Karnataka High Court
The Indian Mutual General Insurance ... vs Helen Minezes And Ors. on 10 December, 1970
Equivalent citations: AIR1971KANT207, AIR1971MYS207, (1971)1MYSLJ, AIR 1971 MYSORE 207
Author: E.S. Venkataramiah
Bench: E.S. Venkataramiah
JUDGMENT Honniah, J.
1. On 3-1-1984 at about 3-45 p. m. near Vomanjoor on Mangalore-Gurpur Road, there was a collision between Motor Lorry bearing No. MYK 4985 and Eastefan Minezes as a result of which he sustained injuries and died on 5-1-1964 in the hospital. His wife and three children filed an application under Section 110-A of the Motor Vehicles Act, claiming compensation of Rs. 15,000/- before the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal, Mangalore. The vehicle in question had been insured, as required under the Motor Vehicles Act with the Indian Mutual General Insurance Society Ltd., Mangalore. The insured and the insurer were both made parties to the proceedings. After trial, the Tribunal came to the conclusion that due to the negligence on the part of the driver of the vehicle, the collision took place as a result of which Estefan Minezes died. The Tribunal awarded compensation of Rs. 8,850/- in all, to the claimants. Against this decision, the owner of the vehicle has not preferred any appeal, but the insurer namely, the Indian Mutual General Insurance Society Ltd., Mangalore has filed the present appeal.
2. Mr. D'sa, appearing for the claimants, urged that the appeal filed by the insurer is not maintainable on the grounds now taken in the appeal memo. The oaly grounds that the insurer has taken in this appeal are: (1) that there was no negligence on the part of the driver of the vehicle; and (2) that the amount awarded is excessive.
3. It is undisputed that the insurer can only take objections as provided under Section 96 (2) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1939. Section 96 (2) provides:
"No sum shall be payable by an insurer under Sub-section (1) in respect of any judgment unless before or after the commencement of the proceedings in which the judgment is given the insurer had notice through the court of the bringing of the proceedings, or in respect of any judgment so long as execution is stayed thereon pending an appeal; and an insurer to whom notice of the bringing of any such proceedings is so given shall be entitled to be made a party thereto and to defend the action on any of the following grounds, namely:--
(a) that the policy was cancelled by mutual consent or by virtue of any provision contained therein before the accident giving rise to the liability, and that either the certificate of insurance was surrendered to the insurer or that the person to whom the certificate was issued has made an affidavit stating that the certificate has been lost or destroyed, or that either before or not later than fourteen days after the happening of the accident the insurer has commenced proceedings for cancellation of the certificate after compliance with the provision of Section 105; or
(b) that there has been a breach of a specified condition of the Policy, being one of the following conditions namely:--
"(i) a condition excluding the use of vehicle-
(a) for hire or reward, where the vehicle is on the date of the contract of insurance a vehicle not covered by a permit to ply for hire or reward, or
(b) for organised racing and speed testing, or
(c) for a purpose not allowed by the permit under which the vehicle is used, where the vehicle is a transport vehicle, or
(d) without side-car being attached, where the vehicle is a motor cycle; or
(ii) a condition excluding driving by a named person or persons or by any person who is not duly licenced, or by any person who has been disqualified for holding or obtaining a driving licence during the period of disqualification; or
(iii) a condition excluding liability for injury caused or contributed to by conditions of war, civil war, riot civil commotion; or
(c) that the policy is void on the ground that it was obtained by the non-disclosure of a material fact or by a representation of fact which was false in some material particular."
4. It is, therefore, clear from the above mentioned provisions that the insurer is not permitted to raise any objections on grounds other than those specified under Sub-section (2) of Section 96. It is not open to the insurer to urge before the Tribunal that there was no negligence on the part of the person driving the vehicle and that the compensation claimed is excessive. It follows therefore that it cannot prefer an appeal on these grounds which the insurer could not urge before the Tribunal. This view of ours is fortified by the decision of the Supreme Court in British India General Insurance Co., Ltd. v. Captain Itbar Singh, .
5. In view of the above, this appeal fails and is accordingly dismissed with costs.
Appeal dismissed.