Allowed

United India Insurance Co. Ltd. v. Girraj and Others

Rajasthan HC4 Jan 2024CMA/2587/2010

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

The High Court allowed an appeal against a judgment which had incorrectly calculated damages and interest for a claim arising from an accident without a permit. The Court dismissed the appeal, upheld the award data, rejected the challenge to the interest rate, and clarified that liability for misuse remains with the insured.

What did the court decide?

The order was disposed allowing the plaintiff's plea with the appeals on the questions of increased damages and interest, dismissing the appellant's plea.

United India Insurance Co. Ltd. Vs Girraj… — Civil Procedure and Limitation | Rajasthan HC (2024)

¶1

[2023:RJ-JP:41403]

¶2

HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN BENCH AT JAIPUR

¶3

S.B. Civil Miscellaneous Appeal No. 2587/2010

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United India Insurance Company Ltd. Regional Office, Sahara Chamber, Tonk Road, Jaipur And Having Its Branch Office At Bharatpur.

¶5

----Appellant-Non Claimant

¶6

Versus

¶7

Girraj S/o Shri Buddi, Aged About 43 Years, R/o Village Palsi, P.S. Goverdhan, Tehsil & District Mathura (U.P.)

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Smt. Shankuntala W/o Shri Girraj, Aged About 40 Years, R/o Village Palsi, P.S. Goverdhan, Tehsil & District Mathura (U.P.)

¶9

----Respondents-Claimants

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Kartar Singh S/o Shri Atar Singh, R/o Ludhibai, P.S. Sewar, Tehsil & District Bhratpur. (Driver & Owner of Vehicle Tempo No. RJ-34-P-0433)

¶11

----Respondent-Non-Claimant

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For Appellant(s) : Mr. V.P. Mathur For Respondent(s) : -

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HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ASHUTOSH KUMAR Order

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DATE OF RESERVED :: 05/10/2023 DATE OF PRONOUNCEMENT :: 04/01/2024

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1- vihykFkhZ chek dEiuh dh vksj ls lafLFkr dh xbZ vihy la[;k&2587@2010 esa chek dEiuh }kjk jsLiksaMsaV la[;k&1 o 2 dh rkehy can fd;s tkus dh izkFkZuk dh xbZA vr% vihykFkhZ chek dEiuh ds tksf[ke ij jsLiksaMsaV la[;k&1 o 2 dh rkehy “Dispense With” dh tkrh gSA chek daiuh ds vf/koDrk dh izkFkZuk ij izdj.k dks blh Lrj ij vafre fuLrkj.k gsrq lquk x;kA

¶16

2- vihykFkhZ chek daiuh }kjk ;g vihy /kkjk&173 eksVj okgu vf/kfu;e&1988 ds rgr U;k;ky; eksVj nq?kZVuk nkok vf/kdj.k ¼vij ftyk U;k;k/kh'k] QkLV Vsªd la[;k&1½ Hkjriqj ¼ftls vkxs ^fo}ku vf/kdj.k*

[CMA-2587/2010]

[2023:RJ-JP:41403]

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ds uke ls lacksf/kr fd;k tk,xk½ }kjk Dyse ;kfpdk la[;k&242@2008] fxjkZt o vU; cuke djrkj flag o vU; esa ikfjr fu.kZ; fnukad 15-04-2010 ¼ftls vkxs ^v{ksfir fu.kZ;^ ds uke ls lacksf/kr fd;k tk,xk½ ds fo#) izLrqr dh xbZ gSA

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3- DysesaV@jsLiksMsaV fxjkZt o Jherh 'kdqaryk ¼ftUgsa vkxs nkokdrkZx.k ds uke ls lacksf/kr fd;k tk,xk½ }kjk fo}ku vf/kdj.k ds le{k] djrkj flag dh eksVj okgu nq?kZVuk esa e`R;q gks tkus ds QyLo:i dqy 42]70]400@& #i;s Dyse izkIr djus gsrq Dyse ;kfpdk izLrqr dh x;h FkhA fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk mDr Dyse ;kfpdk esa ;kphx.k dks dqy 2]48]635@& #i;s dh {kfriwfrZ jkf'k e; C;kt 7-5 izfr'kr lkykuk dh nj ls fnyokbZ x;h gSA fo}ku vf/kdj.k ds mDr vk{ksfir fu.kZ; ls O;fFkr gksdj vihykFkhZ chek dEiuh }kjk ;g vihy mDr vk{ksfir fu.kZ; dks fujLr djok;s tkus gsrq izLrqr dh xbZ gSA

¶22

4- nkSjkus cgl fo}ku vf/koDrk vihykFkhZ chek daiuh dk rdZ jgk gS fd gLrxr izdj.k esa oDr ?kVuk VSEiks pkyd ds ikl gYds eksVj;ku pykus dk ykbZlsal FkkA tcfd iz'uxr okgu O;olkf;d okgu FkkA ,slh fLFkfr esa iz'uxr okgu pkyd ds ikl O;olkf;d okgu pykus dk MªkbZfoax ykbZlsal gksuk vko';d FkkA bl dkj.k MªkbZfoax ykbZlsal laca/kh chek ikWfylh dh 'krksZa dk mYya?ku gksus ls chek daiuh {kfriwfrZ vnk;xh dh ftEesnkj ugha gSA

¶23

5- blds foijhr fo}ku vf/koDrk jsLiksaMsUV@DysesUV dk rdZ jgk gS fd ekuuh; loksZPp U;k;ky; }kjk U;kf;d n`"VkUr eqd q an nsokaxu cuke vksfj,aVy ba';ksjasl dEiuh fyfeVsM % ,vkbZvkj 2017 ,llh 3668 esa ikfjr fu.kZ; ds vuqlkj ftl okgu dk ldy Hkkj 7500 fdyksxzke ls de gSA og okgu gYdk eksVj;ku dh Js.kh esa vk;sxk] rks ,sls okgu pykus ds fy, O;olkf;d MªkbZfoax ykbZlsal dh vko';drk ugha gSA vr% gLrxr ekeys esa MªkbZfoax ykbZlsal l a ca/kh chek ikWfylh dh fdlh 'krZ dk dksbZ mYya?ku ugha gqvk gSA

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6- bl laca/k esa ekuuh; mPpre U;k;ky; }kjk U;kf;d n`"Vkar eqd q an nsokaxu cuke vksfj,aVy ba';ksjasl dEiuh fyfeVsM % ,vkbZvkj 2017 ,llh 3668 esa fuEufyf[kr fl)kUr izfrikfnr fd;k gS %&

¶28

“(i) ‘Light motor vehicle’ as defined in section 2(21) of the Act would include a transport vehicle as per the weight prescribed in section 2(21) read with section 2 (15) and 2(48). Such transport vehicles are not excluded from the definition of the light motor vehicle by virtue of Amendment Act No.54/1994."

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"(ii) A transport vehicle and omnibus, the gross vehicle weight of either of which does not exceed 7500 kg. would be a light motor vehicle and also motor car or tractor or a road roller, ‘unladen weight’ of which does not exceed 7500 kg. and holder of a driving licence to drive class of “light motor vehicle” as provided in section 10(2)(d) is competent to drive a transport vehicle or omnibus, the gross vehicle weight of which does not exceed 7500 kg. or a motor car or tractor or road-roller, the “unladen weight” of which does not exceed 7500 kg. That is to say, no separate endorsement on the licence is required to drive a transport vehicle of light motor vehicle class as enumerated above. A licence issued under section 10(2)(d) continues to be valid after Amendment Act 54/1994 and 28.3.2001 in the form."

¶30

"(iii) The effect of the amendment made by virtue of Act No.54/1994 w.e.f. 14.11.1994 while substituting clauses (e) to (h) of section 10(2) which contained “medium goods vehicle” in section 10(2)(e), medium passenger motor vehicle in section 10(2)(f), heavy goods vehicle in section 10(2)(g) and “heavy passenger motor vehicle” in section 10(2)(h) with expression ‘transport vehicle’ as substituted in section 10(2)(e) related only to the aforesaid substituted classes only. It does not exclude transport vehicle, from the purview of section 10(2)(d) and section 2(41) of the Act i.e. light motor vehicle."

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"(iv) The effect of amendment of Form 4 by insertion of “transport vehicle” is related only to the categories which were substituted in the year 1994 and the procedure to obtain driving licence for transport vehicle of class of “light motor vehicle” continues to be the same as it was and has not been changed and there is no requirement to obtain separate endorsement to drive transport vehicle, and if a driver is holding licence to drive light motor vehicle, he can drive transport vehicle of such class without any endorsement to that effect."

¶35

7- ,slh fLFkfr esa eqdqan nsokaxu ¼mijksDr½ okys ekeys esa izfrikfnr fl)kUr dk voyac ysrs gq, ge bl fu"d"kZ ij igqWprs gSa fd iz'uxr okgu pkyd ds ikl oDr ?kVuk gYdk eksVj;ku pykus dk tks oS/k o izHkkoh ykbZlsal nq?kZVuk ds fnu Fkk] mDr ykbZlsal ds vk/kkj ij iz'uxr okgu pkyd] iz'uxr okgu dks Hkh pykus ds fy, ;ksX; FkkA bl laca/k esa fo}ku vf/koDrk chek dEiuh dh vksj yh xbZ vkifŸk vLohdkj dj [kkfjt dh tkrh gSA

¶36

8- chek daiuh dh vksj ls ,d vkifRr ;g yh xbZ gS fd oDr ?kVuk iz'uxr okgu pkyd ds ikl okgu pykus dk fof/kd o izHkkoh ijfeV ugha FkkA bl dkj.k chek ikWfylh dh 'krksZa dk mYya?ku gqvk gSA chek daiuh dh vksj ls ;g Hkh rdZ j[kk x;k gS fd chek daiuh dh vksj ls vf/kdj.k ds le{k ,u-,-MCY;w-1 egs'k pan xqIrk ds c;ku ys[kc) djok;s x;s gSA chek daiuh dh vksj ls iz'uxr okgu Lokeh dks iz'uxr okgu ds ijfeV is'k fd, tkus gsrq uksfVl Hkh fn;k x;k FkkA fdUrq okgu Lokeh }kjk iz'uxr okgu dk ijfeV is'k ugha fd;k x;kA blls Li"V gksrk gS fd oDr ?kVuk iz'uxr okgu ds lapkyu gsrq fof/kd o izHkkoh ijfeV ugha gksus ls chek ikWfylh dh 'krksZa dk mYya?ku gqvk gSA vr% chek daiuh {kfriwfrZ vnk;xh ds nkf;Ro ls mUeksfpr gksus dh vf/kdkjh gSA

¶37

9- chek daiuh dh vksj ls ;g Hkh rdZ izLrqr fd;k x;k gS fd fo}ku vf/kdj.k us bl fu"d’kZ ij igqapus esa =qfV dkfjr dh gS fd chek daiuh dks iz'uxr okgu ds ijfeV ugha gksus laca/kh vkifRr ysus dk vf/kdkj ugha gSA vr% chek daiuh dh vihy Lohdkj dh tkdj iz'uxr okgu ds ijfeV

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ds vHkko esa chek ikWfylh dh 'krksZa dk mYya?ku ekurs gq, daiuh dks {kfriwfrZ vnk;xh ds nkf;Ro ls mUeksfpr fd;k tkosA 10tgka rd eksVj okgu nq?kZVuk ds ekeyksa esa iz'uxr okgu ds ijfeV gksus dk iz'u gSA bl laca/k esa ekuuh; loksZPp U;k;ky; ds U;kf;d n"VkUr **National Insurance Co. Ltd. Vs. Challa Bharathamma & Ors. : III (2004) ACC 292 (SC)** dk gokyk fn;k x;k gSA mDr U;kf;d n"Vkar Challa Bharathamma (supra) esa ekuuh; mPpre U;k;ky; us fl)kUr izfrikfnr fd;k gS fd ijfeV ds vHkko esa chek ikWfylh dh 'krksaZ dk mYya?ku gksus ls chek dEiuh {kfriwfrZ vnk;xh dh ftEesnkj ugha gSA fdUrq chek dEiuh ls vis{kk dh tkrh gS fd og vf/kdj.k }kjk ikfjr vokMZ jkf'k ;kphx.k dks vnk djas o mldh olwyh iz'uxr okgu pkyd o ekfyd ls olwy dj ysosA ekuuh; mPpre U;k;ky; us U;kf;d n`"Vkar Challa Bharathamma (supra) esa fuEufyf[kr fopkj O;Dr fd;k gS fd %&

¶41

"12. High Court was of the view that since there was no permit, the question of violation of any condition thereof does not arise. The view is clearly fallacious. A person without permit to ply a vehicle cannot be placed at a better pedestal vis-a-vis one who has a permit, but has violated any condition thereof. Plying of a vehicle without a permit is an infraction. Therefore, in terms of Section 149(2) defence is available to the insurer on that aspect. The acceptability of the stand is a matter of adjudication. The question of policy being operative had no relevance for the issue regarding liability of insurer. High Court was, therefore, not justified in holding the insurer liable."

¶42

"13. The residual question is what would be the appropriate direction. Considering the beneficial object of the Act, it would be proper for the insurer to satisfy the award, though in law it has no liability. In some cases the insurer has been given the option and liberty to recover the amount from the insured. For the purpose of recovering the amount paid from the owner, the insurer shall not be required to file a suit. It may initiate a proceeding before the concerned Executive Court as if the dispute between the insurer

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and the owner was the subject matter of determination before the Tribunal and the issue is decided against the owner and in favour of the insurer. Before release of the amount to the claimants, owner of the offending vehicle shall furnish security for the entire amount which the insurer will pay to the claimants. The offending vehicle shall be attached, as a part of the security. If necessity arises the Executive Court shall take assistance of the concerned Regional Transport Authority. The Executing Court shall pass appropriate orders in accordance with law as to the manner in which the owner of the vehicle shall make payment to the insurer. In case there is any default it shall be open to the Executing Court to direct realization by disposal of the securities to be furnished or from any other property or properties of the owner of the vehicle i.e. the insured. In the instant case considering the quantum involved we leave it to the discretion of the insurer to decide whether it would take steps for recovery of the amount from the insure."

¶47

11blds vfrfjDr mPpre U;k;ky; us flfoy vihy uEcj&2253@2018] ve`r ikWy flag o vU; cuke VkVk ,vkbZth tujy ba';ksjsal dEiuh fyfeVsM o vU;] fu.kZ; fnukad 17-05-2018 esa Hkh fuEufyf[kr fopkj O;Dr fd;k gS %&

¶48

"23. In the case at hand, it is clearly demonstrable from the materials brought on record that the vehicle at the time of the accident did not have a permit. The Appellants had taken the stand that the vehicle was not involved in the accident. That apart, they had not stated whether the vehicle had temporary permit or any other kind of permit. The exceptions that have been carved out Under Section 66 of the Act, needless to emphasise, are to be pleaded and proved. The exceptions cannot be taken aid of in the course of an argument to seek absolution from liability. Use of a vehicle in a public place without a permit is a fundamental statutory infraction. We are disposed to think so in view of the series of exceptions carved out in Section 66. The said situations cannot be equated with absence of licence or a fake licence or a licence for different kind of vehicle, or, for that matter, violation of a condition of carrying more

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number of passengers. Therefore, the principles laid down in Swaran Singh (supra) and Lakhmi Chand (supra) in that regard would not be applicable to the case at hand. That apart, the insurer had taken the plea that the vehicle in question had no permit. It does not require the wisdom of the "Tripitaka", that the existence of a permit of any nature is a matter of documentary evidence. Nothing has been brought on record by the insured to prove that he had a permit of the vehicle. In such a situation, the onus cannot be cast on the insurer. Therefore, the tribunal as well as the High Court had directed the insurer was required to pay the compensation amount to the claimants with interest with the stipulation that the insurer shall be entitled to recover the same from the owner and the driver. The said directions are in consonance with the principles stated in Swaran Singh (supra) and Ors. cases pertaining to pay and recover principle."

¶53

12bl izdkj U;kf;d n"Vkar **Challa Bharathamma (supra)** o **Amrit Paul Singh (supra)** esa izfrikfnr fl)kUr ls gekjs le{k ;g fLFkfr vkrh gS fd eksVj okgu nq?kZVuk ds ekeyksa esa tgka okgu lapkyu gsrq oS/k o izHkkoh ijfeV ekStwn ugh **a** gks] ,slh fLFkfr esa chek dEiuh {kfriwfrZ vnk;xh dh ftEesnkj ugh **a** gSA fdUrq chek dEiuh ls vis{kk dh x;h gS fd og fu/kkZfjr {kfriwfrZ jkf'k ;kphx.k dks vnk dj ns o vnk djus ds i'pkr~ mldh olwyh iz'uxr okgu pkyd o ekfyd ls la;qDrr% o iFkdr% olwy ysosA bl izdkj ;g U;k;ky; Hkh Challa Bharathamma (supra) o Amrit Paul Singh (supra) ds ekeyksa esa izfrikfnr fl)kUr ds vk/kkj ij chek dEiuh dks vknsf'kr fd;k tkuk mfpr le>rh gS fd chek dEiuh bl ekeys esa fu/kkZfjr {kfriwfrZ jkf'k ;kphx.k dks vnk djs o mlds mijkar vnk dh xbZ jkf'k dks iz'uxr okgu pkyd o Lokeh ls olwy dj ysosA 13tgka rd {kfriwfrZ jkf'k vf/kd fnyok;s tkus dk iz'u gS] bl laca/k esa i=koyh ds voyksdu ls izdV gksrk gS fd ekeys dh ?kVuk fnukad 23-04-2008 dh crkbZ xbZ gS rFkk oDr ?kVuk erd dks 17 o"kZ dh vk;q dk gksuk crkrs gq, feL+=h dk dk;Z dj izfrekg 6]000@& #i;s dh vk; vftZr djuk crk;k x;k gSA fdUrq erd dh vk; dks lkfcr djus gsrq

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dksbZ Bksl izek.k nkokdrkZx.k dh vksj ls vf/kdj.k ds le{k izLrqr ugha fd;k x;k gSA bu ifjfLFkfr;ksa esa fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk oDr ?kVuk erd dks ukckfyx ;qod gksuk ekurs gq, erd dh okf"kZd vk; 15]000@& #i;s dkYifud vk; fu/kkZfjr dh xbZ gSA fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk erd dh uks'kuy vk; ekuh xbZ gS tks fd okf"kZd ekuh x;h gSA ;fn oDr ?kVuk erd dks vdq'ky Jfed ds Js.kh esa j[kk tkdj erd dh vk; ?kVuk dh frfFk dks izpfyr U;wure etnwjh ds vk/kkj ij ekuh tkos rks Hkh erd dh izfrekg vk; 3]000@& #i;s gksrh gSA bl izdkj fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk fu/kkZfjr dh xbZ vk; dks ge fdlh izdkj ls vf/kd gksuk ugha ikrs gSaA fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk erd dh ekfld vk; esa Hkfo"; esa gksus okyh vk; dh dksbZ c<+ksrjh ugha dh xbZ gS rFkk fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk erd ds ekrk&firk dh mez dks vk/kkj ekurs gq, 14 dk xq.kd iz;ksx dj vkfJr vk; dh {kfr ds en esa dqy 2]10]000@& #i;s dh jkf'k nkokdrkZx.k dks fnyokbZ xbZ gSA bl izdkj ;fn erd vk; dh x.kuk rRle; izpfyr U;wure etnwjh ds vk/kkj ij dh tk, o mlesa erd dh vk;q ds vuqlkj 40 izfr'kr dh c<+ksrjh dh tkos rFkk erd dh vk;q ds vk/kkj ij 18 dk xq.kd iz;ksx fd;k tkos rks fuf'pr :i ls {kfriwfrZ jkf'k esa c<+ksrjh gksxhA 14tgka rd dalksfVZ;e ds en esa vR;f/kd jkf'k fnyok;s tkus dk iz'u gS rks bl laca/k esa i=koyh ds voyksdu ls Kkr gksrk gS fd fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk erd ds ekrk&firk dks dalksfVZ;e dh en esa nks&nks gtkj :i;s dh jkf'k fnyokbZ xbZ gSA tcfd ;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 ekeyksa esa izfrikfnr fl)kUr ds vuqlkj erd ds ekrk&firk dks fQfy;y dalksfVZ;e dh en esa izR;sd dks 40&40 gtkj :i;s dh jkf'k fnyok;s tkus dk fl)kUr fn;k x;k gSA ,slh fLFkfr esa ;fn izR;sd nkokdrkZ dks dalksfVZ;e dh en esa 40&40 gtkj :i;s dh jkf'k fnyokbZ tkrh gS rks {kfriwfrZ jkf'k esa c<+ksrjh dh laHkkouk ls badkj ugha fd;k tk ldrkA

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15bl izdkj vf/kdj.k }kjk vafre laLdkj dh en esa 5]000@& #i;s dh jkf'k nkokdrkZx.k dks fnyokbZ xbZ gSA fdUrq vf/kdj.k }kjk lEink dh gkfu ds en esa dksbZ jkf'k nkokdrkZx.k dks ugha fnyokbZ xbZ gSA ,slh fLFkfr esa mDr jkf'k dks fdlh izdkj ls vf/kd gksuk ugha ekuk tk ldrk gSA

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16bl izdkj mijksDr lexz foospukuqlkj ;g U;k;ky; nkokdrkZx.k dks fnyokbZ xbZ jkf'k dks fdlh izdkj ls vf/kd gksuk ugha ikrh gSA ,slh fLFkfr esa jsLiksaMsaV@chek dEiuh dh vksj ls {kfriwfrZ jkf'k vR;f/kd fnyok;s tkus ds laca/k esa yh xbZ vkifŸk vLohdkj dj [kkfjt dh tkrh gSA

¶63

17bl izdkj mijksDr lexz foospukuqlkj ;g U;k;ky; fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk fnyokbZ xbZ jkf'k dks fdlh izdkj ls vf/kd gksuk ugha ikrh gS rFkk {kfriwfrZ jkf'k ds laca/k esa fo}ku vf/kdj.k ds fu.kZ; dh iqf"V dh tkrh gS rFkk chek dEiuh dh vihy esa ijfeV dh vkifŸk fd gn rd chek dEiuh dh vihy Lohdkj djrs gq, chek dEiuh dks vknsf'kr fd;k tkrk gS fd og fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk ikfjr vokMZ jkf'k ;kphx.k dks vnk djs o mlds mijkar vnk dh xbZ jkf'k dks iz'uxr okgu pkyd o Lokeh ls olwy dj ysosA

¶64

18vkns’k dh izfr ds lkFk izdj.k dk vfHkys[k lacaf/kr vf/kdj.k dks ykSVk;k tkosA

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