Allowed

R S R T C v. Lokendra and Ors.

Rajasthan HC17 Aug 2023CMA/5209/2009

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

The High Court allowed the appeal of the Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation against a compensation order. The court affirmed the accident investigation report prepared under Section 163 CrPC, rejected the claim for disproportionate compensation, and held that the respondent's compensation award should be restored, remitting the matter for fresh disposal. The judgment emphasized the prepond

What did the court decide?

The compensation order was affirmed and the matter was remanded to the authority that passed the order for fresh disposal under the Motor Accidents Claim Tribunal Act.

R S R T C Vs Lokendra and Ors. — Property and Title | Rajasthan HC (2023)

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[2023:RJ-JP:19587]

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HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN BENCH AT JAIPUR

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S.B. Civil Miscellaneous Appeal No. 5209/2009

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Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation Through Its Chairman, Parivahan Marg, Jaipur.

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Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation Through Chief Manager, Kotputli Depot, District Jaipur.

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----Appellants

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Versus

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Lokendra S/o Hargopal, Aged About 32 Years, R/o Beru, P.S. Sikari, Bharatpur.

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----Claimant Respondent

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Mukesh Kumar Jat S/o Rajendra Singh, Aged About 34 Years, R/o Sinsini, P.S. Deeg, Bharatpur, District Bharatpur. (Driver Roadways Bus No. RJ-32-P-0492) (Dispensed With)

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----Non Claimant Respondents

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For Appellant(s) : Mr. Ram Singh Bhati For Respondent(s) : Mr. Girish Khandelwal

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HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ASHUTOSH KUMAR

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Order

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17/08/2023

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1- vizkFkhZ@vihykFkhZ vkj-,l-vkj-Vh-lh- dh vksj ls jsLiksaMsaV uEcj&2 eqds’k dqekj dh rkehy can fd;s tkus dk fuosnu fd;k x;kA vr% vihykFkhZ vkj-,l-vkj-Vh-lh- ds tksf[ke ij jsLiksaMsaV uEcj&2 dh rkehy can dh tkrh gS rFkk mHk;i{kdkjku ds vf/koDrkx.k dh izkFkZuk ij izdj.k dks blh Lrj ij vafre fuLrkj.k gsrq lquk x;kA

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2- vizkFkhZ@vihykFkhZ vkj-,l-vkj-Vh-lh- dh vksj ls ;g vihy /kkjk 173 eksVj okgu vf/kfu;e&1988 ds rgr U;k;ky; eksVj okgu nq?kZVuk nkok vf/kdj.k] vyoj ¼jkt-½ ¼ftls vkxs ^vf/kdj.k* ds uke ls lacksf/kr fd;k

[2023:RJ-JP:19587]

[CMA-5209/2009]

(2 of 7)

tk,xk½ }kjk Dyse ;kfpdk la[;k&410@2005] yksdsUnz cuke eqds'k dqekj o vU; esa ikfjr fu.kZ; fnukad 20-07-2009 ds fo#) izLrqr dh xbZ gSA

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3- DysesaV@jsLiksaMsaV yksdsUnz }kjk vf/kdj.k ds le{k] Lo;a ds eksVj okgu nq?kZVuk esa vkgr gks tkus ds QyLo:i {kfriwfrZ jkf'k izkIr djus gsrq Dyse ;kfpdk izLrqr dh x;h FkhA vf/kdj.k }kjk mDr Dyse ;kfpdk esa ;kph dks dqy 1]29]584@& #i;s dh {kfriwfrZ jkf’k e; C;kt 6 izfr’kr lkykuk dh nj ls fnyokbZ x;h gSA mDr vkns’k ls O;fFkr gksdj vihykFkhZ@vizkFkhZ vkj-,l-vkj-Vh-lh- dh vksj ls ;g vihy vf/kdj.k ds mDr vkns'k dks fujLr djokus gsrq izLrqr dh x;h gSA

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4- nkSjkus cgl fo}ku vf/koDrk vihykFkhZ@vizkFkhZ vkj-,l-vkj-Vh-lhdk rdZ jgk fd bl ekeys dh ?kVuk esa DysesaV@jsLiksaMsaV Lo;a ykijokg jgk gSA fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk ;ksxnk;h mis{kk ds fcUnq ij dksbZ fu"d"kZ ugha fn;k gSA fo}ku vf/koDrk vihykFkhZ@vizkFkhZ vkj-,l-vkj-Vh-lh- dk ,d rdZ ;g Hkh jgk fd ekeys esa Lora= p’enhn xokg is’k ugha fd;k x;k gSA fo}ku vf/koDrk vihykFkhZ@vizkFkhZ vkj-,l-vkj-Vh-lh- dk ,d rdZ ;g Hkh jgk fd pwafd ekeys esa nksuksa okgu lafyIr Fks] ,slh fLFkfr esa ftl eksVjlkbZfdy ij DysesaV@jsLiksaMsaV cSBk gqvk Fkk] mlds ekfyd] pkyd o chek dEiuh dks Hkh i{kdkj cuk;k tkuk vko’;d FkkA fo}ku vf/koDrk vihykFkhZ@vizkFkhZ vkj-,l-vkj-Vh-lh- dk ,d rdZ ;g Hkh jgk fd izFke lwpuk fjiksVZ Hkh foyEc ls ntZ djokbZ x;h gS rFkk vihykFkhZ ds okgu dks xyr :i ls fyIr fd;k x;k gSA fo}ku vf/koDrk vihykFkhZ@vizkFkhZ vkj-,l-vkj-Vh-lh- dk ,d rdZ ;g Hkh jgk fd vf/kdj.k }kjk Dyse jkf’k Hkh vR;f/kd fnyokbZ x;h gSA vr% mijksDr vk/kkjksa ij vihykFkhZ@vizkFkhZ vkj-,l-vkj-Vh-lh- dh vksj ls izLrqr ;g vihy Lohdkj dh tkdj fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk ikfjr fu.kZ; o vokMZ dks fujLr fd;s tkus dh izkFkZuk dh x;hA

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5- blds foijhr fo}ku vf/koDrk DysesaV@jsLiksaMsaV dh vksj ls vihykFkhZ@vizkFkhZ vkj-,l-vkj-Vh-lh- ds mijksDr rdksZa dk fojks/k djrs gq,

[2023:RJ-JP:19587]

[CMA-5209/2009]

(3 of 7)

fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk ikfjr fd;s x;s fu.kZ; dh iqf"V fd;s tkus rFkk vihykFkhZ@vizkFkhZ vkj-,l-vkj-Vh-lh- dh vksj ls lafLFkr dh x;h vihy dks fujLr fd;s tkus dk fuosnu fd;k x;kA

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6- nksuksa i{kksa dh cgl lquh x;hA vihy i=koyh o vf/kdj.k ds vfHkys[k dk voyksdu fd;k x;kA

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7- tgka rd gLrxr ekeys esa izFke lwpuk fjiksV foyEc ls ntZ djok;s tkus dk iz’u gS rks bl laca/k esa fo}ku vf/kdj.k us ;g ik;k gS fd ekeys esa ,QvkbZvkj ?kVuk ls pkj fnu foyEc ls ntZ djokbZ d;h gSA vf/kdj.k }kjk fu.kZ; esa ;g foosfpr fd;k x;k gS fd ?kVuk dh fnukad 10-11-2004 ls 15-11-2004 rd DysesaV@jsLiksaMsaV feRry vLirky esa HkrhZ jgkA tSlk fd feRry vLirky ds fMLpktZ fVdV izn’kZ&13 ls izekf.kr gSA vf/kdj.k }kjk ;g Hkh fu"d"kZ fudkyk x;k gS fd nq?kZVuk esa DysesaV@jsLiksaMsaV ds vkgr gks tkus ij fjiksVZ ntZ djok;s ls T;knk vko’;d vkgr dk bZykt djok;k tkuk gSA ,slh fLFkfr esa fo}ku vf/kdj.k us gLrxr ekeys esa pkj fnu foyEc ls ,QvkbZvkj ntZ djok;s tkus ds rF; dks Dyse ;kfpdk ds fy, ?kkrd gksuk ugh a ekuk gSA ekeys ds rF;ksa ,oa ifjfLFkfr;ksa dks n`f"Vxr j[krs gq, ge] fo}ku vf/kdj.k ds mDr fu"d"kZ esa dksbZ gLr{ksi fd;k tkuk mfpr ugha le>rs gSa vkSj bl laca/k esa fo}ku vf/koDrk vihykFkhZ@vizkFkhZ vkj-,l-vkj-Vh-lh- dh vksj ls yh x;h vkifŸk fujLr dh tkrh gSA

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8- tgka rd fo}ku vf/koDrk vihykFkhZ@vizkFkhZ vkj-,l-vkj-Vh-lh- }kjk fy;k x;k ;g rdZ fd ekeys esa dksbZ p’enhn xokg is’k ugha fd;k x;k gSA vr% ekeys dh ?kVuk dks izekf.kr ugha ekuh tkosA bl laca/k esa gekjk ekuuk ;g gS fd eksVj okgu vf/kfu;e ds rgr lafLFkr dh x;h Dyse fiVh’ku dks lkfcr djus ds fy, p’enhn xokg dk is’k gksuk vko’;d ugh a gSA eksVj okgu nq?kZVuk ds ekeys esa izLrqr Dyse ;kfpdk dk fuLrkj.k lk{; dh ckgqY;rk ¼preponderance of evidence½ ds vk/kkj ij fd;k

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(4 of 7) [CMA-5209/2009]

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[2023:RJ-JP:19587]

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tkrk gSA ,sls ekeys esa DysesaV@jsLiksaMsaV dks viuk okn ;qfDr;qDr lansg ls ijs ¼beyond reasonable doubt½ lkfcr djus dh vko’;drk ugha gksrhA 9- ekuuh; mPpre U;k;ky; us U;kf;d n`"Vkar ¼2013½ 11 lqizhe dksVZ dslst 507 % xqjnhi flag cuke Hkhe flag o vU; ds ekeys esa fu.kZ; djrs gq, eksVj okgu nq?kZVuk nkok izdj.kksa ds fuLrkj.k esa p’enhn xokgku ds laca/k esa fuEufyf[kr fl)kUr izfrikfnr fd;k gS %&

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“15. It is a matter of common knowledge that in motor road accident’s claim cases, it is very difficult to get witnesses. The eyewitnesses are also not readily available. Even if available, they are not easily ready and willing to come and depose in court of law for many reasons. Thus, we have to go by the oath of the claimant only……...”

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10eksVj nq?kZVuk ds ekeyksa esa tks vkijkf/kd ekeyk iathc) fd;k tkrk gS] mlds vuqla/kku ds nkSjku tks lk{; ,df=r dh tkrh gS rFkk tks nLrkostkr ;Fkk ?kVukLFky dk uD’kk ekSdk] nq?kZVukxzLr okgukas dks tCr djus dh dk;Zokgh] okguksa dk eSdsfud eqvk;uk djok;s tkus dh fjiksVZ] grkgr ds fpfdRldh; ijh{k.k vkfn djok;s tkus o mudh fjiksVZ~l] eksVj okgu vf/kfu;e dh /kkjk 133 o 134 ds v/khu oDr ?kVuk nq?kZVuk dkfjr djus okys okgu ds pkyd o ekfyd dks fn;s x;s uksfVlksa vkfn&vkfn tks dk;Zokgh dh tkrh gS] os leLr nLrkost eksVj okgu nq?kZVuk nkok ;kfpdk ds fuLrkj.k gsrq lqlaxr o fo’oluh; nLrkostkr gks ldrs gSaA c’krsZ muds fo:) foi{kh dh vksj ls dksbZ vkifŸk;ka ugha mBkbZ x;h gks vFkok iqfyl }kjk dh x;h dk;Zokgh ds laca/k esa dksbZ lansg mRiUu u gksrk gksA jktLFkku mPp U;k;ky; }kjk U;kf;d n`"Vkar 2002 ,lhts ist 1564 vkj-,l-vkj-Vh-lh- cuke uUn fd’kksj o vU; ds ekeys esa bl laca/k esa fuEufyf[kr er izfrikfnr fd;k x;k gS %&

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“5. …………. The police officer is a public servant and the site inspection map and site inspection memo are records made in discharge of his official duties and entries in such records are relevant fact under Section 35 of the Indian Evidence Act and as such those documents are public documents as these are

(5 of 7)

[2023:RJ-JP:19587]

[CMA-5209/2009]

prepared by public servant while discharging his official duties and as such admissible in evidence.” rFkk ;g Hkh izfrikfnr fd;k x;k gS fd %&

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“8. Thus, it is well settled that strict provisions of the Evidence Act are not to be insisted by the Tribunal on limited jurisdiction. The Tribunals while dealing with the cases for compensation arising out of motor vehicle accident are to follow such summary procedure as it thought fit and the certified copy of the F.I.R., inspection map and site inspection memo, panch-nama, injury report or the post-mortem report, as the case may be and, other relevant documents prepared by the police or the doctor while discharging official duty are admissible in evidence without there being a formal proof.”

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11mijksDr U;kf;d n"Vkarksa esa izfrikfnr fl)kUr ds vuqlkj rFkk gLrxr ekeys ds rF;ksa ds laca/k esa gekjs le{k ;g fLFkfr vkrh gS fd gLrxr ekeys esa tks izFke lwpuk fjiksVZ ?kVuk ds laca/k esa ntZ djokbZ x;h gS] mlesa gq, vuqla/kku esa vihykFkhZ jktLFkku jksM+ost ds okgu pkyd jsLiksaMsaV uEcj&2 eqds’k dqekj ds fo#) Hkkjrh; n.M lafgrk dh /kkjk 279] 337] 338 ds vkjksikas esa vkjksi&i= izLrqr fd;k x;k gS rFkk ?kVuk esa vihykFkhZ@vizkFkhZ ds okgu pkyd dh mis{kk dks izekf.kr ik;k gSA blds vfrfjDr jsLiksaMsaV uEcj&2 iz’uxr okgu pkyd eqds’k dqekj o iz’uxr okgu ij ?kVuk ds fnu ifjpkyd ds rkSj ij dk;Zjr deZpkjh dks Øe’k% ,u-,-MCY;w&1 o ,u-,-MCY;w&2 ds :i esa ijhf{kr djok;k gSA vf/kdj.k us vius fu.kZ; esa ;g ik;k gS fd eqds’k dqekj us vius izfrijh{k.k esa bl rF; dks Lohdkj fd;k gS fd iz’uxr okgu fnukad 10-11-2004 dks vkxjk ls vyoj ds fy, nks cts jokuk gqvk FkkA bl rF; dks Hkh Lohdkj fd;k gS fd vkxjk ls vyoj vkrs le; cxM+ frjkgs ls gh gksdj vkrs gSaA gLrxr ekeys dk ?kVukLFky cxM+ frjkgk gh gS o ?kVuk le; N% cts ?kfVr gqbZ gSA bl rF; dks Hkh Lohdkj fd;k gS fd og nq?kZVuk okys fnu Hkh vyoj le; 7%00 cts igqWpk FkkA vr% leLr rF;ksa ,oa ifjfLFkfr;ksa dks nf"Vxr j[krs gq, fo}ku vf/kdj.k us ;g fu"d"kZ fudkyk gS fd izkFkhZ dh lk{; o Lo;a iz’uxr okgu pkyd dh lk{; ls

[2023:RJ-JP:19587]

[CMA-5209/2009]

(6 of 7)

cxM+ frjkgs ij iz’uxr okgu ls nq?kZVuk gksus dk rF; izekf.kr gSA iz’uxr okgu pkyd ds fo#) mldh mis{kk dks izekf.kr ikrs gq, vkjksi&i= Hkh izLrqr fd;k tk pqdk gSA bu leLr rF;ksa ,oa ifjfLFkfr;ksa dks n`f"Vxr j[krs gq, ;g ugha ekuk tk ldrk gS fd ekeys esa iz’uxr okgu dks xyr #i ls lafyIr fd;k x;k gksA

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12;ksxnk;h mis{kk dk tgka rd iz’u gS] gLrxr ekeys ds rF;ksa ds vuqlkj DysesaV@jsLiksaMsaV oDr ?kVuk eksVjlkbZfdy ij cSBk gqvk FkkA ekeys ds rF;ksa esa ;g dgha Hkh izdV ugha gqvk gS fd oDr ?kVuk DysesaV@jsLiksaMsaV eksVjlkbZfdy dks pyk jgk gksA ,slh fLFkfr esa DysesaV@jsLiksaMsaV dh ;ksxnk;h mis{kk dk dksbZ iz’u gh mRiUu ugh a gksrkA vr% bl laca/k esa Hkh fo}ku vf/koDrk vihykFkhZ@vizkFkhZ vkj-,l-vkj-Vh-lh- }kjk yh x;h vkifŸk fujLr dh tkrh gSA

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13tgka rd DysesaV@jsLiksaMsaV ds i{k esa vokMZ dh x;h {kfriwfrZ jkf’k dk iz’u gS] bl laca/k esa vf/kdj.k ds le{k DysesaV@jsLiksaMsaV us Lo;a dks Ñf"k dk;Z dj o nw/k cspus dk dk;Z dj izfrekg 12]000@& #i;s dh vk; vftZr djuk crkrs gq, {kfriwfrZ dh ekax dh x;h FkhA fdUrq DysesaV@jsLiksaMsaV }kjk viuh vk; dks vf/kdj.k ds le{k izekf.kr ugh a fd;k x;k gSA ,slh fLFkfr esa fo}ku vf/kdj.k us DysesaV@jsLiksaMsaV ds dk;Z dh izÑfr vkfn dks ns[krs gq, lk{; ds vHkko esa DysesaV@jsLiksMsaV dh vk; 100@& #i;s izfrfnu ds vk/kkj ij fu/kkZfjr djrs gq, fofHkUu enksa esa dqy 1]29]584@& #i;s dh {kfriwfrZ fnyok;s tkus dk vokMZ ikfjr fd;k gSA fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk fnyokbZ x;h mDr {kfriwfrZ jkf’k dks fdlh Hkh izdkj ls vR;f/kd ugha ekuk tk ldrkA vr% bl laca/k esa Hkh fo}ku vf/koDrk vihykFkhZ@vizkFkhZ vkj-,l-vkj-Vh-lh- dh vksj ls yh x;h vkifŸk fujLr dh tkrh gSA vr% vihykFkhZ@vizkFkhZ vkj-,l-vkj-Vh-lh- dh vksj ls izLrqr dh x;h bl vihy esa dksbZ lkj izrhr ugh a gksus dkj.k mDr vihy [kkfjt fd;s tkus ;ksX; izrhr gksrh gSA

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(7 of 7) [CMA-5209/2009]

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[2023:RJ-JP:19587]

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14mijksDr foospu vuqlkj vihykFkhZ@vizkFkhZ vkj-,l-vkj-Vh-lh- dh vksj ls fo}ku vf/kdj.k ds fu.kZ; ds fo#) lafLFkr dh x;h ;g vihy lkjghu gksus ds dkj.k vLohdkj dj [kkfjt dh tkrh gSA

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15vkns’k dh izfr ds lkFk izdj.k dk vfHkys[k lacaf/kr vf/kdj.k dks ykSVk;k tkosA

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16rnuqlkj ;g vihy fuLrkfjr dh tkrh gSA

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17lHkh yfEcr izkFkZuk&i=ksa dks Hkh mijksDrkuqlkj fuLrkfjr fd;k tkrk

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(ASHUTOSH KUMAR),J

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LOKESH RAJ /34

R S R T C v. Lokendra and Ors.

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

R S R T C v. Lokendra and Ors.

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

Coram

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