Rameshwar Dass v. Suresh Kumar and Ors

1o o o o o 208o o INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABo&oHARYANAo o o o o o AToCHANDIGARHo o o o o o o o o o o o o FAO-5515-2006o(O&M)o o o o o o o DateoofoDecision:o-04.03.2025o o RAMESHWARoDASSo o o o o o ......Appellanto o o o o o o o Vs.o o o o o o o o o o o o o SURESHoKUMARoANDoORS.o o o o ......Respondent(s)o o CORAM:oo HON'BLEoMRS.oJUSTICEoSUDEEPTIoSHARMAo o Present:o Mr.oRakeshoBakshi,oAdvocateoforotheoappellant.oo o o Mr.oAkhiloSaini,oAdvocateoandoo o Mr.oPradeepoGoyal,oAdvocateofororespondentoNo.2.o o o o ****o o SUDEEPTIoSHARMAoJ.oo o

1.o o TheoinstantoappealohasobeenopreferredobyoRameshwaroDassoowneroofo theooffendingovehicleoforosettingoasideotheoawardodatedo01.06.2006opassedobyotheo learnedoMotoroAccidentoClaimsoTribunal,oYamunanagaro(foroshort,o'theoTribunal'),o whereby,o theo claimantso wereo awardedo compensationo ando recoveryo rightso wereo grantedotootheoInsuranceoCompanyoafteroindemnifyingotheoclaimant.oo FACTSoNOToINoDISPUTEo

2.o o BriefofactsoofotheocaseoareothatoonotheointerveningonightoofoJulyo1oando2o ofo2002oclaimant-SureshoKumarowasoonohisowayofromovillageoDhanauraotooaoplaceo calledoKotputlioinotheoStateoofoRajasthanoinoaotruckobearingoNo.HR-37-6194owitho consignmentoofomangoofruits.oManoSinghowasodrivingotheosaidotruckoinoaorashoando negligento mannero whicho unfortunatelyo turnedo turtleo ando occupantso ofo theo trucko sustainedomultipleoinjuriesoonotheiropersons.oo o 2o o o o o SUBMISSIONoOFoLEARNEDoCOUNSELoFORoTHEoPARTIES.o

3.o o LearnedocounseloforotheoappellantocontendsothatotheolearnedoTribunalo haso wronglyo heldo theo ownero ofo theo offendingo vehicleo liableo too payo theo compensation.oHeofurtherocontendsothatodespiteotheofactothatotheorouteopermitowaso issuedotooplyotheooffendingovehicleoinotheoStateoofoPunjaboandoHaryanaoandotheo accidentotookoplaceoinotheoStateoofoRajasthan,orespondentoNo.-3oInsuranceoCompanyo wasoliableotooindemnifyotheolossocausedobyotheooffendingovehicle.oTherefore,oheo praysothatotheopresentoappealobeoallowedoandotheoappellant-ownerobeoabsolvedofromo theoliabilityoimposedouponohim.o

4.o o Perocontra,olearnedocounseloforotheoInsuranceocompanyosubmitsothatotheo awardohasorightlyobeenopassed.oTherefore,oheopraysoforodismissaloofotheoappeal.o

5.o o Beforeoproceedingofurther,oitoisonecessaryotooreproduceotheorelevanto portionoofotheoawardoofotheoTribunal:-oo "12.oo RespondentoManoSingho(RW2)ohasotestifiedothatoheo hadonotogoneotootheoStateoofoRajasthanowithotheoconsignmentoofo mangoofruitoandotheotruckohadonotometowithoaccident.ooHeodoeso notoknowoclaimantoSureshoKumaroatoall.oHoweveroheoadmittedo thatoheoisoemployedotoodriveotruckobearingoregistrationoNo.HR-37-6194.oHeodoesonotoknowoclaimantoSureshoKumar.oTheotrucko hasotheorouteopermitotooplyoinotheoStatesoofoPunjaboandoHaryanao only.o

13.oo Respondento Rameshwaro Dasso (RW3)o iso theo registeredoowneroofotheotruckoinoquestion.oHeohasotestifiedothato heo haso theo routeo permito too plyo hiso trucko withino theo Stateso ofo PunjaboandoHaryanaoonly.oHeohasoadmittedothatoheohasoofteno usedo hiso trucko too transporto consignmentso ofo mangoo crop.o Heo doeso noto knowo ifo hiso trucko hado transportedo mangoo cropo ono

30.6.2002oorothatotheoconsignmentobelongedotoopetitioneroSuresho Kumaroamongstoothers.oHeoalsoodoesonotoknowoifotheovehicleohado I attest to the accuracy and metowithoaccidentoandohadoturnedoonoandotheoBehrodochowk.o 3o o o o o

14.o Shrio Ashoko Makkaro (RW1)o iso Assistanto AdministrativeoOfficer,oNewoIndiaoassuranceoCompanyoLimited,o Yamunanagar.oHeohasotestifiedothatotheotruckoinoquestionobearingo registrationoonoHR-37-6194owasodulyoinsuredofromo18.10.2001o too17.10.2002oasoaogoodsocarrier.oTheoowneroofotheotruckodidonoto fileoanyoclaimowithotheoInsuranceoCompanyotowardsoroadosideo accidentodamage.o

15.oo Itohasobeenourgedoonobehalfoofotheorespondentsothato thereoisoenoughoevidenceoonorecordotoobelieveothatotheotruckoino questionowasonotoinvolvedoinotheoallegedomishap.oItohasobeeno furtherourgedothatotheotruckohasotheorouteopermitotooplyowithino theoStatesoofoPunjaboandoHaryanaoonly.oItocouldonotobeousedoasoao goodsocarrierotoosupplyotheoconsignmentoofoMangoocropoinotheo StateoofoRajasthan.oMoreover,otheoowneroofotheovehicleodidonoto fileoanyoinsuranceoclaimowithotheoinsureroandoasosuchoitomayobeo presumedothatotheovehicleohadonotosufferedoanyodamageoonooro aboutoJuly,o2,o2002.o

16.o Thereo iso noo forceo ino theo contentionso raisedo byo respondents.oTheolearnedocounseloforotheoaccidentohadoallegedlyo takenoplaceoato4.00oa.m.oono2.7.2002oandotheofirstoinformationo reportowasolodgedoato6.15oa.m.oonothatoveryodayomeaningotherebyo thatotheofirstoversionowasodeliveredotootheopoliceopromptlyobyo complainanto Vikas.o Ito iso veryo specificallyo recordedo ino theo documento undero referenceo (Ex.o P48)o thato ao consignmento ofo mangoofruitowasobeingotransportedofromoaoplaceocalledoBilaspuro inodistrictoYamunanagaro(Haryana)otooaoplaceocalledoKotputlioino theoStateoofobearingoregistrationono.oRajasthanoinotruckoHR-37-6194o withorespondento Mano Singho ono theo steeringo wheel.o Theo driveroofotheovehicleowasomaintainingoenormousospeed.oHeocouldo notonegotiateoaofewodrumsoplacedoonoroadounderorepairoandoheo lostocontroloofotheotruckowhichoturnedoturtle.oTheoaccidentowaso allegedlyotheodirectoresultooforashodrivingoonotheopartoofodrivero ManoSingh.oSinceotheofirstoinformationoreportowasolodgedomosto MAHIMA promptly,oitomayobeoveryosafelyopresumedothatocorrectoversiono 4o o o o o wasorenderedobyotheocomplainantotootheopolice.oTheocontentsoofo theofirstoinformationoreportolandotheorequiredocorroborationotoo depositionoofopetitioneroSureshoKumaro(PW1).otheoItomayoalsoobeo veryosafelyopresumedothatoinsuredodidonotofileoinsuranceoclaimoino respectoofotheodamageobecauseoheohadoviolatedotheotermsoofotheo insuranceopolicyobyoplyingotheovehicleoinotheoStateoofoRajasthano althougho theo routeo permito permittedo theo journeyo withino theo StatesoofoPunjaboandoHaryanaoonly.oSinceotheoclaimocouldonotobeo cleared,otheoinsured,oinohisowisdom,odidonotofileotheoclaim.oThereo isonoobigodealoaboutothisoissue.o

17.o Moreovero theo ownero ofo theo trucko haso noto specificallyodeniedotheouseoofohisovehicleowithinotheoareaoofotheo towno ofo Behrodo ono thato morningo ofo Julyo 2,o 2002o ando theo accidentoresultingointoopetitioneroSuresh.oo

18.o Thereo iso overwhelmingo evidenceo availableo ono recordo too proveo thato theo accidento waso directo resulto ofo rasho drivingoonotheopartooforespondentoManoSinghowhoowasoonotheo steeringowheeloofotheotruckobearingoregistrationono.oHR-37-6194o ofotheomeaningoofoJulyo2,o2002.oTheoVehicleohadoturnedoturtleoino theo areao ofo Policeo Stationo Behrodo (Rajasthan).o Issueo No.1o iso decidedoinofavouroofotheopetitioneroaccordingly.o ISSUEoNO.o2oANDo3o

19.oTheoposeroforoconsiderationobeingoidenticalobothotheseo issuesoareotakenoupotogetheroandodealtowith.o

20.o PetitioneroSureshoKumaro(PW.1)ohasotestifiedothato theoheowasotreatedoatoCivilohospital,oBehrodothereafteroheowaso shiftedotooA.I.I.M.S.oDelhioforomoreospecializedotreatment.oHeo wasotreatedothereoasoanoindooropatientoforothreeodays.oHeowaso theno treatedo ato Dr.o S.K.o Gupta'so hospitalo foro 30o dayso aso ano indooro patient.o Heo haso spento ao sumo ofo Rs.o 3,00,000/-ono hiso treatment.o

21.o Sh.oRajatoGargo(PW2)oisotheoproprietoroofoSuvidhao Drugs,oS.K.oHospital,oJagadhriohasoprovedobillsoEx.oP1otooEx.o MAHIMA P30oandoEx.oP47.oo 5o o o o o

22.o Dr.oS.oK.oGuptao(PW3)ohasotestifiedothatopetitionero Sureshowasoadmittedoinohisohospitaloono3.7.2002owithoinjuryoono theo faceo ando head.o Heo hado sufferedo fractureo ofo mandible,o alveolaroandofractureoofomaxillaobilateral.oHeohadoalsoosufferedo theo fractureo ofo nasalo bone.o Theo depressedo fractureso wereo correctedo witho surgicalo interventiono ono 18.7.2002.o Heo waso dischargedofromotheohospitaloono26.7.2002oafterohospitalizationo ofo23odays.oTheodoctorohadoissuedobilloEx.oP31.o

23.o Ex.o P46oisocertificateo issuedobyoao boardo ofo threeo doctorsowhichohadoassessedotheopermanentodisabilityoaso30%o afteroexaminingopetitioneroSureshoKumaroono22.2.2006.o

24.o Ex.oP1otooEx.oP42oandoEx.oP44oareotheomedicalobillso tootheotuneoofoRs.o23,194/-oonly.oSinceotheoinjuredowasoshiftedo fromoaofarooffoplaceoofoBehrodoofohisonativeohomeoinodistricto Yamunanagaroandoheohadospentomoreothanothreeoweeksotimeoaso anoindooropatient,othisoamountoisoroundedooffotooRs.o30,000/-obyo allowingotheoremainingoamountotowardsotheoamountospentoono transport,ospecialodietoandoattendants.oTherefore,otheopetitionero isoawardedotheosumoofoRs.o30,000/-oforotheoamountospentobyohimo ono medicineo ando specialo care.o Heo iso awardedo ao sumo ofo Rs.o 50,000/-oonoaccountoofotheo30%odisabilityosufferedobyohimoinotheo mishap.o Theo petitionero hado sufferedo multipleo fractureso ando ito mayobeoveryosafelyosaidothatoheomustohaveotakenotheoperiodoofo oneo yearo too fullyo recuperateo ando reporto too work.o Heo iso thuso awardedo ao sumo ofo Rs.o 36,000/-o towardso theo losso ofo earningso duringotheoperiodooforecuperationoofooneoyearobyoallowingotheo minimumodailyowagesoofoRs.o100/-oonlyoasoareoavailableoinotheo StateoofoHaryana.oHeoisoawardedoaofurtherosumoofoRs.o5000/-o towardso paino ando sufferings.o Theo petitioner,o iso consequentlyo awardedoaosumoofoRs.o1,21,000/-oasocompensationoonoaccountoofo theoinjuriesotheomishap.oo

25.o Ito haso beeno urgedo byo Sh.o Karnesho Sharma,o Advocate,olearnedo counselo foro theorespondento NO.o3o thatotheo MAHIMA insuranceo companyo cannoto beo heldo liableo too indemnifyo theo 6o o o o o insured.osinceoheohadoviolatedotheotermsoofoinsuranceopolicyobyo plyingo theo vehicleo ino violationo ofo routeo permit.o Statutoryo defencesoareoavailableotootheoinsureroasoareoprovidedoinosectiono 149o(2)oofotheoMotoroVehicleoActoasohasobeenoobservedobyotheo apexo Courto ino Nationalo Insuranceo companyo Ltd.o Vs.o Chellao Bharathmmao2004(4)oRCRo(Civil)o399.oo

26.o Itohasobeenotestifiedoinosoomanyowordsorespondento RameshwaroDayalo(RW3),otheoregisteredoowneroofotheotruckoino question,othatoheohadotheorouteopermitotooplyotheotruckoinotheo StatesoofoPunjabooccurrenceo&oHaryanaoonlyobutotheomishapo hadoatotheoStateoofoThereafterotheoratiooofoNationaloRajasthan.o Insuranceo Companyo Vs.o Chellao Bharathmma'so caseo (supra)o shalloapplyotootheofactsoofotheoinstantocaseoandotheoinsuranceo companyoisonotoliableotooindemnityotheoinsured.o

27.o Ito haso beeno urgedo byo Shrio Karnesho Sharma,o Advocate,ocounselofororespondentono.o3othatoSh.oSureshoKumaro wasoaogratuitousopassengerotravelingoinoaogoodsovehicleoandotheo insuranceocompanyoisonotoliableotoopayocompensationotoohim.oHeo haso reliedo upono Nationalo Insuranceo Co.o Ltd.o Vs.o Bommithio Subbhayammao&oOrs.o(2005-3)oPunjaboLawoReportero546oando NationaloInsuranceoCo.oLtd.oVs.oGulaboSingho&oOtherso2005o ACJo241otoostrikeohomeohisoviewopoint.oHowever,otheoratiooofotheo reportedocaseolawoshallonotoapplyotootheofactsoofotheoinstantocaseo becauseopetitioneroSureshoKumarowasotravelingoconsignmentoofo mangoo fruit.o witho hiso owno Heo hado paido too transporto theo consignmentofromodistrictoYamunanagarotooaoplaceocalledoinotheo StateoofoRajasthanoandoheocannotogratuitousopassenger.oo

28.o IssueoNo.o2ois,oconsequently,odecidedoinofavouroofo theopetitioner,owhooisoentitledotooreceiveoRs.o1,21,000/-heldoaso compensationofromorespondentsoNo.o1oando2.oSinceotheovehicleo waso fullyo insuredo ono theo dayo ofo theo mishap,o theo Newo Indiao insuranceo Companyo respondent.o No.o 3o shallo payo theo compensationo amounto too petitionero Suresho Kumaro buto THEo MAHIMA insuranceocompanyoshallohaveotheorightotoorecoverothisoamounto 7o o o o o fromorespondentoNo.o2oRameshwaroDass,otheoregisteredoownero ofotheotruckoinoquestion,ounderotheotermsoofothisoveryoaward.o (IssueoNo.o3oisodecidedoinofavourooforespondentoNo.o3osinceotheo insuredohadoviolatedotheotermsoandoconditionsoofotheoinsuranceo policyo byo plyingo theo trucko ino sucho areao foro whicho theo routeo permito hado noto beeno obtainedo byo theo registeredo owner.o Theo insureroisonotoliableotooindemnifyotheoinsuredo."o o

6.o o TheopivotaloissueoforoconsiderationobeforeothisoCourtoisotoodetermineo whooshallobeoliableotoocompensateotheoclaimantsowhenotheooffendingovehicleodidonoto possessotheorequisiteorouteopermitotooplyoonotheorouteoinoquestion.oo

7.o o Thisoissueoisonoolongeroresointegra,oasoitohasoalreadyobeenosettledobyoao DivisionoBenchoofothisoCourtoinocaseoinoFAOoNo.o3726-2006otitledoasoUNITEDo INDIAoINSURANCEo CO.o LTD.o V/So SUBHASHo CHANDERoANDo ORS.oTheo Divisiono Bencho heldo thato eveno ino caseso whereo theo offendingo vehicleo lackso theo requisiteopermitotoooperateoonoaoparticularoroute,otheoInsuranceoCompanyoremainso liableotooindemnifyotheolossocausedobyotheovehicle.oTheorelevantoportionoofotheo judgmentoisoreproducedoasounder:oo "Inothisoinsurer'soappeal,olearnedocounselosubmittedothato theooffendingovehicleobeingoaotrucko(RJ-07-G-2333)odidonotohaveo theo requisiteo routeo permito too plyo theo vehicleo ono theo routeo ino question.oLearnedocounseloplacedoheavyorelianceoonoaojudgmento ofoHon'bleotheoApexoCourtoreportedoino2004oACJo2094o(Nationalo InsuranceoCompanyoLimitedoversusoChallaoBharathammaoando others).o Weohaveocarefullyoperusedotheojudgmentoandoweofindothat,o inotheosaidocase,othereowasonoopermitoatoalloinotermsoofodefinitiono ofopermit,oasocontainedoinoSectiono2(31)oofotheoMotoroVehicleso Act,o 1988o (foro shorto theo Act').o Theo saido definition,o ono reproduction,oreadsoasounder:-o 8o o o o o "2(31)o "Permit"o meanso ao permito issuedo byo ao Stateo oro RegionaloTransportoAuthorityooroanoauthorityoprescribedoinothiso behalfounderothisoActoauthorisingotheouseoofoaomotorovehicleoasoao transportovehicle."o WeohaveoalsooperusedoSectiono149oofotheoActowhichorelateso tooinsurer'soliabilityoandoitoisoreproducedoasounder-o "149.oDutyoofoinsurersotoosatisfyojudgmentsoandoawardso againstopersonsoinsuredoinorespectoofothirdopartyorisks.-o

(1)o If,o aftero ao certificateo ofo insuranceo haso beeno issuedo underosub-sectiono(3)oofoSectiono147oinofavouroofotheopersonobyo whomoaopolicyohasobeenoeffected,ojudgmentooroawardoinorespecto ofoanyosucholiabilityoasoisorequiredotoobeocoveredobyoaopolicyo undero clauseo (b)o ofo sub-sectiono (1)o ofo Sectiono 147o (beingo ao liabilityo coveredo byo theo termso ofo theo policy)o (oro undero theo provisionso ofo Sectiono 163A)o iso obtainedo againsto anyo persono insuredobyotheopolicy,othen,onotwithstandingothatotheoinsureromayo beoentitledotooavoidoorocancelooromayohaveoavoidedoorocancelledo theopolicy,o theo insurero shall,o subjecto too theo provisionso ofo thiso section,opayotootheopersonoentitledotootheobenefitoofotheodecreeo anyosumonotoexceedingotheosumoassuredopayableothereunder,oasoifo heowereotheojudgmentodebtor,oinorespectoofotheoliability,otogethero witho anyo amounto payableo ino respecto ofo costso ando anyo sumo payableo ino respecto ofo interesto ono thato sumo byo virtueo ofo anyo enactmentorelatingotoointerestoonojudgments.o

(2)oNoosumoshallobeopayableobyoanoinsurerounderosub-sectiono(1)oinorespectoofoanyojudgmentooroawardounless,obeforeo theocommencementoofotheoproceedingsoinowhichotheojudgmentooro awardoisogivenotheoinsurerohadonoticedothroughotheoCourtoor,oaso theo caseo mayo be,o theo Claimso Tribunalo ofo theo bringingo ofo theo proceedings,ooroinorespectoofosuchojudgmentooroawardosoolongoaso executionoisostayedothereonopendingoanoappeal,oandoanoinsurero toowhomonoticeoofotheobringingoofoanyosuchoproceedingsoisosoo givenoshallobeoentitledotoobeomadeoaopartyotheretooandotoodefendo MAHIMA theoactionoonoanyoofotheofollowingogrounds,onamelyo-o 9o o o o o

(a)othatothereohasobeenoaobreachoofoaospecifiedoconditionoofotheo policy,obeingooneoofotheofollowingoconditions,onamely:-o

(1)o aoconditionoexcludingotheouseoofotheovehicle-o

(a)o forohireoororeward,owhereotheovehicleoisoonotheodateoofotheo contractoofoinsuranceoaovehicleonotocoveredobyoaopermitotooplyo forohireoororeward,ooro

(b)o foroorganisedoracingoandospeedotesting,ooro

(c)o foroaopurposeonotoallowedobyotheopermitounderowhichotheo vehicleoisoused,owhereotheovehicleoisoaotransportovehicle,ooro

(d)o withouto side-caro beingo attachedo whereo theo vehicleo iso ao motorocycle;ooro

(ii)o ao conditiono excludingo drivingo byo ao namedo persono oro personsoorobyoanyopersonowhooisonotodulyolicensed,oorobyoanyo personowhoohasobeenodisqualifiedoforoholdingooroobtainingoao drivingolicenceoduringotheoperiodoofodisqualification;ooroiii)oao conditionoexcludingoliabilityoforoinjuryocausedoorocontributedotoo byoconditionsoofowar,ocivilowar,oriotoorocivilocommotion;ooro

(b)o thatotheopolicyoisovoidoonotheogroundothatoitowasoobtainedo byotheonon-disclosureoofoaomaterialofactoorobyoaorepresentationoofo factowhichowasofalseoinosomeomaterialoparticular.o

(3)o Whereo anyo sucho judgmento aso iso referredotooinosub-sectiono(i)oisoobtainedofromoaoCourtoinoaoreciprocatingocountryo ando ino theo caseo ofo ao foreigno judgmento is,o byo virtueo ofo theo provisionsoofoSectiono13oofotheoCodeoofoCiviloProcedure,o1908o(5o ofo1908)oconclusiveoasotooanyomatteroadjudicatedouponobyoit,otheo insurero(beingoanoinsureroregisteredounderotheoInsuranceoAct,o 1938o(4oofo1938)oandowhetherooronotoheoisoregisteredounderotheo correspondingolawoofotheoreciprocatingocountry)oshallobeoliableo tootheopersonoentitledotootheobenefitoofotheodecreeoinotheomannero andotootheoextentospecifiedoinosub-sectiono(1),oasoifotheojudgmento wereogivenobyoaoCourtoinoIndia:o Providedothatonoosumoshallobeopayableobyotheoinsureroino respectoofoanyosuchojudgmentounless,obeforeotheocommencemento MAHIMA ofotheoproceedingsoinowhichotheojudgmentoisogiven,otheoinsurero 10o o o o o hadonoticeothroughotheoCourtoconcernedoofotheobringingoofotheo proceedingso ando theo insurero too whomo noticeo iso soo giveno iso entitledo undero theo correspondingo lawo ofo theo reciprocatingo country,otoobeomadeoaopartyotootheoproceedingsoandotoodefendotheo actionoonogroundsosimilarotoothoseospecifiedoinosub-sectiono(2).o

(4)o Whereo ao certificateo ofo insuranceo haso beeno issuedo underosub-sectiono(3)oofosectiono147otootheopersonobyowhomoao policyohasobeenoeffected,osoomuchoofotheopolicyoasopurportsotoo restricto theo insuranceo ofo theo personso insuredo therebyo byo referenceotooanyoconditionootherothanothoseoinoclauseo(b)oofosub-sectiono(2)oshall,oasorespectsosucholiabilitiesoasoareorequiredotoo beocoveredobyoaopolicyounderoclauseo(b)oofosub-sectiono(1)oofo sectiono147,obeoofonooeffect:o Providedothatoanyosumopaidobyotheoinsureroinoorotowardso theodischargeoofoanyoliabilityoofoanyopersonowhichoisocoveredobyo theopolicyobyovirtueoonlyoofothisosub-sectionoshallobeorecoverableo byotheoinsurerofromothatoperson.o

(5)oIfotheoamountowhichoanoinsurerobecomesoliableoundero thisosectionotoopayoinorespectoofoaoliabilityoincurredobyoaopersono insuredobyoaopolicyoexceedsotheoamountoforowhichotheoinsurero wouldoapartofromotheoprovisionsoofothisosectionobeoliableoundero theopolicyoinorespectoofothatoliability,otheoinsureroshallobeoentitledo toorecoverotheoexcessofromothatoperson.o

(6)o Ino thiso sectiono theo expressiono "materialo fact"o ando "materialoparticular"omeans,orespectivelyoaofactooroparticularoofo suchoaonatureoasotooinfluenceotheojudgmentoofoaoprudentoinsurero inodeterminingowhetheroheowillotakeotheoriskoand,oifoso,oatowhato premiumoandoonowhatoconditions,oandotheoexpressiono"liabilityo coveredobyotheotermsoofotheopolicy"omeansoaoliabilityowhichoiso coveredobyotheopolicyoorowhichowouldobeosoocoveredobutoforotheo facto thato theo insurero iso entitledo too avoido oro haso avoidedo oro cancelledotheopolicyo(7)oNooinsurerotoowhomotheonoticeoreferredo tooinosub-sectiono(2)oorosub-sectiono(3)ohasobeenogivenoshallobeo MAHIMA entitledotooavoidohisoliabilityotooanyopersonoentitledotootheobenefito 11o o o o o ofoanyosuchojudgmentooroawardoasoisoreferredotooinosub-sectiono

(1)o oro ino sucho judgmento aso iso referredo too ino sub-sectiono (3)o otherwiseothanoinotheomanneroprovidedoforoinosub-sectiono(2)ooro inotheocorrespondingolawoofotheoreciprocatingocountry,oasotheo caseomayobe.o Explanation.o Foro theo purposeso ofo thiso section,o "Claimso Tribunal"omeansoaoClaimsoTribunaloconstitutedounderosectiono 165oando"award"omeansoanoawardomadeobyothatoTribunaloundero sectiono168."o Noneo ofo theo provisionso containedo ino botho theo aboveo Sectionsorefersotoorouteopermit.oUnderotheocircumstances,oweoareo notoinclinedotooaccedeotootheosubmissionsoofolearnedocounseloforo theoappellant,oandofurther,onoosuchopleaowasoeverotakenoinotheo writtenostatementobeforeotheoTribunal.o Accordingly,otheoFAO,obeingodevoidoofomerits,ois,ohereby,o dismissed."o

8.o o Moreover,otheolegalopositionowasoreiteratedobyoCo-ordinateoBenchoofo thisoCourtoinocaseotitledoasoNationaloInsuranceoCompanyoLimitedovs.oRajendero Girio&oOrs.,o2012o(2)oRCRo(Civil)o133,owhereotheooffendingovehicleohadobeeno grantedo ao permito foro operationo withino theo Stateo ofo Rajasthan,o buto theo accidento occurredoinotheoStateoofoHaryana.oTheoCourtoheldoInsuranceoCompanyoliableotoopayo theocompensationoawardedobyolearnedoTribunal.oo

9.o o Furtheroaoperusaloofotheorecordorevealsothatotheodriveroofotheooffendingo vehicleowasohavingoaovalidoandoeffectiveolicenceoatotheotimeoofoaccident.oMoreovero theooffendingovehicleowasofullyoinsuredoonotheodayoofotheoaccidentobyotheoNewoIndiao InsuranceoCompany.oo

10.o o Inosequeloofotheosettledolegaloposition,othisoCourtoisoofotheounequivocalo opinionothatotheolearnedoTribunalofellointooerrorobyofasteningotheoliabilityouponotheo owneroofotheooffendingovehicle.oTheoliabilityotooindemnifyotheoclaimantsosquarelyo I attest to ther aeccsurtascyo awndithotheoInsuranceoCompany.o 12o o o o o

11.o o Ino lighto ofo theo foregoing,o theo presento appealo iso allowed,o ando theo impugnedoawardoisomodifiedotootheoextentothatotheorecoveryorightsograntedotootheo InsuranceoCompanyotoorecoverotheocompensationofromoappellant-registeredoownero ofotheooffendingovehicleoisoherebyosetoaside.oo

12.o o Theo statutoryo amounto ofo Rs.25,000/-o depositedo byo theo appellanto aso requiredounderoSectiono173(2)oofotheoMotoroVehiclesoAct,o1988obeorefundedotoohimo asoperorules.o

13.o o Furthero Insuranceo Companyo iso directedo too disburseo theo currento scheduleofeesotooMr.oPradeepoGoyal,oAdvocate,owithinoaoperiodoofotwentyodaysofromo theodateooforeceiptoofocertifiedocopyoofothisoorder,oinoviewoofoorderodatedo18.07.2024o passedobyothisoCourtoinoFAO-1682-2007.oo

14.o o Pendingoapplications,oifoany,oalsoostandodisposedoof.o o o o o oooooooooooooo oooo o oo(SUDEEPTIoSHARMA)o ooo o o o ooooooooooo o oooooJUDGEoo o

04.03.2025o mahimaooooo oWhetherospeaking/non-speakingo:oSpeakingo ooo ooo oWhetheroreportableoo o oooo:oYeso