NEW INDIA ASSURANCE CO LTD Vs. RAMAWATAR SHARMA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE above mentioned two appeals are being decided by this common judgment as both have been preferred against order dated 25. 4. 2007 passed by the District Forum, Jhunjhunu is Complaint No. 113/2005 by which the complaint of complainant respondent No. 1 was allowed against the appellant Insurance Company in the manner that the Insurance Company was directed to pay a sum of Rs. 1,12,225 within one month and if the amount was not paid within one month the Insurance Company would get interest @ 9% p. a. on the above amount.

(2.) IT arises in the following circumstances: that the complainant respondent No. 1 in Appeal No. 904/2007 had filed a complaint before the District Forum on 27. 4. 2005 inter alia stating that his jeep bearing No. RJ 18 T 829 was got insured with the appellant Insurance Company for the period 2. 12. 2004 to 1. 12. 2005 for a sum of Rs. 3,32,405. It was further stated that on 11. 1. 2005 when the jeep was coming from Jaipur and when it had reached near the bus stand Jhadaya in night at about 10. 00-11. 00 p. m. a Neel Gai suddenly came before the jeep as a result of which the jeep in question had capsized and had fallen in a dig and jeep was damaged and information of that incident was given by the complainant to the office of the Insurance Company and spot survey was got conducted by the Insurance Company and as per the case of the complainant a sum of Rs. 1,71,469 were spent in making repair of the jeep and for that claim was preferred by the complainant before the office of the Insurance Company but that claim was repudiated by the Insurance Company through letter dated 7. 3. 2005 on the ground that at the time of accident three persons were sitting in the jeep and the jeep was not having a permit to ply over the road as the permit in question had come into force w. e. f. 12. 1. 2005 though the accident had taken place on 11. 1. 2005 and further the fitness certificate was also valid for the period 12. 1. 2005 to 11. 1. 2007 and not on the date of accident. Thereafter the present complaint was filed. A reply was filed by the Insurance Company before the District Forum on 19. 9. 2006 in which they have taken the same pleas which were taken by them in the repudiation letter dated 7. 3. 2005 and it was prayed that complaint be dismissed. After hearing the parties, the District Forum, Jhunjhunu through impugned order dated 25. 4. 2007 had allowed the complaint inter alia holding:

(3.) THE main contention of the learned Counsel for the appellant Insurance Company is that since on the date of accident i. e. , 11. 1. 2005 there was no valid permit and thus it was violation of provisions of Section 66 of Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, therefore, in such case at the most the claim must have been treated as sub-standard claim, thus, the findings recorded by the District Forum are erroneous one and should be quashed and set aside and to that extent the appeal filed by the Insurance Company be allowed.