KHAZANI Vs. SOBARAN SINGH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS appeal under Section 110-D of the Motor Vehicles Act is directed against an award of the Motor Accident Claims (III Additional District Judge) Aligarh dated 6th November, 1977.

(2.) THE accident giving rise to this proceeding occurred on August 30, 1973 around 10.00 A.M. on the G.T. Road near Varshaney Degree College, Aligarh. The college faces north. Facing the college is sewer line running from east to west. To the north of the sewer line there is road of the width of nearly 7' only. To the further of this road is Kachchi Patri to the width of nearly 3' running from east to west. The case set up by the claimant-appellant is that at the relevant time Jai Chand had emerged out of the college and was on bicycle. His friend Rakesh Chandra also a student in the college, was sitting on the bar of the cycle. The cycle was to his extreme left and Jai Chandra was at the moment on the bicycle with his leg placed on the earth placed over the sewer line, truck No. UST 9583 belonging to the respondent No. 2 and driven by Sobaran Singh respondent No. 1 came from western direction. It took a turn to the north-east and in the process Jai Chandra besides Rakesh Chandra were placed under the rear wheels of the truck. Lacerated wound was caused on the right thigh of Jai Chandra besides abrasion on the right leg and lacerated wound on the right foot. Rakesh Chandra was also injured. Both were admitted to the hospital where Jai Chandra developed tetenus and died on September 9, 1973. He was then about 23 years of age and a student of B. Com. The claimant is mother of the deceased. The claim was resisted refuting that the accident occurred. due to the rash or negligent act of the driver and that the compensation claimed is excessive.

(3.) LLEARNED Counsel for the claimant argued that on the material placed on the record, it is clearly borne out that the accident took place due to negligence of Sobaran Singh, the driver of the truck in question. I have been taken to the evidence of PW Rakesh Chandra besides PW Deependra Kumar and also through the statement given by Sorbaran Singh driver on the other side. There appears no dispute in regard to the photography of the relevant spot where the accident occurred. On both sides it is admitted that there is the college facing north. To the immediate north thereof there was sewer line, as stated above, running from east to west. To the north of this sewer line runs. G.T. road running east to west and the width of the road at that place is merely 7 to the north of this road is a kacbchi Patari of the width of about 3. DW Sobaran Singh states too that there was a bullock-cart on this Kachchi Patri at this moment Jai Chandra deceased accompanied with PW Rakesh Chandra had emerged from the college and were on bicycle which was being driven by Jai Chandra. It has been admitted by Sobaran Singh in his statement on oath that the boys were to their extreme left. In face of the sewer line being there facing the college gate opening to the month, the boys riding the bicycle could not have been elsewhere then to their extreme left. It is also not in dispute that the truck proceeded from west to east. The Tribunal has laid emphasis on pointing that it was being driven at a slow speed. DW Sobaran Singh said that this was at about 20 to 25 Km. per hour. Assuming this to be so, the question remains whether this was enough in itself. It was not difficult to foresee boys, emerged from the College gate towards north on bicycle or therewise. The road particularly was extremely narrow being about 7' bony in width at the spot, then there was the Kachchi Patari which too is narrow and in addition there was admittedly a bullock cart over there. The sewer line and the earth placed on the same towards the south of the road must have further made the free movement difficult. In face of this, it was evidently incumbent upon the truck driver to have brought the truck to hault in order that the casualty do not occur. The truck had been seen coming towards the east from a distance of nearely 150 paces. The road at the spot being straight from west to east, it does not appear that at about 10 00 in the morning. The driver will not have been in position to spot the boys move having emerged from the college gate or trying to cross over by the other side. PW Rakesh Chandra who as well received injuries, is definitely eye witnesses to the incident and the details given by him inspire confidence. PW Deependra Kumar stated that he was to the south of the sewer line at the moment and he, too, has been given graphic account as to bow the things transpired.