghu o cyghu gksus ds dkj.k vLohdkj dj [kkfjt dh tkrh gSA

¶46

12vkns'k dh izfr ds lkFk izdj.k dk vfHkys[k lacaf/kr vf/kdj.k dks ykSVk;k tkosA

¶47

13rnuqlkj ;g vihy fuLrkfjr dh tkrh gSA

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[2023:RJ-JP:41398]

[CMA-2933/2017]

14lHkh yfEcr izkFkZuk&i=ksa dks Hkh mijksDrkuqlkj fuLrkfjr fd;k tkrk gSA

¶52

(ASHUTOSH KUMAR),J

¶53

LOKESH RAJ /31

R S R T C Thr Chief Manager v. Smt Sharda Devi and Ors.

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

R S R T C Thr Chief Manager v. Smt Sharda Devi 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

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