NEW INDIA ASSURANCE CO LTD Vs. MOHINDER SINGH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The New India Assurance Company has approached this Court by filling the instant appeal under Section 177 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (for brevity, 'the Act') challenging award dated 7.1.2006, passed by the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, Panipat (for brevity, 'the Tribunal'). It has been categorically found by the Tribunal that the accident was caused on 9.7.2004 due to rash and negligent driving of the offending vehicle bearing Registration No. HR-06J-5564. The vehicle was being driven by one Nikhil, respondent No. 2. It resulted into grave multiple injuries to the claimant-respondent No. 1 Mohinder Singh. A total sum of Rs. 1,95,011/- has been awarded under various heads like pain and suffering, expenses on treatment, expenses on the follow up of treatment, expenses on transportation, loss of salary and disability.

(2.) The principal controversy centres around the fact that Nikhil, the driver of the vehicle at the time of accident was not holding a valid driving licence. However, it could not be proved that the owner of the vehicle Sham Lal, respondent No. 3, had permitted Nikhil to drive the vehicle as the burden to prove the aforementioned fact was on the insurer. Placing reliance on a judgment of the Supreme Court in the case of National Insurance Company Ltd. v. Swaran Singh, (2004) 3 SCC 297, the Tribunal has held that it was the duty of the insurer to prove that the insured was guilty of negligence and failed to exercise reasonable care in accordance with the policy of insurance. However, the Tribunal found that the appellant-Insurance Company has failed to discharge that onus as it could not prove that Sham Lal, owner-respondent No. 3, had allowed the use of the vehicle by Nikhil, driver-respondent No. 2, and accordingly answering the issue by observing as under:-

(3.) We have heard learned counsel for the appellant- Insurance Company and are of the view that the award passed by the Tribunal does not suffer from any legal infirmity. The factum of accident, injury of the deceased and various amounts awarded are the facts which have been adequately proved before the Tribunal. The only controversy which has been raised is that Nikhil, driverrespondent No. 2, did not have any driving licence. However, it has been proved that Sham Lal, owner-respondent No. 3, did not commit any breach of the terms and conditions of the insurance policy because he had permitted Pawan @ Pappu to drive the vehicle, who in turn have allowed the same to be driven by Nikhil, driverrespondent No. 2. In other words, no fault can be found with the act and conduct of owner-respondent No. 3 as he took all care while handing over the vehicle to Pawan @ Pappu. Therefore, we are of the view that no interference of this Court would be warranted because there is no violation of the terms and conditions or any proof of negligence on part of the owner-respondent No. 3 within four corners of Section 149(2) of the Act. For the reasons aforementioned, this appeal fails and the same is dismissed.