Gujarat High Court
National Insurance Co Ltd vs Ashaben Darshansinh Vaghela on 4 July, 2018
Author: S.G. Shah
Bench: S.G. Shah
C/FA/2174/2011 JUDGMENT
IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
R/FIRST APPEAL NO. 2174 of 2011
FOR APPROVAL AND SIGNATURE:
HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE S.G. SHAH
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1 Whether Reporters of Local Papers may be allowed to
see the judgment ?
2 To be referred to the Reporter or not ?
3 Whether their Lordships wish to see the fair copy of the
judgment ?
4 Whether this case involves a substantial question of law
as to the interpretation of the Constitution of India or any
order made thereunder ?
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NATIONAL INSURANCE CO LTD
Versus
ASHABEN DARSHANSINH VAGHELA
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Appearance:
MS LILU K BHAYA(1705) for the PETITIONER(s) No. 1
MR MTM HAKIM(1190) for the RESPONDENT(s) No. 1
RULE SERVED(64) for the RESPONDENT(s) No. 4
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CORAM: HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE S.G. SHAH
Date : 04/07/2018
ORAL JUDGMENT
1. Heard learned advocate Ms.Lilu K. Bhaya for the appellant and learned advocate Mr.MTM Hakim for the respondent no.1. Perused the record as well as record and proceedings received from the trial Court.
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2. The appellant herein is insurer of motor vehicle No.GJ-1 AU 3340 truck which is owned by the respondent no.4 and driven by respondent no.3, who is deleted from the cause title, at the relevant time. Respondents no.1 and 2 are legal heirs and dependents of victim in incident, which has taken place on 13.04.2006 wherein one Darshansinh Mohansinh Vaghela has received fatal injuries. Because of death of victim when he was hit by truck, his legal heirs being widow has preferred Motor Accident Claim Petition No.363 of 2007 before Motor Accident Claim Tribunal at Bharuch. By impugned judgment and award dated 30.03.2011, the Tribunal has awarded an amount of Rs.5,05,000/- with 9 % interest as compensation to be paid by all the opponents jointly and severally to the claimants.
3. Being aggrieved by such award, appellant - Insurance Company has preferred this appeal mainly on the ground that considering the nature of incident, it cannot be said that it is vehicular accident simpliciter but it is the case of murder of the victim Dharshansinh Vaghela. However, it is undisputed fact that the truck driver had while escaping from place when probably he was committing some other illegal activity, dashed his truck with the victim whereby victim had received fatal injuries. Therefore, relying upon the decision in the case of Ritadevi and others. V/s. New India Assurance Company Page 2 of 13 C/FA/2174/2011 JUDGMENT Limited reported in 2000 (5) SCC 113 Insurance Company cannot be held liable. Learned advocate Ms.Bhaya for the appellant has fairly submitted that except such basic issue of liability of Insurance Company to pay compensation in given facts of the incident, the appellant does not challenge award so far as quantum of compensation is concerned. However, it is vehemently submitted that considering the documentary evidence produced on record, more particularly complaint at Exh.35 and chargesheet filed against driver of the truck at Exh.41, it can certainly be said that this is not an accidental murder but it is a murder simpliciter and therefore, considering the discussion, observation and determination in paragraph no.10 in Ritadevi's (supra) case, Insurance Company cannot be held liable; in case of murder, if any committed by driver of the vehicle; to pay compensation to the victim of such incident.
4. As against that learned advocate Mr.MTM Hakim for the respondent no.1 - original claimant has relied upon few judgments submitting that liability to pay compensation arise as soon as motor vehicle is involved in incident, contending that liability of driver, owner and insurer arises when injury is resulted to anyone arising out of use of motor vehicle, as provided under Section 165 of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988.
5. For considering the rival submissions, issues raised in this Page 3 of 13 C/FA/2174/2011 JUDGMENT appeal one has to refer the complaint which is produced at Exh.35 before the Tribunal. Perusal of such complaint makes it clear that complainant is neither victim nor claimant. But one Yatishbhai Aurjunbhai has lodged the complaint narrating the incident that accident has took place on the date of 13.04.2006. It is his say that when they were trying to stop transportation of animals to slaughter house, four persons including victim Darshansinh Mohansinh Vaghela had reached Zadeshwar Tall Naka on motor-cycle and they have stopped few vehicles. At that time one truck no. GJ-01 AU 3340 (which is involved in accident) didn't stop and therefore complainant and the victim have chased the truck on the motorcycle (which is not involved in the accident) and after crossing Sardar Bridge on Narmada River, they had given sign to driver of the truck to stop but he didn't stop the truck and therefore, complainant and victim has again chased the truck and near crossing on road towards Mandava village victim had given sign to other two trucks to stop and therefore, truck no.GJ- 1AU 3340 was also stopped behind these two trucks. Thereafter, the material part of incident is narrated to the effect that other two trucks were not having any objectionable material and therefore, victim has allowed to those truck to go further and victim has stopped offending truck, when complainant had went back side of the truck to check it and when he found livestock in such truck, he came Page 4 of 13 C/FA/2174/2011 JUDGMENT towards driver and inquired from the driver but at that time driver has got annoyed and started his truck with speed dashing the victim and killing him.
6. Pursuant to such disclosure in complaint added with further few lines that truck driver has intentionally driven the truck and killed the victim, it is submitted by the Insurance Company that it is not accidental murder but it is a murder simpliciter. In support of such submissions Insurance Company has also relied upon chargesheet filed by the investigating agency, copy of which is at Exh.41. However, certified copy of chargesheet is having incomplete statement in column no. 5 but it is clear that there is charges under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code against driver of such truck.
7. In view of above submission I have scrutinized the evidence properly and thoroughly. The bare and proper reading of complaint on the contrary give simple impression that it is the say of the 3rd person that truck driver has driven the truck to kill the victim whereby it is nowhere stated either by the complainant or by anybody else that truck driver has any intention and prior decision to kill the victim. Complaint also makes it clear that probably truck driver has never knowing the victim before the accident and therefore, he has no reason to commit murder of the victim. Therefore, what Page 5 of 13 C/FA/2174/2011 JUDGMENT transpires from the complaint is simple proposition that when complainant was talking with truck driver, truck driver has started his vehicle and tried to run away from the place of incident but at that time because victim was standing in front of the truck, truck dashed with the victim which results into fatal injuries to him. Otherwise at this stage, it cannot be said that there was intentional and mens rea with the truck driver to kill the victim. If we decide so in such proceedings under M.V.Act, practically it would be resulted into decision against the driver in the criminal trial against him, which is probably pending. In any case, proceedings before the Tribunal is not criminal trial to decide that whether truck driver has intentional and mens rea to kill the victim or not. Proceedings before the Tribunal is purely under the M.V.Act, more particularly as per provision of Chapter XII of M.V.Act, 1988 wherein Section 165 categorically confirms that right to claim compensation arises in favour of the person who has sustained the injury or any of the legal representatives of the deceased where death has resulted from the accident out of use of motor vehicles. Therefore, though for fixing the liability of the driver and owner of the vehicle in general, it is stated that negligence of driver is to be proved by the claimant, the amendment in M.V.Act, 1988 in form of Section 163 (A) makes it clear that practically there is no need even to prove negligence of the driver because basic principle of Page 6 of 13 C/FA/2174/2011 JUDGMENT such legislature is to see that victim of the road accident may not have to suffer for no negligence on their part, when they received injury or death because of use of motor vehicle, which is dangerous machine if not properly handled by its driver and owner.
8. However, when appellant is relying upon the decision of Ritadevi (supra), reference to such judgment is must, therein also in paragraph no.10 the Hon'ble Supreme Court has distinguished such incident when it is stated in paragraph no.10 that if the dominant intention of the Act of felony is to kill any particular person then such killing is not an accidental murder, but is a murder simpliciter, while if the cause of murder or act of murder was originally not intended and the same was caused in furtherance of any other felonious act then such murder is an accidental murder. After distinguishing fact as above, when Supreme Court has clarified that in case of accidental death, even if there is allegation of murder, Insurance Company cannot be exonerated the liability to pay compensation. Now what is required to be scrutinized is to the limited extent that whether there is dominant intention to kill the victim only or the Act was intended in furtherance of any other felonious act. It is quite, clear and obvious from the available evidence on record that there is no dominant intention of the driver of Page 7 of 13 C/FA/2174/2011 JUDGMENT the truck to kill the victim because he was not knowing the victim before incident and there is no intention or mensrea to confirm that driver of the vehicle has driven his vehicle only with a view to kill the victim. Evidence on the contrary shows that driver has in fact while talking with the complainant who has standing on driver side, and thereby, without looking towards front where victim was standing, all of sudden driven his vehicle in speed which resulted into accident and death of victim.
9. Therefore, in my opinion such accident cannot be considered as murder simpliciter but it was purely on accident. At the most it may be term as accidental murder as referred in Ritadevi's case (supra). There can be no murder when it is accidental, because it would fall within purview of culpable homicide. With due respect before identifying any death as murder one has to realize the difference between culpable homicide and murder. Section 299 of the Indian Penal Code defines "culpable homicide" providing that, intention of causing death or intentional bodily injury or it is likely to cause death with the knowledge that it is likely by such act to cause death, commits the offence of culpable homicide. Whereas term murder is define under Section 300 of the Indian Penal Code wherein four exceptions are given and therefore, it cannot be said that all the death are murder Page 8 of 13 C/FA/2174/2011 JUDGMENT only. Explanation 1 to section 300 on the contrary specifies that when culpable homicide is not murder confirming that if the offender whilst deprived of the power of self-control by grave and sudden provocation, causes the death of the person who gave the provocation or causes the death of any other person by mistake or accident. Therefore, now perusal of the complaint, it becomes clear that in fact complainant has practically provoke driver when they want to him to stop him without any authority with them which results into deprivation of power of self-control because of grave provocation, start his vehicle and try to continue his journey and while doing so he dashed his vehicle. Therefore, in any case, it cannot be said that this is a case of murder simpliciter as submitted by the appellant insurance company. In addition to above discussion, it would be appropriate to recollect the several decisions cited by the respondent:
In New India Assurance Company Limited V/s. Yadu Sambhaji More and Others. reported in (2011) 2 SCC 416, Hon'ble Supreme Court has considered the Section 110 of M.V.Act which is para material same to section 165 of M.V.Act, 1988 and decided that when claim under M.V.Act before Tribunal is maintainable by holding that claim petition is maintainable when injury or death has resulted arising out of use of motor vehicle. In the present case Page 9 of 13 C/FA/2174/2011 JUDGMENT also incident has occurred because of use of motor vehicle and therefore, driver, owner and Insurance Company cannot escape their liability.
In G.S.R.T.C. V/s. Hiraben C. Patel reported in 1997 (2) SCC 621 wherein Division Bench of this Court has also interpreted the fresh "arising out of use of the motor vehicle" and awarded compensation to the victim to be paid by S.T. Corporation when victim was injured in scuffle by crowd with S.T.Bus, therein also at the time of granting interim compensation under Section 140 of the M.V.Act, corporation has raised issue regarding entitlement of compensation by heirs of the victim, when victim was killed by crowd in riots. But Division Bench has held that when death is arising out of use of vehicle, owner is liable to pay compensation. The same incident was again before the High Court in First Appeal No.6003 of 1998 between the same party wherein again Division Bench has by its judgment and order dated 08.04.1999 (unreported) confirms the view taken in reported judgment that S.T. Corporation is liable to pay compensation though it was pleaded by S.T. Corporation that victim was killed by crowd when he was traveling in the bus and there was not vehicular accident. Page 10 of 13
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10. Whereas in the case of New India Assurance Company Limited V/s.Heirs of Decd. Sarfudding @ Harun Shamruddin Shaikh in First Appeal No.2789 of 2012 by judgment and order dated 28.11.2016 (unreported) the Coordinate Bench has referred the provision of Section 165 of M.V.Act and distinguished the decision in Ritadevi (supra) and thereby, relying upon Shivaji Dayanu Patil and another V/s. Smt. Vatschala Uttam More reported in AIR 1991 SC 1769 held that claimants are entitled to get compensation when victim received injury in accident which is arising out of use of motor vehicle. In such case also victim is similar to the case of Hiraben (supra) when mob had pulled the victim; who was traveling in the vehicle and attacked him and injured him, which resulted into his death. However, considering the incident arising out of use of motor vehicle, Insurance Company was held liable to indemnify the owner to pay compensation.
11. In Thakore Dharmabhai Mohanji V/s. Sureshkumar Bhubhatlal Soni rerpoted in 2008 (1) GLR 835, another Coordinate Bench of this Court has again came across similar situation which is pleaded by the Insurance Company in the present case i.e. intention of driver to run away and incidentally while running away to make use of vehicle to cause injury to the victim. In such case also the Coordinate Page 11 of 13 C/FA/2174/2011 JUDGMENT bench has distinguished the observation in the case of Ritadevi (Supra) while fixing the liability of driver, owner and insurer of the vehicle in question to pay compensation to the victim on vehicular accident.
12. In view of above facts and circumstances, when there is no evidence to confirm that the death of victim was intentional murder by truck driver, it cannot be said that driver and owner of the vehicle are not responsible to pay compensation to the heirs and dependents of deceased victim. In fact liability of insurance company is only to indemnify the owner as and when the Tribunal fix any liability upon driver and owner for any such incident. Therefore, in absence of evidence by the driver and owner, Insurance Company cannot be plead and proved that incident of vehicular accident was intentional murder of the victim by driver. To prove such fact, one has to prove it before the Criminal Court by adducing appropriate evidence and by offering reasonable opportunity to driver to defend himself to disprove that it was not murder but at the most it may be culpable homicide. Such trial cannot be possible in claim petition and therefore, if at all insurance company has remedy available with it, they may initiate such remedy once, it is proved in criminal trial that truck driver has intentionally committed murder of the victim and it is not accident at all. However, in my opinion even in Page 12 of 13 C/FA/2174/2011 JUDGMENT that case, if death is because of use of motor vehicle,the driver and owner would be liable to pay compensation under the M.V.Act and in that case issue regarding intentional murder, insurance company may initiate appropriate other proceedings against driver and owner but in the proceedings under the M.V.Act, in absence of any specific evidence to confirm that death was nothing but a murder only, neither driver or owner nor insurance company can escape their liability to pay compensation to the heirs of the victim.
13. In the present case, factum regarding incident was not know to either claimant - being legal heirs of the deceased nor to Insurance Company and therefore, it is unwarranted to come to any conclusion in such issue in absence of driver.
14. In view of above facts and circumstances, I do not see any substance in the appeal and therefore, appeal stands rejected.
(S.G. SHAH, J) VARSHA DESAI Page 13 of 13