Madras High Court
National Insurance Company ... vs M.Sujatha on 15 September, 2022
C.M.A.(MD)No.1088 of 2015
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT
DATED : 15.09.2022
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MRS.JUSTICE J. NISHA BANU
and
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N. ANAND VENKATESH
C.M.A.(MD)No.1088 of 2015
and
M.P(MD)No.1 of of 2015 and
C.M.P(MD)No.2328 of 2019
National Insurance Company Limited,
Represented by its Branch Manager,
North Car Street, Nagercoil Village,
Agastheeswaram Taluk,
Kanyakumari District. .. Appellant/2nd Respondent
Vs.
1.M.Sujatha
2.Minor P.S.Athulya
[R2 represented by her mother 1st respondent]
3.Gangadaran Nair
4.Chandralekha .. Respondents 1 to 4 /Petitioners
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C.M.A.(MD)No.1088 of 2015
5.Gopalakrishnan .. Respondent/1st Respondent
PRAYER: Civil Miscellaneous Appeal filed under Section 173 of the
Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, against the award and decree, dated
31.10.2014 made in M.C.O.P.No.98 of 2013, on the file of the Motor
Accidents Claims Tribunal, Chief Judicil Magistrate Court,
Kanyakumari District at Nagercoil.
For Appellant : Mr.J.S.Murali
For Respondents 1 to 4 : Mr.K.K.Ramakrishnan
For Respondent No.5 : Mr.T.Selvakumaran
JUDGMENT
J.NISHA BANU, J.
and
N.ANAND VENKATESH, J.
This Appeal has been filed against the award of the Motor
Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT)/Chief Judicial Magistrate Court,
Kanyakumari District at Nagercoil, whereby the Tribunal has directed
the appellant Insurance Company to pay 50% out of the total
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C.M.A.(MD)No.1088 of 2015
compensation of Rs.13,36,000/- with interest at the rate of 7.5% from the
date of petition to the date of actual payment, to the claimants.
2. The claimants filed a claim petition before the Tribunal stating
that the deceased was a pillion rider in a two wheeler that was driven by
the 5th respondent and when the vehicle was going towards Perumal
Nagar from Krishan Kovil via Parvathipuram on 10.07.2010 at about
6.50 p.m., the driver of the two wheeler applied sudden break and as a
result, the tempo van that was following the vehicle, dashed on the two
wheeler and as a result, the deceased sustained severe head injuries. The
tempo van was driven away from the scene of occurrence and it
remained unidentified till the end. The deceased ultimately succumbed to
injuries on 14.07.2010.
3. In view of the above, the claimants filed a claim petition against
the 5th respondent and the Insurance Company in which the two wheeler
was insured and sought for compensation. The Tribunal, on considering
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C.M.A.(MD)No.1088 of 2015
the facts and circumstances of the case and after appreciating the
evidence available on record, found that there was contributory
negligence on the part of the two wheeler driven by the 5th respondent as
well as the tempo van which remained unidentified. As a consequence,
the compensation was determined under various heads and the total
compensation was arrived at Rs.13,36,000/- along with interest and 50%
of the compensation was directed to be paid by the Insurance Company.
Aggrieved by the same, the present appeal has been filed before this
Court.
4. Heard Mr.J.S.Murali, learned counsel for the
appellant/Insurance Company, Mr.K.K.Ramakrishnan, learned counsel
for the respondents 1 to 4 and Mr.T.Selvakumaran, learned counsel for
the 5th respondent.
5. The main ground that has been raised by the learned counsel for
the appellant is that there was absolutely no negligence on the part of the
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C.M.A.(MD)No.1088 of 2015
two wheeler and hence, the Tribunal ought not to have fastened the
liability on the Insurance Company to an extent of 50% out of the total
compensation. The learned counsel also questioned the compensation
fixed on the ground that it is on the higher side.
6. This Court has carefully considered the submissions made on
either side and the materials available on record.
7. The Tribunal, while considering the issue of negligence,
considered the stand taken by the 5th respondent in the counter affidavit
and also the other evidence available on record and came to a conclusion
that the accident had taken place since the 5th respondent had suddenly
applied brakes to his two wheeler and the tempo van which was coming
behind had hit the motor vehicle causing serious head injuries to the
deceased.
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C.M.A.(MD)No.1088 of 2015
8. In motor accidents cases, the Tribunal is expected only to take a
holistic view on the available evidence. The standard of proof to be
borne in mind must be of preponderance of probability and not the strict
standard of proof beyond all reasonable doubts. Considering the fact that
the Motor Vehicles Act is a beneficial legislation, hypertechnical
approach must be avoided. Some discrepancies in the evidence of the
witnesses should not be put against the claimants and a Tribunal stricto
sensu is only expected to satisfy itself that an accident took place and
accordingly grant compensation.
9. In the present case, the stand taken by the 5th respondent in the
counter affidavit with regard to the incident sounds very unnatural and it
is quite curious that the 5th respondent was not even examined in this
case. The Insurance Company ought to have atleast examined the 5th
respondent to substantiate that there was no negligence on his part.
Unfortunately, that was not done in this case. Hence, the Tribunal on the
available materials, rightly attributed contributory negligence and
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C.M.A.(MD)No.1088 of 2015
directed the Insurance Company to pay 50% out of the total
compensation amount to the claimants. This Court does not find any
illegality or infirmity in the finding of the Tribunal which warrants the
interference of this Court.
10. Insofar as compensation is concerned, the Tribunal has fixed a
very reasonable compensation under various heads and there is no
ground to interfere with the same.
11.In the result,
(i) This Civil Miscellaneous Appeal is dismissed. No Costs.
Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed.
(ii) When this appeal was entertained, the Insurance Company was
directed to deposit the entire award amount along with accrued interest
and the said order has been complied with. In view of confirming the
award passed by the Tribunal, the appellant Insurance Company will be
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C.M.A.(MD)No.1088 of 2015
entitled to withdraw 50% out of the total compensation amount
deposited along with accrued interest. Insofar as the balance 50% of the
compensation amount along with accrued interest, it will be left open to
the claimants to withdraw the same in the manner prescribed by the
Tribunal.
[J.N.B., J.] [N.A.V., J.]
15.09.2022
Index : Yes/No
Internet : Yes/No
PJL
To
The Chief Judicial Magistrate/
Motor Accident Claims Tribunal,
Kanyakumari District at Nagercoil.
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C.M.A.(MD)No.1088 of 2015
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C.M.A.(MD)No.1088 of 2015
J.NISHA BANU,J.
and
N.ANAND VENKATESH, J.
PJL
C.M.A.(MD)No.1088 of 2015
15.09.2022
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