New India Assurance Co. Ltd., Through Its Divisional Manager v. Prajjwal S/O Rajendra Kalbande Through His Father Rajendra Kalbande And 3 Others

-1IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY NAGPUR BENCH : NAGPUR.

FIRST APPEAL NO.184 OF 2012 IN CLAIM PETITION NO.90/2008 APPELLANT (Ori. Resp-2 on R.A.) :

New India Assurance Co. Ltd.

Through its Divisional Manager, Dharmadaya Cotton Fund Road, Walcut Compound, Amravati Tq. & Dist. Amravati.

//VERSUS// RESPONDENT (Ori. Applicant on R.A.) : 1.

Prajjwal s/o Rajendra Kalbande Aged 9 years Occ. Student Through his father Rajendra Kalbande Res. Nos.2 & 4 deleted as per Court's Order dt.

29.11.2010 2.

Rajesh Patre Aged Adult Occ. Nil Both r/o Kathora (Bk.) Tq. & Dist. Amravati.

(Ori. Resp-1 on RA) 3.

Mahesh s/o Sadashivrao Bahe Aged Adult, r/o Chandur Bazar Dist. Amravati.

4.

Anil Lokhande Aged Adult Occ. Auto Rickshaw Driver r/o Bemoda, Yashoda Nagar, Amravati.

******************************************************************** Shri Akhilesh Potnis, Advocate h/f Shri M.M. Sudame, Advocate for the Appellant.

Ms. Aastha Sharma, Advocate h/f Shri P.R. Agrawal, Advocate for Respondent No.1.

******************************************************************** CORAM : SMT. ANUJA PRABHUDESSAI, J.

DATE : 24 th FEBRUARY , 2022.

ORAL

JUDGMENT

-201] This is an Appeal under Section 173 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, challenging the Judgment and Award dated 04/08/2010 in Claim Petition No.90/2008. By the impugned judgment, the Claims Tribunal has partly allowed the Petition and directed the Respondent Nos.1 and 2 to pay to the Claimant compensation of Rs.20,000/- with interest @ 7.5% per annum from the date of the petition till final realization. 02] Heard Shri Potnis, learned counsel for the Appellant and Ms. Aastha Sharma, learned counsel for the Respondent No.1. I have perused the records and considered the submissions advanced by learned counsel for the respective parties.

03] The Respondent No.1, who shall be referred to as the Claimant, was a pillion rider on motorcycle bearing registration No.MH-27/Z-6976. The said motorcycle was driven by one Rajesh Pathare. When the motorcycle reached near the farm of Gajbe, there was a collision between the said motorcycle and the auto rickshaw bearing registration No.MH-27/C-6658. As a result of which, the Claimant had suffered grievous injuries in the said accident. The Claimant therefore claimed total compensation of Rs.1,00,000/-.

04] The owner of the motorcycle did not contest the proceedings. The Appellant - Insurance Company denied the accident and the injuries sustained by the Claimant. The Appellant - Insurance Company claimed that the driver of the motorcycle was not holding a valid and effective driving

-3licence. The Appellant - Insurance Company also claimed that four persons were travelling on the motorcycle violating the Traffic Rules. The Appellant - Insurance Company therefore denied its liability to indemnify the insured for breach of terms and conditions of the policy. 05] The Tribunal, after considering the evidence on record, held that the motorcycle was involved in the said accident. The Tribunal has also recorded a finding that the Insurance Company has failed to prove the breach of terms and conditions of the policy and has held that it is liable to indemnify the insured. The Tribunal has also recorded a finding that the Claimant was admitted in Navjeevan Hospital, Amravati for about four days. He had suffered fracture to left S.C. femur and fracture to left thigh and due to swelling over left thigh, he is unable to walk.

Considering the nature of the injuries sustained in the said accident, the Tribunal has awarded compensation of Rs.3,495/- towards medical expenses, Rs.5,000/- towards pain and suffering and Rs.10,000/- towards other miscellaneous expenses. The Tribunal thus awarded total compensation of Rs.20,000/-. The compensation awarded by the Tribunal cannot be said to be exorbitant. Hence, the impugned judgment does not warrant any interference. 06] Hence, the Appeal has no merits and is accordingly dismissed. (SMT. ANUJA PRABHUDESSAI, J.)