Kerala High Court

Sivanandan.P vs Rajeswary on 27 October, 2025

                                                   2025:KER:81354
O.P.(MAC) Nos.116 of 2025 & 117 of 2025
                                          -1-

             IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM

                                    PRESENT

          THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE MOHAMMED NIAS C.P.

 MONDAY, THE 27TH DAY OF OCTOBER 2025 / 5TH KARTHIKA, 1947

                        OP (MAC) NO. 116 OF 2025

AGAINST THE COMMON ORDER IN I.A.NOS.3/2023 AND 4/2023 IN
O.P.(MV) NO.1099/2017 DATED 20.06.2025 ON THE FILE OF THE
MOTOR ACCIDENT CLAIMS TRIBUNAL, ALAPPUZHA
PETITIONER/1ST PETITIONER IN I.A.NOS.3/2023 AND 4/2023/2ND
RESPONDENT IN O.P.(MV) NO.1099/2017:

             SIVANANDAN P.,
             AGED 65 YEARS, S/O. PARAMESWARAN,
             THURUTHENVELIYIL HOUSE,
             KANICHUKULANGARA P.O., CHERTHALA, PIN-688582

             BY ADVS.
             SRI.M.R.NANDAKUMAR
             SHRI.ARJUN ANIL
             SMT.ANNA MARIA


RESPONDENTS/RESPONDENTS 1 TO 3 & 2ND PETITIONER IN I.A./
PETITIONERS 1 & R1, R3 AND R4 IN O.P.(MV) NO.1099/2017:

     1       RAJESWARY,
             AGED 20 YEARS, D/O RADHAKRISHNAN,
             KAITHAVALAPPIL,
             VAYALAR.P.O.,CHERTHALA, PIN-688524

     2       VINOD,
             S/O NATARAJAN, VALAYAMCHIRAVELY HOUSE,
             S.N.PURAM.P.O., CHERTHALA, PIN-688582

     3       RADHAKRISHNA MENON,
             PUTHENPURAYIL,
             S.N.PURAM, CHERTHALA, PIN-688582
                                                   2025:KER:81354
O.P.(MAC) Nos.116 of 2025 & 117 of 2025
                                          -2-

     4       DIVISIONAL MANGER,
             NATIONAL INSURANCE CO. LTD.,
             GROUND FLOOR , SOUMYA COMPLEX,
             VELLAKKINAR, ALAPPUZHA, PIN-688001

             BY ADVS.
             SMT.MEGHA G.
             SHRI.B.PRAMOD
             SHRI.KIRAN PETER KURIAKOSE
             SHRI.ATHUL M.V.
             SRI.N.ABHILASH
             SHRI.MUHAMMED ZAFWAN

             SRI. GEORGE A. CHERIAN, STANDING COUNSEL

     THIS OP (MAC) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON
27.10.2025, ALONG WITH OP (MAC).117/2025, THE COURT ON THE
SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
                                                    2025:KER:81354
O.P.(MAC) Nos.116 of 2025 & 117 of 2025
                                          -3-


             IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM

                                    PRESENT

          THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE MOHAMMED NIAS C.P.

 MONDAY, THE 27TH DAY OF OCTOBER 2025 / 5TH KARTHIKA, 1947

                        OP (MAC) NO. 117 OF 2025

AGAINST THE COMMON ORDER IN I.A.NOS.3/2023 AND 4/2023 IN
O.P.(MV) NO.1099/2017 DATED 20.06.2025 ON THE FILE OF THE
MOTOR ACCIDENT CLAIMS TRIBUNAL, ALAPPUZHA
PETITIONER/1ST PETITIONER IN I.A.NOS.3/2023 & 4/2023/2ND
RESPONDENT IN O.P.(MV) NO.1102/2017:

             SIVANANDAN.P.,
             AGED 65 YEARS, S/O. PARAMESWARAN,
             THURUTHENVELIYIL HOUSE,
             KANICHUKULANGARA P.O, CHERTHALA, PIN-688582

             BY ADVS.
             SRI.M.R.NANDAKUMAR
             SHRI.ARJUN ANIL
             SMT.ANNA MARIA



RESPONDENTS/RESPONDENTS 1 TO 4 & 2ND PETITIONER AND R5 IN
I.A./ PETITIONERS 1 TO 3 & R1, R3 AND R4 IN O.P.(MV)
NO.1102/2017:

     1       JAYAKUMAR,
             AGED 50 YEARS, S/O KUMARA PANICKER,
             KATTAMGANATHU (KATTANANGANATHU VELI),
             CHERTHALA P.O., CHERTHALA, PIN-688582

     2       INDIRA,
             AGED 48 YEARS, W/O JAYAKUMAR,
             KATTAMGANATHU (KATTANANGANATHU VELI),
             CHERTHALA P.O., CHERTHALA, PIN-688582
                                                   2025:KER:81354
O.P.(MAC) Nos.116 of 2025 & 117 of 2025
                                          -4-

     3       AKASH J.,
             AGED 25 YEARS, S/O JAYAKUMAR,
             KATTAMGANATHU (KATTANANGANATHU VELI),
             CHERTHALA P.O., CHERTHALA, PIN-688582

     4       VINOD,
             S/O NATARAJAN,
             VALAYAMCHIRAVELY HOUSE,
             S.N.PURAM P.O., CHERTHALA, PIN-688582

     5       RADHAKRISHNA MENON,
             PUTHENPURAYIL,
             S.N.PURAM, CHERTHALA, PIN-688582

     6       DIVISIONAL MANGER,
             NATIONAL INSURANCE CO. LTD.,
             GROUND FLOOR, SOUMYA COMPLEX,
             VELLAKKINAR, ALAPPUZHA, PIN-688001

             BY ADVS.
             SMT.MEGHA G.
             SHRI.B.PRAMOD
             SHRI.KIRAN PETER KURIAKOSE
             SHRI.ATHUL M.V.
             SRI.N.ABHILASH
             SHRI.MUHAMMED ZAFWAN

             SRI. GEORGE A. CHERIAN, STANDING COUNSEL

     THIS OP (MAC) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON
27.10.2025, ALONG WITH OP (MAC).116/2025, THE COURT ON THE
SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
                                                         2025:KER:81354
O.P.(MAC) Nos.116 of 2025 & 117 of 2025
                                          -5-




                      MOHAMMED NIAS C.P., J.
            --------------------------------------------------
            O.P.(MAC) Nos.116 of 2025 & 117 of 2025
             -------------------------------------------------
             Dated this the 27th day of October, 2025

                                 JUDGMENT

These original petitions are filed challenging the orders

passed by the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal, Alappuzha,

rejecting the applications filed for setting aside the ex parte

awards, along with the applications to condone the delay in filing

the same.

2. The contention of the petitioner in both cases is that

he had sold the vehicle, as seen from Ext.P2 certificate, on

26.07.2000, while the accident happened on 07.01.2017, and

therefore, could not be made liable. Though he had entrusted a

lawyer to defend him, he did not properly represent the case,

3. The contention that the vehicle was transferred long

before the accident, etc is a matter for the petitioner to urge

before the Tribunal. The fact remains that he was set ex parte, and 2025:KER:81354 O.P.(MAC) Nos.116 of 2025 & 117 of 2025

the application was filed with a delay of 25 days in filing the same,

was rejected.

4. After hearing the learned counsel appearing on both

sides and having regard to the contentions raised, I am inclined to

set aside the impugned order to allow the petitioner an

opportunity to contest the case on merits.

5. Accordingly, the impugned orders are set aside on

condition that the petitioner deposits before the Tribunal an

amount of Rs 5,000/- in each case within thirty days from today.

6. Needless to say that if the above deposits are not made,

the petitioner will not get the benefit of this judgment, and the

impugned orders will stand confirmed.

7. The respondents, including the Insurance Company,

will be free to file additional pleadings, if any, before the Tribunal.

Since the claim petitions are of the year 2017, there will be a

further direction to the Tribunal concerned to dispose of O.P.(MV)

Nos. 1099 of 2017 and 1102 of 2017 within six months from the date

of receipt of a copy of this judgment.

2025:KER:81354 O.P.(MAC) Nos.116 of 2025 & 117 of 2025

The impugned orders are set aside. The Original petitions

are allowed as above.

Sd/-

MOHAMMED NIAS C.P. JUDGE bpr 2025:KER:81354 O.P.(MAC) Nos.116 of 2025 & 117 of 2025

APPENDIX OF OP (MAC) 116/2025

PETITIONER'S EXHIBITS

Exhibit P1 A TRUE COPY OF THE COMMON JUDGEMENT IN O.P(MV) NO: 1099/2017 AND OP (MV) NO. 1102/2017 DATED 23.02.2023 OF THE IN THE COURT OF M.A.C. TRIBUNAL, ALAPPUZHA

Exhibit P2 A TRUE COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE ISSUED BY THE JOINT REGIONAL TRANSPORT OFFICER, CHERTHALA, DATED 27.06.2022 IN NO. C3/1766/2022/ACL

Exhibit P3 A TRUE COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION OF VEHICLE NO: KL-04-C-133

Exhibit P4 A TRUE COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF INSURANCE POLICY CUM POLICY SCHEDULE VALID TILL 08.06.2018

Exhibit P5 A TRUE COPY OF THE PERMIT ISSUED BY THE REGIONAL TRANSPORT AUTHORITY, CHERTHALA DATED 03.05.2018

Exhibit P6 A TRUE COPY OF THE COMMON ORDER DATED 20.06.2025 IN I.A NO: 4 OF 2023 AND I.A NO: 3 OF 2025 IN O.P (MV) NO: 1099 OF 2017 OF MOTOR ACCIDENT CLAIMS TRIBUNAL, ALAPPUZHA 2025:KER:81354 O.P.(MAC) Nos.116 of 2025 & 117 of 2025