Rajasthan High Court - Jodhpur

National Insurance Co Ltd vs Smt.Asha And Ors on 10 March, 2021

Bench: Vinit Kumar Mathur

(1 of 17) [CMA-686/2003]

HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN AT JODHPUR S.B. Civil Misc. Appeal No. 686/2003

National Insurance Company Limited, through its legally constituted authority, Divisional Office, Residency Road, Jodhpur.

----Appellant/Non Applicant No.3 Versus

1. Smt. Asha W/o. Shri Madan Lal

2. Prasant Son of Shri Madan Lal (Minor)

3. Sidharth Son of Shri Madan Lal (Minor)

4. Miss Simran D/o. Shri Madan Lal (Minor) Minors are represented through their natural guardian mother Smt. Asha (respondent No.1).

5. Nathmal Son of Shri Pema Ji,

6. Smt. Tipu W/o. Shri Nathmal, All By Caste-Meghwal, Residents of Mahadev Gali, Falana, Tehsil Bali, District Palil.

---Respondents/Claimants

7. Suresh Kumar Son of Shri Bheema Ram, By Caste Heeragar, Resident of Indra Colony, Falna, Tehsil Bali, District Pali.

-- (Driver)

8. Chunni Lal Son of Shri Jasaram Choudhary, Resident of Bali, Tehsil Bali, District Pali.

                                                                       ---(Owner)
                                  ----Respondents/Non Claimants 1 to 3


For Appellant(s)           :     Mr. Jagdish Vyas
For Respondent(s)          :     Mr. Narpat Singh
                                 Mr. C.V.S. Rathore for
                                 Mr. Pradeep Shah, for the Caveator



        HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE VINIT KUMAR MATHUR

                                  Judgment

10/03/2021

With the consent of the learned counsel for the parties, the

matter is being heard and decided finally.

The present appeal has been preferred by the appellant -

National Insurance Company Ltd. against the judgment and award

(2 of 17) [CMA-686/2003]

dated 30.01.2003 passed by the learned Motor Accident Claims

Tribunal, Bali in MAC Case No.167/98, whereby, an amount of

Rs.7,64,200/- was awarded to the claimants on account of the

death of Madan Lal in the accident which occurred on 17.06.1998.

Learned Tribunal after framing the issues, evaluating the

evidence brought on record and hearing the learned counsel for

the parties decided the claim application of the claimants. Hence,

this appeal.

Learned counsel for the appellant submits that the incident

occurred while Madan Lal was traveling towards Falna in a Jeep

having registration No. RJ-27-T-0420 which was driven by its

driver. The said Jeep dashed with a tree which resulted into Madan

Lal's death in the said accident.

Learned counsel for the appellant submits that findings of

the Tribunal recorded on Issue No.5 are totally erroneous and in

view of the evidence adduced, the same is required to be re-

appreciated. Learned counsel further submits that a bare perusal

of Ex.-A5/1 shows that there is an over-writing on the date of

commencement of the period of policy and the date 19.06.98 has

been changed to 17.06.98. He further submits that since the

accident occurred on 17.06.98, therefore, just to get

compensation in the present case, the date of the commencement

of insurance cover note was manipulated from 19.06.98 to

17.06.98. He further submits that in the office copy of the said

document Ex.-A5/1, the date is recorded as 19.06.98 only,

therefore, it can safely be inferred that at the time of accident,

there was no insurance of the vehicle involved in the accident.

Mr. Jagdish Vyas, learned counsel for the Insurance Company

emphatically submitted that receipt Ex.-A3 issued by the

Insurance Company for receiving the amount of premium is also

(3 of 17) [CMA-686/2003]

dated 19.06.98. Therefore, there is no question that the vehicle

involved in the accident was insured w.e.f. 17.06.98. Learned

counsel submits that in the Daily Collection Statement Register

produced before the Tribunal, it is very clearly mentioned at Entry

No.760 that the amount received on account of the insurance of

the subject vehicle was paid on 19.06.98. Therefore, the

commencement of insurance policy in no circumstances, could be

considered w.e.f. 17.06.98. Learned counsel drew the attention of

this Court to the fact that Ex.-A4A is only the proposal form which

is not signed by the proposer and even the stamped receipt is also

not believable. The document itself was prepared after the

accident. He further submits that on the form Ex.-A4A, the

cheque number or details are nowhere mentioned or given. The

document also does not reflect that the proposal form was

accompanied by the cheque given by the owner of the vehicle.

Therefore, the Tribunal erred in coming to the conclusion that as

per the proposal form, the cheque was received in the office of

appellant-insurance company, prior to the date of accident.

Learned counsel further submits that when this fact of

forgery having been committed in the document was brought to

the knowledge of the Competent Authorities of the Insurance

Company, an F.I.R. was lodged and appropriate disciplinary

proceedings were initiated against the erring officer. The charges

framed against the officer who committed forgery were proved

and, therefore, he was terminated from the service of the

appellant-insurance company.

Learned counsel for the appellant, therefore, on the strength

of these documents submits that the learned Tribunal has failed to

appreciate the evidence brought on record and wrongly held that

the Jeep No.RJ-27-T-0420 was insured with the appellant-

insurance company at the time of accident.

(4 of 17) [CMA-686/2003]

Learned counsel for the appellant submits that contract in

the present case has not been concluded and in support thereof

he has placed reliance on the judgments of Hon'ble Supreme

Court in the case of National Insurance Co. Ltd. Vs Sobina

Iakai (Smt) & Ors. reported in (2007) 7 SCC 786 & Deokar

Exports Private Limited Vs New India Assurance Company

Limited reported in (2008) 14 SCC 598. The relevant paras of

the aforesaid judgments read as follows :-

National Insurance Co. Ltd. Vs Sobina Iakai (Smt) & Ors. :-

"18. In J. Kalaivani v K. Sivashankar this Court has reiterated clear enuciation of law. The court observed that it is the obligation of the court to look into the contract of insurance to discern whether any particular time has been specified for commencement or expiry of the policy. A very large number of cases have come to our notice where insurance policies are taken immediately after the accidents to get compensation in a clandestine manner.

19. In order to curb this widespread mischief of getting insurance policies after the accidents, it is absolutely imperative to clearly hold that the effectiveness of the insurance policy would start from the time and date specifically incorporated in the policy and not from an earlier point of time."

Deokar Exports Private Limited Vs New India Assurance Company

Limited:-

"13. A policy of insurance is a contract based on an offer (proposal) and an acceptance. The appellant made a proposal. The respondent accepted the proposal with a modification. Therefore, it was a counter-proposal. The appellant had three choices. The first was to refuse to accept the counter- proposal, in which event there would have been no contract. The second was to accept either expressly or impliedly, the counter-proposal of the respondent (that is, the respondent's acceptance with modification) which would result in a concluded contract in terms of the counter-proposal. The third was to make a counter-proposal to the counter- proposal of the respondent in which event there

(5 of 17) [CMA-686/2003]

would have been no concluded contract unless the respondent agreed to such counter-counter-proposal. But the appellant definitely did not have the fourth choice of propounding a concluded contract with a modification neither proposed nor agreed to by either party. If the appellant did not agree to the policy covering the period 26.8.1988 to 25.8.1989 instead of the period 12.03.1988 to 12.09.1989, the result would never create an insurance contract effective from 30.06.1989 or any other date."

Per contra, learned counsel for the respondents strongly

supported the findings of the Tribunal on Issue No.5 and

submitted that the Tribunal while dealing with the Issue No.5 has

taken into consideration the relevant details and scanned the

evidence very closely and minutely. The findings of fact recorded

by the Tribunal are based on conclusive evidence showing that the

cheque amount towards the premium for insurance of the vehicle

was paid well before the date of accident and the same reached

the office of the appellant along with the proposal form on

16.06.98. The same has also been admitted by the officer of the

insurance company. He, therefore, submits that the cheque was

dated 15.06.98 and the same was submitted along with the

proposal form, therefore, there was no reason to disbelieve the

fact that only proposal form was submitted in the office of the

appellant without enclosing the cheque. He further submits that it

is the common practice that proposal form is always accompanied

by the premium amount in cash or cheque. Learned counsel

further contended that as per the proposal form itself, the amount

of premium was submitted by the owner by giving cheque dated

15.06.98.

Learned counsel while supporting the findings of the Tribunal

on Issue No.3 submits that as far as the over-writing on Ex.-A5/1

is concerned, they are unaware and it has been emphatically

submitted before the Tribunal that neither the forgery was

(6 of 17) [CMA-686/2003]

committed by them nor any notice on account of such forgery was

received for cancellation of their policy. Therefore, as far as the

owner and claimants are concerned, their stand is consistent

throughout that they tendered the cheque to their agent which

reached the office of the appellant on 16.06.98. Once the proposal

form along with the amount of premium reached the office of the

appellant, there was no reason for the respondents to disbelieve

that their vehicle was not insured. Learned counsel, therefore,

submits that in view of the statements of the officer of appellant

insurance company, it was proved beyond doubt that proposal

form along with cheque amount reached the office of appellant

well before the date of accident and therefore, the insurance

policy was in currency on the date of accident i.e. from 16.06.98

to 17.06.99. They further submit that the vehicle was very much

insured with the appellant's company and therefore, the liability of

paying the compensation to the claimants on account of the death

of Madan Lal in the accident, completely lies upon the appellant.

Learned counsel further submits that issuance of receipt and the

entry made in the register has no bearing as the proposal form

along with the cheque dated 15.06.98 reached the office of the

appellant well before the accident. Learned counsel submits that

termination of the officer of the appellant's company will not

absolve the appellant from paying the compensation in the

present case as the owner of the vehicle tendered the amount of

premium along with the proposal form well before the accident

and therefore, has discharged his liability. Learned counsel further

submits that in view of the detailed findings recorded by the

Tribunal no interference is warranted in the judgment and

impugned award in the present case.

Learned counsel for the respondents submits that though

there is an over-writing/correction of date in Ex.-A5/1 but the

(7 of 17) [CMA-686/2003]

same was authenticated by making initials and stamping by the

officer concerned, therefore the over-writing cannot be taken as

forgery in the present case. Nothing has come on record to show

that the over-writing was done after the accident. Once the

correction done has been authenticated by affixing the stamp of

the competent officer, the same cannot be treated to be the case

of forgery.

I have considered the submissions made at the Bar and gone

through the judgment and award dated 30.01.2003 along with

relevant record of the case.

The finding of the Tribunal on Issue No.5 are threadbare,

detailed and very well reasoned. The Tribunal minutely examined

the evidence brought on record. It was held by the Tribunal that

once owner of the Jeep submitted the cheque dated 15.06.98

along with the proposal form and the same reached the office on

16.06.98, the burden to pay the premium amount and get the risk

covered was duly discharged by the owner of the vehicle. The

owner of the vehicle was well within his right to presume that

once he had given proposal form along with the cheque amount

towards the premium to the agent/officer of the insurance

company, the risk was covered. While deciding Issue No.5, the

Tribunal conclusively held that the proposal form reached the

office of the appellant on 16.06.98. Even if it is assumed for the

sake of argument that no finding was recorded whether the

cheque was accompanying the proposal form or not, it is inferred

from the chronology of the events and the evidence brought on

record that the cheque dated 15.06.98 had accompanied the

proposal form. The common prudence and the practice prevalent

is that proposal form is normally not submitted in the office of the

insurance company without premium amount either in cash or

cheque. In the present case, since the cheque was tendered by

(8 of 17) [CMA-686/2003]

the owner of the Jeep on 16.06.98 itself, the same was presented

before the Bank and it was encashed. Therefore, for all intent &

purposes, this Court feels that the proposal form was duly

accompanied by a cheque tendered by the owner of the jeep and

this fact was also corroborated from the calculation of the cheque

amount made and mentioned on the backside of the margin of

proposal form. In any case, there was a stamped receipt on this

document Ex.-A4A(proposal) dated 16.06.98 much less there are

initials of the officer of the insurance company, therefore, there is

no reason for this Court to disbelieve the fact that proposal form

along with the cheque amount did not reach the office of the

appellant on 16.06.98. This Court also feels that issuance of the

receipt and the entry in the register on 19.06.98, cannot nullify

the fact that the proposal and cheque reached the office of

appellant on 16.06.98. Since the respondent owner was only duty

bound to pay the premium amount along with the proposal to the

officer of the appellant's company, he, thus, is discharged from his

liability and was rightly under the impression that the period of

the insurance policy started w.e.f. 16.06.98 itself. The termination

of the officer on account of the forgery being committed in Ex.-

A5/1 is for the appellant's company to take note of and proceed in

accordance with law.

As far as the insurance cover note of the vehicle and

compensation to the claimants are concerned, the findings of fact

recorded by the Tribunal cannot be washed away on the ground

that there is some over-writing on the document Ex.-A5/1. For

better appreciation of the facts, the detailed findings recorded by

the Tribunal on Issue No.5 are reproduced here for breavity :-

''fook|d la[;k%&5

14& bl fook|d dks lkfcr djus dk Hkkj vçkFkhZ la- 3 ij FkkA vçkFkhZ la- 3 us vius ftEes bl fook|d dks

(9 of 17) [CMA-686/2003]

lkfcr djus ds fy;s ,u-,-MCY;- 1 ds :i esa jktsUæ lkseiqjk 'kk[kk çcU/kd us'kuy ba';ksjsal dEiuh 'kk[kk eksM+klk dks ifjf{kr djok;k gSA ftlus vius l'kiFk c;kuks esa dFku fd;k gS fd okgu la[;k vkj-ts-&27&Vh&0420 dk chek pqUuhyky iq= tlkjke pkS/kjh ds uke ls gekjh chek dEiuh ds eksMklk 'kk[kk esa chek fd;k FkkA ;g chek fnukad 19-6-78 ls 18-6-99 rd fd;k gqvk FkkA fdlh okgu dk chek djrs gSa rks igys çiksty QkeZ Hkjk tkrk gSaA çiksty QkeZ çkIr dj ml le; lacaf/kr vf/kdkjh çiksty QkeZ ds Åij le;] rkjh[k vafdr dj gLrk{kj djrs gSa A mlds ckn çiksty QkeZ çkIr dj dSf"k;j ds ikl chek dh çhfe;e tek djus ds fy;sa Hkstrs gSa A dsf'k;j izheh;e dh jkf'k tek djrk gS vkSj jkf'k çkIr dj mldh jlhn nsrk gSA ftl rkjh[k dks jlhn nsrs gSa mlh le; ls chek çHkkoh gks tkrk gSaA izheh;e ysus dh o jlhn nsus dh nksuks dh rkjh[k jrhn ij mlh fnu vafdr djrs gSaA pqUuhyky dk pSd fnukad 15-6-98 dk tkjh fd;k gqvk gS ysfdu gekjs ikl 19-6-98 dks çkIr gqvk gSA tks çkseh;e ge tek djrs gS mldk jftLVj Hkh j[kk tkrk gS tks vly jftLVj esa lkFk ysdj vk;k gwWa tks bZ- ,Dl-&,&1 gS] ftldh QksVks çfr bZ- ,Dl-&,&1&, gSa A ftlesa pqUuhyky }kjk tks çheh;e dh jkf'k dk pSd fn;k x;k gS mldk bUækt , ls ch gSA blds }kjk [email protected]&Li;s dh jkf'k tek djk;h x;h gSA bZ-,Dl-&,&2 ikWfylh gS ftl ij , ls ch esjs gLrk{kj gSa A bZ-,Dl-&10 jlhn çheh;e jlhn gS ftlesa chek çHkkoh rkjh[k 19-6-98 ls 18-6-99 rd gSA gekjs fjdkMZ esa çheh;e dh jlhn bZ-,Dl-&,&3 gS mlesa ekdZ lh ls Mh esa dysD'ku rkjh[k esa dkVNkV dh gqbZ gSa o ,Dl ekdZ ij lhy yxkdj gLrk{kj fd;s x;s gSA bZ-,Dl-&10 esa djsD"ku ugha gS A bl xokg us ;g Hkh crk;k gS fd çLrqr ekeys esa fnukad 16-6-98 dks çiksty QkeZ bZ-,Dl-&,&4 vly gSa ftldh QksVks çfr bZ- ,Dl-&,&4&, gS A bl ij , ls ch esjs iwoZ 'kk[kk çcU/kd ds gLrk{kj gSaA bl çdj.k esa nq?kZVuk ds ckn chek djkus ds ckn çiksty QkeZ iwoZ dh rkjh[k esa ysdj jlhnks esa dkVNkaV djus] i‚fylh esa Hkh dkaVNkaV dj dqV jpuk djus ds dkj.k iwoZ eSustj ds fo:) gekjs foHkkxh; foftysal esa dk;Zokgh py jgh gSA ftl fnu çheh;e dh jkf'k tek gksrh gS ml le; o rkjh[k ls chek i‚fylh çHkkoh gksrh gSaA bl çLrqr ekeys esa fnukad 19-6-98 dks çheh;e dh jkf'k çkIr gqbZ gS blfy;s 19 rkjh[k ls chek çHkkfor gksxkA nq?kZVukxzLr okgu nq?kZVuk ds fnu gekjh dEiuh esa okgu chfer ugha Fkk A

15& çfrijh{k.k esa bl xokg us crk;k gS fd esjh fu;qfä ikWfylh fd;s tkus ds fnu eksMklk czkap esa ugha Fkh blfy;s

(10 of 17) [CMA-686/2003]

eq>s O;fäxr :i ls bl i‚fylh ds ckjs esa /;ku ugha gSA çLrqr i‚fylh Jh lquhy 'kkg czkUp eSustj ds dk;Zdky ds nkSjku gqbZ FkhA bZ-,Dl-&,&5 i‚fylh gekjs eksMklk dk;kZy; ls tkjh dh gqbZ gS ftl ij , ls ch rkRdkyhd 'kk[kk çcU/kd ds gLrk{kj gSaA xokg us bl lq>ko dks lgh crk;k gS fd bZ-,Dl-,&5 i‚fylh gekjs dEiuh ds ,tsUV vfer dqekj , 'kkg o MoyiesaV v‚fQlj vkj- ,- 'kkg ds e/;LFkrk ls tkjh gqbZ gSaA xokg us ;g Hkh crk;k gS fd bZ-,Dl-,&3 ij ,Dl lhy o bZ-,Dl- ,&5 ij yxh lhys ,d gh gSaA ,Dl]okbZ] tsM+ lhyks ij tks y?kq gLrk{kj o rkjh[k vafdr dh x;h gSa og gekjs iwoZ 'kk[kk çcU/kd ds gLrk{kj o fy[kkoV ls feyrs tqyrs gSaA MoyiesaV v‚fQlj vkj-,- 'kkg o 'kk[kk çcU/kd lquhy 'kkg gekjh dEiuh ds fu;kstu esa vHkh Hkh gSaA ;g lgh gS fd i‚fylh tkjh gksus ds igys doj uksV tkjh gksrk gSA xokg us bl lq>ko dks lgh crk;k gS fd pSd esa vafdr rkjh[k] pSd gekjs dk;kZy; esa çLrqr gksus dh rkjh[k vkSj pSd cSad ls ,suds'ku gksus dh rkjh[k vyx&vyx gks ldrh gSA xokg us bl lq>ko dks Hkh lgh crk;k gS fd çiksty QkeZ bZ-,Dl-,&4 gekjs dk;kZy; esa fnukad 16-6-98 dks çLrqr fd;k x;k gS] fQj dgk fd bl ij fnukad 16-6-98 dks çLrqr gksus dk BIik yxk gS] vFkkZr lhy yxh gqbZ gSA xokg us ;g Hkh crk;k fd gekjs dk;kZy; esa tc çiksty QkeZ o çheh;e jkf'k çkIr gks tkrh gSa rks mlds ckn chek/kkjh dk dksbZ Hkh --R; gekjs v‚fQl esa ugha gksrk gSA ikWfylh gekjh czkap ls dEI;wVj ls fudkyh gqbZ gSA xokg us bl lq>ko dks Hkh lgh crk;k gS fd fnukad 21-1-2001 dks i‚fylh esa xMcMh gksus dh lwpuk fey tkus ij Hkh eSus chek/kkjh dks dksbZ uksfVl xMcMh ckcr ugha fn;kA ;g lgh gS fd bZ-,Dl-,&5 tkjh gksus ds ckn esa i‚fylh gksYMj }kjk dksbZ dkaVNkaV blesa ugha dh x;h gSA ewy i‚fylh gekjs dk;kZy; }kjk tkjh dh x;h gS ftl ij , ls ch rRdkyhu 'kk[kk çcU/kd lquhy ,e 'kkg ds gLrk{kj gSaA

16& bl çdkj ,u-,-MCY;w-&1 ls fd;s x;s çfrijh{k.k esa vk;s rF;ks ls ;g çekf.kr gS fd chek i‚fylh bZ-,Dl-,-&5 vçkFkhZ la-3 ds dk;kZy; }kjk tkjh dh x;h gS ,oe~ bl i‚fylh esa vçkFkhZ la- 3 ds rRdkyhu 'kk[kk çcU/kd luhy 'kkg ds gLrk{kj gSA xokgks ds c;ku ls ;g Hkh çekf.kr gS fd bZ-,Dl-,&5 tkjh gksus ds ckn i‚fylh gksYMj }kjk dksbZ dkaVNkaV i‚fylh esa ugha dh x;h gSaA bl çdkj mijksä ifjfLFkfr;ksa esa ;g fu"d"kZ fudyrk gS fd chek /kkjd us bZ-,Dl-,&5 esa fdlh rjg dh dkaVNkaV ugha dh gSA bl xokg us çfrijh{k.k esa ;g rF; Hkh Lohdkj fd;k gS fd çiksty QkeZ muds dk;kZy; esa fnukad 16-6-98 dks çLrqr

(11 of 17) [CMA-686/2003]

dj fn;k Fkk ,oe~ vçkFkhZ la- 3 ds dk;kZy; dh bl ij lhys yxh gqbZ gSA xokg us ;g Hkh crk;k gS fd gekjs dk;kZy; esa tc çiksty QkeZ çkIr gks tkrk gSa rks mlds ckn chek/kkjh dk dksbZ --R; gekjs v‚fQl esa ugha gksrk gSaA mijksä dFkuks ls ;g fu"d"kZ fudyrk gS fd ftl fnu çikstr QkeZ vçkFkhZ la- 3 ds dk;kZy; esa tek gqvk ,oe~ vçkFkhZ la- 1 us çhfe;e jkf'k dk pSd dk;kZy; esa fn;k mlds i'pkr chek/kkjh dk dksbZ Hkh --R; v‚fQl esa 'ks"k ugha jgk FkkA xokg ,u-,-MCY;w-&1 ds dFkuks rs ;g rF;

Hkh çekf.kr gS fd rRdkyhu 'kk[kk çcU/kd lquhy 'kkg vHkh Hkh vçkFkhZ la- 3 ds dk;kZy; esa lsokjr gS ,oe~ chek i‚fylh bZ-,Dl-,&5 blds }kjk gh tkjh dh x;h gSA mijksä ifjfLFkfr;ksa esa ;g fu"d"kZ fudyrk gS fd chek i‚fylh bZ-,Dl-,&5 esa tks rkjh[kks dh dkaVNkaV gqbZ gSa og dkaVNkaV chek /kkjd }kjk ugha dh tkdj rRdkyhu 'kk[kk çcU/kd }kjk gh dh x;h gSaA pwafd lquhy 'kkg vHkh Hkh vizkFkhZ la[;k 3 ds ikl lsokjr gSA ;fn mlus Hkwyoa"k rkjh[k 19 dh ctk; 17 fy[k nh gksrh rks fuf'pr :i ls lquhy "kkg dks vçkFkhZ la- 3 'kgknr esa çLrqr djrk vkSj bl ckr dks çekf.kr djkrk fd mlus Hkwyo"k 19 rkjh[k dh ctk; 17 rkjh[k fy[k nh gSA lquhy 'kkg dks lk{; esa ifjf{kr ugha djkuk ,oe~ ,u-,-MCY;w-&2 jruyky ftldh fu;qfä bZ-,Dl-,&5 tkjh gksus ds ckn gqbZ gSa mls lk{; esa ifjf{kr djkuk vçkFkhZ la- 3 dks fdlh rjg dh enn ugha djrs gSaA vkSj ,u-,-MCY;w-&1 }kjk fd;s x;s ;g dFku fd nq?kZVuk ds i'pkr i‚fylh esa dkaVNkaV dj fnukad 19-6-98 ds ctk; 17-6-98 fd;k x;k gS] fo'okl fd;s tkus ;ksX; ugha gSA ,u-,-M-&1 ds dFkuks lss ;g Li"V gS fd çiksty QkeZ fnukad 16-6-98 dks vçkFkhZ la- 3 ds dk;kZy; esa çnÙk fd;k x;k Fkk ftldh iqf"V ,u-,-MCY;w&3 us vius c;kuks esa iw.kZr% dh gS vkSj Li"Vr% crk;k gS fd mlus ba';ksjsal izheh;e dk pSd 15 rkjh[k ds nwljs fnu vFkkZr 16 rkjh[k dks bU"kksjsal dEiuh esa fn;k Fkk ,oe~ ikfylh bZ-,Dl-,&5 mls tkjh dh xbZ FkhA

17& ,u-,-MCY;w-&2 ds :i esa jruyky ofj"B eaMy çcU/kd ifjf{kr gqvk gS ftlus vius l"kiFk c;kuks esa dFku fd;k gS fd gekjh eksM+klk 'kk[kk }kjk okgu la- vkj- ts-&27&Vh&0420 dk chek fd;k x;k Fkk tks fnukad 19-6-98 ls 18-9-99 rd dk FkkA bl çdj.k dh çFke ckj lwpuk tc olwyh gsrw vk;s rc gqbZ FkhA chek fd;k ml le; 'kk[kk çcU/kd lquhy 'kkg FksA gekjs fjdkMZ ds voyksdu ls geus ;g ik;k fd i‚fylh fnukad 19-6-98 ls dh gqbZ Fkh fdUrq mä fnukad esa la'kks/ku dj fnukad 17-6-98 dj fn;k FkkA bl dkaM ds lEcU/k esa geus 'kk[kk

(12 of 17) [CMA-686/2003]

çcU/k ds fo#) foHkkxh; dk;Zokgh dh o mldss fo:) çFke lwpuk fjiksVZ ntZ djokbZ FkhA

18& çfrijh{k.k esa bl xokg us ;g Lohdkj fd;k gS fd bZ-,Dl-&[email protected] ij ,Dl] okbZ] tsM lhys gekjs dk;kZy; dh gSaA xokg us bl lq>ko dks lgh crk;k fd çhfe;e jkf"k pSd }kjk tek gqbZ FkhA pSd fnukad 15-6-98 dk FkkA xokg us ;g Hkh crk;k fd çheh;e jkf"k dk pSd çkIr gksrs gh fjLd doj gks tkrh gSaA xokg us bl lq>ko dks Hkh lgh crk;k fd bZ-,Dl-,&4 gekjs dk;kZy; ls tkjh fn;k gqvk gSaA bZ-,Dl-,&4 ij yxh lhyks dks ns[kdj ;g yxrk gS fd ;g QkeZ gekjs dk;kZy; esa fnukad 16-6-98 dks çkIr gks x;k FkkA ;g lgh gS fd bZ-,Dl&4 ftl thi ls nq?kZVuk gqbZ mlh ls lEcfU/kr gSaA xokg us ;g Hkh crk;k fd esjs fglkc ls bZ-,Dl-&4 ij tks çkIr gksus dh fnukad 16-6-98 fy[kh x;h gS og xyr fy[kh gSaA bZ-,Dl-,&4 dh iq"r ij tks çheh;e jkf'k dk fooj.k fn;k x;k gS og lgh gSaA xokg us ;g Hkh crk;k gS fd laxzg.k ds ckjs esa i=koyh esa dksbZ çek.ka çLrqr ugha fd;k gSA

19& bl çdkj xokg ,u-,-MCY;w-&2 ds dFkuks ls bZ-,Dl-,&4 fnukad 16-6-98dks çkIr gksuk çekf.kr gS rFkk bZ-,Dl-,-&4 dh iq'r ij tks çheh;e jkf'k dk fooj.k fn;k x;k gS og Hkh jkgh gksuk çekf.kr gksrk gSA tgk¡ rd bl xokg }kjk fd;s x;s ;g dFku fd pSd fnukad 15-6-98 dk Fkk tks fnukad 19-6-98 dks çkIr gqvk] bl lEcU/k esa xokg us vius çfrijh{k.k esa Li'V crk;k gS fd pSd laxzg.k ds ckjs esa i=koyh ij dksbZ izek.k izLrqr ugha fd;k x;k gSA bl fLFkfr esa vizkFkhZ la- 2 ds ;g dFku fd pSd fnukad 15-6-98 dk izheh;e jkf"k dk fnukad 16-6-98 dks tek djk;k tkuk fo"okl fd;s tkus ;ksX; gSA rFkk çiksty QkeZ bZ-,Dl-,&4 dh iq"r dk voyksdu djus ls ;g çdV gksrk gS fd bZ-,Dl-,-&4 dh iq'r ij tks chek jkf"k dh MhVsy crk;h x;hA mldk ;ksx [email protected]&:i;s gksdj blds uhps chek dh vof/k of.kZr dh x;h gSa tks fnukad 16-6-98 ls 17-6-99 rd of.kZr gS vkSj blds uhps 'kk[kk çcU/k ds gLrk{kj bZ ls ,Q gS rFkk bZ-,Dl-,&4 ij vizkFkhZ- 3 ds dk;kZy; dh lhys yxh gqbZ gSA bl lhy esa fnukad 16-6-99 vafdr gSa rFkk bl ij y?kq gLrk{kj 'kk[kk çcU/kd nkjk fd;s x;s gSa rFkk gLrk{kj dj le; 10-00 ,-,e- Mkyk x;k gSA ,slh fLFkfr esa vçkFkhZ- 3 dk ;g vfHkokd dh mudh dEiuh us çheh;e jkf'k dk pSd fnukad 19-6-98 dks çkIr fd;k fo'okl fd;s tkus ;ksX; ugha gSA rFkk mudk ;g vfHkopu dh chek i‚fylh fnukad 19-6-98 ls 18-6-99 rd çHkkoh Fkh] fo'oluh; ugha gSA D;ksafd çiksty QkeZ ij

(13 of 17) [CMA-686/2003]

fnukad 16-6-98 Li"V of.kZr gS ,oe~ blds ihNs tks i‚fylh dh vof/k gSa og fnukad 16-6-98 ls 17-6-99 gksuk crk;k x;k gSA ,u-,-MCY;w-&2 us ;g Hkh Lohdkj fd;k gS fd pSd çkIr gksrs gh fjLd doj gks tkrh gSA bl fLFkfr esa ftl fnu pSd vçkFkhZ la- 3 ds dk;kZy; esa fn;k] ml fnu ls vçkFkhZ la- 3 dks bl chek ds çfr mÙkjnkf;Ro cu tkrk gSA xokg us vius çfrijh{k.k esa ;g Hkh Lohdkj fd;k gS fd pSd tek gksus dh rkjh[k esa o ,udS'kesUV dh rkjh[k esa QdZ gks ldrk gSA ,slh fLFkfr esa vizkFkhZ la- 3 fnukad 16-6-98 dks çiksty QkeZ vius ;gk¡ tek gksuk Lohdkj djrk gS rks fuf'pr :i ls pSd çiksty QkeZ ds lkFk tek gksuk ik;k tkrk gS A ;fn çiksty QkeZ igys tek gks x;k ,o pSd fnukad 19-6-98 dks fn;k tkrk rks iziksty QkeZ ds ihNs tks izheh;e jkf"k dh MhVsy nh x;h gS o fnukad 16-6-98 of.kZr ugha dh tkrhA ,slh fLFkfr esa ;g fu"d"kZ fudyrk gS fd pSd çiksty QkeZ ds lkFk fnukad 16-6-98 dks tek djk fn;k Fkk] ;fn mDr pSd chek/kkjd }kjk tek djkus ds ckn vizkFkhZ la- 3 ds dk;kZy; esa 3 fnu i'pkr ,uds"k nqvk rFkk dk;kZy; esa bldk bUækt jftLVj esa rhu fnu ckn gqvk vkSj jlhn rhu fnu ckn cuk;h x;h rks mlds fy;s chek/kkjd dks mÙkjnk;h ugha ekuk tk ldrk gSA

20& ,u-,-MCY;w-&3 ds :i esa chek/kkjd pqUuhyky ifjf{kr gqvk gS ftlds vius l"kiFk c;kuksa esa dFku gS fd thi la[;k vkj-ts-&27&Vh&0420 esjs uke ls gSA fnukad 14-6-98 dks bl thi dks esa fdjk;s ij vgenkckn ysdj x;k FkkA eq>s vkcqjksM ds ikl VªsfQd okyks us dkxtkr ds ckjs esa iwNk rks eSaus dkxt pSd fd;s rks eq>s irk pyk fd ba';ksjsUl fnukad 17-6- rd dk gh FkkA fQj eSus vgenkckn ls esjs HkkbZ dks Qksu fd;k Fkk tks eksMklk esa gh jgrk gS] ;g xkM+h eSus eksMklk ls gh [kjhnh FkhA eSa eksMklk vk;k fQj chek ,tsUV vfuy ds ikl x;s FksA pSd gtkj :i;s ds vklikl FkkA nwljs fnu ba"k;ksjsUl dEiuh esa x;s vkSj ba';ksjsUl çheh;e dk pSd tek djok;k FkkA ;g pSd esjs }kjk tek djkus ds nl fnu ckn i‚fylh feyh FkhA 16 rkjh[k dh 'kke dks gh eSa okil vk x;k FkkA bZ-,Dl-,&5&1 eas eSus fdlh çdkj dh dkaV&NkaV ugha dh gSA

21& bl xokg ls vçkFkhZ la- 3 dh vksj ls fd;s x;s çfrijh{k.k esa ,sls dksbZ rF; ugha vk;s ftlls ;g fu"d"kZ fudyrk gks fd chek/kkjd us fnukad 16-6-98 dks chek dEiuh esa viuh thi vkj-ts-l&27&Vh&0420 dk chek djkus gsrw chek izheh;e jkf'k dk pSd ugha fn;k gksA

(14 of 17) [CMA-686/2003]

vçkFkhZ la- 3 dh vksj ls bl xokg ls foLr`r çfrijh{k.k fd;k x;k fdUrq bl xokg dh lk{; v[kafM+r jgh gSA blds vfrfjä çkFkhZ }kjk fd;s x;s çfrijh{k.k esa bl xokg us Li"V crk;k gS fd esjs fo:) chek dEiuh us bl i‚fylh dks [kkfjt djokus ds lEcU/k esa dksbZ dk;Zokgh ugha djok;h FkhA i‚fylh] i‚fylh vof/k rd ds fy;s çHkkoh jgh gSA eq>s chek dEiuh us dHkh bl i‚fylh ds QthZ gksus ds ckjs esa dksbZ uksfVl ugha fn;k FkkA

22& bl çdkj bl xokg ls fd;s x;s çfrijh{k.k o xokg ,u-,-MCyw&1 o 2 dh lk{; o çfrijh{k.k ls ;g rF; izekf.kr gS fd ,u-,-Mcyw- 3 us ftl vof/k ds fy;s chek i‚fylh bZ-,Dl-,&5 djok;h Fkh] ml vof/k rd og çHkkoh ikWfylh jgh] rFkk chek dEiuh us bl ikWfylh dks [kkfjt djokus ds lEcU/k esa dksbZ dk;Zokgh ugha dh ,oa chek/kkjd dks bl ckcr dksbZ lwpuk Hkh ugha nh gSA

23& bl izdj.k esa egRoiw.kZ xokg vizkFkhZ la- 3 dk rkRdkyhd "kk[kk izca/kd lquhy "kkg gS] tks xokg ds :i esa vkdj ;g c;ku ns ldrk Fkk fd bZ-,Dl-,&5 esjs }kjk fnukad 19-6-98 ls 18-6-98 rd tkjh dh x;h FkhA ,oa eq>s chek dh fçfe;e jkf'k dk pSd] fnukad 19-+6-98 ls iwoZ izkIr ugha gqvk FkkA bl xokg dkss vçkFkhZ la+ 3 }kjk vius ;gka lsokjr gksrs gq, lk{; esa ijhf{kr ugha djkus ls ;g fu'd'kZ fudyrk gS fd lquhy "kkg us vius vf/kdkjksa ds rgr fnukad 16-6-98 dks chek i‚fylh bZ-,Dl-,&5 tkjh dh FkhA ,oa i‚fylh bZ-,Dl-,&5 oS/k ,oa izHkkoh ikWfylh FkhA ,oa vizkFkhZ la- 3 us chek /kkjd ls fçfe;e jkf"k dk pSd fnukad 16-6-98 dks gh çkIr dj fy;k FkkA

24& bl fook|d ds lEcU/k esa fo)oku vf/koäk vizkFkhZ la- 3 dk ;g rdZ jgk gS fd bZ-,Dl-,&5 esa fnukad 19-6-98 dh ctk; 17-6-98 dkaVNkaV dj dh x;h gS vr% chek dEiuh bl nq?kZVuk eas gqbZ {kfr ds fy;s mRrjnk;h ugha D;ksafd i‚fylh fnukad 19-6-98 ls 18-6-98 rd ds fy;s tkjh dh FkhA mUgksus vius rdksaZ ds leFkZu esa Vh-,-lh- &2002¼1½ ist 216 U;kf;d fofu'p; çLrqr fd;k gS fdUrq mä U;kf;d fofu'p; rF;ksa dh fHkUurk gksus ds dkj.k vçkFkhZ la+ 3 dks fdlh çdkj dh enn ugha djrk gS D;ksafd mä çdj.k esa fcuk fçfe;e jkf'k çkIr fd;s chek vof/k c<+k nh Fkh rFkk fodkl vf/kdkjh us Hkh Lohdkj fd;k fd mlus fcuk vf/kdkj ds chek vof/k c<+k nh FkhA ,slh fLFkfr esa mä U;kf;d fofu'p; vizkFkhZ la- 3 dks dksbZ enn ugha djrk gSA gLrxr çdj.k esa 'kk[kk izcU/kd lquhy 'kkg us bZ-,Dl-,&4 çiksty QkeZ çkIr fd;k o fçfe;e jkf'k çkIr

(15 of 17) [CMA-686/2003]

dj çiksty QkeZ ds ihNs fçfe;e jkf'k dk mYys[k djrs gq, fnukad vafdr dh o çiksty QkeZ dh iq'r ij lhy yxkdj vius gLrk{kj fd;s ,slh fLFkfr esa 'kk[kk çcU/kd us çiksty QkeZ ds lkFk fçfe;e jkf'k dk pSd fnukad 16-6-98 çkIr dj fy;k FkkA blfy;s chek dEiuh bl nq?kZVuk ls gqbZ {kfriwfrZ ds fy;s mÙkjnk;h gSA

25& fo}oku vf/koDrk vçkFkhZ la- 3 us vius rdksZ ds lEcU/k esa Vh-,-lh- 2002 ist 29 U;kf;d fofu'p; çLrqr fd;k gS ftlesa fçfe;e jkf'k dk Hkqxrku 29 rkjh[k dks fd;k x;k Fkk ,oa doj uksV 27 rkjh[k dks tkjh dj fn;k x;k rFkk nq?kZVuk 28 rkjh[k dks gks x;h FkhA bl çdj.k esa ekuuh; mPp U;k;ky; us ;g vo/kkfjr fd;k gS fd%& dsoy ek= dojuksV tkjh gksus ls fjLd doj ugha gksrh gS tc rd dh izheh;e jkf'k dk Hkqxrku ugha dj fn;k tkosA mDr fofuf"p; Hkh vizkFkhZ la- 3 dh fdlh çdkj ls enn ugha djrk gS D;ksafd gLrxr çdj.k esa chek çheh;e jkf'k dk Hkqxrku çiksty QkeZ ds lkFk gh chek/kkjd }kjk fnukad 16-6-98 dks dj fn;k tkuk lk{; ls iw.kZr% çekf.kr gqvk gSA

26& blh çdkj vçkFkhZ la- 3 us ,-lh-ts- 1994 ist 811 uked U;kf;d fofu"p; çLrqr fd;k gS mlesa ;g vo/kkfjr fd;k gS fd fcuk çheh;e jkf'k dk Hkqxrku çkIr fd;s chek dEiuh mÙkjnk;h ugha gSA tSlk fd Åij o.kZu fd;k tk pqdk gS fd çiksty QkeZ ds lkFk jkf'k dk Hkqxrku dj fn;k FkkA ,slh fLFkfr esa mDr fofu"p; Hkh vizkFkhZ la- 3 dks fdlh rjg ls enn ugha djrk gSA

27& fo}ku vf/koäk vizkFkhZ la- 3 us vius rdksZ ds leFkZu esa Mh-,u-ts- 1998 ¼jkt½ist 601 çLrqr fd;k ftlesa nks cts chek i‚fylh tkjh dh x;h] nq?kZVuk 12 cts ?kfVr gks x;h Fkh chek izHkkoh cukus ds mís'; ls nks cts ds le; dks dkVdj 9 cts dj fn;k FkkA ,slh ifjfLFkfr esa ekuuh; jktLFkku mPp U;k;ky; us ;g vo/kkfjr fd;k gS fd chek dEiuh mÙkjnk;h ugha gSA fdUrq rF;ksa dh fHkUurk ds dkj.k ;g U;kf;d fofu"p; vçkFkhZ la- 3 dh fdlh çdkj ls enn ugha djrk gSA gLrxr çdj.k esa vçkFkhZ la- 3 dh vksj ls çLrqr xokg ,u-,-MCY;w- 1 o 2 ds dFkuks ls ;g rF; çekf.kr gS fd chek/kkjd us fdlh çdkj dh dkaV&NkaV chek i‚fylh esa ugha dh Fkh] rFkk ;g ftl vof/k ds fy;sa vizkFkhZ la&3 }kjk tkjh dh x;h Fkh] ml vof/k esa fujLr ugha dh x;h vkSj u gh bl lEcU/k esa dksbZ lwpuk i= fn;k x;k FkkA tSlk fd mij foospu fd;k tk pqdk gS fd çiksty QkeZ ds lkFk izheh;e jkf'k tek djkuk

(16 of 17) [CMA-686/2003]

i=koyh ij miyC/k lk{; ls çekf.kr gSA ,slh fLFkfr esa pSd çkfIr dh fnukad ls vçkFkhZ la[;k 3 bl nq?kZVuk ds fy;s iw.kZ :i ls mÙkjnk;h gSaA

28& fo}ku vf/koDrk çkFkhZ us vius rdksZ ds leFkZu esa MCY;w-,y-lh-¼;w-lh-½ 2000 nh U;w bafM;k ba";ksjsUl dEiuh fMohtuy v‚fQl tks/kiqj cuke çHkqjke o vU; U;kf;d fofu'p; çLrqr fd;k gS ftlesa ekuuh; jktLFkku mPp U;k;ky; us vo/kkfjr fd;k gS fd%& Motor Vehicles Act 1988, Ss.147,149,173 - Motor Insurance Insurer's liability - Plea of back dated Policy after accident - Insurer failing to prove that Policy was ever cancelled for lack of premium on ground of misrepresentation, and Policy exists- Insurer must pay to third Party not Bothered with Premiums and Policies.

29& gLrxr izdj.k esa chek dEiuh bu rF;ks dks lkfcr djus esa vlQy jgh gS fd mUgksusa chek i‚fylh dks mä vof/k esa fujLr fd;k gksA ;gk¡ rd dh vçkFkhZ la- 3 dh vksj ls çLrqr lk{; ls Li"V çekf.kr gqvk gS fd bl vof/k esa vçkFkhZ la- 3 us chek/kkjd dks fdlh çdkj dk uksfVl ugha fn;k vkSj u gh ;g çekf.kr fd;k fd i‚fylh esa dkaV&NkaV dk --R; i‚fylh/kkjd dk jgk gksA chek i‚fylh ftl vof/k ds fy;s tkjh dh x;h gS] mlh vof/kk rd çHkkoh gSA ,slh fLFkfr esa bl eksVj;ku nq?kZVuk esa gqbZ {kfr dh çfrdj vnk;xh ds fy;s chek dEiuh mÙkjnk;h gSA

30& mijksä foospu o fo'ys"k.k ds vuqlkj eSa bl fu"d"kZ ij igqapk gw¡ fd vçkFkhZ la- 3 bu rF;ksa dks lkfcr djus esa vlQy jgk gS fd thi uEcj vkj-ts-&27&Vh&0420 fnukad 17-6-98 ls chfer ugha gksdj 19-6-98 ls chfer FkhA mijksä ifjfLFkfr;ksa esa bl eksVjokgu nq?kZVuk esa gqbZ {kfr dh çfrdj dh vnk;xh gsrq vçkFkhZ la[;k 3 dks ftEesnkj ekurs gq;s fook|d la[;k 5 dk fu.kZ; vçkFkhZ la- 3 ds fo:) fd;k tkrk gSA''

The officer of the appellant company had admitted before the

Tribunal that once the proposal form along with the cheque was

received in their office, the risk was covered and in the present

case, it was proved beyond doubt that the premium amount in the

form of cheque dated 15.06.98 along with the proposal form very

(17 of 17) [CMA-686/2003]

well reached the appellant's office on 16.06.98. Therefore, the

appellant was under an obligation to pay the compensation to the

claimants in the present case.

As far as reliance placed upon the judgments of Hon'ble the

Supreme Court in the case of National Insurance Co. Ltd. &

Deokar Exports Private Limited (Supra) is concerned the facts of