The Oriental Insurance Co.Ltd. v. Letty Varkey

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM

PRESENT:

THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.B.SURESH KUMAR TUESDAY, THE 17TH DAY OF MARCH 2015/26TH PHALGUNA, 1936 MACA.No. 1003 of 2012 () ------------------------ AGAINST THE AWARD IN OPMV 1904/2007 of M.A.C.T., ERNAKULAM, DATED 18.11.2011.

APPELLANT/THIRD RESPONDENT:- -------------------------- THE ORIENTAL INSURANCE CO.LTD.

ERNAKULAM REPRESENTED BY ITS ASSISTANT MANAGER, REGIONAL OFFICE, ERNAKULAM NORTH, KOCHI-18 BY ADV. SRI.GEORGE CHERIAN (THIRUVALLA) RESPONDENTS/RESPONDENTS 1 AND 2:- -------------------------------

1. LETTY VARKEY MADATHIPARAMBIL HOUSE, S.R.M ROAD, COCHIN, PIN 682018 KALOOR P.O

2. JOHNSON P.J S/O.JOSEPH, POOTHOKKARAN HOUSE, JUDGE'S AVENUE, KALOOR, COCHIN, PIN 682017, KALOOR P.O R1 BY ADV. SRI.ABRAHAM K.JOHN R1 BY ADV. SMT.C.G.ARUNDHATHI THIS MOTOR ACCIDENT CLAIMS APPEAL HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 17-03-2015, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: Kvs/-

P.B.SURESH KUMAR, J.

----------------------------------------------- M.A.C.A. No.1003 of 2012.

----------------------------------------------- Dated 17th March, 2015.

J U D G M E N T

The insurer in a petition for compensation before the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal has come up in this appeal challenging the decision of the Tribunal.

2. One Sathi Sasidharan and three others filed the petition for compensation, alleging that their predecessor died in a motor accident took place on 13.7.2007, involving a transport vehicle owned by the first respondent and driven by the second respondent. The appellant was the insurer of the vehicle involved in the accident.

3. Respondents 1 and 2 remained ex parte. The appellant contested the petition contending that the second respondent was not holding an authorisation to drive a transport vehicle.

4. The Tribunal rejected the contention raised by the appellant and passed an award permitting the claimant to recover the compensation determined as due from the appellant. The appellant is aggrieved by the award of the

M.A.C.A. No.1003/2012.

Tribunal and hence the appeal.

5. Heard the learned counsel for the appellant.

6. A Full Bench of this Court has now held in National Insurance Company Ltd. v. Jisha (2015(1) KLT 1) that want of authorisation for the driver of the vehicle involved in an accident to drive a transport vehicle would not absolve the insurer from the liability to indemnify the owner. There is, therefore, no merit in the appeal and the same is accordingly, dismissed.

Sd/-P.B.SURESH KUMAR, JUDGE.

Kvs // true copy // PA TO JUDGE.