NATIONAL INSURANCE CO LTD Vs. LILA RANI MAJUMDAR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) ON 8.11.1997, in an accident one Harilal Mazumdar, husband of the claimant, respondent herein, died on the spot. He was the employee of the owner of the truck at the relevant time. The wife preferred a claim petition before the Commissioner of Workmen's Compensation, Nagaon against the owner of the vehicle and the insurance company was also made a party to the proceedings. The Commissioner for Workmen's Compensation had held that the accident occurred during the course of and arisen out of the employment. Deceased was the employee of the owner of the vehicle and at the relevant time, the appellant insurance company has insured the truck, which had met with an accident as a result of which claimant's husband had died. After consideration of the wages and the age of the deceased the learned Commissioner for Workmen's Compensation has awarded Rs. 1,92,140 with interest at the rate of 12 per cent per annum amounting to Rs. 2,38,067.66 as compensation for the death of the husband of the claimant. Aggrieved by the award, the present appeal is filed by the insurance company.

(2.) IT is contended by learned counsel for the insurance company that under section 147 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, liability of the insurance company to pay compensation for the death of an employee in the goods carriage vehicle would arise only if extra premium is paid by the owner of the vehicle to the insurance company. The submission of the learned counsel for the insurance company is devoid of any substance. First proviso to section 147 (1) (b) of the Act clearly covers the case of an employee who was carried in the goods vehicle and insurance company is statutorily liable to cover the risk of an employee carried in the goods vehicle. Admittedly, at the relevant point of time the deceased was engaged by truck owner, which is a goods carrier and when he met with an accident, he was carried in the vehicle. That being the case, the liability of the insurance company to indemnify the owner arises out of the insurance policy under section 147 of Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The point raised by the learned counsel for the insurance company is squarely covered by a decision rendered by the Apex Court in the case of Ramashray Singh v. New India Assurance Co. Ltd., 2003 ACJ 1550 (SC). The appeal is dismissed. However, there shall be no order as to costs. Appeal dismissed.