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MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

MOTOR VEHICLE ACT 1988 - IMPORTANT


JUDGMENTS
Compiled by H S Mulia
Sr.
No.

Particulars

Page
No

Tort

Section 140

Civil Procedure Code, 1908

Under Section 163-A of M.V. Act

10

Jurisdiction

18

Legal Representative

21

Limitation

24

Workmen Compensation Act

24

Negligence

27

10

Calculation of compensation-Quantum

32

11

Driving Licence

39

12

Private Investigator

52

13
14

Helper- Cleaner- Coolie


Premium and Additional Premium

53
54

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

15

Goods as defined u/s 2(13)

54

16

Goods Vehicle and Gratuitous Passengers

55

17

Vehicle hired/leased

58

18

Which kind of licence required for LMV-LGVHGV-HTV-MGV

59

19

Avoidance Clause

63

20

Injuries and Disabilities

64

21

Review

66

22

Employees State Insurance Act and Employee's

66

Compensation Act
23

Life Insurance:-

67

24

Medical Reimbursement

67

25

Family Pension

67

26

Compassionate Appointment

67

27

Pillion Rider

68

28

Commencement of Policy and Breach of Policy

72

29

Driver-Owner

74

30

Travelling on roof-top of the bus

78

31

Private Vehicle

79

3
32

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

80

Permit

33

Hire and Reward

83

34

Transfer of Vehicle

84

35

Post Mortum Report

85

36

Dishonour of Cheque

86

37

Pay and Recover

87

38

Stepped into the shoe of the owner

94

39

Cover Note

97

40

Hypothecation

97

41

Transfer of the Vehicle

100

42

Public Place u/s 2(34)

101

43

Militant
Murder,
Accident

101

44

Attack- Hijack-Terrorist Attack


Heart
Attack
Arising
out
of

Dismiss for Default

103

45

Stationary Vehicle

103

46

Tractor-Trolley

105

47

Registration of Vehicle/Number Plate

107

48

Stolen Vehicle

108

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

49

Hit and Run - Under Section 161

109

50

Third Party

110

51

Disbursement and Apportionment

110

52

FIR, Charge sheet, Involvement of Vehicle,


Identity of Vehicle

113

53

Necessary Party

115

54

Conductors Licence

115

55

Succession Certificate

116

56

Damage to property

116

57

Settlement

117

58

Mediclaim

118

59

Did not
Servant

60

Railway

118

61

Overloading

119

62

Abate

120

63

Fitness Certificate

121

64

Labourer of Hirer

121

65

IMT

122

Suffer

Financial

Loss/Government

118

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

66

Use of Vehicle other than for registered

123

67

Central Motor Vehicles Rules

124

68

Miscellaneous

125

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

MOTOR VEHICLE ACT 1988 - IMPORTANT JUDGMENTS

Tort
1 -Whether PWD is liable to pay compensation when it is proved
that roads are not maintained properly- held- yes- PWD is
liable on the ground of principle of res ipsa loquitor and
common law.
1987 ACJ 783 (SC)
2- U/s 163A, 166 & 158(6) of MV Act- claim petition- is it
necessary in all case for claimant to file claim petition?
Held no- report under section 158(6) is enough to treat the
same as claim petitionJai Prakash v/s National Insurance Com. Ltd, reported in 2010
(2) GLR 1787 (SC), 2011ACJ 1916 (BOM)
3- Medical negligence- sterilization operation- failure ofliability of State.
2013 ACJ 406 (HP)

Section 140
1- U/S 140 No fault liability claimant need not to plea
and establish negligence he is required to prove that injuries
sustained due to vehicular accident.
2011 ACJ 1603 (Bombay)
But P& H High Court has held ( 2011 ACJ 2128) - in that case
claimant

pleaded

deposition,

he

that

deposed

he

was

that

he

earning
was

Rs

7000

earning

Rs

p/m.

in

3000

p/m.-

whether oral evidence which is contrary to the pleadings could

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

be accepted in absence of any other documentary evidence- held


no.
2-

NFL

application

not

filled

along

with

main

petition-

Tribunal rejected the application filed later on- HC confirmed


the said order- whether valid- held- no- claimant can file NFL
u/s 140 at any time during pendency of main claim petition.
2010 (8) SCC 620.
3- No order of investment can be passed in the order passed
u/s 140 of the M. V. Act.
First Appeal 1749 of 2012 (Coram Jst. Harsha

Devani)

3- Constructive res judicata - Whether order passed u/s 140 of


the

Act,

tribunal

qua
as

negligence
constructive

of

the

res

driver

judicata,

is

binding

while

to

the

deciding

the

claim petition u/s 166 of the Act? - Held- Yes.


F.A.

No.

264

of

2005

dated

15/02/2013,

Minor

Siddharth

Makranbhai.
2012 (2) GLH 465- Siddik U. Solanki.
Judgment delivered in the case of 2012 (2) GLH 465- Siddik U.
Solanki is modified First Appeal No.2103 of 2005 and allied
matters (Coram Jst. Akil Kuresi and Jst.Vipul Pancholi)
4-U/s

140-

Whether

amount

paid

u/s

140

of

the

can

be

recovered in case if the main claim petition is dismissedHeld- No.


2014 ACJ 708 (Raj) SC judgment in the case of O I Com. v/s
Angad Kol, reported in 2009 ACJ 1411, para Nos. 4 to 8 relied
upon

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

5-- An application u/s 140 has to be decided as expeditiously


as possible an order of hear the same along with the main
claim petition is bad.
2013 ACJ 1371 (Bom).

Civil Procedure Code, 1908


1- O 11 R 14- whether claimant has right to seek direction
from Tribunal to direct the other side to produce necessary
documents - held yes
2011

ACJ 1946 (AP) Also see Note 392.

2- O 41 R 33- whether the appellate court has powers to modify


the award in absence of claimant- held yes
2011 ACJ 1570 (Guj)
3- Death of owner of vehicle- application by claimant to join
widow of owner- objected by insurance company on the ground of
limitation- whether objections are maintainable?

Held- no-

scheme of act does not provide for the same2011 ACJ 1717
4- - MV Act u/s 169- CPC whether Tribunal can exercise all
powers of Civil Court without prejudice to the provisions of
Section

169

of

MV

Act?

held-

yes-

Tribunal

can

follow

procedure laid down in CPC


2011 ACJ 2062 (DEL)
5- IC sought to avoid its liability on the ground that though
notice to driver and owner was issued to produce copy of DL
but they did not produce and same amounts to breach of the
terms of the IP- whether IC is held liable- held- yes-Issuance

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

of

notice

neither

proves

objections

of

IC

nor

draws

any

adverse inference against insured2012 ACJ 107- 1985 ACJ 397 SC followed
6- Whether Tribunal can dismiss an application preferred u/O
26 Rule 4 and Order 16 Rule 19 for taking evidence by Court
Commissioner? -Held- No- 2012 ACJ 1623 (Chh)
7- Amendment in claim petition preferred u/s 163A- whether can
be allowed- Held- Yes
2012 ACJ 2809
8-- O-6 R-17 IC moved an application for impleading driver,
owner

and

insurer

of

the

other

vehicle-

whether,

can

be

allowed if claimant does not want any relief against them?Held- No.
2013 ACJ 1116, SC judgments followed.
9- Powers to take additional evidence- when can be allowedGuideline.
2013 ACJ 1399 (P&H)
10- Whether failure of the driver to produce licence u/O 12,
R-8 of CPC

would be sufficient to draw an inference that

driver did not possess a valid and effective licence.


2013 ACJ 2530 (Del).
11-

Execution

Attachment

of

residential

property/house-

whether executing court can pass such order of attachment?Held-

Yes.-

Special

privilege

provided

under

CPC

is

not

applicable in the case of enforcement of award.


2014 ACJ 1467 (P&H) Prem Chand v/s Akashdeep (K. Kannan. J)

10

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

12- CPC - Order 11 Rule 14 - Notice for production of document


by IC - the object of notice is to save time and expenses
only, the cost or the expenses of such evidence could have
been imposed on the owner or the driver of the vehicle and
nothing more, if in response to the notice, the licence was
not produced, the Insurance Company ought to have called for
the

record

of

the

R.T.O.

or

could

have

produced

other

evidence.
Karan Singh v/s Manoharlal, MP High Court, reported in 1989(1)
ACC 291 Para 9.
13-

Tribunal

is

COURT

and

proceedings

before

it

are

judicial proceedings- whether Evidence Act applies to MV Act?


held yes- 2011 ACJ 2228 (JAR)

Under Section 163-A of M.V. Act:1- U/S 166 & 163A- income of deceased more than Rs.40,000whether Tribunal can reject

an application u/s 163A? Held

no- Tribunal ought to have convert the same one u/s 166
2004 ACJ 934 (SC) but See 2014 ACJ 2434 (Gauhati)
2- Unknown assailant fired on driver while he was drivingtruck

dashed

with

tree-

whether

Tribunal

was

justified

in

concluding that accident was a vehicular accident and claimant


is entitled for compensation u/s 163A of MV Act held- yes
2000 ACJ 801 (SC), 2011 ACJ 1658 (MP), one another judgement
of Guj High court, Jst RKAJ
3- U/s 163A- truck capsized- driver died- whether entitled for
compensation-

held

yes-

proved in 163A application

negligence

is

not

required

to

be

11

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

2011 ACJ 2442 (MP)


4- New India Assurance Company Limited vs. Sadanand Mukhi and
Others reported in (2009) 2 SCC 417, wherein, the son of the
owner was driving the vehicle, who died in the accident, was
not regarded as third party. In the said case the court held
that

neither

Section

163-A

nor

Section

166

Motor

Cycle,

would

be

applicable.
5-

The

deceased

was

traveling

on

which

he

borrowed from its real owner for going from Ilkal to his
native place Gudur. When the said motor cycle was proceeding
on Ilkal-Kustagl, National Highway, a bullock cart proceeding
ahead

of

the

said

motor

cycle

carrying

iron-sheet,which

suddenly stopped and consequently deceased who was proceeding


on the said motor cycle dashed bullock cart. Consequent to the
aforesaid incident, he sustained fatal injuries over his vital
part of body and on the way to Govt. Hospital, Ilkal, he died.
It was forcefully argued by the counsel appearing for the
respondent that the claimants are not the `third party', and
therefore, they are not entitled to claim any benefit under
Section 163-A of the MVA. In support of the said contention,
the counsel relied on the decision of this Court in the case
of Oriental Insurance Co. Ltd. v. Rajni Devi, (2008) 5 SCC
736; and New India Assurance Co. Ltd. v. Sadanand Mukhi and
Ors., (2009) 2 SCC 417.
In the case of Oriental Insurance Company Ltd. v. Rajni Devi
and

Others,

(2008)

categorically

held

involved,

liability

the

that

SCC
in
of

736,
a
the

case

wherein,
where

insurance

it

has

been

third

party

is

company

would

be

unlimited. It was also held in the said decision that where,


however, compensation is claimed for the death of the owner or
another passenger of the vehicle, the contract of insurance
being

governed

by

the

contract

qua

IP,

the

claim

of

the

12

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

claimant against the insurance company would depend upon the


terms thereof. It was held in the said decision that Section
163-A of the MVA cannot be said to have any application in
respect of an accident wherein the owner of the motor vehicle
himself

is

involved.

The

decision

further

held

that

the

question is no longer res integra. The liability under section


163-A of the MVA is on the owner of the vehicle. So a person
cannot be both, a claimant as also a recipient, with respect
to claim. Therefore, the heirs of the deceased could not have
maintained a claim in terms of Section 163-A of the MVA. Apex
Court held - the ratio of the aforesaid decision is clearly
applicable to the facts of the present case. In the present
case, the deceased was not the owner of the motorbike in
question. He borrowed the said motorbike from its real owner.
The deceased cannot be held to be employee of the owner of the
motorbike although he was authorised to drive the said vehicle
by its owner, and therefore, he would step into the shoes of
the owner of the motorbike.
2009 (13) SCC 710 Ningmma v/s United India.
6- S. 163A - liability under - liability u/s. 163A is on the
owner of the vehicle as a person cannot be both, a claimant as
also a recipient - for the said purpose only the terms of the
contract of insurance could be taken recourse to - liability
of insurance company was confined to Rs. 1,00,000 - appeal
partly allowed.
2008(5) SCC 736 Rajni Devi
7- Deceased died due to electrocution while engaged in welding
job on a stationary truck and not due to any fault or omission
on the part of driver- whether the claim petition u/s 163A is
maintainable and IC can be held liable?- held- yes- any fault
or omission on the part of driver has no relevance and driver
is not necessary party in claim petition filed u/s 163A

13

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

2011 ACJ 2608- several SC ratios followed


8- U/s 163A- Motorcycle hit a large stone lying on the tar
road- fatal injury- Tribunal found that deceased was negligent
and entitled for compensation- IC led no evidence to point out
that deceased was negligent- IC held liable
2012 ACJ 1- Sinitha but also see A.Sridhar, reported in 2012
AAC 2478 and also see 2004 ACJ 934.
9-

U/s

163A-

maintainable

whether

without

the

joining

claim
the

petition

owner

and

u/s

163A

driver

of

is
the

offending vehicle? -held- yes- since the question of fault is


not of the offending vehicle is of no consequence
2012 ACJ 271
10- - U/s 163A procedure and powers of Tribunal- Tribunal
need not to go into the negligence part- SC decisions referred
to- Guidelines issued
2012 ACJ 1065 (Ker)
11-

U/s

163A-

claimants are

deceased
entitled

died

due

to

heart

attack-

whether

for compensation u/s 163A of the MV

Act?- Held- No- in absence of any evidence to the effect that


deceased

died

due

to

heavy

burden

or

there

any

other

sustainable ground2012 ACJ 1134 (AP)- Murder 2012 ACJ (Ker)


Culpable

Homicide-

Altercation

between

conductor

and

passenger- conductor pushed passenger out of bus passenger


crushed in the said bus conductor prosecuted u/s 324 & 304
of IPC- whether in such situation, since driver failed in his
duty to stop the bus, he is liable for accident. Owner of bus
vicariously held liable and IC is directed to indemnify owner

14

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

of the bus further held that accident was arising out of use
of motor vehicle.
12- u/s 163A- Minor girl travelling in the Auto Rickshaw,
received

injuries

from

the

bottle

thrown

from

the

other

vehicle- whether claim petition u/s 163A is maintainable in


such case? - Held -Yes- 2012 ACJ 1162 (Ker).
13- U/s 163A- whether the compensation has to be awarded u/s
163A- it has to be as per the structure formula given under
the Second Schedule? - Held- Yes- the benefit of filling a
petition on no fault liability can be claimed on the basis of
income with a cap of Rs.40,000/2012 ACJ 1251 (Del)- 2013 ACJ 2870, Gaytri v/s Amir Sing (Del)
- various SC decisions are considered.
14- Earlier direction of High Court to disposed of application
preferred

u/s

166

of

the

Act,

while

deciding

an

appeal

preferred against the order passed u/s 163A of the Act. Held
simultaneous petitions u/s 166 and 163A are not maintainable.
2012 (2) GLH 325- Ravindra Senghani
15- U/s 163A- whether a claim petition is maintainable when
the income of deceased is more than 40,000/- per annum?- HeldNo.
2012 ACJ 1687
16-

U/s

163A-

Claim

petition

under

163A

is

maintainable

against other vehicle, which was not at fault?- Held- Yes.


2012 ACJ 1896-SC judgments followed.
17- Whether claimant can convert an application u/s 166 to
163A and vise versa?- Held- yes- SC judgements followed- 2011
ACJ 721

15

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

2012 ACJ 1986


18-

U/s

163A-

whether

driver

of

the

offending

vehicle

is

required to be joined? Held- Not necessary.


2012 AAC 2495 (Del)
19-

U/s

163A-

collision

between

two

vehicles-

joint

tortfeasor- whether the tortfeasor is entitled to get amount


of compensation?- Held- Yes.
2012 ACJ 2206 (Ker)- 2004 ACJ Deepal G. Soni (SC), relied
upon.
20- U/s 163A- Whether Tribunal can award higher amount than
what is been provided under the Second Schedule? -Held- Yes.
2012 ACJ 2292 (Kar) 2008 ACJ 2148 (SC), Sapna v/s UII Com.
21- Claim petition u/s 163A for the death of the owner is
maintainable? -Held -No- claimants cannot be both i.e owner
and claimant.
2012 ACJ 2400 (MP). 2008 ACJ 1441- Rajni Devi and 2009 ACJ
2020- Ningamma (both SC - followed).
22- Use of vehicle- live electricity wire- driver came in
contact with it died- whether claim petition is maintainable?
-Held- Yes.
2012 ACJ (AP). SC judgments relied upon.
23- Conversion of an application preferred u/s 166 to one
under

163A-

whether

court

can

go

into

the

legality

and

correctness of pleadings at such stage? -Held- No.


2012 AAC 2610 (Del)- 2012 ACJ 2482 (P&H)
24- S.166, S.163A- Claim for compensation - Remedy u/s. 163A
and S. 166 being final and independent of each other, claimant

16

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

cannot pursue

them simultaneously

- Claim

petition finally

determined under S. 163A - Claimant would be precluded from


proceeding further with petition filed under S. 166.
2011 SC 1138- Dhanjibhai K Gadhvi.
25-

The

law

laid

down

in

Minu

B.

Mehta

v.

Balkrishna

Ramchandra Nayan (1977) 2 SCC 441 : (AIR 1977 SC 1248) was


accepted by the legislature while enacting the Motor Vehicles
Act, 1988 by introducing Section 163-A of the Act providing
for payment of compensation notwithstanding anything contained
in the Act or in any other law for the time being in force
that the owner of a motor vehicle or the authorised insurer
shall be liable to pay in the case of death or permanent
disablement due to accident arising out of the use of the
motor

vehicle,

compensation,

as

indicated

in

the

Second

Schedule, to the legal heirs or the victim, as the case may


be, and in a claim made under sub-section (1) of Section 163-A
of the Act, the claimant shall not be required to plead or
establish that the death or permanent disablement in respect
of which the claim has been made was due to any wrongful act
or neglect or default of the owner of the vehicle concerned.
in the judgments of three-Judge Bench in Minu B. Mehta v.
Balkrishna Ramchandra Nayan (1977) 2 SCC 441 : (AIR 1977 SC
1248)
26-

Unknown

vehicle-whether

claim

petition

u/s

163A

is

maintainable?- Held- yes.


2013 ACJ 290 (Del)
27- u/s 163A, 140 & 166 conversion of an application u/s 166
from

163A,

after

getting

permissible- Held No.


2013 ACJ 1082.

an

amount

under

section

140

is

17

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

28- Claim petition u/s 166 and 163-A- An application u/s 163A
is

allowed-

Whether

claim

petition

u/s

166

is

then

maintainable?- Held- No.


2013 ACJ 1779 (Guj)
29- - Claim petition u/s 163-A- income of the deceased is
shown, more than 40,000/-per annum- whether is maintainable? Held- No.
2014 ACJ 2329 (Guj) New.I.A. Com. v/s Pachan Manek Gadhvi.
30-163-A- When it is proved that claimant/deceased himself was
negligent in causing the accident- IC is not liable to pay
compensation.
2013 ACJ 2586 (AP) Bajaj Allianz v/s Gaddam Swami, 2013 ACJ
2622 (Ker) O.I. Com. v/s P.P. Nandanan.
31-163A- Driver and Cleaner sustained injuries while unloading
goods- Whether claim petition u/s 163A is maintainable?- HeldYes.
2014 ACJ 1206
32- Judgments of Sinitha and Shila Dutta are referred to Full
Bench.
2013 ACJ 2856- UII Com. v/s Sunil Kumar
33- Conversion of an application u/s 163A to one u/s 166whether permissible?- Held- Yes.
2014 ACJ 493 (AP),
34-163A- Failure of brakes- whether in such situation, a claim
petition u/s 163A is maintainable?- Held -Yes.
2014 ACJ 1128

18

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

35- U/s 163A- Whether the IC is required to be exonerated in a


case where IC has failed to prove and point out that deceased
himself was negligent- Held- No- IC held liable. 2012 SC 797Sinitha's case.
36- Whether a claim petition u/s 163A is maintainable when
award is already passed u/s 161 of the Act?- Held- Yes.
2012 ACJ 2314 (Chh).
37- Second Schedule of M.V. Act- needs to be revised and
further direction are given to award compensation in the cases
of child aged between 0 to 5 years and 5 to 10 years.
2014 ACJ Puttamma v/s Narayana Reddy (SC).

Jurisdiction:1-Jurisdiction claimant residing in District H- insurance


company is also having having office in District C- whether
the Tribunal at District C has jurisdiction to entertain the
claim petition- held- yes
2009 ACJ 564 (SC)
2-

Accident

occurred

in

Nepal

while

deceased

was

on

pilgrimage- Journey started from India- Opponents are Indian


citizens and having offices in India- Whether claim petition
in India is maintainable- Held- Yes- 2012 ACJ 1452 ((P&H)
3- - Jurisdiction of permanent Lok Adalat guideline.-2012 ACJ
1608.
4-

In

accident

against
claimant

one

of

vehicle
the

preferred

got

IC-

another

damaged-

claim

petition,

application

whether maintainable? -Held- No.

claim

petition
partly

against

filed

allowed-

another

IC-

19

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

2012 AAC 2944 (Chh)- SC judgments followed.


5-

Jurisdiction-

maintainable?-

Damage

Held-

to

No-

property

tribunal

of

has

owner-

whether

jurisdiction

to

entertain only those applications wherein damage is caused to


property of the third party. 2005 ACJ (SC) 1, Dhanraj v/s
N.I.A. Com is relied upon.
2012 ACJ 2737.
6- Jurisdiction- after the death of the her husband, deceased
was staying with her brother- whether claim petition can be
preferred at the place where she is staying with her brother?
-held- Yes.
2012 ACJ 2811
7- U/s 166(2) jurisdiction of Tribunal - Claimant migrant
labourer - Appeal by insurer - Award amount not disputed Setting

aside

jurisdiction
appropriate

of
-

award
Would

Tribunal

on

ground

of

only

result

S.C.

would

lack
in

of

territorial

re-trial

exercise

before

powers

under

Art.142 to do complete justice in such a case.


AIR 2009 SC 1022- Mantoo Sarkar v/s O.I. Com. Ltd.
8-

Jurisdiction

of

Claims

Tribunal

Claim

for

loss

of

business income due to non-use of vehicle - Falls under head


damage to property - Claims Tribunal would have jurisdiction
to entertain and decide such claim.
AIR 2007 Guj 39 but also see 2013 ACJ 1732 (P & H).
9- Jurisdiction- where a claim petition is maintainable- Good
discussion.
2013 ACJ 1787

20

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

10- Cause of action- Jurisdiction- Accident occurred in NepalBus

was

registered

in

India-

Whether

claim

petition

is

maintainable in India?- Held- No.


2013ACJ 1807 (Bih).
11-

Estoppel-

Consumer

court

held

that

driver

was

holding

valid licence and IC is directed to pay amount by Consumer


court-

Whether

IC

can

take

same

defence

before

the

MAC

Tribunal- Held- No. IC is estopped from raising such stand.


2013 ACJ (Kar) 2736.
12- U/s 166(3) as it stood prior to its deletion- accident
occurred

prior

to

the

said

deletion-

claim

petition

filed

after deletion and since years after the accident - whether


claim petition is maintainable? - Held- Yes.
13-

Limitation

claim

petition

filed

in

2005,

whereas

accident occurred in the year 1990- whether claim petition is


time barred?- held- no
2011ACJ 1585 (Jark)
14- Limitation- U/s 166(3) as it stood prior to its deletionaccident occurred prior to the said deletion- claim petition
filed after deletion and since years after the accident whether claim petition is maintainabile? - Held- Yes.
2015 ACJ 221 (Chh)
15-

Tribunal

dismissed

claim

petition

on

the

ground

that

accident is not proved- whether Tribunal erred?- held- yesTribunal is supposed to conduct inquiry not trial in claim
petition and summery procedure has to be evolved- Tribunal
could have invoked power envisaged u/s 165 of Evidence Act
2011 ACJ 1475 (DEL)

21

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

Legal Representative:1- Legal representative- brother & married daughter- evidence


that brother and his family was staying with deceased and
brother was

dependent- whether

claim

petition preferred

by

brother is maintainable? Held- yes


1987 ACJ 561(SC), 2005 ACJ 1618 (Guj), 2012 AAC 2965 (Mad)2014 ACJ 1454 (Mad) - SC judgments followed.
But see 2014 ACJ 1669 (All)- Chandrawati v/s Ram Sewak 2007
ACJ 1279 (SC) Manjuri Bera v/s O I Com. relied on.
2- Widow- remarriage by her- whether claim petition by her
maintainable?- held- yes-whether a widow is divested of her
right to get compensation for the death of her husband on her
remarrying during pendency of claim petition? Held- no
2008ACJ 816( MP), 2003 ACJ 542(MP), 2004 ACJ 1467(MP) 1992 ACJ
1048 (Raj), 2011 ACJ 1625 (Gau), 2013 ACJ 1679 (J & K). 2014
ACJ 950 (AP).
3- Dependants-

death of

unmarried woman-

living separately

from the claimant- held claimant was not dependent and not
entitled for compensation but entitled to get 50000 u/s 140 of
the Act
2012 ACJ 155- 2007 ACJ 1279 SC followed
4- Meaning of legal representative is given u/s 2(11) of CPCwords used u/s 166 of MV Act are legal representative and not
Dependants- therefore, includes earning wife and parents alsofurther held that wife is entitled for compensation, till the
date of her remarriage.
2012 ACJ 1230 (Mad)- considered ratios of SC, reported in 1989
(2) SCC (Supp) 275- Banco v/s Nalini Bai Naique and 1987 ACJ
561 (SC)- GSRTS v/s Ramanbhai Prabhatbhai 2013 ACJ 99 (AP)

22

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

5- Legal representative- live in relationship- second wifewhether she is entitled for compensation, when first wife is
living? - Held- Yes.
2012

ACJ

2586

(AP).

2011

(1)

SCC

141

(live

in

in

relationship- u/s 125 of the Cr.P.C. Man is liable to pay


maintenance).
6- Death of mother during pendency of claim petition- father
of the deceased not considered as dependent- whether proper?Held- No- claim petition ought to have been decided on the
basis that mother of the deceased was alive on the date of
accident, as right to sue accrued on date of accident.
2013 ACJ 19 (Del)
7- Whether on the basis

of succession certificate, brother's

son of deceased gets right to file an application under the


Act for getting compensation- Held- No.
2013 ACJ 1176 (J&K).
Whether

on

the

natural

death

of

the

one

of

the

joint

claimants, succession certificate is required to produced so


as to enable Tribunal to pass an order of disbursement of the
awarded amount, falling in the share of deceased claimant?Held- No.
2014 ACJ 891 (MP).
To get awarded amount, L.R. Are not required to get succession
certificate-

SC

judgment

in

the

case

of

Rukhsana

v/s

Nazrunnisa, 2000 (9) SCC 240 followe.


2014 ACJ 2501 (Raj)
8- Compensation cannot be denied to the members of the family
of the sole breadwinner.

23

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

1987 ACJ 561 (SC) -GSRTC v/s Ramanbhai Prabhatbhai. See also
2013 ACJ 2793 (Mad)- UII Com. v/s Poongavanam.
9- Legal representative- Adopted daughter- whether said to LR?
-Held- Yes2013 ACJ 2708 (P&H)
10-

Legal

representative-

charitable society

who

death

of

renounced

member

of

the world-

registered

whether, claim

petition by society is maintainable?- Held- Yes.


2014 ACJ 667 (SC) (FB) Montford Brothers v/s UII Com.
11-

Remarriage

of

Widow-

Whether

dis-entitled

her

to

get

compensation?- Held No.


2014 ACJ 950 (AP).
12- Legal representative and legal heirs-

u/s 166 words Legal

representative are use whereas, u/s 163-A words


are used. Therefore,

Legal heirs

Legal representative of deceased is not

entitled to claim compensation u/s163-A of the Act.


2014

ACJ

1492

(Ker)-

Kadeeja

v/s

Managing

Director,

KSRTC

dated 18.10.2013.
13- Claim petition filed by the children of deceased from the
first marriage on the ground that claim petition filed by the
second wife is allowed- whether proper?- Held- Yes.

- As

amount of compassion received by the L.R. Of deceased deemd to


be hold by him on behalf of all L.R.-

children of deceased

from

to

the

first

marriage

recovery.
2014 ACJ 2504(All)

are

directed

file

suit

for

24

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

14- Legal representative- live in relationship- second wifewhether she is entitled for compensation, when first wife is
living? - Held- Yes.
2012

ACJ

2586

(AP).

2011

(1)

SCC

141

(live

in

in

relationship- u/s 125 of the Cr.P.C. Man is liable to pay


maintenance).
2007 (7) SCJ 467- Hafizun Begum v/s Md. Ikram Heque.

Limitation:1- Limitation claim petition filed in 2005, whereas accident


occurred in the year 1990- whether claim petition is time
barred?- held- no
2011 ACJ 1585 (Jark)
2- Limitation- U/s 166(3) as it stood prior to its deletionaccident occurred prior to the said deletion- claim petition
filed after deletion and since years after the accident whether claim petition is maintainabile? - Held- Yes.
2015 ACJ 221 (Chh)

Workmen Compensation Act:1- Receipt of compensation by claimant under WC Act, without


there being any application by claimant under the WC Act whether claimant is at liberty to file an application u/s 166
and/ or 163A of MV Act? - held- yes- there is no bar for
claimant to file an application u/s 163A of MV Act as he has
not made any application under WC Act
ACJ 2003 934 (SC), 2003 ACJ 1434 (P&H), 2011 ACJ 1786 (KAR)

25

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

2-Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 - S. 147, 149, 166, 167, 173 Workmen's Compensation Act, 1923 - S. 3 - appeal against the
order of High Court directing appellant to satisfy whole award
- motor accident case - fatal - third party risk involved liability

of

applicability

vehicle
of

owner

Workmen's

and

insurer

Compensation

to
Act

be
-

decided
accident

of

truck - driver died on the spot - heirs of deceased contended


that truck was 15 years old and was not in good condition and
was not well maintained - claim for compensation - truck owner
denied his fault on the ground that driver was drunk at the
time

of

the

accident

Tribunal

dismissed

claim

petition

holding fault of driver for the accident - claimants preferred


appeal before High Court - High Court observed that accident
took place because the arm bolt of the truck broke and not due
to the fault of driver - awarded Rs. 2,10,000/- with 10%
interest as a compensation and directed appellant to satisfy
whole award - appellant company defended itself on the ground
that as per S. 147 and 149 of the Motor Vehicles Act is
concerned, liability of the insurer is restricted up to the
limit provided by W.C. Act - insurer-appellant preferred this
leave petition - whether appellant insurance company is liable
to pay the entire compensation to claimant or its liability is
restricted to the limit prescribed in W.C. Act held -yesfurther held that the insurance policy was for 'Act Liability'
and so the liability of appellant would not be unlimited but
would be limited as per W.C. Act - appellant directed to pay
claim amount up to the extent prescribed in W.C. Act and owner
of truck is directed to pay remaining claim amount
2004 (6) SCC 172- N.I.C v/s Prembai Patel
3- Driver hit his truck against tree- IC raised objection that
its liability is restricted to liability under the W.C Actwhether
override

sustainablestatutory

held

provisions

No-

Clause

of

Section

of

policy

167,

which

cannot
gives

26

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

option to claimant to opt any of the remedy provided under the


Act
2012 ACJ 23 2006 ACJ 528 SC followed
4- Claim petition under M.V. Act after getting compensation
under the W.C. Act- whether maintainable- held- yes- deceased
died due to injuries sustained by chassis of the bus owned by
the

corporation

deceased died

of

which

deceased

was

the

employee-

in motor accident claim petition under

as
M.V.

Act also, maintainable


2012 ACJ 239- 2003 ACJ 1759 (Guj) followed
5-

Doctrine

of

election-

whether

claimant

can

claim

compensation u/s 168 of the Act when he has already received


some amount under the WC Act? - Held- No.
2012 ACJ 2069 Sc judgment

followed.

6- W.C. Act- Employer suo motu paid compensation to the L.R of


deceased u/s 8 of the W.C. Act.- claim petition preferred
earlier by the L.R. Of deceased- whether I.C. Can claim that
amount paid under the W.C. Act may be deducted from the amount
of compensation which may be awarded u/s 166 7 168 of M.V.
Act?- Held- No. - Since compensation is paid u/s 8 of the W.C.
Act, Section 8 and L.R. Of deceased had not preferred any
application u/s 10 of the W.C. Act, argument of I.C. Is turned
down.
2013 ACJ 709.
7- Whether Tribunal can award compensation on the basis of
provisions contained under the W.C. Act? - Held -No.
2012 ACJ 2251 (Mad)

27

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

8- I.C is liable to pay entire amount of compensation and not


only under Liability of W.C. Act.
2013 ACJ 2205 (Del)

Negligence:Negligence- Apex court observed that HC was not cognizant of


the principle that in road accident claim, strict principles
of proof as required

in criminal case are not attracted- once

eye witness who has taken the claimant to the road accident
for treatment, immediately after the accident has deposed in
favour of claimant, HC was not right in holding that accident
is

not

proved

and

claimant

is

not

entitled

for

any

compensation- SC allowed claim petition of injured claimant


2011 ACJ 1613 (SC)
2-

Confessional

statement

made

by

driver

of

the

offending

vehicle, before the trial court- whether, in such situation,


claimant is required to prove the negligence of the offending
vehicle- held- no- 2011 ACJ 2548, 2011 ACJ 2568
3-

Composite

accident

negligence-

occurred

between

non-joinder
two

of

vehicles-

joint

tortfeasor-

claimant

impleaded

only one vehicle- effect of- whether the tortfeasor impleaded


can

seek

exclusion

of

liability

on

the

ground

that

other

tortfeasor has not been joined?- Held- No- Third party has a
choice of action against any of the tortfeasor but in such
situation,
claimant

Tribunal's

to

join

the

is

duty

other

bound

to

tortfeasor

either
or

pass

direct
the

the

award

against the impleaded tortfeasor, leaving it open for him to


take

independent

action

apportionment and recovery.


2012 ACJ 1103 (P&H)

against

other

tortfeasor

for

28

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

4- Is it incumbent upon the claimants to prove negligence of


the offending vehicle? Held -Yes- if they fail to do so, claim
petition preferred u/s 166 cannot be allowed.
2012 ACJ 1305 (SC) Surendra Kumar Arora v/s Dr. Manoj Bisla
5- Negligence- contributory negligence- claimant travelling on
rooftop- such travelling by claimant is negligent but unless
negligent act contributes to the accident- claimant cannot be
held negligent.
2012 ACJ 1968.
6-

Collision

driving

of

between

tanker-

Tanker

owner

and

and

Jeep-

driver

rash

of

and

jeep

negligent

not

joined-

whether claim petition can be dismissed on that ground?- HeldNo-

owner and driver of jeep not necessary party.

2012 AAC 2479(All)


7- Pedestrian under the influence of liquor- hit by truck from
behind- whether such pedestrian can he held liable for such
accident- Held- No.
2012 ACJ 2358 (MP).
8- Negligence- Finding with respect to negligence- whether can
be arrived at on the basis of filling of FIR and Chargesheet?
- Held- No.
2012 AAC 2701 (Del) and 2012 AAC 2934 (MP)- SC judgments
followed.
9-

Contributory

negligence-

negligent in the accident.


2013 ACJ 673.

Child-

Child

cannot

be

held

29

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

10- - Negligence- Conviction in the criminal Court- whether


findings

of

the

Criminal

Court

is

binding

on

the

Claims

Tribunal- Held- No.


2013 ACJ 1042.
11- Contributory Negligent- Non possession of driving licencewhether falls under it? -Held No it is not a case of
contributory negligence.- difference between contributory and
composite negligence pointed out.
2013 ACJ 1297 (Pat).
12-

Negligence- While reversing the vehicle- Guideline.

2013 ACJ 1357 (Chh)


13- Unmanned level crossing- accident by Train- whether Rail
authority is liable to pay compensation- Held- Yes.
2013 ACJ 1653.
14- Accident occurred without negligence of the driver- No
other vehicle involved- Accident occurred because truck rolled
down on the slope- Whether IC is liable? -Held Yes.
2013 ACJ 1993 (Chh)
15- Negligence- Helmet- not wearing of- deceased a pillion
rider, was not wearing helmet and IC took objection that as
deceased was not wearing held as per the traffic rules, he
contributed

in

the

accident

and,

therefore,

IC

may

be

exonerated- whether tenable?- Held- No.


2013 ACJ 2038 (Del). 2014 ACJ 869 (P&H)
16- It is no doubt true that finding of Criminal Court is not
binding

on

the

Tribunal

but

if

claimant

has

admitted

his

30

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

negligence

in

Criminal

Proceeding,

same

is

binding

on

the

under

the

Tribunal.
2013 ACJ 2257 (Del)
17-

Negligence-

influence

of

Contributory

the

negligence-

Alcohol-

Guidelines

driving
for

assessment

of

negligence.
2013 ACJ 2349 (Chh)
18-

Res

judicate-

negligence-

when

findings

giving

in

the

other case is not binding? - Principles stated.


2013 ACJ 2283 (MP)
19- 163-A- When it is proved that claimant/deceased himself
was negligent in causing the accident- IC is not liable to pay
compensation.
2013 ACJ 2586 (AP) Bajaj Allianz v/s Gaddam Swami, 2013 ACJ
2622 (Ker) O.I. Com. v/s P.P. Nandanan
20-

Under

the

influence

of

liquor/alcohol

Negligence-

guidelines for consideration.


2013 ACJ 2712 (SC) Dulcina Fernandes v/s Joaquim Xavier.
21- Composite & contributory negligence- Whether Tribunal is
required

to

decide

quantum

of

negligence

in

case

where

claimant is third partly- Held -No.- Further held that claim


is not required to join both the tortfeasors.
2014 ACJ 704 (SC) (FB) Pawan Kumar v/s Harkishan Dass Mohan.
22- Contributory negligence- Minor- No specific evidence that
accident had taken place due to rash and negligent driving of
minor- Only because minor was not having licence to pay any
vehicle and was prohibited by law, it does not mean that minor

31

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

contributed in the accident. Therefore, in absence of cogent


evident it cannot be held that it was a case of contributory
negligence.
2013 1012 (SC) Meera Devi v/s HSRTC
23-163-A- When it is proved that claimant/deceased himself was
negligent in causing the accident- IC is not liable to pay
compensation.
2013 ACJ 2586 (AP) Bajaj Allianz v/s Gaddam Swami, 2013 ACJ
2622 (Ker) O.I. Com. v/s P.P. Nandanan
24- Pay and recover- Accident by negligent driving of MinorLiability of Financier order of pay and recover only against
owner/financier and not against minor
2014 ACJ 660 (Del), IC is held liable to pay

and recover as

same is liable under the contractual liability. 2014 ACJ 2298


(Del)
25-- Contributory negligence- Minor- No specific evidence that
accident had taken place due to rash and negligent driving of
minor- Only because minor was not having licence to pay any
vehicle and was prohibited by law, it does not mean that minor
contributed in the accident. Therefore, in absence of cogent
evident it cannot be held that it was a case of contributory
negligence.
2014 ACJ 1012 (SC) Meera Devi v/s HSRTC
26- Negligence- Criminal Trial- Acquittal- whether order of
criminal court is binding on the Tribunal- Held- No.
2014 ACJ 1174
27- IC seeks to avoid it liability on the ground that A was
driving the vehicle- claimant claimed that vehicle was being

32

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

driven by B- IC sought reliance on statement made u/s 161 of


Cr.P.C and chargesheet- same

are not substantive piece of

evidence- even IC has failed to prove the contents of the same


no other evidence was produced by IC to point out that
particular person was plying the vehicle- IC held liable
2011 ACJ 2213 (ALL)

Calculation of compensation-Quantum:1-Whether deduction towards EPF and GIS be made in calculating


income of the deceased?- held- no
2011 ACJ 1441(SC), 2014 ACJ 1416 (SC) (FB) Manasvi Jain v/s
Delhi

Transport

Corporation.,

2014

ACJ

1430

(SC)

(FB)

Ramilaben Chnubhai Parmar v/s Nii Com.


2- Pregnant woman suffered injury which led to death of child
in the womb -

foetus- Rs 2 lacs awarded for the death of the

child in the womb - 2005 ACJ 69 (KAR), 2067 ACJ 2067 (MP),
2011 ACJ 2400 (MAD), 2011 ACJ 2432 (SC), 2014 ACJ 2509 (P&H),
Kusuma's case, 2011 ACJ 2432(SC) - SC judgment followed
3-Quantum- deceased last year student of B. Tech-relying upon
several Supreme Court decisions, income taken as Rs 12K per
month- 10% deducted as he was in the final year of B.Tech- RS
10,800/- as monthly income considered
2011 ACJ 2403 (AP), 2011 ACJ 2082(P&H), 2011 ACJ 1702(AP)
4- Coolie- suffered loss of hand- amputation of hand- SC held
it to be case of 100% functional disablement2011 ACJ 2436 (SC)
5- House wife- quantum- Rs 3,000/- p/m awarded

33

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

2011

ACJ

1670

(DEL),

Lata

Wadhwa,

reported

in

2001

ACJ

1735(SC)
In case of Arun Kumar Agrawal, reported in 2010(9) SCC 218,
Apex Court has awarded compensation taking monthly income of
wife at Rs. 5,000/- p/m.
6-Principle of assessment of quantum- determination of incomewhether HRA, CCA and MA, paid by employer should be taken in
to consideration held- yes2011 ACJ 1441 (SC)
7- Multiplier- unmarried son- proper multiplier- average age
of parents to be considered
2011 (7) SCC 65= 2011 ACJ 1990 (SC)= 2011 (3) SCC (Civil) 529Shyam Singh but differing views in P.S. Somnathan v/s Dist.
Insurance Officer, reported in 2011 ACJ 737 and Amrit Bhanu
Shali v/s NI
v/s

NI

Com., reported in 2012 ACJ 2002 and Saktidevi

Com, reported in 2010 (14) SCC 575 = 2012 (1) SCC

(Civ) 766
8-Loss of dependency- deceased lady aged 31- claimant husband,
not

financially

dependent

on

the

deceased-

whether

he

is

entitled for compensation for loss of dependency held- no


2011 ACJ 1734 (DEL)
But in case of Arun Kumar Agrawal, reported in 2010(9) SCC,
Apex Court has awarded compensation taking monthly income of
wife at Rs. 50000 p/a.
9-Deceased aged 57- multiplier of 9 awarded by SC- relying on
Sarla Verma
10-Tribunal

deducted

1/3

from

the

income

of

decease-

contention of IC that as deceased was unmarried, 50% should

34

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

have been deducted- whether Tribunal erred in deducting only


1/3 amount as personal expenditure?- held no
2009 ACJ 2359(SC), 2004 ACJ 699 (SC), 2006 ACJ 1058 (SC), 2008
ACJ 1357(SC), 2009 ACJ 1619 (SC)
11- Deduction in case of death of bachelor- whether it should
be 2/3 or 1/3? held 1/3 deduction is just and proper- 2009
ACJ 2359(SC)- Deo Patodi followed
2011 ACJ 2518
12-

/s

168-

compensation-

statutory

provisions

clearly

indicates that compensation must be just and it cannot be a


bonanza, not a source of profit but the same should not be a
pittance1999 ACJ 10 (SC)
13- Foreign citizen- pound or dollar- rate of exchange- the
rate prevailing on the date of award should be granted- 2002
ACJ 1441 (SC) Patricia Jean Mahajan followed
2011 ACJ 2677
14-

Receipt

of

income

in

foreign

currency-

Pound-

Dollar-

amount of compensation is required to be awarded at prevalent


rate of conversion- 2012 ACJ 349
15- Whether the dependents of agriculturist is entitled for
prospective income- Held- Yes2012 ACJ 1428 (SC) Santosh Devi
16- Compensation- determination of death of the owner of
transport company- was managing the company- can be managed by
the

manager-

in

fact,

manager

was

appointed

and

paid

Rs.10,000- SC awarded compensation on that basis and not on


the basis of actual income of the deceased.

35

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

2012 (3) SCC 613 Yogesh Devi.


17-

SC granted 100% increase in the actual income of the

deceased

and

deducted

only

1/10

amount

as

personal

expenditure.
2012 ACJ 2131 (SC) -N.I. A. Com. v/s Dipali.
18- No proof of income- In such case, compensation should be
assessed on the basis of minimum wages payable at relevant
time.
2012 ACJ 28 (SC)- Govind Yadav.
19- Future income in the case the case where age of deceased
is more than 50? - whether can be considered?- Held- yes but
only

in

exceptional

cases.-

K.R.

Madhusudhan

v/s

Administrative Officer, 2011 ACJ 743


20- Best example of the case where injured was a government
servant and met with accident but because of accident he did
not suffer any salary loss- good observations of House of
Lords, reported in 1912 AC 496.
2013 ACJ 79 para 20.,
In Lt. Colonel Anoop malhotra v/s Chhatar

Singh, 2014 ACJ

1991 (Raj), a case of Lt. Colonel who after the accident


declared unfit to be Lt. Colonel and was posted as Colonel in
Civil Wings. Inspite of the fact that his income did not
decrease, compensation under the other heads allowed.
21- Government servant- injury case- what should be the basis
for computation of amount of compensation?- Whether multiplier
of 5 would be applied or 25% income should be considered? Two

Views

First

says

that

multiplier

of

would

be

applicable- Dahyabhai Parmar v/s Ramavtar sharam, reported in


2006 (4) GLR 2844 and case reported in 1993 (2) GLR 1046-

36

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

whereas second view says that 25% of the salary income should
be considered-

Mohanbhai Gemabhai v/s. Balubhai Savjibhai,

reported in 1993(1) GLR 249 and 2013 ACJ 79 para 20.


22- In the fatal accident cases Rupees One lac may be granted
under the head of consortium and loss of estate, each and
Rupees 25K be given under the head of funeral expenditure.
2013 ACJ 1403 (SC FB) Rajesh v/s Rajinder Singh. Followed
also

in

Kalpanaraj

v/s

TSRTC,

2014

ACJ

1388

(SC).

Also

followed in Kala Devi v/s Bhagwan Das Chauhan, 2014 ACJ 2875
(SC)
23- In the case of Jiju Kuruwila v/s Kunjujamma Mohan, 2013
ACJ 2141 (SC), it is held that each child of the deceased is
entitled for Rs.1,00,000/- under the head of loss of love and
affection.
24-

Death

of

Agriculturist-

Determination

of

compensation-

Guideline given.
2013 ACJ 1481
25- Accident of Film/TV actress- Guideline for compensation
and medical bills
2013 ACJ 2161 (SC) Rekha Jain v/s N.I.Com.
26- Fatal Accident- Business man- Claimants did not adduced
any

evidence

with

respect

to

the

future

income

of

the

claimant. - Not entitled for it.


2013 ACJ 2269 (Ori)
27- Principle for assessment of compensation in the case where
minor has sustained disability- guideline.
2013 ACJ 2445 (SC) Mallikarjun v/s Division Manager.

37

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

28- Student of Engineering- Fatal- SC assessed compassion to


the tune of Rs.7 lakhs.
2013 ACJ 2860 (SC) - Radhakrishna v/s Gokul
29- Rs.1,25,000/- is awarded under the head of PSS and Future
Attendance Charges.
2014 ACJ 23 (Guj) Shaileshkmar Natwarji Thakore
30- Paraplegia- in such case disability shall be considered as
100%.
2014 ACJ 107 (P&H),2014 ACJ 595 (HP)
31-

Unborn

Child-

death

of-

amount

of

compensation-

guidelines.
2014 ACJ 353(Mad).
32- Injury to Advocate- Calculation of loss of Income.
2014 ACJ 617 (SC) Manjegowda, 2014 ACJ 653 (SC) Sanjay Kumar
v/s Ashok Kumar
33- Quantum of assessment of loss of Leave in the case of
government servant- principles laid down.
2014 ACJ 1090
34- Quantum Assessment in the fatal case - Ratio laid down
in

the

case

of

Rajesh

v/s

Rajbir

2013

ACJ

1403

(SC)

qua

consortium, funeral expenditure etc is followed 2014 ACJ


1261 (SC) - Savita v/s Bindar Singh. Also see 2014 ACJ 1565
(SC) Anjani Singh v/s Salauddin.
35- Whether 1/3 amount under the head of personal expenditure
can be deducted from the notional income (of Rs.3,000/-) of a
housewife?- Held- No. Good discussion.

38

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

2104 ACJ 1817


36- Public Document- Income Tax Certificate issued by C.A.
(Chartered

Accountant)

whether

same

is

admissible

in

evidence as same is public document?- Held- Yes.


2014 ACJ 2348 (Sikkim)
37- Interest income tax- TDS- guideline
2007 ACJ 1897 (GUJ)
38- Income Tax- Deduction from the amount of compensationinterest

received

on

the

awarded

amount

of

compensation,

amounting to more than 50,000/- Tribunal can deduct TDS on the


said amount of accumulated interest?- Held- No- Tribunal can
deduct TDS only if the amount of interest for the financial
year payable to each claimant exceeds Rs. 50000/-

2012 ACJ

1157 (MP).
In the year 2013, amendment came to made in Section 169 Income
Tax Act, and now same is made taxable.
39- Claimants are entitled for entire pay package, which is
for

the

benefit

of

the

family

is

to

be

taken

into

consideration.
2008 ACJ 614 (SC)- Indira Srivastava
2009 ACJ 2161 (SC)- Saroj
40- M.V. Act- C.P.C.1908, u/s 2- illegitimate minor son is
entitled to get any amount of compensation? -Held- Yes.
2012 ACJ 2322 (Chh).
41- Interest-

Penal interest-

whether imposition

of

higher

rate interest with retrospective effect is legal? - Held- No.


- If awarded amount is not deposited with in time allowed,

39

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

reasonable enhanced rate of interest may be imposed, payable


from

the

date

till

the

date

of

payment

but

not

retrospectively.
2012 ACJ 2660. SC Judgments followed.
42-

Loss

of

academic

year-

what

should

be

amount

of

compensation- Held- Rs.50,000/-.2012 AAC 3126.


43- Death of house wife- quantum should be decided on the
basis of notional income i.e. 3,000/- p.m.- 1/3 amount is not
required to be deducted as notional income is assessed.
2013 ACJ 453 (Del)- SC judgments followed.
43- Allowances like D.A., contribution of employer towards P.F
etc are part and parcel of the income of deceased? - heldyes.
2013 ACJ 504 (Del),

2013 ACJ 1441 (SC) Vimal Kumar v/s

Kishore Dan

Driving Licence:1- Whether the verification report of driving licence issued


by District Transport Officer is a public document and can be
relied
obtained

upon?by

held-

no-

private

unapproved

person

cannot

verification
be

treated

report

as

public

document
2011 ACJ 2138 (DEL)
2- IC took defense that driver was

not holding the valid

licence to drive- IC did not examine any witness in this


regard-

mere

marking

of

reliance

exhibit

on

does

document- IC held liable

the
not

exhibited
dispense

driving

with

the

licenceproof

of

40

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

AIR 1971 SC 1865, 2011 ACJ 1606 ((P&H)


3- Whether IC is liable even if the driver had forged driving
licence?- held- yes-mere fact of licence being forged is not
enough to absolve the IC from liability
2004 ACJ 1 (SC), 2011 ACJ 1611 (HP)
4- Driving licence- Tribunal exonerated IC, relying upon the
photo copy of the it- none of the parties have proved the
contents of photocopy of the licence- whether Tribunal erred
in exonerating IC?- held- yes-as photocopy of licence was not
duly proved
2011 ACJ 1461 (MP), 2011 ACJ 1606 (P&H ) 1971 SC 1865 relied
upon
5- Whether IC is liable even if the driver had forged driving
licence?- held- yes-mere fact of licence being forged is not
enough to absolve the IC from liability
2004 ACJ 1 (SC), 2011 ACJ 1611 (HP)
6-

Driving

licence-

DL

issued

on

7.8.79-

renewed

for

the

period between 18.11.89 to 17.11.92- again renewed for the


period

between

27.7.95

to

17.11.98-

accident

occurred

on

30.9.94- whether IC can avoid its liability on the ground that


driver was not having valid and effective DL on the date of
accident?- held- no- word effective licence used u/s 3 of
Act, cant be imported to section 149(2)- breaks in validity
or

tenure

of

DL

does

not

attract

provisions

for

disqualification of the driver to get DL- IC held liable


2011 ACJ 2337 (ALL)
7- DL- IC seeks to avoid its liability on the ground that DL
was renewed by RTO clerk and not by

authorized officer of

41

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

RTO- IC failed to examined the responsible officer of RTO to


prove its case- whether IC is liable- held- yes
2011 ACJ 2385 (J&K)
8- Following principles/guideline laid down by Full Bench of
SC in Para no. 108 in the case of N.I. Com. v/s Swaran Singh,
reported in 2004 (1) JT 109 = 2004 (1) GLH 691 (SC)- (also see
Point No- 103)
(i)

Chapter

XI

of

the

Motor

Vehicles

Act,

1988

providing

compulsory insurance of vehicles against third-party risks is


a social welfare legislation to extend relief by compensation
to victims of accidents caused by use of motor vehicles. The
provisions of compulsory insurance coverage of all vehicles
are with this paramount object and the provisions of the Act
have to be so interpreted as to effectuate the said object.
(ii) An insurer is entitled to raise a defence in a claim
petition filed u/s. 163A or Sec. 166 of the Motor Vehicles
Act, 1988 , inter alia, in terms of Sec. 149(2)(a)(ii) of the
said Act.
(iii) The breach of policy condition e.g. disqualification of
the

driver

or

invalid

driving

licence

of

the

driver,

as

contained in sub-sec. (2)(a)(ii) of Sec. 149, has to be proved


to have been committed by the insured for avoiding liability
by the insurer. Mere absence, fake or invalid driving licence
or disqualification of the driver for driving at the relevant
time, are not in themselves defences available to the insurer
against either the insured or the third parties. To avoid its
liability towards the insured, the insurer has to prove that
the insured was guilty of negligence and failed to exercise
reasonable care in the matter of fulfilling the condition of
the policy regarding use of vehicles by a duly licensed driver
or one who was not disqualified to drive at the relevant time.

42

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

(iv) Insurance companies, however, with a view to avoid their


liability must
raised

in

not only

the

said

establish the

proceedings

available defence(s)

but

must

also

establish

"breach" on the part of the owner of the vehicle; the burden


of proof wherefore would be on them.
(v) The court cannot lay down any criteria as to how the said
burden would be discharged, inasmuch as the same would depend
upon the facts and circumstances of each case.
(vi) Even where the insurer is able to prove breach on the
part of the insured concerning the policy condition regarding
holding of a valid licence by the driver or his qualification
to drive during the relevant period, the insurer would not be
allowed to avoid its liability towards the insured unless the
said breach or breaches on the condition of driving licence
is/are so fundamental as are found to have contributed to the
cause

of

the

accident.

The

Tribunals

in

interpreting

the

policy conditions would apply "the rule of main purpose" and


the

concept

of

"fundamental

breach"

to

allow

defences

available to the insurer u/s. 149(2) of the Act.


(vii)

The

question,

as

to

whether

the

owner

has

taken

reasonable care to find out as to whether the driving licence


produced by the driver (a fake one or otherwise), does not
fulfill

the

requirements

of

law

or

not

will

have

to

be

determined in each case.


(viii) If a vehicle at the time of accident was driven by a
person having

a learner's

licence, the

insurance companies

would be liable to satisfy the decree.


(ix) The Claims Tribunal constituted u/s. 165 read with Sec.
168 is empowered to adjudicate all claims in respect of the
accidents involving death or of bodily injury or damage to
property of third party arising in use of motor vehicle. The

43

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

said power of the Tribunal is not restricted to decide the


claims inter se between claimant or claimants on one side and
insured,

insurer

and

driver

on

the

other

(this

view

is

followed in the case of KUSUM- see point no- 101). In the


course

of

adjudicating

the

claim

for

compensation

and

to

decide the availability of defence or defences to the insurer,


the Tribunal has necessarily the power and jurisdiction to
decide disputes inter se between the insurer and the insured.
The decision rendered on the claims and disputes inter se
between the insurer and insured in the course of adjudication
of claim for compensation by the claimants and the award made
thereon is enforceable and executable in the same manner as
provided in Sec. 174 of the Act for enforcement and execution
of the award in favour of the claimants.
(x) Where on adjudication of the claim under the Act the
Tribunal

arrives

satisfactorily
provisions

of

at

proved
Sec.

conclusion

its

defence

149(2)

read

that
in

the

insurer

accordance

with

sub-sec.

has

with
(7),

the
as

interpreted by this Court above, the Tribunal can direct that


the insurer is liable to be reimbursed by the insured for the
compensation and other amounts which it has been compelled to
pay to the third party under the award of the Tribunal. Such
determination of claim by the Tribunal will be enforceable and
the money found due to the insurer from the insured will be
recoverable on a certificate issued by the Tribunal to the
Collector in the same manner u/s. 174 of the Act as arrears of
land revenue. The certificate will be issued for the recovery
as arrears of land revenue only if, as required by sub-sec.
(3) of Sec. 168 of the Act the insured fails to deposit the
amount awarded in favour of the insurer within thirty days
from the date of announcement of the award by the Tribunal.
(xi) The provisions contained in sub-sec. (4) with the proviso
thereunder

and

sub-sec.

(5)

which

are

intended

to

cover

44

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

specified
insurer

to

contingencies
recover

the

mentioned
amount

paid

therein

to

enable

the

under

the

contract

of

insurance on behalf of the insured can be taken recourse to by


the Tribunal and be extended to claims and defences of the
insurer against the insured by relegating them to the remedy
before

regular

circumstances

Court

in

adjudication

cases
of

where

their

on

claims

given

facts

inter

se

and

might

delay the adjudication of the claims of the victims".


9- The effect of fake license has to be considered in the
light of what has been stated by the Hon Supreme Court in New
India Assurance Co., Shimla V/s. Kamla and Ors., 2001 4 JT
235. Once the license is a fake one the renewal cannot take
away the effect of fake license. It was observed in Kamla's
case (supra) as follows:
"12. As a point of law we have no manner of doubt that a fake
licence cannot get its forgery outfit stripped off merely on
account of some officer renewing the same with or without
knowing it to be forged. Section 15 of the Act only empowers
any Licensing Authority to "renew a driving licence issued
under the provisions of this Act with effect from the date of
its expiry". No Licensing Authority has the power to renew a
fake licence and, therefore, a renewal if at all made cannot
transform a fake licence as genuine. Any counterfeit document
showing that it contains a purported order of a statutory
authority would ever remain counterfeit albeit the fact that
other persons including some statutory authorities would have
acted on the document unwittingly on the assumption that it is
genuine".
10- Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 - S. 15, 149 - liability of
insurance company - Tribunal opined that respondent-insurance
company was not liable to indemnify insured - no valid and
effective driving licence - nor renewal of driving licence -

45

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

whether to be considered as violation of terms of insurance


policy - held, it was found that driver of vehicle was not
having valid licence on date of accident as licence was not
renewed within thirty days of its expiry - renewal after 30
days will have no retrospective effect - there is a breach of
condition

of

contract

insurance

company

will

have

no

liability in present case - order of Tribunal as well as High


Court upheld
2008(8) SCC 165 Ram Babu Tiwari
11-(A)- Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 - S. 149(1) - motor accident
claim - liability of insurer - third party risk - Tribunal
held that accident was due to rash and negligent driving of
the scooter by driver and granted Rs. 3,01,500 as compensation
with interest at 9% per annum in favour of the claimants and
against

the

second

respondent-owner

of

the

scooter

and

appellant-insurance company - whether insurance company could


be held liable to pay the amount of compensation for the
default of the scooterist who was not holding licence for
driving

two

wheeler

scooter

but

had

driving

licence

of

different class of vehicle in terms of S. 10 of the Act held,

where

the

insurers

relying

upon

the

provisions

of

violation of law by the assured, take an exception to pay the


assured or a third party, they must prove a willful violation
of the law by the assured - provisions of sub-sec. (4) and (5)
of S. 149 of the Act may be considered as to the liability of
the insurer to satisfy the decree at the first instance liability
favour

of
of

the
a

insurer
third

to

satisfy

party

the
is

decree

passed

in

also

statutory.

11-(B)-Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 - S. 10(2) - motor accident


claim - liability of insurer - appellant insurance company
cannot be held liable to pay the amount of compensation to the
claimants for the cause of death in road accident which had

46

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

occurred due to rash and negligent driving of scooterist who


admittedly had no valid and effective licence to drive the
vehicle on the day of accident - scooterist was possessing
driving licence of driving HMV and he was driving totally
different class of vehicle which act of his is in violation of
S. 10(2) of the Act
2008(12) SCC 385 Zahirunisha
12- Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 - S. 149 - Constitution of India
- Art. 136 - extent of liability of insurer - motor vehicle
accident caused by driver possessing fake license at relevant
time - Tribunal rejecting the insurer's liability - validity driver, brother of owner of said vehicle - held, holding of
fake license not by itself absolves insurer of its liability but insurer has to prove that owner of vehicle was aware of
fact that license was fake and still permitted driver to drive
- on facts, insurer liability to pay compensation contradicted
- thus, balance amount of claimant and amount already paid by
insurer to claimants to be recovered from owner and driver of
vehicle
2008 (3) SCC 193- Prem Kumari v/s Prahlad Dev
13-

Motor

Vehicles

Act,

1988

S.

149(2)(a)(ii)

motor

accident - liability of insurer - in claim petition, Tribunal


held that Insurance Company is liable to pay compensation licence of driver was not issued by a competent authority contention of insurer that by employing a driver with invalid
driving licence owner insured has breached the condition of S.
149(2)(a)(ii) - held, owner had satisfied himself that the
driver had a licence and was driving completely there was no
breach of S. 149(2)(a)(ii) - if the driver produces a driving
licence, which on the fact of it looks genuine, owner is not
expected to find out whether the licence has in fact been
issued by a competent authority or not - therefore, insurance

47

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

company would not be absolved of its liability - in order to


avoid its liability, insurer has to prove that the insured was
guilty of negligence and failed to exercise reasonable case in
the matter of fulfilling the condition of the policy regarding
use of vehicles by a duly licensed driver or one who was not
disqualified to drive at the relevant time
Lal Chand v/s O.I.Com -2006(7) SCC

318

14- (A) Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 - u/s. 2(10) 3-9, 10, 14-16,
19-21, 23, 27, 147, 149, 163A, 165, 166 and 168 - Liability of
insurer - Breach of condition of insurance contract - Absence,
fake or invalid driving licence of driver - Disqualification
of driver - Case Law analyzed - Principles stated - Held that
provisions of compulsory insurance against third party risks
is

social

welfare

legislation

to

extend

relief

of

compensation to victims of accidents - Mere absence, fake or


invalid driving licence or disqualification of the driver are
not in themselves the defences available to the insurer - The
insurer

has

to

prove

negligence

and

breach

of

policy

conditions - The burden of proof would be on the insurer Even when the insurer proves such breach of policy conditions
in above circumstances, insurer will have to prove that such
breach was so fundamental that it was responsible for cause of
accident, otherwise, insurer will be liable - If the driver
has Learner's licence, insurer would be liable.
(B) Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 - u/s. 165, 149(2), 168, 174 The Tribunal in interpreting the policy conditions would apply
"the rule of main purpose" and concept of "fundamental breach"
to allow the defences available to the insurer - Further held
that powers of Tribunal are not restricted to only decide
claims between claimants and insured or insurer and/or driver,
it has also powers to decide the disputes between insured and
insurer

and

when

such

dispute

is

decided,

it

would

be

48

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

executable u/S. 174 as it applies to claimants - No separate


proceedings

are

required

Even

when

insurer

is

held

not

liable, it will satisfy the award in favour of claimants and


can recover from the insured u/S. 174 of the Act.- 2004(1) GLH
691(SC)- N.I.A. Com v/s Swaran Singh.
15-

Contention

that

driver

of

offending

vehicle

was

not

holding valid licence at the time of accident and same was


renewed after the date of accident- whether IC is liableHeld- yes
2011

ACJ

2468-

2004

ACJ

-1

and

2001

ACJ

843

both

SC)

followed.
16- U/s 149(2) (a) (ii) and 149 (4)- driving licence- policywillful breach- burden of proof- on whom- Held on IC- it is
for the IC to prove that driver did not hold the DL to drive
the class of vehicle or DL was fake and breach was conscious
and willful on the part of insured to avoid its liability.
2012 ACJ 1268 (Del). Various SC decisions referred to.
17- Driving licence- DL expired before the date of accident
and

renewed

thereafter-

clause

in

police

provides

that

person who holds or has held and not been disqualified from
holding

an

effective

driving

licence

is

entitled

to

drive

vehicle- whether IC is liable in such case- Held- yes 2012


ACJ 1566 (P & H)
18-

DL-

driver

was

not

holding

valid

DL

at

the

time

of

accident- owner not examined by IC- Whether IC can be held


liable- Held- yes. Swaran Singh followed.
2012 ACJ 1891, 2012 ACJ 1946
19- Non-possession of valid licence by scooter rider, cannot
be held to have contributed to accident when IC has failed to
examine the driver of offending vehicle.

49

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

2012 ACC 2635 (Del) and 2012 AAC 2895 (Mad) SC judgments
followed.
20- Production of fake licence by driver- owner verified it
and found it genuine- whether in such case, IC can avoid its
liability-held- No.
2012 AAC 2636 (Del)
21- Liability of insurer - Deceased died in mini auto accident
- Driver of offending vehicle had licence to drive light motor
vehicle/LMV and not transport vehicle - Breach of condition of
insurance apparent on face of record - Finding of fact arrived
at that vehicle in question was not proved to be a goods
vehicle is not correct as driving licence had been granted for
period of 20 years and not for period of 3 years - Insurer
therefore directed to deposit compensation amount with liberty
to recover same from owner and driver of vehicle.
2009 SC 2151- Angad Kol
22- Whether the order of pay and recover can be passed by
Tribunal, when there is dispute with respect to endorsement in
the licence?- Held- Yes- 2013 ACJ 487, at page No. 591 (para.
17).
23- Fake driving licence- IC not liable to pay compensation.
2013 ACJ 2129 (SC) U.I.I.Com v/s

Sujata Arora

24- Driver of Transport Corporation- appointed only after due


process was also given training - worked for about 6 years after the accident, it is found that he was holding
licence-

whether

under

this

circumstances,

fake

Corporation

can

held liable on the ground that it has failed it's duty to


verify the proper fact before employing such driver- Held- No.
2013 ACJ 2440 (SC)- Pepsu Road Transport Corp. v/s N.I.Com.

50

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

25- Whether in a claim petition preferred u/s

163A or an

application u/s 140, insurer is allowed to raise dispute qua


Section 149(2) of the Act- Held- Yes.
2014 ACJ 1 (Ker)- relied on 2010 ACJ 1896 (Chahan Harising
Padamsing)
U/s 140 2014 ACJ 71 (J&K)
26- Learner's Licence- Driver of the car was having Learner's
Licence at the time of accident - he then obtained permanent
licence - Learner's Licence gets validity from the date he got
Learner's Licence- Even no mentioning of Sign 'L' does not
make any difference.
2013 ACJ 1041
27- DL- Fake DL- IC adduced no evidence to prove that insured
committed willful default of IP- whether IC can seek to avoid
its

liability-held-

No.

Swaran

Singh

is

followed-

Copy

is

available in the folder.


2012 ACJ 2797.
28- IC took defense that driver was not holding the valid
licence to drive- IC did not examine any witness in this
regard-

mere

marking

of

reliance

exhibit

on

does

the
not

exhibited
dispense

driving

with

the

licenceproof

of

document- IC held liable


AIR 1971 SC 1865, 2011 ACJ 1606 ((P&H)
29- Driver was holding licence to ply light motor vehicledrove pick up jeep which is transport vehicle- whether IC is
liable- held- no- w.e.f

29.03.2001, no person can said to

hold an effective driving licence to drive transport vehicle


if he only holds a licence entitling him to drive light motor

51

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

vehicle- when there is no endorsement on driving licence to


drive transport vehicle, IC is not liable
2008 ACJ 721 (SC),

2011 ACJ 2115 (HP), 2014 ACJ 1128. But see

2014 ACJ 1117- Tractor- whether Non transport vehicle or

not

which kind of licence is required.


30-Driving licence- liability of IC- light motor vehicledriver had licence to ply auto rickshaw and was driving auto
rickshaw
that

delivery

driver

van,

was

which

not

caused

holding

accident-Tribunal

valid

licence-

held

whether

sustainable- held- no- further held that use of vehicle for


carriage of goods does not take the auto rickshaw outside the
scope and definition of light motor vehicle, which includes
a transport vehicle whose gross vehicle weight does not exceed
permissible

limit

of

7500kgs-

lastly

held

that

driver

was

holding valid licence to drive and IC is liable


2011 ACJ 1592 (ORI),

2014 ACJ 1037, 2014 ACJ 2148, 2014 ACJ

2259 (All), 2014 ACJ 2471 (Guj), 2014 ACJ 2703 (P&H)
31- U/S 149(2), (4) and ( 5) of MV Act- terms of IP IC has
right

to

contest

on

all

grounds

including

negligence

and

quantum - whether valid held- no- IC can challenged the award


only on the points available to it u/s 149 of the Act- 2011
ACJ 2253 (P&H)
32- IC sought to avoid its liability on the ground that driver
was not holding valid licence- if the licence of the driver
had lapsed that itself is not a proof that he was disqualified
from driving or he was debarred from driving said vehicle- IC
held liable- SC judgment followed.
2012 ACJ 2025 (KAN)
33- DL IC failed to prove that driver not having valid
licence- IC held liable to pay.

52

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

2012 AAC 3206.


34- Fake DL- report of Transport Authority was not proved in
accordance with law and excluded from evidence- order of pay
and recover passed.
2012 AAC 3344 (Del), Beer Pal v/s Arvind Kumar. 2012 AAC 3366
(Del), O.I.Com. v/s Pritam Kumar Burman.
35- Endorsement on licence- defence of- whether can be allowed
at the stage of 140?- Held- No.
2013 ACJ 598.

Private Investigator:1-Whether the verification report of driving licence issued by


District Transport Officer is a public document and can be
relied

upon?-

obtained

by

heldprivate

no-

unapproved

person

cannot

verification
be

treated

as

report
public

document.
2011 ACJ 2138 (DEL)
2-Passenger stated before the investigator that he was fare
paying passenger- said report not produced by IC along with
reply- claimant had no opportunity to rebut the said documentTribunal

relied

upon

the

report

of

investigator-

order

sustainable- held- no-as insurance Com has failed to establish


breach of policy
2011 ACJ 1688 (MP)

53

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

Helper- Cleaner- Coolie:1-Risk

of

proviso

cleaner

(i)

(c)

engaged

of

on

section

goods

147(1)

vehicle
of

MV

is

Act?

covered
Held-

by

yes-

insurance company is held liable to pay compensation to the


cleaner.
2005 ACJ 1323(SC), 2007 ACJ 291(AP), 2011 ACJ 1868 (AP), 2014
ACJ 1776 (Ori)
But for the case of cleaner of bus please see- 2014 ACJ 1739
(AP) IC held liable.
2-

Helper-

Act

Policy-

whether,

helper

can

be

treated

as

passenger?- Held- No. SC judgment followed.


2012 ACJ 2554 (GAU).
3- Goods vehicle- Cleaner sustained injuries- he filed claim
petition under the M.V. Act- whether, IC is liable?- Held- Yes
but only to an extent of amount of compensation admissible
under the W.C. Act.
2013 ACJ 1025.
4-

Death

of

helper-

excavator

dashed

with

the

pillar

and

helper died because, pillar fell on the helper- IC sought to


avoid its liability on the ground that helper is the employee
of

the

hirer

and

therefore,

IC

is

not

liable

Whether

sustainable- held No - As deceased was not hired on vehicle


neither he was travelling in the said vehicle.
2013 ACJ 1049.
5-163A- Driver and Cleaner sustained injuries while unloading
goods- Whether claim petition u/s 163A is maintainable?- HeldYes.
2014 ACJ 1206

54

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

Premium and Additional Premium:1- Act policy- goods vehicle- payment of additional premiumwhether risk of person engaged in loading/unloading is covered
and IC is liable to pay amount of compensation? -held- yes
2011 ACJ 1762 (KER)
2-

Public

risk

policy-

extent

of

liability

of

IC-

truck

hitting scooter resulting in death of pillion rider- premium


was paid for public risk liability which was more than the
prescribed

for

the

act

liability-

whether

in

this

case

liability of IC is limited as per the act? held- no- public


risk is wider term and covers entire risk faced by the owner
of vehicle- public risk would cover unlimited amount of riskIC is liable2010 ACJ 2783 (GUJ), 2011 ACJ 2029 (DEL)
3-

Payment

of

premium

was

made

on

6.12.2003-

IC

received

payment without there being all details of the vehicle and


issued policy on 29.1.2004 Accident occurred on 28.1.2004 whether in such situation IC can be held liable? -Held Yes.
2013 ACJ 1344 (J&K)

Goods as defined u/s 2(13):1- Package policy- passenger


calf-

animal-

cattle-

risk- liability of IC- cow and

claimant

travelling

along

with

his

cattle- whether IC is liable?- held- yes- u/s 2 (13) of MV


Act, goods includes, livestock
2011 ACJ 1464 (KAR)
2- Ganesh idol- whether falls with in the definition of goodsheld yes

55

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

2011 ACJ 2091 (KAR)

Goods Vehicle and Gratuitous Passengers:1-

Goods

vehicle

vehicleafter

owner/labourers

unloading

the

coming

goods

back

to

in

the

the

same

particular

destination- accident while in the return journey- whether IC


is

liable-

held-

yes-

as

claimant

cant

be

treated

as

unauthorized passengers
2008 ACJ 1381(P&H), 2011 ACJ 1550 (P&H)
2- Passenger risk- owner of goods sharing seat with driver of
auto

rickshaw

as

there

was

no

separate

seat

available-

liability of IC- whether is there violation of IP?- held- yesowner alone is liable - order of pay and recover
2008 ACJ 1741 (SC), 2001 ACJ 1656 (KER)
3- Whether a person who hired a goods carriage vehicle would
come

within

purview

of

Sub-sec.

of

S.

147

of

the

Act

although no goods of his as such were carried in the vehicle claimant-respondent hired

an auto

rickshaw which

was goods

carriage vehicle and he was sitting by the side of the driver


- held, if a person has been traveling in a capacity other
than the owner of goods, the insurer would not be liable - it
is well settled that term 'any person' envisaged under the
said provision shall not include any gratuitous passenger - in
a three wheeler goods carriage, driver could not have allowed
anybody else to share his seat - Tribunal and High Court
should have held that owner of vehicle is guilty of breach of
conditions of policy
2008(12) SCC 657

56

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

4- Goods Vehicle- Owner paid Rs.50 to cover risk of non-fare


passenger- No evidence that claimant was travelling in the
goods vehicle as gratuitous passenger- IC held liable to pay
amount of compassion.
2014 ACJ 974 (Mad)
5- Goods Vehicle- IC exonerated but Tribunal passed and order
of Pay and Recover- Whether sustainable?- Held- Yes.
2014 ACJ 1224.
6--Tractor

dashed

with

Tractor

B-

passengers

of

Tractor B got injured- insurance company sought to avoid its


liability on the ground that they were gratuitous passengerswhether sustainable- held no- IC of Tractor A is liable as
4 passengers of Tractor B were the third party for Tractor
A
2011 ACJ 2463 (MP)
7-

Marriage

party

along

with

dowry

articles

in

the

goods

vehicle- whether gratuitous passengers- held no- IC is liable


2011 ACJ 2319 (GUJ), 2012 AAC 3211 (Bom)
But also see 2009(2) SCC 75 U.I.A.com v/s Rattani- contrary
view by SC- Recent decision of Gujarat High Court in the case
of O.I.Com v.s Chaturaben Bhurabhai Pipaliya, F.A. 2741 of
2008, dated 03.04.2013 (MDSJ), 2013 ACJ 2823
8--Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 - S. 147 - liability of insurer claim petition filed by respondent, a labourer, slipped down
from trolley of tractor, allegedly was being driven rashly and
negligently

by

its

driver,

came

under

the

wheels

thereof

injuring his gallbladder and left thigh, as a result where of


he suffered grievous injuries tractor was supposed to be
used for agricultural purpose - held, no insurance cover in

57

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

respect of trolley - tractor was insured only for agricultural


work,

excluding

thus,

claim,

gratuitous

digging

not

earth

maintainable

passenger,

considering

of

not

empowrish

and

as

covered

condition

brick-kiln

respondent
under
and

S.

purpose

was

147

mere

however,

disability,

insurer

directed to satisfy the award with right to realize same from


owner of tractor - appeal allowed.
2007 (7) SCC 56
9-

Whether

IC

is

liable

in

case

where

passenger

were

travelling as gratuitous passengers in the private car which


is having package policy-

held Yes -

2012 ACJ 32610-

Whether

the

owner

of

goods

who

were

returning

after

unloading the goods at proper destination can be termed as


gratuitous passengers?- Held- No.
2012 ACJ 1522,

2012 ACJ 1641 (before loading, goods vehicle

met with accident- IC held liable)


11-

Pay

and

recover

order

by

Tribunal

when

deceased

was

admittedly a gratuitous passenger- whether valid- Held- yesas

gratuitous

passenger

is

held

to

third

party.

2012

ACJ

liability

of

1661(J&K)
12-

Goods

Vehicle-

gratuitous

passenger-

insurance company- Held- No.


2012 ACJ 2419
13- Goods Vehicle- Owner paid Rs.50 to cover risk of non-fare
passenger- No evidence that claimant was travelling in the
goods vehicle as gratuitous passenger- IC held liable to pay
amount of compassion.

58

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

2014 ACJ 974 (Mad)


14-

Comprehensive

Policy

Package

Policy-

IMT

37-

Good

Vehicle- Gratuitous Passenger- driver of the vehicle allowed 2


passengers to board in the vehicle which turn turtle IC
charged premium for Non-Fare- Paying Passenger. - Under this
circumstances, IC held liable to pay compensation.
2014 ACJ 2412 (Raj)
15- Gratuitous passengers- good vehicle- Truck stuck in the
road- passengers alighted from truck and while one of them was
pushing the truck he was crushed whether he can be termed as
gratuitous passenger?- Held- No.
2014 ACJ (HP)

Vehicle hired/leased:1- Liability of IC- minibus hired by Corporation along with


IP- driver provided by the owner who was supposed to drive as
per

the

instruction

of

the

conductor,

who

is

employee

Corporation- accident- whether IC is liable- held yes-

of

2011

ACJ 2145 (SC), 2014 ACJ 1274 (AP) UII Com v/s Sharapuram
Balavva
2- Owner- Hirer- Lease- Buses hired by Corporation and plied
them on the routes alloted to Corporation. - Injuries by such
buses- Whether IC is liable- Held Yes.
2013 ACJ 1593 (FB), 2014 ACJ 1323 (Kar), 2014 ACJ 1432 (AP),
but 2014 ACJ 1605 (Mad)- NII Com. v/s K. Vaijayanthimala.
3-

Vehicle

on

lease-

Owner

leased

his

vehicle

to

State

Department- Driver of owner- met with accident- Whether State


is liable?- Held- Yes- As per Section 2(30), owner of the

59

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

vehicle includes a person in possession of

vehicle subject to

agreement of lease- State held to owner and held responsible


to pay amount of compassion.
2014 ACJ 893 (Gau)
4-

Owner-Hirer

Van

hirer

by

courier

company

under

an

agreement and as per the conditions of the agreement, owner


was required to take comprehensive policy- No evidence that
driver was driving Van under the direction and supervision of
the hirer Courier Com.- Whether Hirer is liable?- Held- No.
2014 ACJ 1790 (Mad)

Which kind of licence required for LMV-LGV-HGV-HTV-MGV:1- Driver was holding licence to ply light motor vehicledrove pick up jeep which is transport vehicle- whether IC is
liable- held- no- w.e.f

29.03.2001, no person can said to

hold an effective driving licence to drive transport vehicle


if he only holds a licence entitling him to drive light motor
vehicle- when there is no endorsement on driving licence to
drive transport vehicle, IC is not liable
2008 ACJ 721 (SC),

2011 ACJ 2115 (HP), 2014 ACJ 1128. But see

2014 ACJ 1117- Tractor- whether Non transport vehicle or

not

which kind of licence is required.


2-Driving licence-

liability of

IC-

light motor

vehicle-

driver had licence to ply auto rickshaw and was driving auto
rickshaw
that

delivery

driver

was

van,
not

which

caused

holding

accident-Tribunal

valid

licence-

held

whether

sustainable- held- no- further held that use of vehicle for


carriage of goods does not take the auto rickshaw outside the
scope and definition of light motor vehicle, which includes
a transport vehicle whose gross vehicle weight does not exceed

60

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

permissible

limit

of

7500kgs-

lastly

held

that

driver

was

holding valid licence to drive and IC is liable


2011 ACJ 1592 (ORI),

2014 ACJ 1037, 2014 ACJ 2148, 2014 ACJ

2259 (All), 2014 ACJ 2471 (Guj), 2014 ACJ 2703 (P&H)
3- Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 - u/s. 149, 163A, 166 and 170 Vehicle was used as a commercial vehicle - Driver was holder
of licence to drive LMV - Driver not holding licence to drive
commercial

vehicle

Breach

of

contractual

condition

of

insurance - Owner of vehicle cannot contend that he has no


liability to verify as to whether driver possessed a valid
licence - Extent of third party liability of insurer - Death
of a 12-year girl in accident - Claimants are from poor background - After having suffered mental agony, not proper to
send them for another round of litigation - Insurer directed
to pay to claimants and then recover from the owner in view of
Nanjappan's case [2005 SCC (Cri.) 148].
4- Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 - S. 10(2) - motor accident claim
- liability of insurer - appellant insurance company cannot be
held liable to pay the amount of compensation to the claimants
for the cause of death in road accident which had occurred due
to rash and negligent driving of scooterist who admittedly had
no valid and effective licence to drive the vehicle on the day
of accident - scooterist was possessing driving licence of
driving HMV and he was driving totally different class of
vehicle which act of his is in violation of S. 10(2) of the
Act
2008(12) SCC 385 Zahirunisha
5- Death of workman who was sitting on the mudguard- IC sought
to avoid its liability on the ground that driver was holding
License to drive heavy transport vehicle but he was driving
tractor

which

did

not

conform

to

the

particular

category-

61

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

License for higher category of vehicle will not amount to


valid and effective DL to drive a vehicle of another categoryIC is held not liable2012 ACJ 179
6- licence- endorsement on licence- Specific endorsement to
ply a transport vehicle is necessary.
2013 ACJ 487 & 668 IMP- Relied on 2006 ACJ 1336- Kusum Rai,
2008 ACJ 627 N.I. A.Co. v/s Prabhulal , 2008 ACJ 721, N.I.Com.
v/s

Annappa

endorsement
O.I.Com.

Irappa
is

v/s

Nesaria

required

Angad

Kol

from

(wherein

it

28.03.2001),

(wherein

it

is

is

held

that

2009

ACJ

1141,

held

that

for

non

passenger/ non transport vehicles, licences are issued for 20


years whereas for passengers vehicles they are issued for 3
years only).
7- LMV- whether tractor is light motor vehicle? - Held- yes,
as defined u/s 2(21) of the Act.
2013 ACJ 1160, 2014 ACJ Sudha v/s Dalip Singh (P&H), 2014
ACJ 2817 (Chh)
2558- Tractor is LMV and Car /Jeep are also LMV and, therefore,
driver who was holding DL to drive LMV (Car/Jeep) can also
drive Tractor.
2013 ACJ 2679- Ghansham v/s O.I.Com.
9-- Tractor DL-

LMV & HTV- Tractor is defined u/s 2(44)-

Whether for driving Tractor, separate licence is required?Held- Yes.


2014 ACJ 854 (P&H).
10- Badge- Vehicle of same category

62

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

2014 ACJ 1180


LMV can be equated with LGV for the purpose of Driving Licence
(DL)? - Held yes. - Same cannot be termed as breach of IP.
2014 ACJ 2873 (SC)

- Kulwant Singh v/s OI Com.

- S. Iyyappa

v/s UII Com, 2013 ACJ 1944 followed


11- DL- LMV LGV Accident occurred prior to the amendment
which came into effect from of 21.03.2001 - Driver was holding
DL to drive LMV but was driving LGV Whether IC can be held
liable?-

Held-

Yes.

2008

ACJ

721(SC)-

Annappa

Irappa

Nesaria.
2014 ACJ 1828 (Raj)
12- Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 - u/s. 149, 163A, 166 and 170 Vehicle was used as a commercial vehicle - Driver was holder
of licence to drive LMV - Driver not holding licence to drive
commercial

vehicle

Breach

of

contractual

condition

of

insurance - Owner of vehicle cannot contend that he has no


liability to verify as to whether driver possessed a valid
licence - Extent of third party liability of insurer - Death
of a 12-year girl in accident - Claimants are from poor background - After having suffered mental agony, not proper to
send them for another round of litigation - Insurer directed
to pay to claimants and then recover from the owner in view of
Nanjappan's case [2005 SCC (Cri.) 148].
2006(2) GLH 15 (SC) N.I.A Com v/s Kusum Rai.
Following Kusum Rai judgment, Delhi High Court in the case of
O I Com. v/s Shahnawaz, reorted in 2014 ACJ 2124 has held that
driver of offending vehicle was possessinng lincence to ply
LMV (Non-transport) but was plying Tata Sumo registered as
Tourist

Taxi

compensation.

and,

therefore,

IC

is

not

liable

to

pay

63

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

13- Liability of IC- to avoid liability, IC had to prove that


owner of the vehicle knew that driver was not having valid
driving licence- Driver was having licence to ply LMV, MGV and
HGV- IC did not led any evidence to prove that owner knew
about driver being incompetent to ply passenger vehicle.2012 AAC 3302 (J & K) - N.I. Com. v/s Mst. Bakhta., 2014 ACJ
1037
14- Central M.V. Rules- Rule 16- Tractor Driving licence- Rule
16 provides that every licence issued or renewed shall be in
Form VI which provides for grant of licence in respect of LMV
or Transport Vehicle amongst other categories but there is no
specific entry for issuance of licence for driving a Tractor.
As

per

Section

2(44),

by

definition

Tractor

is

LMV

and,

therefore, when driver has licence to ply LMV, he can also ply
Tractor.
2014 ACJ (P&H)
15-DL Valid DL IC disputed its liability on the ground
that driver of offending vehicle was holding DL for driving
LMV but actually at the time time accident, he was driving LMV
(commercial) liability to prove that driver of offending
vehicle

had

no

valid

DL

at

the

time

accident,

is

on

the

shoulder of IC.
2015 ACJ 340 (Del) but also see 2015 ACJ 576 (AP)

Avoidance Clause:1-

Motor

Vehicles

Act,

1939

S.

96

motor

accident

liability of insurance company - liability of insurer limited


upto Rs. 50,000/- as per limits of policy - High Court found
that insurer was liable upto Rs. 50,000/- but gave direction
to pay claimants entire amount of compensation, but would be

64

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

entitled to recover amount excess in its liability from owner


of vehicle - avoidance clause in policy provided that nothing
therein would affect the right of person who is entitled to
indemnification from insurer to recover under S. 96 of the Act
- whether, directions given by High Court in consonance with
terms

of

policy

held,

considering

avoidance

clause

in

policy, the directions given by High Court are in terms of


policy,
2011 ACJ 2878 (SC), Santaben Vankar 2011 (3) GCD 2101 (GUJ)=
2012 AAC 2528

Injuries and Disabilities:1- Injury case- doctor assessed disability as 75%- doctor was
cross examined at length but nothing adverse was traced outTribunal

and

HC

assessed

disability

at

50%,

without

there

being any cogent reason- whether proper- held no once


doctor has opined that injured has sustained 75% disability
and nothing adverse was traced out in his cross examinationTribunal and HC erred in assessing disability as 50%
2011 ACJ 2466 (SC) D.Sampath versus U.I.I. Com. Ltd,

Rudra

versus Divisional Manager, reported in 2011 SC 2572 =2011 (11)


SCC 511.
2-

Leg

injuries

resulted

in

fracture-

Doctor

access

disablement as 20-25% by observing that there is deficiency in


the muscle- same was

not believed by the lower Courts

by

holding that same did not result into permanent disablementSC overruled the same
2012 ACJ 1459 (SC) Manoj Rathod
3- Doctors cannot be called to prove documents with respect to
prolonged treatment unless they create doubt-

65

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

2012 ACJ 1847


4- Whether the disability certificate issued by the private
hospital is admissible in view of

Rule 10.2 of the Rajasthan

M.V. Rules, 1990- Held- No.


2013 ACJ 1236 (Raj)
5- Amputation- Whether the victim is entitled for compensation
under the head of

'permanent Disablement'- Held- Yes.

2013 ACJ 1935 (SC) S. Manickam v/s Metropolitan Transport


6- Arm amputation- Whether claimant is entitled for any amount
under the head of loss of amenities over and above the loss of
earning capacity.
2013 ACJ 2122 (SC) Neerupam Mohan Mathur v/s New India I.Com
7- Fracture of Pelvis and Uretha, resulting in impotence- High
amount of compensation granted by SC
2013 ACJ 2131 (SC) G. Ravindranath v/s E. Srinivas
8-

Amputation-

left

hand-

Calculation

of

amount

of

compensation2014 ACJ 648 (SC) (FB) M.D. Jacob v/s UII Com., 2014 ACJ
1375 (SC) (FB) M.K. Gopinathan, 2014 ACJ 1412 (SC)

(FB)-

Dinesh Singh
9- Fracture Injuries to minor intelligent girl- good academic
career- determination of compensation- Guideline.
2014 ACJ 1441 (SC) V. Menka v/s M. Malathi

66

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

Review:1- Whether review is maintainable- held no several SC


judgements followed
2011 ACJ 2720, 2012 AAC 3007 (All)- 2011 SCW 2154, 1999 (1)
TAC 449, 2013 ACJ 1130, 2013 ACJ 1892 (All), 2014 ACJ 2836
(All)

Employees State Insurance Act and Employee's Compensation

Act :1- E.S.I. Act

u/s 28, 53 and 61-

bar u/s 53 and 61 against

receiving of compensation under any other Law- employee of


Telecom Dept., insured under E.S.I. Act- he was traveling in
department's

jeep

met

with

accident-

fatal-

contention

raised that in view of the bar imposed u/s 53 and 61 of E.S.I


Act, claim petition under M.V is not maintainable- whether
sustainable- held- no- section 28 does not cover accidental
death while traveling in a vehicle on road and therefore claim
petition under M.V. Act is maintainable
2012 ACJ 233
2-

Employee

insured

under

the

ESI

Scheme-

Whether

claim

petition under the M.V. Act or W.C. Act is maintainable?Held- No.


2013 ACJ 865
But

claim

against

petition

employer.

is
ESI

maintainable
Act

does

when

not

bar

it

is

right

compensation against third party under the MV Act.


2013 ACJ 1581

not

filed

to

claim

67

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

3- Employee's Compensation Act Driver of ST bus his LR can


file claim petition either before MACT or under Employee's
Compensation but not under both.
2015 ACJ 20 (Guj)

- Gulamrashul Malek v/s/ GSRTC

4- Ex Gratia payment can be deducted from the final amount of


compensation?- Held- No.
2015 ACJ 168 (MP)

Life Insurance:1-- Life Insurance- Double accident Benefit- Whether can be


allowed- Held- Yes
2014 ACJ 1237

Medical Reimbursement:1- Medical reimbursement- claimant got the same as he was


medically insured- whether IC is under statutory duty to pay
medical bill, though same is reimbursement by the claimantheld no- IC is not statutorily liable to pay medical bill as
same is reimbursed under medical policy
2011 ACJ 2447 (DEL)

Family Pension:1-Quantum- Medical Policy- whether amount received under the


medical policy is deductible from the amount of compensation?
- Held -No.- SC decisions referred.

68

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

2012 ACJ 1114 (Ker) Family pension is also like wise- 2012
ACJ 1197(Bom)

Compassionate Appointment:1- Compassionate appointment given to widow- whether Tribunal


can deduct dependency benefit on that count?- Held- No.
2012

(2)

GLH

246.-

Girishbhai

Devjibhai,

2012

AAC

3065

(All)- SC judgments followed. - 2013 ACJ 129 (P&H). 2014 ACJ


822 (Guj)
2- In the decision rendered by the Division Bench of this
Court

in

the

case

of

LIC

v.

L.R.

of

deceased

Naranbhai,

reported in 1972 GLR 920, it is held that the amounts received


by the claimant on account of the insurance taken by him for
his

own

benefit

benefit
and

and

such

with

benefit

his

own

could

money,

not

be

is

deducted

collateral
from

the

compensation amount. The co-ordinate Bench of this Court in a


case viz.

Dayaljibhai Manibhai

Patel v.

Erachsha Dhanjisha

Variyava in First Appeal No. 402 of 1986 has decided on 28th


July, 2006, had taken a same view.

Pillion Rider:1-

Pillion

rider-

Act

Policy-

liability

of

IC-

death

of

pillion rider- IC disputed its liability on the ground that


policy was statutory policy and it did not cover the risk of
pillion rider- statutory policy covers the risk of TP only and
it

did

not

cover

risk

of

pillion

rider

and

gratuitous

passenger
2003 ACJ 1 (SC), 2006 ACJ 1441 (SC), 2009 ACJ 104 (SC)

69

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

2- One of the two pillion riders injured- Tribunal held that


both

drivers

were

negligent

in

causing

accident

and

their

respective blame being 75:25 between bus driver and mopedwhether pillion rider is responsible for accident?- held- yesas he had violated traffic rules- 25% deducted from awarded
amount
2011 ACJ 1766 (MAD) but see 2013 ACJ 1227 ((HP), 2013 ACJ 2008
(MP), 2014 ACJ 1287 (Raj), 2014 ACJ 1762, 2014 ACJ 2425 (P&H),
2014 ACJ 2699 (Raj), 2014 ACJ 2808 (P&H)
3- Act policy- statutory policy- pillion rider- whether IC is
liable- held no- such policy covers the TP risk only and not
of pillion rider- IC held not liable
2003 ACJ 1 (SC), 2006 ACJ 1441 (SC), 2009 ACJ 104 (SC) But
when extra premium is paid (package policy) to cover the risk
of pillion rider IC is liable to pay to pillion rider also
2011 ACJ 2100(KAR)4-Pillion rider of motor cycle- package policy whether IC is
liable- held- yes as insured had paid premium to cover the
damage to the vehicle and pillion rider
2011 ACJ 2100 (KAR)
5- Motor accident - insurance claim - deceased was travelling
as a pillion rider - fell down from the scooter and succumbed
to the injuries - claim repudiated by insurance company on
ground

that

deceased

being

gratuitous

passenger

and

insurance policy did not cover risk of injury or death of such


passenger - whether pillion rider on a scooter would be a
third party within the meaning of S. 147 of the Act - held,
liability of the insurance company in a case of this nature is
not extended to a pillion rider of the motor vehicle unless
the requisite amount of premium is paid for covering his/her

70

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

risk (ii) the legal obligation arising u/s. 147 of the Act
cannot be extended to an injury or death of the owner of
vehicle or the pillion rider (iii) the pillion rider in a two
wheeler

was

not

to

be

treated

as

third

party

when

the

accident has taken place owing to rash and negligent riding of


the scooter and not on the part of the driver of another
vehicle
2008(7) SCC 428
6-

Motor

Vehicles

Act,

1988

S.

147,

157,

217

motor

accident - liability of the Insurance Company towards third


party - two wheeler of respondent no. 5 was insured with the
appellant company - however, an endorsement regarding pillion
rider was not included in the Insurance Contract - two wheeler
was sold to respondent no. 1 during the period of availability
of insurance cover - sale was not intimated to the Insurance
Company - as a result of an accident, the pillion rider died compensation awarded by Tribunal - held, the Act of 1988 is
applicable to the case as the accident took place after the
commencement of the Act, 1988 - the statutory insurance policy
did

not

cover

the

risk

of

death

of

or

bodily

injury

to

gratuitous passenger - therefore, the Insurance Company is not


liable to pay compensation for the death of the pillion rider
-

further,

failure

to

intimation

for

the

transfer

of

the

vehicle would not effect third parties claim for compensation


2006(4) SCC 404 U.I.I.Com v/s Tilak Singh
7- U/s 147(1)- package policy- pillion rider- liability of IC
is sought to be avoided on the ground that no additional
premium has been paid to cover risk of pillion rider- IRDA in
its clarification circular mentioned that passenger carried in
private vehicle and pillion riders are covered under the terms
and conditions of Slandered Motor Package Policy- When vehicle
is covered under the package policy- IC is to be held liable

71

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

2011 ACJ 2527 (Ker)


8- Two pillion rider- offending tractor dashed with said bikeRider of bike could not see the tractor as same was not having
head

lights-

sustainable?-

Tribunal
Held-

exonerated

Yes-

Only

rider

because

of

bike-

rider

of

whether
bike

had

allowed, two pillion rider to travel on the bike does not lead
to infer that rider of bike had contributed in causing the
accident.
2012 ACJ 2678(MP)- 2008 ACJ 393 (MP).
9- Meaning of 'Unnamed Passenger'- would mean pillion rider
and not the driver of two wheeler.
2014 ACJ 101 (Chh)
10- Motor accident - insurance claim - deceased was travelling
as a pillion rider - fell down from the scooter and succumbed
to the injuries - claim repudiated by insurance company on
ground

that

deceased

being

gratuitous

passenger

and

insurance policy did not cover risk of injury or death of such


passenger - whether pillion rider on a scooter would be a
third party within the meaning of S. 147 of the Act - held,
liability of the insurance company in a case of this nature is
not extended to a pillion rider of the motor vehicle unless
the requisite amount of premium is paid for covering his/her
risk (ii) the legal obligation arising u/s. 147 of the Act
cannot be extended to an injury or death of the owner of
vehicle or the pillion rider (iii) the pillion rider in a two
wheeler

was

not

to

be

treated

as

third

party

when

the

accident has taken place owing to rash and negligent riding of


the scooter and not on the part of the driver of another
vehicle
2008(7) SCC 428

72

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

Commencement of Policy and Breach of Policy:1--Policy commencement of - premium accepted on 3.5.97- but
cover note specified the effective date of commencement as
5.5.97, as 3.5.97 was holiday- IC contended that at the date
of

accident

existence-

i.e.4.5.97,
whether

IC

there
is

was

liable-

not

effective

held-

yes-

policy

in

contract

of

insurance comes in to effect from the date of acceptance of


premium- more particularly when IC had received the premium
prior to the date of accident
2011 ACJ 1728 (BOM)
2- Accident occurred on 20.5.85 at 7.45 pm- IP valid from
20.5.85

to

19.5.86-

IP

does

not

speak

about

the

time

of

commencement of policy-when policy is silent about the time of


its commencement, starting time has to be taken as from the
midnight of 20.5.85 and its ends at 2400 hrs on 19.5.86- Ic
held liable
2011 ACJ 2394 (DEL)
3-An insurance policy, in law, could be issued from a future
date. A policy, however, which is issued from a future date
must be with the consent of the holder of the policy. The
insurance company cannot issue a policy unilaterally from a
future date without the consent of the holder of a policy
2009 (13) SCC-370 Blabir Kaur v/s N.I.A.Com
4- u/s 147 (1)- Insurance Act u/s 64-VB- IC tried to avoid its
liability

on

the

ground

that

police

has

not

come

into

existence as verification of vehicle was not done- whether


sustainable- Held- No- once premium is paid, IC cannot avoid
its liability- 2012 ACJ 1322
5- Commencement of policy- starts when?- It starts when entire
amount

of

premium

is

paid/made

and

it

does

not

make

any

73

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

difference

when

policy

is

made

effective.-

2013

ACJ

2493

(Mad)- O. I. Com. v/s Venkataraman, dated 18.07.2012.


6- Section 64-VB commencement of policy whether IC can
defer assumption of risk to a later point of time other than
from the date and time of receipt of the premium?- Held- No.Insurance Policy (IP) under the MV Act stand on differnet
footing than the other IP
2014 ACJ 2847 (Chh) SC judgments followed.
7- One of the grounds which is available to the Insurance
Company for denying its statutory liability is that the policy
is void having been obtained by reason of non-disclosure of a
material fact or by a representation of fact which was false
in some material particular - once a valid contract is entered
into, only because of a mistake, the name of original owner
not been mentioned in the certificates of registration, it
cannot be said that the contract itself is void - unless it
was shown that in obtaining the said contract, a fraud has
been practiced - no particulars of fraud pleaded- IC held
liable
2009 (1) SCC 58.
8- Private vehicle- breach of policy- in FIR it is stated that
vehicle was hired- IC disputed its liability relying on the
word hired in FIR- eye witnesses deposed that vehicle was
borrowed from the friend and denied that it was hiredwhether IC is liable- held- yes- as IC has neither confronted
the witnesses with the statement made by them in FIR nor
examined the IO or RTO officer
2011 ACJ 1482 (SIK)
9- Liability of IC- in tariff, under 'Limits of Liability' it
is mentioned 'As required by Law' and not 'Act Policy'

74

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

words

explained.

In

such

situation,

IC

is

liable

to

pay

awarded by the Tribunal.


2012 AAC 3136.
10- Farmer's Package Policy- Tractor-trolley- purpose use of
- guideline for assessment of liability of IC.
2014 ACJ 1691 (Mad)

Driver-Owner:1- Two vehicular not driven by owner but the deceased- no


additional premium was paid to cover the risk of other than
the owner of vehicle-Whether IC is liable- held- no - 2009 ACJ
998 (SC)
2- Act policy- deceased was not the owner of the car- IC seeks
to avoid its liability on the ground that deceased was driving
the car without the consent of the owner- owner deposed that
deceased was driving the car with his consent- whether IC is
liable- held- no- deceased stepped in to the shoes of the
owner
2009 ACJ 2020 (SC), 2011 ACJ 2251 (P&H)
3- Death of the owner of the truck IC disputed its liability
on the ground that there is Act policy and risk only TP is
covered- sustainable- held- no- it was proved by the claimant
that

extra

premium

was

paid

and

IC

has

deliberately

mentioned the nature of policy in the cover note-

not

IC failed

to discharge its burden and prove that policy was Act policy
and ICs liability was restricted to statutory liability- IC
held liable
2011 ACJ 2275 (SIK)

75

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

4- S. 147, 166 - motor accident - owner himself involved in


accident, resulting in his death - he himself was negligent accident did not involve any other motor vehicle - liability
of

Insurance

Company

claim

petition

under

S.

166

maintainability of - held, liability of insurer-company is to


the

extent

of

indemnification

of

insured

against

injured

persons, a third person or in respect of damages of property if insured cannot be fastened with any liability, question not
arise - additional premium under the insurance policy was not
paid in respect of entire risk of death or bodily injury of
owner of vehicle - present case did not fall under S. 147(b)
as it covers a risk of a third party only -2007(9) SCC 263
Jumma Shaha
5-

Motor

Vehicles

Act,

1988

S.

147

question

for

consideration as to whether comprehensive policy would cover


risk of injury to owner of vehicle also - Tribunal directed
driver and insurance company to pay compensation to appellantowner of vehicle - appellant challenged order whereby it was
held that as appellant was owner of vehicle insurance company
is not liable to pay him any compensation - insurance policy
covers liability incurred by insured in respect of death of or
bodily injury to any person carried in vehicle or damage to
any

property

heading

'Own

of

third

damage'

party
is

for

whether
covering

premium

paid

liability

under

towards

personal injury - held, S. 147 does not require insurance


company to assume risk for death or bodily injury to owner of
vehicle - where owner of vehicle has no liability to third
party, insurance company also has no liability also - it has
not been shown that policy covered any risk for injury to
owner himself - premium paid under heading 'Own damage' does
not

cover

liability

towards

personal

injury

premium

is

towards damage to vehicle and not for injury to person of


owner - appeal dismissed.

76

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

2004 (8) SCC 553 Dhanraj v/s N.I. A. Com


6-

Motor

Vehicles

Act,

1988

S.

147

question

for

consideration as to whether comprehensive policy would cover


risk of injury to owner of vehicle also - Tribunal directed
driver and insurance company to pay compensation to appellantowner of vehicle - appellant challenged order whereby it was
held that as appellant was owner of vehicle insurance company
is not liable to pay him any compensation - insurance policy
covers liability incurred by insured in respect of death of or
bodily injury to any person carried in vehicle or damage to
any

property

heading

'Own

of

third

damage'

party
is

for

whether
covering

premium

paid

liability

under

towards

personal injury - held, S. 147 does not require insurance


company to assume risk for death or bodily injury to owner of
vehicle - where owner of vehicle has no liability to third
party insurance company has no liability also - it has not
been shown that policy covered any risk for injury to owner
himself - premium paid under heading 'Own damage' does not
cover liability towards personal injury - premium is towards
damage to vehicle and not for injury to person of owner appeal dismissed.
2009(2) SCC 417 N.I.A v/s Saddanand Mukhi
7-

Managing

Trustee

died

registered in his name-

in

the

accident-

Vehicle

was

whether he can be held as owner?

-Held- No.
2012 ACJ 1886
8- Non-joinder of driver- IC did not agitated the same during
trial, though plea of non-joinder was taken in WS- Whether,
such plea can be allowed to be raised at the time of final
hearing or appeal? - Held- No.
2012 ACJ 2647. SC judgments followed.

77

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

9- Act policy Goods vehicle- Whether IC is liable to pay


compensation to the employees of the hirer? Held- No- IC is
liable to pay compensation only to the employees of owners.
2013 ACJ 1- Sanjeev Samrat.
10- Death of the owner of the jeep- in such case, IC is not
liable to pay compensation.
2013 ACJ 1382. (Del)
11- Motorcycle- Motorcyclist driving motorcycle at moderate
speed applied brake in stagnant rain water, vehicle skidded
and

he

sustained

injuries-

IP

cover

risk

of

Driver-Owner-

Tribunal found that there was no negligence on the part of the


motorcyclist- Whether in such situation IC is liable?- HeldYes- In view of the IMT 15.
2014 ACJ 721 (Mad).
12- Owner-driver Wife is a owner of the vehicle which bing
driven by deceased husband- whether husband can be said to be
third party for wife?- Held- No.- As he stepped in to the shoe
of the owner- Only entitled for Rs.2,00,000.
2014 ACJ 1524 (UK). Also see 2014 ACJ 1574 (Del), wherein it
is held that as per

IMT GR-36

personal accident cover is

available to the owner of insured vehicle holding valid and


effective

licence

but

anybody

driving

the

vehicle

with

or

without permission of the owner cannot be taken as ownerdriver.


13-

Owner-cum-driver

Additional

premium

of

Rs.2,00,000/-

paid Whether IC is liable to pay?- Held -Yes as same is


covered under compulsory accident cover.
2014 ACJ 2195 (Mad)

78

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

14-

Driver-

on

deputation-

whether

temporary

employer

is

liable to make good to the temporary employee who is working


on deputation with it?- Held- Yes.
2014 ACJ 2791 (Bom).
15-- Owner travelling along with his goods which was being
driven

by

driver

and

accident

occurred

and

owner

sustain

injuries whether IC is liable to pay compensation?- HeldNo. As owner cannt be held to be Third Party.
2014 ACJ 2869 (AP)

- Dhanraj v/s NIA Com, 2005 ACJ 1 (SC)

followed.
16- Jeep driven by father of the owner- policy covers only six
passengers- actually

11 passengers were travelling- jeep fell

in to ditch resulting death of all passengers- IC is liablenot for all claimant- IC is directed to pay compensation and
further ordered to

recover from the owner and driver

2011 AIR SCW 2802- K.M. Poonam


17- Driver-owner held responsible for causing the accidentother vehicle which dashed with the vehicle of driver-owner,
did not have valid and effective policy- Tribunal jointly held
driver-owner and driver of the other vehicle responsible in
the said accident and directed the IC of the driver-owner to
pay compensation-

whether sustainable-

Held- No-

As policy

covers only TP and not owner.


2013 ACJ 393 (Cal)- SC judgments followed.

Travelling on roof-top of the bus:1- Travelling on roof top- IC seeks to avoid its liability on
that count- Tribunal found deceased to be partly negligent and

79

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

allowed claim petition partly- whether sustainable- held- yesas IC failed to prove that deceased was not holding the valid
tickets2011 ACJ 2156 (ALL)- also see 2014 ACJ 17 (P&H), 2014 ACJ 2690
(MP)
2-

Travelling

on

the

roof

top-

whether

it

is

case

of

contributory negligence?- Held- No as passengers are at the


mercy of the bus operators.
2013 ACJ 1058, 2013 ACJ 2834.

Private Vehicle:1- Private vehicle- breach of policy- in FIR it is stated that


vehicle was hired- IC disputed its liability relying on the
word hired in FIR- eye witnesses deposed that vehicle was
borrowed from the friend and denied that it was hiredwhether IC is liable- held- yes- as IC has neither confronted
the witnesses with the statement made by them in FIR nor
examined the IO or RTO officer
2011 ACJ 1482 (SIK)
2- IC seeks to avoid its liability on the ground that deceased
and other injured students were travelling in privet jeep,
which they had taken on hire-comprehensive policy covers the
risk

of

liability
held-

inmates
on

terms

of

private

the

ground

in

policy

vehicle-

that

deceased

which

IC

cannot

was

discriminate

paid

avoid

its

passenger-

liability

of

insurance company for paid inmate and gratuitous passengers ,


held discriminatory and illegal-2011 ACJ 1831 (KAR)
3- Private car policy- gratuitous passengers- whether IC is
laible?- Held -no.

2012 ACJ 1880

80

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

4-

Act

Policy-

private

vehicle-

liability

of

insurance

company- no evidence produced by IC to avoid its liability.


Deceased cannot be said that they were gratuitous passenger
when they were travelling in private car.
2012 ACJ 2451 (Ori).
5- Private vehicle/car - package policy- whether occupants of
the said vehicle be treated as TP?-

Whether IC can be held

liable to pay compensation to such occupants?- Held- yes.


2013 ACJ 321 (SC) O.I.Com. v/s Surendra Nath Loomba. Also
see, Blalakrishan judgment.
6-Private

vehicle-

Package

policy-

comprehensive

policy-

owner-cum-driver additional premium paid by owner- whether


under such situation IC can be held liable to pay amount of
compensation?- Held-

Yes. -

National Insurance

company v/s

Balakrishnan, 2013 ACJ 199 (SC) followed.


2015 ACJ 379 (Sik)
17-Private

vehicle-

owner

of

private

car

died

due

the

negligent driving of the car owned by the deceased- along with


owner, his son was also travelling in the said car and he also
died in the said car accident- mother of the minor filed claim
petition without joining her husband/owner as party opponent
but

joined

only

IC-

whether

in

such

situation,

her

claim

petition is maintainable?- Held- Yes.


2015 ACJ 531 (HP)

Permit:1-

IC

seeks

to

avoid

its

liability

on

the

ground

that

offending vehicle was being plied without permit- duty of IC

81

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

to verify the fact that permit of vehicle was valid or not at


the

time

vehicle

of

insuring

without

valid

the

vehicle-

permit

IC

cannot

having
seek

insured

exemption

the
from

liability
2011 ACJ 1683 (UTK)
2- Permit- IC seeks to avoid its liability on the ground that
owner of Taxi, which hit the pedestrians had violated terms
of policy as taxi could not have been used in a public place
after expiry of permit- policy was found to be valid- no case
of IC that passengers were being carried for hire and reward
and policy did not cover the case of TP- victim did not suffer
injuries while travelling in the taxi for hire or rewardmere

expiry

of

permit

would

not

absolve

IC

to

pay

compensation, as no provision of MV Act is shown by IC to


point out that owner of taxi was under legal obligation, not
to ply taxi after the expiry of permit
2011 ACJ 2242 (KER)
3- Vehicle was insured but not having valid permit- breach of
policy- order of pay and recover passed.
2012 AAC 3234.
4- Valid permit- IC sough to avoid its liability on the ground
that terms and conditions of the policy is violated- Whether
sustainable- Held- No2013 ACJ 788
5- Route permit Breach of policy- When there is breach of
policy, IC is not liable to pay amount of compensation.
2013 ACJ 1008. Similar view is taken by HP High Court in the
case of OI Com. v/s Samila, 2013 ACJ 2785 Also see Note 326

82

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

IC is liable to satisfy the TP claim even if route permit is


violated.- 2014 ACJ 1597 (P&H) NII Com. v/s Anuradha. Also
see 2014 ACJ 2039 Pawan Kumar v/s Jaswant Kaur.
6- Violation of Permit- alleged that offending vehicle was
being plied at the place where it had no valid permit to plywhether on this count IC can avoid it's liability- Held -No.
2013 ACJ 2282 (P&H)
7- Permit- When can it be said said owner/driver has violated
terms and condition of the permit and same is fundamental
breach.
2013 ACJ 2570 (Del). Mahender Singh v/s O.I.Com. 2013 ACJ 2589
(Del)
8- Route permit- when there is violation of route permit, IC
is not liable to pay amount of compensation- order of Pay and
Recover can be passed.
2014 ACJ 160 (HP)- 2004 ACJ 2094 (SC) Challa Bharathamma
followed.
Contrary view is taken in 2014 ACJ 1284.- IC held not liable
to pay compensation.
9- Breach of policy and permit- overloading- order of pay and
recover passed.
2014 ACJ 385 (Mad).
10- Permit- IC sought to avoid its liability on the ground
that

driver

of

offending

vehicle

was

not

possessing

authorization card- Whether it amount to fundamental breach?Held- No.


11-

IC

seeks

to

avoid

its

liability

on

the

ground

that

offending vehicle was being plied without permit- duty of IC

83

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

to verify the fact that permit of vehicle was valid or not at


the

time

vehicle

of

insuring

without

valid

the

vehicle-

permit

IC

cannot

having
seek

insured

exemption

the
from

liability
2011 ACJ 1683 (UTK)
12- On whose shoulder the responsibility to lies to prove that
owner had violated the terms and conditions of the Permit?Held on IC.
2015 ACJ 570 (Raj)

Hire and Reward:1- Liability of IC in case where passengers were carried in


private vehicle for hire or reward- such passengers not being
TP- IC held not liable as neither the premium was paid for
carriage of passengers nor there was any permit to ply vehicle
for hire or reward
2011 ACJ 1753 (HP)
2- Private vehicle- breach of policy- in FIR it is stated that
vehicle was hired- IC disputed its liability relying on the
word hired in FIR- eye witnesses deposed that vehicle was
borrowed from the friend and denied that it was hiredwhether IC is liable- held- yes- as IC has neither confronted
the witnesses with the statement made by them in FIR nor
examined the IO or RTO officer
2011 ACJ 1482 (SIK)
3- Death of passenger travelling in the Jeep- IC disputed its
liability on the ground that there was Act policy and deceased
was traveling on hire and policy does not cover the risk of

84

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

person- whether sustainable?- held- no- IC adduced no evidence


to

prove

that

registration

Jeep

was

certi.

used

All

for

such

hire

persons

and

reward-as

come

within

per
the

expression TP and since policy covers TP risk, IC is held


liable
2011 ACJ 2638
4- Constitution of India - Art. 136 - Motor Vehicles Act, 1988
- S. 149 - Tractor plying on hire - Labourer sitting on the
mudguard of Tractor - Falling down - Getting crushed under the
wheels - Driver not possessing a valid license - Tribunal
awarding compensation of Rs. 2 Lakhs - High Court summarily
dismissing the appeal of Insurance Company - Held : It was not
a fit case for any interference under Article 136 of the
Constitution of India, however, it is open to the Insurance
Company to recover the amount from owner by filing application
before

the

Tribunal

without

filing

separate

execution

petition against the owner


2008 (2) GLH 393 (SC) N.I.A Com v/s Darshan Devi
IC held not liable- 2013 ACJ 2108 (P & H), 2014 ACJ 1792 (MP)
5- Owner of the bus gave the same on hire to the Corporation
along with policy- bus dashed with two wheeler whether IC
can avoid its liability-held- No- when vehicle was given on
hire with its existing policy, IC cannot avoid its liability.
2013 ACJ 10 (Mad)

Transfer of Vehicle:1- Death of the owner of the offending vehicle, prior to the
accidentdeemed

to

whether
be

the

covered

transferee
by

policy

in

possession

and

Tribunal

has

to

be

erred

in

85

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

exonerating the IC from liability-held- yes- IC held liablefurther held that on the death of owner, transfer of IP is
automatic
2003 ACJ 534 (SC), 2002 ACJ 1035 (MAD), 2001 ACJ 567 (GUJ),
2011 ACJ 1717 (ORI), 2014 ACJ 2751 (All)
2- Vehicle which met with an accident is sold of by the owner
in favour of third party- in such case who is liable to pay
amount of compensation?- Held- registered owner remains owner
for the purpose of M.V. Act, even though under civil law he
ceased to be the owner after the sale- in such situation, both
the

persons

namely

current

and

old

owners,

both

are

held

liable to pay amount of compassion.


2012 ACJ 2269 (Del)- 2012 ACJ 2319 (P&H)- 2011 ACJ 705 = AIR
2011 SC 682, Pushpa v/s Shakuntala, relied upon.
But also see- 2006 ACJ 1441(SC)- Tilak Singh

Post Mortum Report:1- Absence of PM report- whether claimants are entitled to get
compensation in absence of PM report- held yes- as there are
sufficient evidence to prove that deceased died because of the
vehicular accident- non availability of PM report does not
absolve the IC from its liability
2011 ACJ 2197 (MAD), 2012 AAC 3240.
2- Dismissal of claim petition on the ground that claimants
have not proved the accident by examining the doctor who had
conducted P.M.- Vail?- No- Is the duty cast upon the Tribunal
to issue notice upon the Doctor and IO, before deciding the
petition.-

If

the

counsel

for

the

claimant

has

perform his duty, claimant cannot be made to suffer.

failed

to

86

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

2012 ACJ 1046 (Kar), 2014 ACJ 1479 (P&H)


3- Whether PM report is must to prove accident- Held No.
2012 ACJ 1434 (Ori) Relevant on page No. 1439, para 1.5

Dishonour of Cheque:1-

Dishonour

of

cheque

issued

towards

premium-

policy-

cancellation of- liability of IC- IC cancelled the policy and


intimated about it to the owner- whether IC is liable- heldno
2001 ACJ 638 (SC), 2011 ACJ 2230 (BOM)
2-Insured tendered

cheque to

Insurer on

23/1/1995, towards

premium - Cover note was issued by the insurer - On 27/1/1995


accident took place & third party, suffered severe injuries The cheque given for insurance, dishonored - After the date of
accident

Insurance

Policy

was

cancelled

However,

on

30/1/1995, insured paid cash to insurer - Insurer contended


that a contract of insurance would be valid only when cheque
paid for premium is honoured - On the dishonor of the cheque
the

contract

being

without

consideration,

need

not

be

performed - Held, cover-note was issued and cover-note would


come

within

the

purview

of

definition

of

"Certificate

of

Insurance" and also an "insurance policy" - It remains valid


till it is cancelled.
2008(3) GLH 791(SC) - Abhaysing Pratapsing Waghela
3- Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 - S. 147(5), S. 149(1) - Insurance
Act, 1938 - S. 64-VB - Indian Contract Act, 1872 - S. 2, S.
51, S. 124 - Liability of Insurer - Dishonour of cheque for
premium

account

of

Cancellation
dishonor

of

of

Insurance

cheque

for

policy
premium

by
-

insurer
The

fact

on
of

87

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

cancellation was informed by Insurance Company to the insured


and

RTO

Accident

occurred

thereafter

Held,

Insurance

Company would not be liable to satisfy the claim.


2008 (3) GLH 168 (SC) Deddappa v/s N.I. Com
4- Dishonour of cheque given for payment of premium of policyIC cancelled the policy after the date of accident - liability
of IC- Held -IC liable to satisfy the award passed by the
Tribunal- IC may prosecute its remedy to recover the amount
paid to the claimants from the insurer.
2012 ACJ 1307 (SC) UIIC v/s Laxmamma. 2013 ACJ 2416 (SC)

N.I. Com v/s Balkar Ram, 2013 ACJ 2247 (Ori)

Pay and Recover:1- Jeep driven by father of the owner- policy covers only six
passengers- actually

11 passengers were travelling- jeep fell

in to ditch resulting death of all passengers- IC is liablenot for all claimant- IC is directed to pay compensation and
further ordered to

recover from the owner and driver

2011 AIR SCW 2802- K.M. Poonam


2- Order of pay and recover- whether HC or Tribunal can
direct the IC to pass an order of pay and recover? question
referred to Larger Bench for consideration
2009 (3) GLH 377 (SC) - N.I. Com v/s Parvathneni
3- Respondent No.2 was the owner of a Mini Bus. An insurance
policy in respect of the said vehicle was sought to be taken
by him. For the said purpose, the second respondent issued a
third party cheque towards payment of insurance premium. The
Development Officer of the appellant by inadvertence issued a

88

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

cover note. However, when the said mistake came to his notice,
the respondent No.2 was contacted by the Development Officer.
He was asked to pay the amount of premium. It was not tendered
and in stead the respondent No.2 is said to have returned the
original cover note and took back the cheque. The original
cover

note

as

also

all

the

duplicate

copies

thereof

was

cancelled. The said insurance cover was issued for the period
3.9.1991 to 2.9.1992. On or about 12.9.1991, the said vehicle
met with an accident. First respondent who suffered an injury
therein filed a claim petition in terms of the provisions
contained

in

Sec.

166-effect

liability

of

insurer

when

vehicle met with accident within the period under cover note held, no premium could be said to have been paid - no privity
of contract between insurer and insured - Supreme Court in
jurisdiction under Art. 142 of Constitution, directed insurer
to recover the paid compensation from insured-owner - appeal
allowed.
2008(7) SCC 526
4- Constitution of India - Art. 136 - Motor Vehicles Act, 1988
- S. 149 - Tractor plying on hire - Labourer sitting on the
mudguard of Tractor - Falling down - Getting crushed under the
wheels - Driver not possessing a valid license - Tribunal
awarding compensation of Rs. 2 Lakhs - High Court summarily
dismissing the appeal of Insurance Company - Held : It was not
a fit case for any interference under Article 136 of the
Constitution of India, however, it is open to the Insurance
Company to recover the amount from owner by filing application
before

the

Tribunal

without

filing

separate

execution

petition against the owner


2008 (2) GLH 393 (SC) N.I.A Com v/s Darshan Devi
IC held not liable- 2013 ACJ 2108 (P & H), 2014 ACJ 1792 (MP)

89

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

5- Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 - u/s. 149, 163A, 166 and 170 Vehicle was used as a commercial vehicle - Driver was holder
of licence to drive LMV - Driver not holding licence to drive
commercial

vehicle

Breach

of

contractual

condition

of

insurance - Owner of vehicle cannot contend that he has no


liability to verify as to whether driver possessed a valid
licence - Extent of third party liability of insurer - Death
of a 12-year girl in accident - Claimants are from poor background - After having suffered mental agony, not proper to
send them for another round of litigation - Insurer directed
to pay to claimants and then recover from the owner in view of
Nanjappan's case [2005 SCC (Cri.) 148].
2006(2) GLH 15 (SC) N.I.A Com v/s Kusum Rai.
Following Kusum Rai judgment, Delhi High Court in the case of O
I Com. v/s Shahnawaz, reorted in 2014 ACJ 2124 has held that
driver of offending vehicle was possessing lincence to ply LMV
(Non-transport) but was plying Tata Sumo registered as Tourist
Taxi and, therefore, IC is not liable to pay compensation.
6- Order of pay and recover- whether HC or Tribunal can
direct the IC to pass an order of pay and recover? question
referred to Larger Bench for consideration
2009 (3) GLH 377 (SC) - N.I. Com v/s Parvathneni
7-Jeep driven by father of the owner- policy covers only six
passengers- actually

11 passengers were travelling- jeep fell

in to ditch resulting death of all passengers- IC is liablenot for all claimant- IC is directed to pay compensation and
further ordered to

recover from the owner and driver

2011 AIR SCW 2802- K.M. Poonam


8- Respondent No.2 was the owner of a Mini Bus. An insurance
policy in respect of the said vehicle was sought to be taken

90

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

by him. For the said purpose, the second respondent issued a


third party cheque towards payment of insurance premium. The
Development Officer of the appellant by inadvertence issued a
cover note. However, when the said mistake came to his notice,
the respondent No.2 was contacted by the Development Officer.
He was asked to pay the amount of premium. It was not tendered
and in stead the respondent No.2 is said to have returned the
original cover note and took back the cheque. The original
cover

note

as

also

all

the

duplicate

copies

thereof

was

cancelled. The said insurance cover was issued for the period
3.9.1991 to 2.9.1992. On or about 12.9.1991, the said vehicle
met with an accident. First respondent who suffered an injury
therein filed a claim petition in terms of the provisions
contained

in

Sec.

166-effect

liability

of

insurer

when

vehicle met with accident within the period under cover note held, no premium could be said to have been paid - no privity
of contract between insurer and insured - Supreme Court in
jurisdiction under Art. 142 of Constitution, directed insurer
to recover the paid compensation from insured-owner - appeal
allowed.
2008(7) SCC 526
9- Constitution of India - Art. 136 - Motor Vehicles Act, 1988
- S. 149 - Tractor plying on hire - Labourer sitting on the
mudguard of Tractor - Falling down - Getting crushed under the
wheels - Driver not possessing a valid license - Tribunal
awarding compensation of Rs. 2 Lakhs - High Court summarily
dismissing the appeal of Insurance Company - Held : It was not
a fit case for any interference under Article 136 of the
Constitution of India, however, it is open to the Insurance
Company to recover the amount from owner by filing application
before

the

Tribunal

without

petition against the owner

filing

separate

execution

91

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

2008 (2) GLH 393 (SC) N.I.A Com v/s Darshan Devi
IC held not liable- 2013 ACJ 2108 (P & H), 2014 ACJ 1792 (MP)
10- In this case since the person riding the motorcycle at the
time of accident was a minor, the responsibility for paying
the compensation awarded fell on the owner of the motorcycle.
In fact, in the case of Ishwar Chandra V/s. Oriental Insurance
Co. Ltd. [(2007) 3 AD (SC) 753], it was held by this Court
that in case the driver of the vehicle did not have a licence
at all, the liability to make payment of compensation fell on
the owner since it was his obligation to take

adequate care

to see that the driver had an appropriate licence to drive the


vehicle. Before the Tribunal reliance was also placed on the
decision in the case of National Insurance Co. Ltd. V/s. G.
Mohd. Vani & Ors. [2004 ACJ 1424] and National Insurance Co.
Ltd. V/s. Candingeddawa & Ors. [2005 ACJ 40], wherein it was
held that if the driver of the offending vehicle did not have
a

valid

driving

licence,

then

the

Insurance

Company

after

paying the compensation amount would be entitled to recover


the same from the owner of the vehicle- Motor Accident Claims
Tribunal quite rightly saddled the liability for payment of
compensation on the Petitioner and, accordingly, directed the
Insurance Company to pay the awarded amount to the awardees
and, thereafter, to recover the same from the Petitioner. The
said question has been duly considered by the Tribunal and was
correctly

decided.

The

High

Court

rightly

chose

not

to

interfere with the same.


2011(6) SCC 425 Jawahar Singh v/s Bala Jain
11- Death in motor accident - liability of Insurance Company Tribunal observed that driver of bus was not possessing valid
driving

license

respondent

no.

compensation
and

were

of

Rs.

driver

2,68,800

and

owner

awarded

of

bus

respondent no. 3 and 4 were liable to make payment - direction

92

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

issued

to

appellant/IC

recover the

same from

to

deposit

amount

respondents

and

that

it

can

appellant/IC deposited

necessary amount - recovery of amount - Execution Petition(EP)


filed by IC- whether civil suit was required to be filed
instead of filing execution petition held- no -when such
direction

to

file

Tribunal

same

is

suit

instead

of

not

sustainable-

filling
EP

is

EP

issued

held

to

by
be

maintainable- whenever order of pay and recover is passed by


Tribunal, then it must be held to have been done in exercise
of

inherent

power

of

Tribunal-

Section

168

of

the

Motor

Vehicles Act, 1988, in terms whereof, it is not only entitled


to determine the amount of claim as put forth by the claimant
for recovery thereof from the insurer, owner or driver of the
vehicle jointly or severally but also the dispute between the
insurer on the one hand and the owner or driver of the vehicle
involved in the accident inasmuch as can be resolved by the
Tribunal in such a proceeding-many SC ratios considered.
2009(8) SCC 377 N.I.A. Com v/s Kusum
12- Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 - u/s. 165, 149(2), 168, 174 - The
Tribunal in interpreting the policy conditions would apply "the
rule of main purpose" and concept of "fundamental breach" to
allow the defences available to the insurer - Further held that
powers of Tribunal are not restricted to only decide claims
between claimants and insured or insurer and/or driver, it has
also powers to decide the disputes between insured and insurer
and when such dispute is decided, it would be executable u/S.
174 as it applies to claimants - No separate proceedings are
required

Even

when

insurer

is

held

not

liable,

it

will

satisfy the award in favour of claimants and can recover from


the insured u/S. 174 of the Act.- 2004(1) GLH 691(SC)- N.I.A.
Com v/s Swaran Singh.
13- U/s 147- Pay and recover- Guideleine.

93

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

2012 AAC 3151(ALLAHBAD). N.I.Co., Varanasi v.s. Smt. Abhirajji


Devi .
14-'Pay and Recover'- Whether Tribunal can direct the IC to
first pay and then recover the amount of compensation? Held
NoO.I.Com. v/s K.C. Subramanayam, reported in CDJ 2012 Karnataka
HC 339.
15-Execution- whether IC has right to recover an amount of
compassion

in

the

same

proceedings

or

it

has

to

file

the

separate suit for recovery? -Held- in the same proceeding.2013 ACJ 2233 (P&H)- 2004 ACJ 1093 (SC)- Pramod Kumar Agrrawal
and 2001 ACJ 843 (SC) - Kamla
16- Pay and recover- Accident by negligent driving of MinorLiability of Financier order of pay and recover only against
owner/financier and not against minor
2014 ACJ 660 (Del), IC is held liable to pay

and recover as

same is liable under the contractual liability. 2014 ACJ 2298


(Del)
17- When an order of pay and recover is passed against IC- in
such situation IC is said to be aggrieved party- held- no- SC
ratios followed
2011 ACJ 2498 para -12
18-

Pay

and

recover

order

by

Tribunal

when

deceased

was

admittedly a gratuitous passenger- whether valid- Held- yesas

gratuitous

1661(J&K)

passenger

is

held

to

third

party.

2012

ACJ

94

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

Stepped into the shoe of the owner:1- New India Assurance Company Limited vs. Sadanand Mukhi and
Others reported in (2009) 2 SCC 417, wherein, the son of the
owner was driving the vehicle, who died in the accident, was
not regarded as third party. In the said case the court held
that

neither

Section

163-A

nor

Section

166

Motor

Cycle,

would

be

applicable.
2-

The

deceased

was

traveling

on

which

he

borrowed from its real owner for going from Ilkal to his
native place Gudur. When the said motor cycle was proceeding
on Ilkal-Kustagl, National Highway, a bullock cart proceeding
ahead

of

the

said

motor

cycle

carrying

iron-sheet,which

suddenly stopped and consequently deceased who was proceeding


on the said motor cycle dashed bullock cart. Consequent to the
aforesaid incident, he sustained fatal injuries over his vital
part of body and on the way to Govt. Hospital, Ilkal, he died.
It was forcefully argued by the counsel appearing for the
respondent that the claimants are not the `third party', and
therefore, they are not entitled to claim any benefit under
Section 163-A of the MVA. In support of the said contention,
the counsel relied on the decision of this Court in the case
of Oriental Insurance Co. Ltd. v. Rajni Devi, (2008) 5 SCC
736; and New India Assurance Co. Ltd. v. Sadanand Mukhi and
Ors., (2009) 2 SCC 417.
In the case of Oriental Insurance Company Ltd. v. Rajni Devi
and

Others,

(2008)

categorically

held

involved,

liability

the

that

SCC
in
of

736,
a
the

case

wherein,
where

insurance

it

has

been

third

party

is

company

would

be

unlimited. It was also held in the said decision that where,


however, compensation is claimed for the death of the owner or
another passenger of the vehicle, the contract of insurance
being

governed

by

the

contract

qua

IP,

the

claim

of

the

95

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

claimant against the insurance company would depend upon the


terms thereof. It was held in the said decision that Section
163-A of the MVA cannot be said to have any application in
respect of an accident wherein the owner of the motor vehicle
himself

is

involved.

The

decision

further

held

that

the

question is no longer res integra. The liability under section


163-A of the MVA is on the owner of the vehicle. So a person
cannot be both, a claimant as also a recipient, with respect
to claim. Therefore, the heirs of the deceased could not have
maintained a claim in terms of Section 163-A of the MVA. Apex
Court held - the ratio of the aforesaid decision is clearly
applicable to the facts of the present case. In the present
case, the deceased was not the owner of the motorbike in
question. He borrowed the said motorbike from its real owner.
The deceased cannot be held to be employee of the owner of the
motorbike although he was authorised to drive the said vehicle
by its owner, and therefore, he would step into the shoes of
the owner of the motorbike.
2009 (13) SCC 710 Ningmma v/s United India
3- U/s 163A- deceased stepped into the shoes of the owner- IC
held not liable- 2012 ACJ 391
4-

u/s

belonged

163Ato

accident

the

brother

between
of

scooter

claimant-

and

whether

car-

scooter

claimant

is

entitled for compensation u/s 163A?- Held- No- As claimant has


stepped into the sue of owner- IC cannot be held liable- Sc
judgments followed2012 ACJ 1329 (P&H)
5- Whether a claim petition preferred u/s 163A of the Act is
maintainable when person ridding a motor cycle borrowed it
from the its owner- Held- No.

96

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

2013 ACJ 1472- SC Judgments in the cases of Sadanand Mukhi,


Ningamma and Rajni Devi followed.
6- Borrower of the vehicle- met with an accident as scooter
slipped- no other vehicle involved- Whether in such situation,
IC is liable to pay amount of compensation?- Held- No.
2014 ACJ 604 (P&H).
7-

Borrower of the vehicle- met with an accident as scooter

slipped- no other vehicle involved- said vehicle is owned by


the mother of the scooterist- claim petition u/s 163A- owner
had taken

personal accident

cover of

Rs.1,00,000/-

Whether

under this situation, IC is held liable to pay amount of


compassion?- Held- but only upto Rs.1,00,000/2014 ACJ 604 (P&H) HN-B.
8-- Claim petition u/s 163A of MV Act by L.R. Of deceased who
stepped

into

the

shoe

of

the

owner

are

entitled

for

compensation?- Held- No. At the most they are entitled for


Rs.50,000/- under Section 140.
2014

ACJ

2561

(P&H),

three

SC

Judgments

followed.

Eshwarappa, 2010 ACJ 2444 (SC), Ningamma, 2009 ACJ 2020 (SC)
and Rajni Devi, 2008 ACJ 1441 (SC).
9- Personal accident- deceased stepped into the shoes of the
owner whether such person is entitled to claim any amount
under

the

head

of

Personal

Accident'?-

Held-

No.-

Such

benefit can only be availed by the owner himself and not any
other person who stepped into his shoes.
Further held that when accident occurred only because of the
sole

negligence

of

the

deceased,

LR

of

deceased

are

not

entitled for any compensation u/s 163A but under Section 140
of the Act.

97

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

2014 ACJ 2803(P&H).

Cover Note:1- Respondent No.2 was the owner of a Mini Bus. An insurance
policy in respect of the said vehicle was sought to be taken
by him. For the said purpose, the second respondent issued a
third party cheque towards payment of insurance premium. The
Development Officer of the appellant by inadvertence issued a
cover note. However, when the said mistake came to his notice,
the respondent No.2 was contacted by the Development Officer.
He was asked to pay the amount of premium. It was not tendered
and in stead the respondent No.2 is said to have returned the
original cover note and took back the cheque. The original
cover

note

as

also

all

the

duplicate

copies

thereof

was

cancelled. The said insurance cover was issued for the period
3.9.1991 to 2.9.1992. On or about 12.9.1991, the said vehicle
met with an accident. First respondent who suffered an injury
therein filed a claim petition in terms of the provisions
contained

in

Sec.

166-effect

liability

of

insurer

when

vehicle met with accident within the period under cover note held, no premium could be said to have been paid - no privity
of contract between insurer and insured - Supreme Court in
jurisdiction under Art. 142 of Constitution, directed insurer
to recover the paid compensation from insured-owner - appeal
allowed.
2008(7) SCC 526
2- Insured tendered cheque to Insurer on 23/1/1995, towards
premium - Cover note was issued by the insurer - On 27/1/1995
accident took place & third party, suffered severe injuries The cheque given for insurance, dishonored - After the date of
accident

Insurance

Policy

was

cancelled

However,

on

98

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

30/1/1995, insured paid cash to insurer - Insurer contended


that a contract of insurance would be valid only when cheque
paid for premium is honoured - On the dishonor of the cheque
the

contract

being

without

consideration,

need

not

be

performed - Held, cover-note was issued and cover-note would


come

within

the

purview

of

definition

of

"Certificate

of

Insurance" and also an "insurance policy" - It remains valid


till it is cancelled.
2008(3) GLH 791(SC) - Abhaysing Pratapsing Waghela
3- Cover note- proposal Form was submitted to IC on 30.12.2002
at 11.11 a.m.-- IC issued cover note mentioning that risk was
undertaken from 31.12.2002 whether IC is liable- held- nowhen there is specific mention with respect to the effective
date of policy, it starts from 31.12.2002- accident occurred
on 30.12.2002 at 8 p.m.- held IC is not liable
2012 ACJ 131- 2009 (3) 155 PLR

65 (SC) -Oriental Ins. Co. v/s

Porselvi -followed
4--

Cover

Note-

IC

did

not

produced

any

ledger

or

other

evidence to prove that on the date of accident premium was not


paid- Whether IC is liable- Held- Yes2012 ACJ 1497 (MP)
5-

Dispute

with

regard

to

Cover-note

IC

dispute

it's

liability on the ground that Cover-note is forged - held in


summary proceeding, Tribunal cannot decide said issue.
2013 ACJ 2245 (Pat), 2013 ACJ 2542 (P&H)

99

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

Hypothecation:1- Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 - S. 94, 95, 145, 147, 149(2), 155
- truck was insured with the appellant in the name of the
husband of respondent - truck was hypothecated to a Bank renewal of contract of insurance used to be done by the Bank no step was taken either by the Bank or the legal heirs of
deceased to get the registration of vehicle transferred in
their

names

driver's

legal

compensation

vehicle

met

heirs

filed

against

appellant-Insurance
Commissioner

the

with
an

directed

payment

driver

application

widow

Company

accident
of

the

for

deceased

Workmen's

of

compensation

died

grant
and

of

the

Compensation
to

widow

of

truck driver - High Court dismissed appeal - appeal against held, one of the grounds which is available to the Insurance
Company for denying its statutory liability is that the policy
is void having been obtained by reason of non-disclosure of a
material fact or by a representation of fact which was false
in some material particular - once a valid contract is entered
into, only because of a mistake, the name of original owner
not been mentioned in the certificates of registration, it
cannot be said that the contract itself is void - unless it
was shown that in obtaining the said contract, a fraud has
been

practiced

no

particulars

of

fraud

pleaded

no

infirmity in High Court's judgment


2009(1) SCC 558 U.I.I v/s Santro Devi
2-

Hypothecation-

finance

company

is

compensation.
2015 ACJ 1 (SC) HDFC Bank Resham (FB)

not

liable

to

pay

100

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

Transfer of the Vehicle:1- Accident- insurance- damage to the vehicle- transfer of the
vehicle- liability of the IC Transferee never got policy
transferred in his name- Transferee contended that transfer of
ownership takes place by delivery of goods and by passing of
consideration under the Sale of Goods Act- u/s 50 of the MV
Act, transfer of registration is required- Held- transfer of
vehicle is different from transfer of registration of vehicleRight to enforce an obligation under the policy against IC
could arise for the transferee only by obtaining a transfer of
policy- failure to obtain a transfer of policy may not affect
the right of third party under the Act but will have bearing
on the right of the transferee himself- claim by transferee
for damage to his vehicle is maintainable against the IC,
without getting the policy transferred in his name is not
maintainable.
2012 ACJ 1110 (P&H)
2-

Transfer

of

vehicle-

IC

dispute

it's

liability

on

the

ground that insurer had transfer his vehicle and obligation to


indemnify the insured arises when insured is held vicariously
liable for negligence of driver- whether sustainable?- HeldNo.

IP

stands,

deemed

to

be

transfer

in

the

name

of

transfer

of

transferee- IC is liable.
2013 ACJ 2235 (Mad)
3-

U/s

157(1)

certificate

of

Transfer

insurance-

of

vehicle-

Whether

IC

Deemed
can

be

held

liable?

-Held- Yes.
2014 ACJ 818 (Ker), 2015 ACJ 714
4- Transfer of the vehicle- certificate of insurance once
possession

is

taken

over

by

the

transferee

along

with

101

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

certificate of insurance, IC can not evade it's liability to


pay compensation.
2014 ACJ 1266 (SC) Mallamma v/s NI Com, 2014 ACJ 2751 (All)

Public Place u/s 2 (34):1- U/s 147(1) and 2 (34)-

public place and land abutting

public road- whether the land abutting public road to which


public

has

free

and

easy

access

is

public

place,

irrespective of the fact that it stood recorded in the name of


a private individual- Held- Yes- SC decisions referred to
2012 ACJ 1175 (Ori), 2014 ACJ 576 (Kar), 2014 ACJ 1312 (Raj)
2- Public place- agriculture field is public place?- Held Yes2013 ACJ 30 (AP)
3- Public place- agriculture field is public place?- Held Yes2013 ACJ 30 (AP)

Militant Attack- Hijack-Terrorist


Attack Arising out of Accident:-

Attack

Murder,

Heart

1- Intentional murder by use of Motor Vehicle- Whether the


claim

petition

is

maintainable?

Held-

No-

SC

decisions

referred to.
2012 ACJ 1188 (Chht)
2- Murder- Application u/s 163A- whether maintainable?- Held
-yes.
2012 ACJ 1512 (Ker)

102

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

3-- Bus came in contact with live wire- Claimant died because
of electrocution- whether IC is liable?- Held- yes
SC judgment followed. - 2012 AAC 2886.
4- Claimant sustained fracture when he was trying to replace
punctured tyre and when jack suddenly slipped and leg of the
claimant is crushed - Claimant preferred an application u/s
163A- Dismissed by Tribunal by holding that accident had not
taken place during driving of the vehicle. Sustainable- HeldNo. It is not necessary that vehicle should be in running
condition when accident occurred. Even if it was stationary,
IC is liable to pay compensation.
2013 ACJ 1561
5-

Militant

Attack-

Hijack-Terrorist

Attack-

Fatal

in

the

motor vehicle- whether claim petition is maintainable in such


cases?- Held- No.
2014 ACJ 1086.
But

contrary view

taken in the case of death of security

personnel- 2014 ACJ 1353 (Ass)


Bomb

Blast

in

Bus,

resulting

death

of

several

passengers-

Whether a claim petition u/s 163A is maintainable?- Held- Yes,


as accident arose out of the use of the motor vehicle- 2014
ACJ 2129 (All)
6- Deceased died because he was crushed by concrete pillar,
which fell no him as it was dashed by the offending vehicleWhether IC of offending vehicle liable to pay compensation?Held- Yes.
2012 AAC 3124.

103

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

7-

U/s

163A-

claimants are

deceased

died

entitled

due

to

heart

attack-

whether

for compensation u/s 163A of the MV

Act?- Held- No- in absence of any evidence to the effect that


deceased

died

due

to

heavy

burden

or

there

any

other

sustainable ground2012 ACJ 1134 (AP)- Murder 2012 ACJ (Ker)


Culpable

Homicide-

Altercation

between

conductor

and

passenger- conductor pushed passenger out of bus passenger


crushed in the said bus conductor prosecuted u/s 324 & 304
of IPC- whether in such situation, since driver failed in his
duty to stop the bus, he is liable for accident. Owner of bus
vicariously held liable and IC is is directed to indemnify
owner of the bus further held that accident was arising out
of use of motor vehicle.
2014 ACJ 2136 U I I Com. v/s Ramani C.K. (Ker)
8- Intentional murder by use of Motor Vehicle- Whether the
claim

petition

is

maintainable?

Held-

No-

SC

decisions

referred to.
2012 ACJ 1188 (Chht)

Dismiss for Default:1- Dismiss for Default- DD- whether claim petition preferred
under

the

MV

Act

can

be

dismissed

for

default

after

the

framing the issues? - Held- No- Tribunal is required to decide


the case on merits.
2012 ACJ 1261 (Guj) Bharatbhai Chaudhary v/s Malek Rafik, 2014
ACJ 1382 (Chh)
Burden of Proof:-

104

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

1- U/s 149(2) (a) (ii) and 149 (4)- driving licence- policywillful breach- burden of proof- on whom- Held on IC- it is
for the IC to prove that driver did not hold the DL to drive
the class of vehicle or DL was fake and breach was conscious
and willful on the part of insured to avoid its liability.
2012 ACJ 1268 (Del). Various SC decisions referred to.
2-

Burden

of

proof

on

IC

IC

contended

that

driver

of

offending vehicle did not possess valid licence- IC did not


issued any notice to owner, driver to produce DL nor made any
application to issue summons to RT officer2012 ACJ 1484 ((MP)

Stationary Vehicle:1-- It is the case of the IC that truck was standing and at
that point, jeep dashed in the rear portion of the Truck and
therefore, it is not liable- whether sustainable?- Held- NoEven if it is presumed that truck was stationary, IC of truck
is liable as driver of the truck is held negligent to the
extent of 25%- various SC judgments followed.
2012 ACJ 1390 (Raj) also see 2013 ACJ 1646 also see 2013 ACJ
2295 (Kar) also see 2013 ACJ 2399 (P&H), 2013 ACJ 2785 (P&H)See also Section 122 of the M.V. Act., 1986 ACJ 1070 (Guj),
2014 ACJ 1476
2-

Parked

vehicle

in

the

middle

of

the

road-

Stationary

vehicle.
2014 ACJ 1216
3-

Stationary

vehicle-

parked

in

the

middle

of

the

road

without headlights or indication light deceased died as he

105

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

dashed on the rear portion of the said stationary vehiclewhether IC of said vehicle can avoid its liability ? Held- No.
2013 ACJ 56 (Del), 2013 ACJ 1960 (AP), 2013 ACJ 2781 (P&H),
1986 ACJ 1070 (Guj)

Tractor-Trolley:1-

Tractor-trailer-

Tractor-trolley-

worker

sustained

injuries- IC seeks to avoid its liability on the ground that


policy does not cover risk of owner and labourers- whether
sustainable- Held- No- Section 2 (44) and 2 (46) indicates
that when trailer is attached to tractor, it becomes goods
vehicle and therefore, IC is liable.
2012

ACJ

1408

(Kar),

2012

ACJ

2737

(All)

SC

judgements

followed. But also see 2013 ACJ 1496 wherein it is held that
Tractor and Trolley are two separate vehicles and if Trolley
attached

with

travelling in

tractor

is

the Trolley

not

insured

attached with

and

deceased

was

tractor, Insurance

Company is not liable.


M.V. Act- Section 61, 146, 147- Tractor-trolley- It is no
doubt true that trolley is required separate registration for
commercial use/purpose u/s 61 but as per Section 146, it does
not provide for separate insurance of trolley. Once trolley is
attached to the tractor, it becomes one vehicle- IC of tractor
is held liable to pay compensation. - 2014 ACJ 1727 (All)
UII v/s Suman (Rakesh Tiwari and Anil Kumar Sharma JJ)
but also see 2014 ACJ 1583 (P&H) NII Com v/s Sohan lal.
2- Tractor- trolley- TP risk- Claimant was traveling in JeepIC sought to avoid its liability on the ground that Trolley
was not insured- whether sustainable- Held- no- claimant was
TP for the tractor and even if Trolley was not insured, IC is

106

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

liable as addition of trolley to tractor will not make any


difference to the claimant as he is TP for tractor
2012 ACJ 177.
3- Mudguard of tractor- Tractor was meant for agricultural
purpose- admittedly it was not used for agricultural purpose
when accident occurred- whether IC is liable?- held No.
2012 ACJ 1738
4--

Tractor-trolley-

When

trolley

is

attached

with

the

tractor is one vehicle2012 ACJ 2022 and 2117


5-

Tractor-trailer

Additional

premium

(CHH)

of

Tractor-trolley7

passengers

paid

Goods
under

vehicle
the

workmen

compensation act employee of hirer sustained injuries IC


disputed its liability Policy covers vehicle as well as the
employees engaged for its operation Under this situation, IC
held liable to pay amount of compensation.
2013 ACJ 994.
6-

Labourer

travelling

sustained by him-

on

Tractor

succumbed

to

injuries

IC disputed its liability on the ground

that deceased was a gratuitous passenger as no trolley was


attached with the tractor- whether sustainable?- Held- No.
2013 ACJ 2034 (ALL) SC judgment reported in 1987 ACJ 411,
Skandia Ins. v/s Kokilaben Chandravadan relied upon.
7- Tractor-trailer IC disputed it's liability on the ground
that there sitting capacity of only one person and therefore,
claim could not have travelled in the said tractor-trailer as
labourer- whether sustainable? - Held- No.

107

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

2013 ACJ 2331 (Kar)- Death of coolie travelling on the mudguard- 2013 ACJ 2353 (Mad) 8- Tractor-trailer- Agricultural purpose- commercial purposeDifference between.
2014 ACJ 1254 (SC)- Fahim Ahmed v/s UII Com., 2014 ACJ 2843
(Mad)
9-

Tractor-trolley

Agricultural

purpose

when

accident

occurred sand was loaded on it whether IC can avoid its


liability on the count that same was not used for agricultural
purpose?- Held No.- Unless same is proved by leading cogent
evidence, it not be held so.
2014 ACJ 1966 (All)
10- Tractor- trolley- TP risk- Claimant was traveling in JeepIC sought to avoid its liability on the ground that Trolley
was not insured- whether sustainable- Held- no- claimant was
TP for the tractor and even if Trolley was not insured, IC is
liable as addition of trolley to tractor will not make any
difference to the claimant as he is TP for tractor
2012 ACJ 177.

Registration of Vehicle/Number Plate:1--

Registration number of offending vehicle not disclosed at

the

time

of

filling

convicted

by

afterwards

does

of

criminal
not

lead

FIR-

driver

courtto

the

of

vehicle

offending
number,

conclusion

that

vehicle,
disclosed
there

collusion between claimant and driver of offending vehicle.


2012 ACJ 2176 (Del)

is

108

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

2-

Use

of

vehicle

without

the

registration

certificate-

temporary registration expired on the date of accident- owner


is not entitled to get anything under the Own Damage Claim.
2014 ACJ 2421 (SC).
3- Registration Certificate- Expiry of- liability of IC- non
renewal if RC on the date of accident same is not illegality
but

irregularity

and

same

will

not

absolve

IC

from

its

liability.
2014 ACJ 2399 (Kant) But contrary view is taken in 2014 ACJ
2665 (MP)
4- U/s 39 Registration of vehicle temporary registration
expired

before

the

date

of

accident

under

this

circumstances, IC has to prove breach of terms of Policy as


envisaged in Section 149(2) of the MV Act- if IC fails to
prove

this,

it

liable

to

pay

compensation

first

and

then

recover from Driver/owner.


2015 ACJ 236 (Kar)

Stolen Vehicle:1- Stolen vehicle- who was driving the vehicle not knownvehicle

recovered

after

the

accident-

whether

in

such

situation, IC can be held liable?- Held- Yes.


2014 ACJ 1165, also see Note No.375
2- Stolen property- fake registration number - number plateliability of IC- guideline2014 ACJ 1706 (Del)- UII Com. v/s Amaratta.

109

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

3- While searching for his lost/stolen jeep, owner meet with


the same jeep- whether IC can be held responsible to pay
compensation in such facts?- Held- No. As additional premium
was not paid.
2015 ACJ 107 (Guj) OIC v/s Ganeshbhai Gautambhai

Hit and Run - Under Section 161:1-

Hit

and

Run

case-

claimant

is

entitled

for

only

Rs.25,000/-, as claim petition is not maintainable against the


unknown vehicle.
2011 ACJ 552 (SC)- Saroj v/s Het Lal. But in 2014 ACJ 859
(Guj) it is held that joint tortfeasor is not required to be
joined. (Jst.S.H. Vora, Mayaben Ramanlal Jaiswal v/s Rajubhai
Chimanlal Jaiswal, FA 5431 to 5434 of 2008, dated 09/05/2013)
2- Whether a claim petition u/s 163A is maintainable when
award is already passed u/s 161 of the Act?- Held- Yes.
2012 ACJ 2314 (Chh).
3- U/s 161(3) (4), 163, 165 and 166(1) of MV Act Hit and Run
case - fixed compensation of Rs.25,000/-

claint has not filed

an application under the scheme framed u/s 161 whether an


application

for

fixed

compensation

maintainabile before the MACT?- Held- Yes.


2015 ACJ 203 (AP)

of

Rs.25,000/-

is

110

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

Third Party:1- Deceased boarded in wrong rout bus- asked conductor to stop
the bus- before the bus was stopped he jumped from the bus and
died- whether such person can be said to be T.P? - Held- Yes212 AAC 2584 (Del)
2- Pedestrian hit by truck which had 'Act Policy'- TP risktribunal directed IC to pay only 1.5 lac and remaining amount
of

compensation

was

Whether sustainable?been

paid

for

directed

to

Held- No.

'liability

to

be

paid

-Since,

public

by

owner-driver-

higher premium

risk

i.e.

third

had

part-

Though it was 'Act Policy', IC is held liable to pay amount of


compensation.
2012 ACJ 2667- SC Judgments followed.
3-

Mini

bus

hit

pedestrian-

Tribunal

held

that

same

was

insured as goods vehicle and exonerated IC- Whether order is


sustainable?- Held- No.- As claimant was TP for the minibus
and it does not make any difference if the the vehicle was
goods vehicle or passenger vehicle.
2013 ACJ 1956 (All)
4- Deceased a TP- comprehensive policy- liability of IC- after
new act liability of IC is unlimited towards TP
2011 ACJ 1860 (RAJ)

Disbursement and Apportionment:1-- Order of investment by the Tribunal after passing the
award-

Tribunal

cannot

mechanically

pass

the

order

of

investment in cases other than minors, illiterate and widows.

111

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

2012 (1) GLH 442 - A.V. Padma.


2- In that case approving the judgment of the Gujarat High
Court

in

Muljibhal

Ajarambhai

Harijan

v.

United

India

Insurance Co. Ltd., 1982 (1) 23 GLR 756, Supreme Court offered
the following guidelines
"(i)

The

Claims

Tribunal

should,

in

the

case

of

minors,

invariably order the amount of compensation awarded to the


minor invested in long term fixed deposits at least till the
date of the minor attaining majority. The expenses incurred by
the guardian or next friend may however be allowed to be
withdrawn;
(ii)

In

the

case

of

illiterate

claimants

also

the

Claims

Tribunal should follow the procedure set out in (1) above, but
if lump sum payment is required for effecting purchases of any
movable

or

immovable

property,

such

as,

agricultural

implements, rickshaw etc., to earn a living, the Tribunal may


consider such a request after making sure that the amount is
actually spent for the purpose and the demand is not a rouge
to withdraw money;
(iii) In the case of semi-literate persons the Tribunal should
ordinarily resort to the procedure set out at (i) above unless
it is satisfied, for reasons to be stated in writing, that the
whole or part of the amount is required for expanding and
existing business or for purchasing some property as mentioned
in (ii) above for earning his livelihood, in which case the
Tribunal

will

ensure

that

the

amount

is

invested

for

the

purpose for which it is demanded and paid;


(iv) In the case of literate persons also the Tribunal may
resort to the procedure indicated in (1) above, subject to the
relaxation set out in (ii) and (iii) above, if having regard
to the age, fiscal background and strata of society to which

112

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

the

claimant

belongs

and

such

other

considerations,

the

Tribunal in the larger interest of the claimant and with a


view to ensuring the safety of the compensation awarded to him
thinks it necessary to do order;
(v)

In

the

case

of

widows

the

Claims

Tribunal

should

invariably follow the procedure set out in (i) above;


(vi)

In

personal

injury

cases

if

further

treatment

is

necessary the Claims Tribunal on being satisfied about the


same, which shall be recorded in writing, permit withdrawal of
such amount as is necessary for incurring the expenses for
such treatment;
(vii) In all cases in which Investment in long term fixed
deposits is made it should be on condition that the Bank- will
not

permit

any

loan

or

advance

on

the

fixed

deposit

and

interest on the amount invested is paid monthly directly to


the claimant or his guardian, as the case may be;
(viii) In all cases Tribunal should grant to the claimants
liberty to apply for withdrawal in case of an emergency. To
meet

with

such

contingency,

if

the

amount

awarded

is

substantial, the Claims Tribunal may invest it in more than


one Fixed Deposit so that if need be one such F.D.R. can be
liquidated."
These guidelines should be borne in mind by the Tribunals in
the cases of compensation in accident cases.
AIR 1994 SC 1631-

Mrs. Susamma Thomas. Also see Jaiprakash

2010 (2) GLR 1716


3- Apportionment of inter se liability in an order passed u/s
140 of the Act- whether tribunal was justified in apportioning
the liability between the joint tortfeasor?- Held- No.
2013 ACJ 959.

113

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

4- Apportionment of inter se liability in an order passed u/s


140 of the Act- whether tribunal was justified in apportioning
the liability between the joint tortfeasor?- Held- No.
2013 ACJ 959.
5- U/s 168- compensation- apportionment- widow, father

and

mother- apportionment made in the ratio of 2:1:1- deceased was


aged

about

33

years-

Tribunal

contention that father and

awarded

multiplier

of

14-

mother (aged above 65 years) would

entitled for multiplier of 7 only- in that view of the matter,


apportionment is held to be valid and proper.
2012 ACJ 1093 (Ker)
6- Apportionment of inter se liability- whether tribunal was
justified

in

apportioning

the

liability

between

the

joint

tortfeasor?- Held- No.


2013 CJ 926 & 976

FIR, Charge sheet, Involvement of Vehicle, Identity of


Vehicle:1- Identification of vehicle- In FIR, offending vehicle is
described as Blue Colour bike whereas driver-owner sought to
avoid its liability on the count that bike was of Red Colourwhether sustainable? -Held- No. SC Judgments followed.
2012 ACJ 2529 (MAD).
2- Delay in filling of FIR- Whether on that count, claim
petition can be dismissed- Held- No.- Delay itself is not
sufficient to hold that claim petition is bogus.
2012 AAC 3334. - U.I.I. Com. v/s N. Srinivas., 2014 ACJ 1419
(AP)

114

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

3-- Involvement of the vehicle- Delay in filling FIR- whether


it can be the sole basis for arriving at the conclusion the
offending vehicle is planted? - Held- No.- When chargesheet is
filled, it cannot be doubted.
2013 ACJ 2376 (AP)
4- Whether filing of an FIR is sine qua none for filing claim
petition.- Held- No.
2014 ACJ 469 (Mad), 2014 ACJ 585 (Chh)
5- FIR- ordinarily averments made in the FIR would not be
admissible as evidence per se but when claimant has produced
it to prove his case, contents of such FIR admissible.
2014 ACJ 1075
6- Whether mere filling of Chargesheet for offences punishable
u/s 3 and 122 of the Act against the driver of the offending
vehicle leads to the conclusion that driver did not possess a
licence and owner has intentional breached the term sof the
Policy. - Held- No.
2013 ACJ 1501.
7- IC took defence that driver of the offending vehicle was
not possessing valid licence- Whether a criminal case filed
under section 3 and 18 of the M..V. Act is sufficient to hold
that driver of the offending vehicle was not possessing valid
licence? -Held- No.
2013 ACJ 1758 (MP)
8- Whether filing of Chargesheet against the driver u/s 3 and
181 of the MV Act, would lead to the conclusion that driver
was not hold the licence. Held- No. Unless it is proved by
leading cogent evidence by IC, it not be presumed by Tribunal.

115

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

2013 ACJ 2539 (AP).

Necessary Party:1- Whether the driver of the offending vehicle is required to


be

joined

as

party

opponent

in

each

case?-

Held-

No-

in

absence of non-joinder of driver, entire proceeding shall not


vitiated, as owner of the vehicle is joined.
2008 ACJ 1964 Machindranath Kernath v/s D.S. Mylarappa. 2013 ACJ 109 (Bom)
2- Non joinder of other tortfeasor- whether mandatory? - HeldNo.
2014

ACJ

589

(Bom)-

Oriental

Insurance

v/s

Meena

Variyal,

reported in 2007 ACJ 1284 (SC)


3- Whether the driver of the offending vehicle is required to
be

joined

as

party

opponent

in

each

case?-

Held-

No-

in

absence of non-joinder of driver, entire proceeding shall not


vitiated, as owner of the vehicle is joined.
2008 ACJ 1964 Machindranath Kernath v/s D.S. Mylarappa. 2013 ACJ 109 (Bom)

Conductors Licence:1- Conductor's licence- conductor sustain injuries while his


was in the bus and working as conductor- conductor's licence
had expired and not renewed- liability of ICheld responsible.
2013 ACJ 397 (Kar)- SC judgments followed.

IC cannot be

116

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

Succession Certificate:1- Whether on the basis

of succession certificate, brother's

son of deceased gets right to file an application under the


Act for getting compensation- Held- No.
2013 ACJ 1176 (J&K).
Whether

on

the

natural

death

of

the

one

of

the

joint

claimants, succession certificate is required to produced so


as to enable Tribunal to pass an order of disbursement of the
awarded amount, falling in the share of deceased claimant?Held- No.
2014 ACJ 891 (MP).
To get awarded amount, L.R. Are not required to get succession
certificate-

SC

judgment

in

the

case

of

Rukhsana

v/s

Nazrunnisa, 2000 (9) SCC 240 followe.


2014 ACJ 2501 (Raj)

Damage to property:1-

Claim

petition

elephant-

for

Tribunal

Rs.5,39,100

awarded

including

elephant-

Held

petition

is

such

damage

to

amount

RS.1,20,000
an

preferred

award
for

the

is

propertyof

compensation

for

loss

not

justified

damage

to

death

of

income
when

of
of

from
claim

the

property-

claim

petition-

Rs.1,20,000/- reduced by HC.


2013 ACJ 1279 (Ker)
2-

Damage

to

the

property-

Tenant

filed

Tribunal dismissed it on the ground that tenant is not the


owner and eviction petition is pending- Whether sustainableHeld- No.

117

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

2013 ACJ 1292 (Raj)


3- Damage to property- Truck dashed with auto rickshaw- IC of
truck liable to pay only Rs.6,000/- under the Act but Tribunal
can direct the IC to pay entire amount and in return IC may
recover the additional amount from the driver and owner of
Truck.
2013 ACJ 1830 (Jar)
4- Damage to goods loaded in the Truck- Whether IC is liable
to make good to such damage?- Held- No.- IC is liable to make
good for damage to the property of TP.
2014 ACJ 915 (HP).

Settlement:1- Claim petition withdrawn under the belief that as per the
settlement all amount would be paid but same was not paid
after the withdrawal of the claim petition.- Whether the fresh
claim

petition

is

bare

as

per

the

principles

of

the

res

judicata? - Held- No.


2013 ACJ 1361 (Raj)
2-

Settlement-

places-

Several

settlement

liability

before

sustainable-

Held-

arrived
the
No.-

evidence act would apply.


2014 ACJ 1511 (Del).

claim
at

petitions
place

Tribunal
Principle

at
of

'A'-

at
IC

place

two

different

disputing
'B'-

estoppal

u/s

its

whether
115

of

118

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

Mediclaim:1- Mediclaim when certain amount is paid under the mediclaim


policy, claimant can claim the said amount the claim petition.
- Held- No.
2013 ACJ 1437 (Mad), 2013 ACJ 2366 (Del), 2013 ACJ 2382 (Del),
2002 ACJ 1441 Patricia Jean Mahajan, 2013 ACJ, 2014 ACJ 320
(Del)
2- Mediclaim- claimant is only entitled for the amount of
premium paid by him and not the entire amount received by him
under the Mediclaim.
2013 ACJ 2609 (Del) N.I.Com. v/s R.K. Jain

Did not Suffer Financial Loss/Government Servant:1- Though claim did not suffer any

financial loss

due to

vehicular injuries sustained by him, Apex Court has granted


compensation under the head of 'Loss of Earning Capacity and
Future Loss of Income'.
2013 ACJ 1459 (SC) V. Sathu v/s P. Ganapathi (Relied upon
Ajay Kumar v/s Raj Kumar)
2- Injury Government servant- suffered 70% disablement and,
therefore, tendered VRS- awarded Rs.30 lacs by the High Court.
2014 ACJ 442(MP).

Railway:1- Unmanned level crossing- accident by Train- whether Rail


authority is liable to pay compensation- Held- Yes.

119

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

2013 ACJ 1653.


Requisition/Seizure of Vehicle by Government:2- Requisition of vehicle- IC disputed its liability on the
ground that the vehicle which met with an accident was being
used by Police department and deceased who was plying the said
vehicle was not employee of the owner- neither party claimed
that vehicle was requisitioned from owner by state- under this
circumstances, IC held liable.
2013 ACJ 2065 (JHR), 2014 ACJ 1997 (Bih),

2014 ACJ 1269 (SC)

Purnya v/s State of Assam


3- Jeep- Seized for alleged violation of NDPS Act- While jeep
was being taken for production- during transit jeep capsizedwhether owner can be held liable?- Held- No- As owner had no
control over the jeep.
2013 ACJ 721 (Ker) SC judgment followed.
4- Towing of vehicle- Rickshaw was being town by and jeep and
truck dashed with rickshaw- whether jeep driver can be held
liable?- Held -Yes
2013 ACJ 595

Overloading:1- Carrying more passenger than the seating capacity- Whether


IC can avoid its liability on the count- Held- No.
2013 ACJ 2694 SC judgement,-

B.V. Nagaraju v/s O.I. Com,

reported in 1996 ACJ 1178 relied upon.


2-- Breach of policy and permit- overloading- order of pay and
recover passed.

120

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

2014 ACJ 385 (Mad).


3- Overloading- Overloading of transport vehicle is not such a
breach which can be said to be a breach in terms of Section
149 (2) of MV Act.
2014 ACJ 2182 (Bom)
4- Passengers risk- overloading- truck loaded with coal and
carrying 12 passengers capsized- vehicle was insured covering
driver, cleaner and 6 coolies- IC contended that truck was
over

loaded

as

it

was

carrying

more

that

persons-

IC

contended that there is breach of policy- whether IC can be


held

liable?-

held-

yes-

as

IC

has

failed

to

show

that

carrying more number of coolies would be treated as breach of


policy if at all there is any breach of policy, it is not so
fundamental as to put end to the contract totally- IC is bound
to satisfy the highest six awards of coolies
2012 ACJ 287
5- Jeep driven by father of the owner- policy covers only six
passengers- actually

11 passengers were travelling- jeep fell

in to ditch resulting death of all passengers- IC is liablenot for all claimant- IC is directed to pay compensation and
further ordered to

recover from the owner and driver

2011 AIR SCW 2802- K.M. Poonam

Abate:1-

Original

claimant/injured

died

natural

death

during

pendency of claim petition.- whether his/her LRs are entitled


for compassion? - Held -Yes, as claim petition does not abate
on the death of injured victim.

121

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

1991 GLR 352,

2009 (2) GLH 217 Surpal Sing Gohil. 2014 ACJ

930 (AP). 2014 ACJ 1621 (Mad) Venkatesan v/s Kasthuri. 2014
ACJ 1754 (P&H), 2014 ACJ 1814 (Mad)

Fitness Certificate:1- Fitness certificate- whether IC can be exonerated on the


ground

that

owner

of

the

vehicle

was

not

having

fitness

certificate- Held- No.


2014 ACJ 94 (All), 2014 ACJ 2711 (Kar)
2- Fitness Certificate- U/s 149 (2) read with Section 56 - on
the date of accident, Fitness Certificate had expired- whether
in such situation IC can dispute its liability?- Held- No.
2014 ACJ 2226 (Mad)

Labourer of Hirer:1- Pay and Recover- 19 Labourers of hirer and not of owner
were travelling in goods vehicle which met with an accidentIC claimed that it is not liable as they were not authorised
to travel in the fateful vehicle- risk of 8 labourers covered
under the policy- owner and IC held jointly and severally
liable

to

labourers

and

also

directed

to

first

pay

to

remaining 11 labourers, with a direct to recover.


2014 ACJ 672 (AP)- NI Com v/s Vempada Ramu dated 5.10.2012
2- Accident sustained by a delivery boy when he was travelling
in a delivery vehicle owned by his company- HC turned down
claim of the claimant on the ground that injured was working
as a clerk and risk of labourer hired to load-unload goods is

122

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

covered- IMT-17 is relied upon by the SC and held that IC is


liable to make good of the compensation.
2014 ACJ 681 (SC) (FB) Hanumanagouda v/s UI Com. Also other
judgment on IMT-13 (Second Driver)- 2014 ACJ 1032
Judgment on IMT 15 (Owner-cum-driver) Even if other person
was driving the vehicle and owner was travelling in the said
vehicle as occupants, then also IC is held liable to pay
compassion as per the policy. - 2014 ACJ 1862 (Mad).
Judgment on IMT 18 [as it stood in 2001 cleaner of the bus
Additional premium paid- IC held not liable)]

- 2014 ACJ 1920

(AP)

IMT:1- Accident sustained by a delivery boy when he was travelling


in a delivery vehicle owned by his company- HC turned down
claim of the claimant on the ground that injured was working
as a clerk and risk of labourer hired to load-unload goods is
covered- IMT-17 is relied upon by the SC and held that IC is
liable to make good of the compensation.
2014 ACJ 681 (SC) (FB) Hanumanagouda v/s UI Com. Also other
judgment on IMT-13 (Second Driver)- 2014 ACJ 1032
Judgment on IMT 15 (Owner-cum-driver) Even if other person
was driving the vehicle and owner was travelling in the said
vehicle as occupants, then also IC is held liable to pay
compassion as per the policy. - 2014 ACJ 1862 (Mad).
Judgment on IMT 18 [as it stood in 2001 cleaner of the bus
Additional premium paid- IC held not liable)]
(AP)

- 2014 ACJ 1920

123

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

2- Owner-driver Wife is a owner of the vehicle which bing


driven by deceased husband- whether husband can be said to be
third party for wife?- Held- No.- As he stepped in to the shoe
of the owner- Only entitled for Rs.2,00,000.
2014 ACJ 1524 (UK). Also see 2014 ACJ 1574 (Del), wherein it
is held that as per

IMT GR-36

personal accident cover is

available to the owner of insured vehicle holding valid and


effective

licence

but

anybody

driving

the

vehicle

with

or

without permission of the owner cannot be taken as ownerdriver.


3-

Comprehensive

Policy

Package

Policy-

IMT

37-

Good

Vehicle- Gratuitous Passenger- driver of the vehicle allowed 2


passengers to board in the vehicle which turn turtle IC
charged premium for Non-Fare- Paying Passenger. - Under this
circumstances, IC held liable to pay compensation.
2014 ACJ 2412 (Raj)

Use of Vehicle other than for registered:1- Vicarious liability- Master and Servant- accident occurred
when vehicle was used for personal used of employee- Whether
Master/Government can be held responsible- Held- No.
2014 ACJ 1198
2--

Tractor-trolley Agricultural purpose - when accident

occurred sand was loaded on it whether IC can avoid its


liability on the count that same was not used for agricultural
purpose?- Held No.- Unless same is proved by leading cogent
evidence, it not be held so.
2014 ACJ 1966 (All)

124

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

3- Whether wheeler loader is a 'motor vehicle'- Held- Yes.


2014 ACJ 2584 (P&H)
4- IC disputed its liability on the ground that vehicle was
run on LPG- but failed to adduce any evidence in this regardHeld IC is liable
2011 ACJ 2141 (MAD)
5- Tribunal exonerated IC on the ground that vehicle was found
to have

two control system

and same was used for

driving

school- whether sustainable- held no IC led no evidence


that vehicle was used for diving school 2011 ACJ 1632 (BOM)

Central Motor Vehicles Rules:1-

Central

M.V.

Rules,

1989,

Rule-41-

motor

vehicle

trade

certificate- when can be use?- Held- it could not be used for


purpose other than those mentioned u/r 41 of the Rules and for
carrying passengers.
2012 ACJ 2285 (Kar)
2-U/S 149(2), 170-

IC need not to take permission of Tribunal

under section 170, if it is joined as respondent and not just


as notice
2011 ACJ 2729 (SC)- Shila Dutta
3- Central M.V. Rules- Rule 16- Tractor Driving licence- Rule
16 provides that every licence issued or renewed shall be in
Form VI which provides for grant of licence in respect of LMV
or Transport Vehicle amongst other categories but there is no
specific entry for issuance of licence for driving a Tractor.
As

per

Section

2(44),

by

definition

Tractor

is

LMV

and,

125

MACP Important Judgments Compiled by H S Mulia

therefore, when driver has licence to ply LMV, he can also ply
Tractor.
2014 ACJ (P&H)

Miscellaneous:1- Death of owner of offending vehicle prior to the date of


accident-

whether

in

such

situation,

IC

is

liable

to

pay

compensation/- Held- Yes.


2013 ACJ 1576
2- Two Accident- in first accident, deceased sustained serious
injuries and while he was being taken to the hospital for
treatment, second accident occurred- both the vehicles held
liable in the accident.
2013 ACJ 896.
3- M.V. Act- duty of advocates- Guidelines- Good judgment.
2013 ACJ 474.
4-U/s 166- Efficacious disposal of MACPs with minimum loss of
Judicial time- procedure and guideline stated.
2015 ACJ 514 (P&H).

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