Shama Bano vs Motor Accident Claims Tribunal ...
2021 Latest Caselaw 4052 ALL

HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD
 
 

Court No. - 37
 
Case :- WRIT - C No. - 8672 of 2021
 
Petitioner :- Shama Bano
 
Respondent :- Motor Accident Claims Tribunal And Another
 
Counsel for Petitioner :- Amit Kumar Sinha,Deepali Srivastava Sinha
 
Hon'ble Rajiv Joshi,J.

Heard Sri A.K. Singh, Advocate holding brief of Sri Amit Kumar Sinha, learned Counsel for the petitioner and learned Standing Counsel for the State respondents.

The present writ petition under Article 226 of the constitution of India has been filed for quashing the impugned order dated 04.02.2021 passed by the Tribunal in Fixed Deposit Release Application No.36 of 2020.

It reflects from the record that the petitioner had filed a Motor Accident Claims Petition No.520 of 2015 (Shama Bano & Others Vs. Ram Singh & another), which was partly allowed by the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal vide award dated 28.04.2018. The operative portion of the said award is quoted hereunder:-

"वर्तमान याचिका विपक्षी संख्या-2 श्री राम जनरल इन्श्योरेन्स कम्पनी लिमिटेड के विरुद्ध अंकन 6,41,996/- रुपये (छः लाख इकतालिस हजार नौ सौ छानबे रुपये) की वसूली हेतु संयुक्त एवं पृथकतः स्वीकार एवं आज्ञप्त किया जाता है। याचीगण याचिका संस्थित करने की तिथि से वास्तविक भुगतान की तिथि तक 7 प्रतिशत ब्याज भी पाने के अधिकारी होंगे। याचिगण की याचिका विपक्षी संख्या-1 वाहन स्वामी के विरुद्ध अपास्त किया जाता है

विपक्षी संख्या-2 श्रीराम जनरल इन्श्योरेन्स कम्पनी लिमिटेड को निर्देश दिया जाता है कि वह इस अधिनिर्णय के 90 दिन के अन्दर प्रतिकर की सम्पूर्ण धनराशि मय ब्याज को खाता अदायगी चैक न्यायाधिकरण में जमा कर दे अन्यथा याचीगण उक्त प्रतिकर की राशि मय ब्याज न्यायाधिकरण की सहायता से वसूलने के अधिकारी होंगे।

प्रतिकर की राशि अंकन 6,41,996/-रुपये (छः लाख इकतालिस हजारर नौ सौ छानबे रुपये) में से अंकन 3,00,000/-रुपये (तीन लाख रुपये) याची संख्या-1 शमा बानो के नाम से किसी राष्ट्रीयकृत बैंक की सावधि जमा योजना में पाँच वर्ष के लिए जमा किये जायेंगे।

चूँकि याची संख्या-3 सरताज आलम वयस्क हो चुका है ऐसी स्थिति में प्रतिकर की शेष राशि अंकन 3,41,996/- रुपये (तीन लाख इकतालिस हजार नौ सौ छानबे रुपये) में से अंकन 1,00,000-1,00,000/-रुपये (एक-एक लाख रुपये) याची संख्या-2 शरफराज आलम एवं याची संख्या-3 सरताज आलम एवं अंकन 1,41,996/-रुपये (एक लाख इकतालिस हजार नौ सौ छानबे रुपये) एवं प्रतिकर की सम्पूर्ण राशि पर मिलने वाला सम्पूर्ण ब्याज की धनराशि याची संख्या-1 शमाबानो खाता अदायी चैक के माध्यम से तत्काल प्राप्त करने के अधिकारी होंगे। यदि याचीगण ने कोई अन्तरिम प्रतिकर प्राप्त कर लिया है, तो वह प्रतिकर में समायोजित किया जायेगा।"

The petitioner submits that pursuant to the award in question an amount of Rs.3,00,000 (Rupees Three Lacs) has been deposited in the Fixed Deposit of Nationalized Bank for a period of five years, which will mature on 31.07.2023.

The petitioner has further stated that she is in great financial constrain, in such a situation and background of the case, the petitioner submits that the balance amount should not be forced to get the Fixed Deposit created and the fixed deposit in this regard may be released to her. The application filed by the petitioner before the Tribunal in this regard has already been rejected by the Tribunal.

Learned Counsel for the petitioner further stated that the petitioner is living in a house, which is in dilapidated condition and the amount in question is required for renovation of the house

The guidelines issued by the Supreme Court in the case of General Manager, Kerala State Road Transport Corporation Vs. Sushma Thomas & ors. (1994) 1 TAC 323 are being looked into. The relevant extract of the said judgment is quoted herein below:-

(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 mayconsider 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 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 a 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."

A perusal of the aforesaid guidelines indicates that in case the Tribunal has invested the compensation in a long term fixed deposit, the Tribunal would also consider the claim of the claimant for early withdrawal in case of an emergency under clause clause (viii) of the guidelines.

Once request had been made by the petitioner for waiving certain condition in the direction of investment of amount by way of Fix Deposit then request of the petitioner ought to have been objectively considered, as such order passed by Motor Accident Claims Tribunal cannot be subscribed for the simple reason that it completely lacks reason. Once claim has been set up by the claimant before the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal then request of the claimant ought to have been considered objectively by the Claims Tribunal for release of the amount in question as per the judgment of Hon'ble Apex Court in the case of General Manager, Kerala State Road Transport Corporation Vs. Sushma Thomas and others (Supra). In the present case the need/cause which has been set up by the petitioner, has not been adverted to by the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal and the application has been rejected only on the ground that grounds are not sufficient.

Consequently, order dated 04.02.2021 passed Motor Accident Claims Tribunal is hereby quashed and set aside. Motor Accident Claims Tribunal is directed to consider the request of the petitioner objectively in accordance with law preferably within eight weeks from the date of presentation of certified copy of this order

With the above direction present writ petition is allowed.

Order Date:-19.3.2021

S.P.