Karnataka High Court
The Manager New India Assurance Co Ltd vs C Chowdegowda on 20 March, 2012
Author: B.Manohar
Bench: B.Manohar
a I N LOT
)AFET) 1'HIS 1 1-TV 21' DA\ (IF \TAN( i-I. 2012
UP-i 'RE
C LE'{
MF4N()
UIVEN
1HE MANAGER ).EV 1'\DI. ASSI ita( F. CC) LU)
NO 120011 (ROSS ASIIOKNAGAR
MANIfl RI "BY 'TS
Eb)AI. NGR
31. flB Ill C 'WY
M1SSIO RU D
BANGALORE 560 027. APPELLAVI ..
V A I U
C (ll('W9)LCOVD
fly
OC IV C'< ).
lvO f-jI:NAS.\NAI-kjLLI '.1! LXGT'
ARAKERE HOWl S F4;x.A fj
MNDY 1) ST
1'! NC PA EL) It tS
£34'. -'ras
V ,() '.[1. fit 'J_)!).tR't%Tj'
34 V%A L' ' II..' E
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ItT i -i'fL\ ; •\tE fl -I' : •
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ARAKL
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2 E 1IOBLI S R P\TXA J U 4 K
\i\$<D\.' I PST
RI N' 1 N1)L 5f:[) 'p{ r
4 FNRS
ARS
I) C SIDI) NI I NOR
SAl IAI L
LRI H FLISI tAN
4 IN) S A7M 11
N FAD\
3
L 4 HOC
RE'- F
(BY SRIA SR NIP \S. ADV FOR R2
MEt C1LED 0/S. 30i OF WO ACT MAAINS; IHE
IFDCENIFNP PAlED: 317201)7 PASSED IN NO \VCAiF
24/2007 ON FOE FILE OF iHE LABOLR OFF 10FF AND
COMMISSIONER F( IR WORKMEN S COMPENSATION. SRI)
DIVISION- 1 NLV\DYA, AWARDING A ( OMPPNSMI O\ OF
RS. 27322 WIIFI 1NTERESF F PA
I
I (OMIN( )MISSION
llSLR AVIN(
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I !iI' ciIpt L4I I 1)4 k -
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2. 11w faci of the CJ%c art as Pillows:
I it Rc ',p tic N s t UC .li %aft ulfl(1
iI adl Idi a I I I
claini DCI 11 Ion before 11w' ('ommis",ioner for Werknen\
('onipensauon ec'iitcndinq that the-- riereised lieu.
tild ii Tn ti S o kIrgsadr CT ma I ac or )t nrg
gui 'c KA1/1 80 bort h
ie%pc)ndc'nt. Oii 06 Ofl 2004, under the instrutxio1s of
the ott ncr 01 the tractor whik- he was leveling the land of
h ck nive. w a )f T-It ia triali Iii 'i at, , 1-u it
1 )fhtrt Ii t c ii dliii.
S
tiltt'fl tc)p'. 1tir"c duv u- that the dn e
t HC
Sjddaram; .-atlit tIflCl' r llv lul ni tI- tfl,j). :uid la'
edt, 1 o 1' lia't ecitcirid it a it
ii 'deli i65 Cf 'C i eir
salac- .jf Lb 5,tj6()a ( . r) il ir -q1 ij)e- rte 1
t ' rt
i-if Si
J
1 ,L, --nr.u 1_ l'e. : !l.rt' 1'
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iceldent occurred htriii ' tiw ' Ow t yE t mpioyiiiciii
'iL us, r ix K 0 ki
Ir pur i. iiCt tt ioU is 1 b the
( inmi MOflt fbi V )rkifl i' C npcn iticni the cnei
of the tractor admitted that the deceased as working
d r h t I it
course of empIo mew H.('. Siddaramit died. inCv 11w
thkIc Is oered by the nsun ice d' insurer I a' to
ipc ft C iar ml igi- r ui.s of
the claun petition as agaln%t the I - re%pcnidcrn.
1 11 Ii.%l er ha 'lied theLi i JEttY 'tilt icril
.r1 .IGTI,ltt"rI 1
:h
t r rhc tractor 14 .Lr:1.Q reistrel1on
I ) e 1
l.i_%.IIrd i1h :!,rnj C.!. tilt tJ)t' •)i fljr •(.' 1 'It
jrj
'' v e (1k hi c t '
t1 U i,ii 'A r ir
'I lic I fl.Ci '1' II it
4' ...: i' I j
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5
relationship of employer an employee between the owner
and the deceased does not arises and sought for
dismissal of claim petition.
5. On the basis of the pleadings of the parties.
the Commissioner for Workmen's Compensation has
framed the following issues:
(I) Whether the deceased SrL H.C. Siddaramu
being employed as driver in tractor No.KA
11 IT- 1840 belonging to the third respondent,
met with accident while leveling the land of
Chlkkamay(gowda (third respondent) on
06.09.2004 and sustained injuries and died?
(II) Whether the accident arose out of and during
the course of employment of the deceased
under the third respondent?
((LV What was the monthly age and wage of the
deceased H.C. slddaramu at the time of
accidental death?
(it') Weather the applicants were dependents of
the deceased H.C. Siddararnu?
(
(rJ ll7zw is the (Zflic'lL"L (?1 cOfllpCIlS(LZiO'l 11w
(J)l 1 5 6 1 It 1 cc.i ?
I l4tt I T Ll 0 S
tOfllpCI taaliui i bt'Jurc (his cowl?
IL ii? lb what ordc r/
(3 The 1 lalmant in order to pros lwr case
cxanilnc'cI herself as PW I and got marked the
cy mnt a Fl P n E .1 J3.Sheasooxavned am
1 t'L%I 3% q F '1°
flY ). flp heh..Jl '•f rho' lnsu'er Sri. K Srnrna
.ssista it Mena er 't' rxaniined as RW and tot
r at t-c I d (tint i r I 2 [F I t dli idfl
ir' 0
it cc titl I ' )
all' 'I n •r' 1
tç
btlaa ai, t 9
(911 jij tj flhl(lt 1t iai"ilI iL ."liS
1 ' "I ilit ." Ii' 1 (ii
t'rior'FskcIirj.t'iiit ik•rnçod
ltk '1 . 1 i A (is
,. • . . ••,
•'
d
r. ! r' '': i''.' : •
ii the ot f thc k th I 'i ol th
s ti I. I I
dc I and [itt in c w 1 nn wt
residing %C paratei3 'md lie uas vorkiiig a a driver of
tin- ua tot belonged to the 1- respondtnt anti t!rtthig
caiar 01 R bOOt per mon 1 lie ac cid it has been
0 lur ours o ou soy I
i ij nsa got the f hel
state wiit before be ixAiee. Maiazar copy. M -' Report.
copy of the leaner license and copy 01 unregistt red
part'zi'n dttd da'-cl l5.1O.l°y9 as Ex p 1 to E.P 8.
SI iris', td In 1ocat whip
n e it
cit amii'an V2 i . In ii
e"jct--;j' t- I" r''
a'iH%( (1 thai 'i' !nlr lc'it iiflg (Iii- ui-n
Itt'( t\IT)3 '') %ri.Ci1tkaii,i tjflh' il.a ru. 't-t• 41* ri .,:
I
1. i ')UT
1 of' m t i' .h' . it
ii 111
I'ic I 'r
I.. - t t -- S S Sj.
5%
In. has SSI1 fbi 1cr Idt iii that .cc wi-cd 'ni 06.09.2004
ii di tin o 2u fee WI it he let e vd H.(
Sidcaiarnn ltc'Iiraz
4 tlit lard. tht left %ldc hi-c o the
tractor I nut ci 'If a r 1 nm 'mc) he -w t r i-fl ed t p'y
tui am. died on the spot. Hi fiirthcr depoed that the
dcc a%ed wa i-c '111% se rat lv I ng 1tI his 'iii!
and children. fln. I' respondcni. N the oi ncr: CtllsO3 C-i
ol II' 'cit eas d.
7 Sr PK S hut s kssis ant Mar ger vas
exai iined a SW . mc) he wit Tjarked Ex.R 1 the np'
'ftl'inura e hr Ex 2 th ha er cer eo'
the let t'u% d Ti ( . Sriclat aY:'tl. T the \.iTflhi.-atiUfl Ill
li* 110 Inn hi bet c I .t in. lit L't isl t f
1j% 3
c bAfl(I , .a' t I.e.c'-- . I '-'p,nd'
kt -] t
1 1
li-- ' tic. Jib
I
'I. ( ii- SW-ia I
l .1 •tt • 14
!L.'. .1. ,. L I.
liti hr hei ( IS cia ( uS 01 miS !t SC lit
Q( l\ (CIt lht 5tx)l1dfll as a nI as tOt' de ' ud
liluii th a sjn I dt I C N lb il rur o tOt (lee' 'a ed
ifl + iCL i I at 11
At O'C ed i R 990/)4 ili'
east d thud Cli tte pu1 Chu detraud wa aQed
hr 2 u. a h at h e e
claimants clajm that the deceased was g ttiit salan of
p 9 it h
a
produeeu. lakuna into eormderaton rite material
evident € lit C nit sio r Ft i tt th dai nt a
cmi ed tor th o npen. alma S ate the t. actor is
t Or rile 'pcjr ace he IlNurer la to
',fl a t Ii. iii A 'ii a ak o
4NI(lt-'l a' 101 hr ifllfltiTIttfli It a4t S 'ie'1 paid 1
ti
i 1 1
[f )c
€l0
3 a
1 r nuL ;t
Ld II91V-
l
4 p hit (4
ht \ C: tnt i'
a d a a s I I 2/ 1
ILC1 j It -i 4-' i S -stc1 (i utc 1T
'ii t iH C ' 1'
10
9. Sri. A.K.Bhat contended that the Order
passed by the Commissioner for Workmen's
Compensation Is contrary to law. No document has
been produced before the Commissioner with regard to
the relationship of master and servant between the
respondent and the deceased. Admittedly, the deceased
was the son of respondent No.1. There cannot be a
master and servant relationship between the father and
a son. Further as per Rule 3 of Central Motor Vehicle
Rules 1989. the holder of learner license must drive the
vehicle along with a person having valid license. Hence,
the Commissioner has not taken Into consideration Rule
3 of Central Motor Vehicle Act. Further, the deceased
was holding only the learner license, he was not having
valid driving license to drive the vehicle. Hence, the
Insurer Is not liable to pay the compensation. The
Insurer also filed LA. No.1/2008 for production of the
additional documents with regard to the claim Form
made by the I" respondent. In that Form, the 1st
4-
Ii
respond' ni h€is cleark rntx'tion' ii tii.u the drri ci 's the
cn ot i-cc tie it 'irdo 'Ct lua alpaid
cult 'r. it ua' nt ntic'n.d as NO in new c'i th.tt. a tic
'$ie h tim 'in ion tin dccc qed 'in be tr 1 is
alec
woiknian undc t tht I" respondent atici sought for
setting a 'ide 1w Oicle pas ed b ft e Cc mi tor by
411owlng tht appeal.
11, On t1t other hand. Sr
1 V. Srin
v
1 as. the
adv 'ate 'ipj 'u-i i Ic iii 2' i-es 'ml it u 1 1
ta'rour Cs t lit (It Jet passed IA the C ommissic,ne. for
VGz tnt S C. mp isi. in m idir ft t ft ri n
tnflt .nli a: tegn1ariti' It
1 'lit (hue' 4%t * 1w t%..
t
c r ins mc I i-c tic pi bit ii ii cit ''tw ha
Lilt SOil ,4(
' illiIJ. 61i I tl!fldflt ,f N '.iti . it :e
'fist it '-c Tu i p in i Ut '-n c ti-i
tqa
'd .r1. 's !l1, 1 : Ii' il')
'i',t'h
t
1 ' • ' sal
t r"
• ) i"( 1 C I ii ¼'t I
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•i a drirri in 11w lraetc;t helonguiu to his fat hri. Hence
.1w d' t I%rd wa th 's.. rkniarj uwlrr tin-- i
I i
hc wntc ii cn ernent admit ted that the de cjct ii as
ii c,rkiin4 as a drivt r of i lie ti aetol belonged 70 the i
'gpo . ii va. icc s is - cc
'c.i' 7 nil unrc.ystere park on dc I dat
I b 10.1999 as Lx P 9 These doc uments death' (liscinse
it t dccc d w
t olcli a ' lear lice
iii si atci mi yea C)9 d
he wa% an ernpinvre woikin under tl' 1 respondezit
id w gbt Ic di%rni ii it ie . ii al lit, ha' al )
cc b. n \c /
bled 2 (i%.2t ,,5 tr;d ils(' 'i't (irur' nktde in MF
t(I J39_ _,'giij:. u.crj 1
ir 2'J'4 a' s':p
,
1 ." 'I in
C
,: ! !e .. it,.. p. •, -- %..'e--'' •te ,
Jr 1
I
I
15 ita%i')tit(IifJtt tic t miLl? S
'C V ii Cli I ci 5 i I t
deceased Si I T-T.C Siddararn'i 'ho died i the are'deiit
that ou iin-cI Ott 06.09.2004. while d'ihig rime mi-actor
ou. it. it espor Ic t.
14. flit' PW-2 vh
1 I' itt eve wirnest. to the
w 'L idt-nr and in 111% "vidence. lie has depu%cd that while
v ncrt nc OS 11* 1 igwci mc tretc
a II d n a t at H 1 ci' w iret ci
ilie 'iiee1' .1 :Iic :ehiit'le and die-I en iii'- %pCii Tii--
pout 4st I\ 4V4i Pd tIC at J tjfl
1
j 'li"ulh. Tin
ipichi 3-itt Ic lid Cli
it ,jtj a' iii Ii t Ut '
ts fjt 2fl0
I I '7 31
1 I ' '.
14
satan- of Rs.b.OOfl,' per moi'tli. rIic owner of the
ii its ii- 1., ii n -it ic i fit ci at it.
ciewa ci w€ts wrkin as a dri er in rht t ratio;
besnged i' him Tie alco admfttcd that due to the
ac tie u red ni )6 9.2 04 th dr er )t tic
tractor died on the spot. The PW 1 aio produced the
larlyar o al 1 jO) si t
the 2'' claimant and her hucbanci deceased 1i.C.
S a i in s it cc ie Ii it
rc%pondel ii Iron the year I tJ9Q. The re t,rwis £ 4e.riy
cit in& th t tue cx ts elas. on ip f .ast r awl
se 'alit be e i tic '
'po wi' t eli is te
'It's. i" .1. Die t.) i jC:'ideLt ont,trrrd -ai CR OQ 2'%'
Ii S Jo 'ii di
I
I it r
f.,r ii" aJsjYt1t1i C ji l' 1 J th tt n
t Irw Irt; n Iitt it
'tc 0 r' r ( is
.J iI•A I •.i -- '• •, lit 'All S..
I 1
15
as the deceased. Admittedly, the l' respondent is the
father of the deceased, the presumption under law that
the son was driving the tractor belonged to the father.
Hence. he cannot be an employee of the respondent.
Further contended that in the Motor Vehicle Claim
petition filed by the 1' claimant, it was clearly
mentioned that the driver of the Tractor is the son of the
owner of the tractor. In the column meant for paid
driver or not, they have mentioned that "NO". Hence, it
is clear that the deceased was not the paid driver.
Hence, he cannot be an employee under the 1st
respondent. The appellant further contended that the
learner license holder cannot drive the vehicle without
fulfilling the Rule-3 of Central Motor Vehicle Rules
1989. Hence, the owner of the vehicle has violated the
condition of the Insurance policy. Hence. the Insurer is
not liable to pay the compensation. Though the Insurer
has taken several contentions, nothing has been said In
the examination-In-chief though they have examined
Assistant Manager as RW- I. As stated earlier in the
A
hnnly p in ilk ii vhkh va takei place iii the sear 1999
Icy C .. ut U @1
partilionc i ai.i aii :br low son-s. Fioni lilt sear 19t,9.
dc 'a i is dir ep clv os r 1 ;is
'. rkm. aS a hiti i tlw laclu )eiongc•d 0 his fa lie'
There is no pr.thibltlnn under the Act that the sun
I 1 r fa ) h
h rnarritd Is mn dependant of tlit lather and he was
r 'idlii,. sep i awiy from V yea 1999 Hem It c i be
Iv ri d I ft ect ed '1% ung a
diii ei under the 1- respond:nt and there edsi
t
do ip a r I an lic g.
d hi' le ctmn f tb_it ibc U
incritio. it l.i 'a or trgj
I
t'sxiidcnt 'I'd Tint tll •i: 11111¼1P1 •ifl' C 'hUJil'I 'TiC C
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'd . sit '.L't 11."SIl I
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't;j iMJ;n' ! t1,1' I ).II .b' .ifl )j Trot LtJ%tJ 4dL'T a)
it .1 •flt4 ! .L.I'I%IIl ilil wi '.ti"ar --UI )t fl PH,' 1
'.
'4 .'i )!.{3'. .q a IUT% lIPITIIPI) a ii 'r : 3 )3-3 'Uji
TI) "-- P
rTa-.auq uu'.u ; pie laisnin to "TtlMlOPfll3 4'fl 3.1.) (j
j)Ut' uPlinpu ix P ma pasaaap ii fljfl 1101*1 I1I0.
1l aqi
(La JTLTU.) 't'Lj I (twa] LU) "P! U (BUT Jill!].) )Lll UL1nI%UO)
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.x-n;u uop a1 uadwo ,riatu"po .Tq iauoTsclLmuoi a 41
imp .ixap aip jo tat: 'auapia 4
u mtlawrlJop pliB [Bits
aip )luJiapfstloa palaa(aJ '1 %W3IW 1301) [PLTOIIIPPV
JO ITO!L31)pOJd ac; paj uopaiiddr 341 '3!]fl ttiedwoj
aaueautri a.p q.gn aqeu U' sUM JIT3Wfl .op 3T41
lulls 3JLIalfl Ifl 101 Iip[)1 SI' ITO"iP) X( 3(111111') Itt Wfl 'Op
PiE' LJ. ITIaILIte.sop IeUOflflflJR %U 1.1110,,) aqi )JOJ)q
aLdfl i:.tnpoid u aq %R4 ltI.flhIfl )O[' JV% .,(Jj. •f) 'I'U'
io.t pi1t auti.--pi 1) TT.s1(. tif .1c)I1t'J%Jl111I1CJ3 MIt )iO1 q
pa nipo id TI 'JLj loll SUIt 11 1tT'TJ.)(l(II' 4.1 (fl )l4IP'.1P Pfl
LI
Is
cng t ci (ct s 101 IC
Comm 1S%iC)fler &qJpl it' tlit n'h dilL tat in ttkilb. into
COTLdcI('iatiOIl hit. ate ni thi. cit • e:ntd ct' 28 years
avc led t omi 1 ion d 5275a / WY
st one ass ii x.
'there Is no mlIrmftv or n-regularity in the aid Order.
17 I the e of RIENT INSU 'JCE
IAI HIflN A.\) R
it ported in 2005(4) K CR 232b - IT was clearly held thar
Ii iS 21 lLIlC,)lflY 1011 (111101 c 11W hi i'zess 1 r Ely 'ci
.. Er 'It lOu
lot c ha OIl 'IC rUt q
Ii'v',a' E ,1 %ft(I. siIunlt.rl 'U., L'V7tJ( S c'rE' uc 'J iii
•s al:,,., :'u: •. qruw.ci b in'• uL%nu I-- •4 ;c,cd
r j1r ?.'."IJ) t1 cTrq;'r'ijrr (J4 "rnj_;frut'i ''1 L •n"€
tL(1' lit £ C I' lS.LL t . 'Id
0 C
rrlct lit c I('alc I
.1(11 'U .1 t''tI''a •,j 7. . •:.I '. '.. ,aq.• ":i,
ji, SJ''r •ii . .,; ;• ••
i ' ;. 1' 4',-
i
Ct
I' ( jk
9
h n 41 4 00 disp sul
3200 i Ii
1. If tjl C td
heproi v j a ppntt tin for pe [1 JOSe
ci Inc. i L LL1Itt 'IC k, C ut tO ' idly
vouid be rpIovecI or dorrg te o k stew f
p gig h*strar;er hiJwtth tttern redr
I liii aaran
t
ie forrepi zctJh oar
u i attd eos Lb tia uczs ro
w kiar gploudrr ott ii tin ietor
at I ncnbeoJth z d
o n 0 ortelerda okra at' rig
ti seed we
I C 1 U i ip
au. i
o :1
'7
S
V
20
'oiiteniplatcs that die learner license holder ih11t'
'In lug the n--Iñ'lc mt"tt be aci umpa'i'ed b:' Iht pencn
Id c i c
t
n s' ifar th' tractor is concerned, it ic Cu dv cue seater
anti the rid.- is applicable onl3 In %fl tar is the user ot
it C rc ttc ct! it
tiu third )drIIes fen(t the id ni Is n t
applicable.
i,, at b
ORDER
(ii 'Ihe appeal jC 'iisnlssed.
'H- ti (1 1 t, ti U
trir ferret U c ( inissi r I
1
fl!iJIIet"-- .nip' r. .ari.,r' f'1a,dta
Dlx I
I