Gautam vs Meena
2021 Latest Caselaw 12896 Raj

HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN AT JODHPUR S.B. Civil Misc. Appeal No. 2239/2019

1. Gautam S/o Shri Kalu Meena, Aged About 40 Years, R/o Village And Post Veerpur, Tehsil Peepalkhunt, District Pratapgarh (Rajasthan) (Driver Of Pickup No. Rj-35-Ga- 0503)

2. Radheyshyam S/o Shri Ganga Ram Kalal, Aged About 40 Years, R/o Village Suhagpura, Tehsil Peepalkhunt, District Pratapgarh (Rajasthan) (Owner Of Pickup No. Rj-35-Ga- 0503)

----Appellants Versus

1. Meena W/o Late Shri Choukha Meena, Aged About 49 Years, R/o Village Kundala, Post - Virpur, Tehsil Pipalkhunt, District Pratapgarh (Rajasthan)

2. Gautam S/o Late Shri Choukha Meena, Aged About 26 Years, R/o Village Kundala, Post - Virpur, Tehsil Pipalkhunt, District Pratapgarh (Rajasthan)

3. Smt. Ambika D/o Late Shri Choukha Meena, Aged About 24 Years, R/o Village Kundala, Post - Virpur, Tehsil Pipalkhunt, District Pratapgarh (Rajasthan)

4. Smt. Ramkanya D/o Late Shri Choukha Meena, Aged About 22 Years, R/o Village Kundala, Post - Virpur, Tehsil Pipalkhunt, District Pratapgarh (Rajasthan)

5. Sushri Radha D/o Late Shri Choukha Meena, Aged About 18 Years, R/o Village Kundala, Post - Virpur, Tehsil Pipalkhunt, District Pratapgarh (Rajasthan)

6. Laxman S/o Late Shri Choukha Meena, Aged About 16 Years, Minor Through His Natural Guardian Mother Smt. Meena. R/o Village Kundala, Post - Virpur, Tehsil Pipalkhunt, District Pratapgarh (Rajasthan)

7. Divisional Manager, The Oriental Insurance Company Ltd., S.k. Plaza, Pur Road, Bhilwara (Rajasthan) (Insurer Of Pickup No. Rj-35-Ga-0503)

----Respondents Connected With S.B. Civil Misc. Appeal No. 2223/2019

1. Gautam S/o Shri Kalu Meena, Aged About 40 Years, R/o

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Village And Post Veerpur, Tehsil Peepalkhunt, District Pratapgarh (Rajasthan) (Driver Of Pickup No. Rj-35-Ga- 0503)

2. Radheyshyam S/o Shri Ganga Ram Kalal, Aged About 40 Years, R/o Village Suhagpura, Tehsil Peepalkhunt, District Pratapgarh (Rajasthan) (Owner Of Pickup No. Rj-35-Ga- 0503)

----Appellants Versus

1. Unkar S/o Shri Kamji Meena, Aged About 45 Years, R/o Village Kundala, Ps Suhagpura, District Pratapgarh (Rajasthan)

2. Smt. Kaliya Bai W/o Shri Unkar Meena, Aged About 40 Years, R/o Village Kundala, Ps Suhagpura, District Pratapgarh (Rajasthan)

3. Divisional Manager, The Oriental Insurance Company Ltd, S.k. Plaza, Pur Road, Bhilwara (Rajasthan) (Insurer Of Pickup No. Rj-35-Ga-0503)

----Respondents

For Appellant(s) : Mr. Bharat Singh Rathore Mr. Shambhoo Singh Rathore For Respondent(s) : Mr. Jagdish Chandra Vyas Mr. Tushar Moad

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE VINIT KUMAR MATHUR

Judgment

18/08/2021

Since both the present appeals arise out of the judgment and

award dated 14.06.2019, they are being decided by this common

judgment.

The present appeals have been preferred by the appellants

against the judgment and award dated 14.06.2019 passed by

Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, Pratapgarh in MACT Case Nos.

343/2017 (141/2016) & 339/2017 (132/2016) whereby, learned

(3 of 9) [CMA-2239/2019]

Tribunal exonerated the Insurance Company from the liability to

pay compensation and awarded a sum of Rs. 6,80,236/- and

4,80,000/- respectively in favour of respondents-claimants on

account of the death of Shri Kalu and Shri Choukha in the accident

which occurred on 05.04.2016.

Learned Tribunal after framing the issues, evaluating the

evidence on record and hearing the learned counsel for the parties

decided the claim petitions of the respondents-claimants.

Heard learned counsel for the parties.

Learned counsel for the appellants (Owner/Driver of the

insured vehicle) assailed the findings of the Tribunal on Issue No.3

on the ground that Tribunal committed an error while deciding

Issue No.3 and held the appellants responsible for payment of

compensation in the present case. He further submitted that it has

come on record in evidence that the deceased persons were

working in the establishment of the appellants and since they

were servants of the appellants, they were covered by the terms

and conditions of the Insurance Policy. Thus, the liability of paying

the compensation should be fastened on the Insurance Company

with which the vehicle was insured.

Per contra, learned counsel for the respondent-Insurance

Company submitted that the Tribunal scanned the evidence which

was brought on record and after appreciation of the same, rightly

came to the conclusion that the deceased persons were gratuitous

passengers in the offending vehicle insured with the respondent-

Insurance Company. He further submitted that since the vehicle

was a goods carriage, therefore, the deceased persons wrongly

travelled in the said vehicle and their risk was not covered as per

the terms and conditions of the Insurance Policy. In support of his

(4 of 9) [CMA-2239/2019]

submissions, learned counsel relied upon the judgment of Hon'ble

the Supreme Court in the case of National Insurance Company

Ltd. vs. Savitri Devi & Ors. (2013) 11 SCC 554.

Learned counsel further argued that as per the claim

petitions preferred by the claimants and in the investigation

conducted by the Police, it has categorically come on record that

the deceased persons boarded the vehicle for going from Village

Kundla to Pratapgarh on the occasion of Holi (Rang Teras). He

further submitted that even in the reply filed by the present

appellants, the fact of employment of the deceased persons has

not been mentioned. He submitted that the appellants have tried

to develop the case of employment of the deceased persons in the

evidence which was brought on record in the shape of statements

recorded therein. The same is nothing but an afterthought.

Learned counsel while supporting the finding of the Tribunal

submitted that the findings of fact recorded on Issue No.3 does

not suffer from any infirmity which warrants interference by this

Court.

Mr. Tushar Moad, learned counsel appearing for the

respondents-claimants supported the contentions raised by

learned counsel for the respondent-Insurance Company.

I have considered the submissions made at the Bar and gone

through the award dated 14.06.2019 as well as relevant record of

the case including the findings of fact recorded by the Tribunal on

Issue No.3.

The Tribunal has minutely examined the evidence on record

and come to the conclusion that the deceased persons were

traveling in the vehicle as gratuitous passengers and therefore

their risk was not covered as per the terms of the Insurance

(5 of 9) [CMA-2239/2019]

Policy. The Tribunal scanned the evidence brought on record in

detail, which can gainfully be reproduced as under:-

"20- i=koyh ds voyksdu ls bl izdj.k esa e`rd dkyq ds laca/k esa madkj vkfn }kjk izLrqr Dyse ds iSjk la[;k 10 esa e`rd dkyq dk xSj [ksyus tkuk rFkk iSjk la[;k 27 esa ;k=k djuk vfHkopfur fd;k gSA ogha ehuk vkfn izkFkhZx.k us vius Dyse esa iSjk la[;k 10 esa e`rd pkS[kk dk xSj [ksyus vkuk vkSj ;k=k djuk vfHkopfur fd;k gSA bl izdj.k esa xokg ,-M- 1 ehuk us vius c;ku esa eq[; ijh{k.k esa mlds ifr dk jk/ks";ke dh fidvi ij etnqjh ds fy, tkuk izdV fd;k gS vkSj ftjg esa jk/ks";ke dyky ds ;gka fidvi 503 xkM+h esa etnqjh djus tkuk crk;k gS vkSj jax rsjl dk jax [ksyus dks tkus ds rF; dks xyr crk;k gS] cfYd etnqjh djus ds fy, tkuk crk;k gS] fdarq bl xokg us vius dFkuksa ds leFkZu esa ,slh dksbZ laiqf'V dkjd lk{; izLrqr ugha dh xbZ gS] ftlls e`rd pkS[kk dk okgu Lokeh foi{kh la[;k 2 ds ;gka fidvi okgu ij etnqjh fd;k tkuk izekf.kr gksrk gSA izkFkhZ;k ehuk us vius Dyse esa e`rd pkS[kk dk fidvi okgu ij jk/ks";ke ds ;gka etnqjh fd;s tkus ds laca/k esa dksbZ vfHkopu ugha fd;k gSA bl izdkj ls bl xokg ds dFku foi{kh la[;k 2 okgu Lokeh ds ;gka etnqj ds :i esa dk;Zjr gksus vFkok fu;qDr gksus ds laca/k esa ijLij fojks/kkHkkklh gSA ;g rF; Hkh mYys[kuh; gS fd okgu Lokeh jk/ks";ke us vius Dyse tokc es e`rd pkS[kk dk mlds ;gka ij Jfed ds :i esa vFkok eky ynku ds laca/k esa dk;Zjr gksus ckcr~ dksbZ vfHkopu ugha fd;k gSA izkFkhZx.k dh vksj ls xokg ,-M- 2 fnokd tks izLrqr gqvk gS] blus vius c;ku esa e`rd pkS[kk dk jk/ks";ke dyky ds ;gka fidvi ij dke djuk vkSj jk/ks";ke }kjk mls rhu lkS :i;s jkst nsuk crk;k gS] fdarq vius mDr dFkuksa ds leFkZu es dksbZ laiqf'Vdkjd lk{;

izLrqr ugha dh gS fd ftlls e`rd pkS[kk dk jk/ks";ke dyky foi{kh la[;k 2 ds ;gka ij etnqj ds :i esa dk;Zjr gksuk izekf.kr gksrk gksA ftjg ds nkSjku ;g xokg dgrk gS fd oDr ?kVuk og etnqjh ds fy, 10&10 :i;s fdjk;k nsdj fidvi esa fiNs Mkys esa cSBs gq, FksA foi{khx.k la[;k 1 o 2 dh vksj ls ftjg fd;s tkus ij ;g dgrk gS fd og tks fdjk;k nsuk dgrk gS] ml laca/k esa mls dksbZ fVfdV ugha nh Fkh vkSj u gh mlds ikl dksbZ nLrkost gSA bl izdkj ls bl xokg us ftjg ds nkSjku tks fdjk;k nsdj cSBus dk dFku fd;k gS] og blds eq[; ijh{k.k esa fd;s x;s bl dFku ls Hkh ijLij fojks/kkHkklh gS fd e`rd pkS[kk jk/ks";ke foi{kh la[;k 2 ds ;gka ij rhu lkS :i;k izfrfnu ij etnqj ds :i esa dk;Zjr gksA izkFkhZ i{k dh vksj ls xokg ,-M- 3 madkj tks fd e`rd dkyq dk firk gSA blus mlds yM+ds dk lkroha d{kk esa i<+uk ftjg ds nkSjku crk;k gSA blus vius c;ku esa e`rd dk fidvi okgu esa dkyq dk xSj [ksyus tkuk ,oa ;k=k djus ds laca/k esa dksbZ dFku ugha fd;k gS] tcfd vius Dyse izkFkZuk i= ds iSjk la[;k 10 esa blus e`rd dkyq dk

(6 of 9) [CMA-2239/2019]

fidvi okgu esa xSj [ksyus tkuk rFkk iSjk la[;k 27 esa ;k=k djuk crk;k gSA foi{khx.k }kjk ftjg ds nkSjku blus bl rF; dks xyr crk;k gS fd mlus Dyse izkIr djus ds fy, vius yM+ds dks fidvi esa cSBuk crk dj] xyr dk;Zokgh dh gksA bl izdkj ls izkFkhZ i{k dh vksj ls izLrqr bu lHkh xokgksa ls ;g rF; izekf.kr ugha gqvk gS fd e`rd pkS[kk o dkyq iz"uxr okgu fidvi esa crkSj Jfed ;k=k dj jgs gks vkSj og foi{kh la[;k 2 okgu Lokeh ds ;gka ij Jfed ds :i es fu;qDr gksA

21- bl izdj.k esa chek dEiuh dh vksj ls xokg ,u-,-M- 1 foey caly us vius c;ku esa eq[; ijh{k.k esa oDr nq? kZVuk okgu esa {kerk ls vf/kd lokfj;ka cSBh gqbZ gksuk vkSj mudk dksbZ izhfe;e muds }kjk ugha fy;k tkuk crk;k gS rFkk ikWfylh dk xqM~l dsfjax ds fy, tkjh djuk vkSj ;kf=;ksa ckcr~ dksbZ izhfe;e ugha ysuk crk;k gSA ftjg ds nkSjku blus bl rF; dks lgh crk;k gS fd izdj.k esa ;kf=;ksa ds ;k=k djus ds laca/k esa mudh dEiuh }kjk dksbZ tkap fjiksVZ is"k ugha dh gS fdarq Lo;a crk;k gS fd izkFkZuk i= esa Lo;a izkFkhZ }kjk crk;k x;k gSA chek dEiuh dh vksj ls tks Dyse tokc izLrqr fd;k x;k] mlds fo"ks'k dFku ds iSjk la[;k 5 esa xqM~l okgu esa lokjh ds :i esa ;k=k djuk oftZr gksuk ,oa ;k=h dk dksbZ izhfe;e ugha ysuk vfHkopfur fd;k gSA

22- bl izdj.k esa foi{khx.k la[;k 1 o 2 ds fo}ku vf/koDrk us vius rdksZa ds leFkZu es 2016¼3½ Mh,uts 1271] ekuuh; jktLFkku mPp U;k;ky;] iou dqekj vkpk;Z vkfn cuke vkseizdk"k O;kl vkfn dk U;kf;d n`'Vkar izLrqr fd;k gS] blesa ekuuh; jktLFkku mPp U;k;ky; us jktLFkku fdjk;k fu;a=.k vf/kfu;e 2001 ds ekeys esa viaftd`r nLrkost foØ; djkj dks iznf"kZr djus ds dkj.k vkifRr mBk;h] tks [kkfjt dh vkSj ;kphx.k ds i{k esa fu'ikfnr foØ; ij izn"kZ 7 vafdr fd;k vkSj dksbZ vkifRr ugha mBk;h x;h] ;g ekuk fd vafre izdze ij vf/kdj.k xzkg~;rk ds iz"u ij fopkj dj ldrk gS vkSj nLrkost lk{; esa xzkg~; fuf.kZr djus gsrq nLrkost dk Lo;a izn"kZ vafdr djuk i;kZIr ugha gSA ;g Hkh ekuk fd xzkg~;rk ds laca/k esa ;kfpx.k vafre LVst ij vkifRr mBk ldrs gSA bl fofuf"p; dk llEeku voyksdu fd;kA blds rF; gLrxr izdj.k ds rF;ksa ds le:i ugha gS vkSj bl fofu"p; ls foi{khx.k la[;k 1 o 2 dh dksbZ lgk;rk feyuk izdV ugha gksrk gSA mUgksaus vius rdksZa ds leFkZu esa ,d vU; U;kf;d n`'Vkar 2000 Mh,uts 235] ekuuh; jktLFkku mPp U;k;ky;] Kku izdk"k cuke jktLFkku jkT; vkfn dk izLrqr fd;k gS] mDr ekeyk jktLFkku dk"rdkjh vf/kfu;e ls lacaf/kr Fkk] ftlesa fopkj.k U;k;ky; ds le{k ;g eqn~nk Fkk fd izfroknh us vfrdze.k fd;k gS vkSj mls csn[ky fd;k tkosA mDr ekeys esa ;g ekuk fd oknh ls izfroknh dks lkfcr djus dk Hkkj gLrkurj.k djuk xyr FkkA Lohd`r rF;ksa dks izekf.kr djus dh vko";drk ugha gSA bl fofu"p; dk Hkh llEeku

(7 of 9) [CMA-2239/2019]

voyksdu fd;kA bl izdj.k ds rF; Hkh gLrxr izdj.k ds rF;ksa ls fHkUu gS vkSj gLrxr ekeys esa fl)h ds Hkkj dks gLrkarfjr ugha fd;k x;k gSA mUgksaus ,d vU; U;kf;d n`'Vkar 2006 ¼2½ Mh,uts 627] ekuuh; jktLFkku mPp U;k;ky;] tujy eSustj vkj,lvkjVhlh vkfn cuke tekynhu vkfn dk izLrqr fd;k gSA mDr ekeys esa cl ds ifjpkyd }kjk ;kf=;ksa dks cl dh Nr ij cSBus dh vuqefr nh xbZ vkSj ;k=h cl dh Nr ij cSBs] okgu pkyd dks Hkh bl rF; dh tkudkjh FkhA ;k=h fo|qr dh thfor rkjksa ds lEidZ esa vk;s] ftlls ,d ;k=h dh e`R;q gqbZ vkSj vU; dks pksVsa vk;hA pkyd ,oa d.MDVj vf/kdj.k ds le{k izLrqr ugha gq,A vf/kdj.k us ;g ekuk fd nq?kZVuk pkyd dh ykijokgh ,oa xQyr ls gqbZ gSA mDr fu'd'kZ dks vf/kdj.k }kjk mfpr ekuus dks lgh ekuk vkSj izfrdj dh jkf"k dks c<k;k x;kA bl fofu"p; ds rF; Hkh gLrxr ekeys ds rF;ksa ds le:i ugha gksdj fHkUu gS vkSj fook|d la[;k 1 esa foi{kh la[;k 1 dh mis{kk ,oa ykijokgh izekf.kr gqbZ gSA foi{khx.k la[;k 1 o 2 dh vksj ls ,d vU; U;kf;d n`'Vkar 2006 ¼2½ Mh,uts 676] ekuuh; jktLFkku mPp U;k;ky;] t;iqj] U;q bf.M;k ba";ksjsal dEiuh cuke jkeyh vkfn dk izLrqr fd;k gS] ftlesa ekuuh; jktLFkku mPp U;k;ky; us ;g ekuk fd e`rd pkyd ds lkFk VsªDVj ij cSBk gqvk Fkk vkSj og fu%"kqYd ;k=h Fkk] lkfcr ugha gqvkA VSªDVj pkyd us dFku fd;k fd e`rd VSªDVj dks fiNs ls idM+dj p<us dh dksf"k"k dj jgk Fkk] fups fxj x;k vkSj nq?kZVuk dk f"kdkj gqvkA MªkbZoj ds c;ku ij vfo"okl ugha fd;k tk ldrkA vf/kdj.k us fu'd'kZ vfHkfyf[kr fd;k fd nq?kZVuk mrkoysiu o ykijokgh ls pykus ds dkj.k gqbZ] nks'kiw.kZ ugha gSA okgu chfer Fkk] blfy, vihykFkhZ mlds nkf;Ro ls ugha cp ldrkA bl fofuf"p; ds rF; Hkh gLrxr ekeys ds rF;ksa ls fHkUu gS] D;ksafd gLrxr ekeys esa e`rd iz"uxr okgu eky okgd okgu fidvi es cSBdj ;k=k dj jgs gS] tks fd vukf/kd`r :i ls ;k=k dj jgs FksA foi{khx.k la[;k 1 o 2 dh vksj ls izLrqr lHkh U;kfpd n`'Vkarksa ls mUgsa dksbZ lgk;rk feyuk izdV ugha gksrk gSA

23- chek dEiuh dh vksj ls vius rdksZa ds leFkZu esa U;kf;d n`'Vkar 2017 ,lhts 2169 ekuuh; dsjyk mPp U;k;ky;] bjukdqye] ;qukbZVsM bf.M;k ba";ksjsal dEiuh fyfeVsM cuke tkstZ vkfn dks izLrqr fd;k gS] blesa izkFkhZ;k mlds eky ds lkFk eky okgd vkWVks fjD"kk esa ;k=k dj jgh Fkh vkSj okgu iyVh [kk x;k] ftlls mlds pksVsa vk;h] chek dEiuh us {kfriwfrZ ds nkf;Ro ls bl vk/kkj ij badkj fd;k fd okgu esa flQZ ,d O;fDr okgu pkyd ds gh cSBus dh {kerk Fkh vkSj mlesa ;kf=;ksa dks fcBkus ls chek ikWfylh dh "krksZa dk mYya?ku fd;k x;kA vf/kdj.k us chek dEiuh dks {kfriwfrZ vnk djus rFkk mls okgu Lokeh ls olqy djus dk vkns"k fn;kA okgu Lokeh }kjk vihy djus ij ekuuh; mPp U;k;ky; us ;g ekuk fd chek dEiuh {kfriwfrZ gsrq mRrjnk;h ugha gSA pkyd ds vfrfjDr vU; O;fDr dks ;k=k djuk chek ikWfylh rFkk ijfeV dh "krksZa dk mYya?ku gSA

(8 of 9) [CMA-2239/2019]

mDr ekeys esa izkFkhZ ,d vuqx`g ;k=h ds :i esa ;k=k dj jgk gSA iS ,.M fjdoj ds funsZ"k dks vikLr fd;k x;k A chek dEiuh dh vksj ls 2017 ,lhts 1844 ekuuh; fgekpy izns"k mPp U;k;ky;] f"keyk] ;qukbZVsM bf.M;k ba";ksjsal dEiuh fyfeVsM cuke tkstZ vkfn dk ,oa 2015 ,lhts 2247 ekuuh; vkUnz izns"k mPp U;k;ky;] gSnjkckn] U;q bf.M;k ba";ksjsal dEiuh fyfeVsM cuke ok;- iksFkq jktq vkfn ds fofuf"p; izLrqr fd;s gSA mDr ekeyksa esa Hkh eky okgd ;ku esa ;k=h vuqx`g ;k=h ds :i esa ;k=k dj jgk FkkA vf/kdj.k }kjk blh vk/kkj ij chek dEiuh dks {kfriwfrZ ds nkf;Ro ls mUeksfpr fd;k x;k] ftls ekuuh; mPp U;k;ky; us lgh gksuk ekukA chek dEiuh dh vksj ls vU; fofu"p; 2011 vkj-,-vkj- 168 ekuuh; jktLFkku mPp U;k;ky;] t;iqj] U;q bf.M;k ba";ksjsal dEiuh fyfeVsM cuke Jherh "kadqrykckbZ vkfn dk izLrqr fd;k gSA bl ekeys esa ekuuh; jktLFkku mPp U;k;ky; us ;g ekuk fd eky okgu esa ;k=h ;k=k dj jgk FkkA eky okgu ds fu%"kqYd ;k=h dks izfrdj vnk;xh gsrq chek dEiuh mRrjnk;h ugha gSA chek dEiuh dh vksj ls vU; fofu"p; 2007 Mh,uts 989] ekuuh; lqizhe dksVZ vkWQ bf.M;k] us"kuy ba";ksjsal dEiuh fyfeVsM cuke pksysVh HkjFkek vkfn izLrqr fd;k gS] blesa ekuuh; loksZPp U;k;ky; us ;g ekuk fd eky okgu ;ku esa ;k=k dj jgs gS] O;fDr;ksa dh e`R;q vFkok pksVsa vkus ij chek dEiuh {kfriwfrZ gsrq mRrjnk;h ugha gSA chek dEiuh dh vksj ls izLrqr lHkh U;kf;d n`'Vkarksa dk llEeku voyksdu fd;kA gLrxr ekeys esa mHk;i{kksa dh vksj ls izLrqr lk{; ds ifjf"kyu ,oa mijksDr foLr`r foospu ds i"pkr e`rd dkyq ,oa pkS[kk dk eky okgd iz"uxr fidvi okgu esa vukf/kd`r ;k=h ds :i esa ;k=k djuk izdV gqvk gS vkSj mDr nksuksa O;fDr;ksa dk okgu Lokeh fu;kstd ds deZdkj vFkok Jfed ds :i esa dk;Zjr jgrs gq, ;k=k fd;k tkuk izekf.kr ugha gqvkA ,slh fLFkfr esa okgu Lokeh }kjk chek dEiuh ikWfylh dh "krksZa dk mYya?ku fd;k tkuk ik;k tkrk gS vkSj chek dEiuh {kfriwfrZ ds nkf;Ro ls mUeksfpr fd;s tkus ;ksX; gSA chek dEiuh izLrqr Dyse tokc esa vafdr fo"ks'k vkifRr;ksa dks vius i{k esa izekf.kr djus esa iw.kZ :i ls lQy jgh gSA vr% ;g fook+|d chek dEiuh ds i{k esa ,oa foi{khx.k la[;k 1 o 2 ds fo:) fuf.kZr fd;k tkrk gSA"

A close reading of the finding of the Tribunal on Issue No.3

shows that it is in conformity with the evidence on record and the

same is just and proper and since the vehicle involved in the

accident was a goods carriage, the risk of the persons traveling in

the same was not covered by the Insurance Company and

(9 of 9) [CMA-2239/2019]

therefore, the appellants are the only persons who are liable to

pay the compensation in the present case.

On this issue, Hon'ble the Supreme Court in the case of

National Insurance Company Ltd. vs. Savitri Devi (supra) held as

under:-

"8. After having gone through the award of the Claims Tribunal and the judgment and order passed by the leaned Single Judge of the High Court, we are not able to understand as to how it has been found that the appellant Insurance Company can still be held liable to pay the amount of compensation as there has been a categorical finding by both the courts recording that the vehicle in question was insured only as "goods carrying vehicle". The custom of carrying barat in the village on the said truck will not be sufficient to hold the appellant Insurance Company liable to pay the amount of compensation. Admittedly, the appellant Insurance Company would not know unless the accident takes place as to for what purpose the vehicle in question was being used. The terms and conditions of the insurance policy are very clear and categorical and it creates a specific bar on carrying of any passengers, except the employees other than the driver, not exceeding six (6) in number, who should also come under the purview of the Workmen's Compensation Act."

In view of the discussions made above, the finding arrived at

by the Tribunal is upheld. The appeals are bereft of merit and the

same are hereby dismissed.

(VINIT KUMAR MATHUR),J 226-227/Vivek/-

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