Karnataka High Court
National Insurance Co Ltd vs Lakshmidevamma W/O Ashwathanarayana on 21 September, 2011
Bench: N.K.Patil, C.R.Kumaraswamy
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BANGALORE
DA'1'E§) '.I'}'§iS THE 2 I5" IIAY OF SEP'§'}?§IVI{3EIR;_, 201.1,
: PRESENT :
THE HoN*BLE MR. JUSTICE N.K. p.gafr1;_,:'J
THE HoN*BLI;: MR. JUSTICE _
cxw. M.F.A.N0.58*7zz_Lg>:? 2068 WC)
M.F.A.NO.5873 OF' 2c:ggW€:'}
Between:
National I::$1;;.1"2;'c1;: f: C02, Lziidxi
Srinivasa Ma-rkeiig C-_Qn1;3Ecx;, _V
1974, Cin5'er11a..'i?(3ad.';-. . '
i)0ddV:1b21¥iap.ui'a 'B1fé.n(if:__,2 .. '
}Z)0dd23{i:)a1ie1pu1'a }3éir3_;_§a3.Qfe. I.7)isi,,
New rep:;*eser1t:eci' byiéits V
Regi_:>na1 O'§fic£5:,. _ ' _
Nai{i0£1a.E LEr15;Li':'a.:7;<:<3 Cg, Li'.d,§
E{é%g§;iez;;~21§ ':V:}§'£,-"i<:T(7:g S:.;:'E;:'i'1:;.;*.a1:1.1. Complex?
>E%a':3gga'Evr}i"e.¢": " -.
-$1 z%g}p:2§§a:1€:
{'a§;- Shzi ;'%,;)Z"~£. Kjf'i.S§'}EE21S£-*J&1EE1}', ;%.civ0a:ai5::'3}
A:*:{i:"
§;Eik:':%E}.§2§iC§€3'£'aE'}'1ITiéL
W5' {1 2?%..shv;a£.ha::araj;a.:1.a§
New ages? aE3:3;.:3;. 29 yefa.§"ss.,
R/9' §,aE<;}~;.e':"1.a}:a1}i Village,
{Q
Ammaaandra Post,
GL1diba.r1dé=: Tahzk.
2. GE. Manjurmih,
SEO. Krishrzappa,
Major,
R/0. G<>wdah3.i1.i Viliezge,
D0dda§c1aI1apura 'l"a1L1k,
Bangaiore Rural Dis'u"I(:1,. _' _
b b T Re$pc.r1da:rzE.5
[By Shri. C.Pv1'. Vfirxkamreddy, Ad»-'c>':?.a1,7e,_for R12"; A ' é '
Nofice {.0 R2 disper1s€d with L-",/--'.£;. dzltfid 1O,fOT'}:_,z'2T.§i}O.83H
This MFA is flied under V;'_§t@:i;i.<:>:a': 30{~1.)_ of the WC AC5;
against; the judgernesgf. d;£t'é{iA:. '25f_Q2/2006 "passfzd in
VVCA/NFC-34/2002 on fi§;~.oiV.i,he'~L2ibGur Officéer and
C0mn1issi(me;;* for W01'km_e;%'n 'C.cji*;ipe;1Lszitioia;_ Kolar, awarcling
cornper1s3.t.1'on Q§';*52,99_.,4.9E_. ;'.~ w:i_th i::{ercé$s€.., 1.2% 13.21.
M_F.A.No.5s'74' "
Betxxgéenr 'A
Nzfiiefzjal 'E;1s::.1fa1'L<:fic. 'CG, 9 'Lad
SI'ii":ik-"aS?1 Markei, Cv(j1:1__1§i'€:>§:',' J
1974}, Cmeglza Roadg, LV
DQ£1'c§v3_ba§§apur2:' jBr21II(:h .
DG£;ic§a_bz1Ziap11f21'.« Fiamgaziore §3is;E;
" & EQGW f<3¥§:reVs§n£ed by its
' E'{::'3.giu--¥}a} C'.ffi::€,
E§a1;.iT'<;:m«l E%;.s;fe::f2m<::{% Cm Lid .§
* Réggionzii- €¥.ffi:::e§ Sub%:a;:2m1 C<)m§)ie;>;,
144, Ix/1,€;_.:;e;aiad,
E3;1:':g§2:'1.;}r§=,w E.
" , 1 f%p§€§§;;21i'1%:.
' V{VE'3§'};a;':'§hria sfsfié. E§r§:s;E";:1a S"»--'<.»-'§3iIi'E:3s ;'§d'i:<>(%a%;.€3E
14.}
And :
1.V€I11iE1"1'.€ShE{p}}£1§ S/0. '\Eer1kai",e1raya1p;3z1, Now aged about 44 years.
R/0. LaE<1~:er1aha1§§i Vééézage.
An'1m:;:sar;dra Post, G-udibzindc Taluk'
2. OK. Marljtmath' S,/'0. KI'iShI18.§)"[)Ei._ Major, _ R/0. Gowdaha1.1.i \s"i.11agge,V ._ I)odd2ib21E§apu1'a '1' aluk, V ;
Bangalore Rurai Disirici, . _' V _ R€Sp()'I]d€1'1'i;S
{By Shri, CKM. VenkatziRedtiy,f1'§\:1Vc)t:ai:f~; f'c.z;f RE;
R2 served 63: u111'epE5:sE;:1_i'e{:1) ._ 'I'E1i3«:_VN§:':i_'-'.5: is S€';ci,i0r1 30(1) of £116 WC Act againsf:...._t§ieA_ _§"¥.§:':':'.§,f_§.(*_3I'i'_.{?VI1~1_'._! d2Li.€'.d.37: 25/O2/2006 passed in WCA/NFC%3E,"~f20*f}2 _<m«,1;hc":* file of the Labour O'i'f§(ter and Co§1'1f3;1.i.ssi13n.<3%xii;-1?'W{>:'}:;"iic:12' Comp(~:r1sa£ioI1_. Koiar, awardirlg c0mpe--::sa;I;iL3:":-- Qi:"?f§~,36',--.9;£"8<[*'-- with im;6:re:ss?;. @12% pa. __ Thééée app}i3aEAi<;_ VC"£:)IZ1i1Eg on fog" H€_'.Ei}'iI1§.§' 'ibis day, Nfigi, VP::1ti1 J (ig%1i.V@2'ed the f0ii<>ax:ir1g; J U D G M E) T ' "§"'§é7j{%Sé:*T;;'%,xa?§: &§3p<--:a.E£e by *;.h<§ §:r_1s5':,;§er aim dé:f€a':?:,€3{£ 21§§ua;é_;":';e:*;:j. ihii 175311131012 ju€§g*r1§:':§1€. gmii 21wa;:'€i dzziésé 251'?' " AA Efififi, §3f:}SS«f;'.{§ £3": '§§€;'i,fE'€E'C~;'§4i;'2®€}2 ameci §'s?§f$A;"NE'C--35;f2Gfi2; by fhfif Labe:;m° Qffiaéfir & Cammissioner' fer W<)rkme:n'--s C-0mpe'r1sati.01L Krzulzar. {hereinafter ref€=:rred to "the Commissioner"),'iréxiasing she f0i1(>wi:1g strabstanfziai qu€:Si:ic:ms sf law:
".1 / I--Vhe£'her' the CoI7'1n1issé3?',§4_éf.VV "justified in saddling iiaiaillhiia; ail' {fie W when the appel.iani' has a»'pal'icgJ». "
Insurance to cover ..a_f' goods vehirsie being if; ifié' aiafifciéfiarzd saddling Qf'liaE§;'£"éf;§; oh a:,g;_r;fé~-Ealar11 Lah(,3 r1 6{}& ?'O people who 'aflter piace and f;vc>_ d.o' saiiié' xawhicfz was ur':cQIinec%';f€?(i wi:h'i?_1e Z_a;"1?y.' """ Vbormnissioner was fihé mandatory provisions <3fSe€tiofa EEC. Act and proceed to * grad: €Q;%:;§€rfls?aaorz.
3] ';f'?ié'jadg:ner:{ and order passed by " xCarnzm'ssiom:>r E3 opposeci {O iaa;
;g3'rf€:sE?a§3€§éE.ies Qf {hes case and evidesazre an .-,f.z9éc:a%d .
4;' N0 Eeggaé pmireedsiags or Eézégaiiam;
ez'.::f':er pass: 93° §f"tI3S€'2'E§, <?a§'2:;:emi:'zg {gag parf: af' {he S:ia'§ji':"*€'f'§f maéier Qfi'?":e dispuie as _g:>e:zd:7;'zg.
2. The <)c<:urret1<te of excctidernt at: about 9:45 AM. on 31»~OE3-~2002 and the ressuIt.:mt. irguries by the claimamls are not in dispute. Fur'{.}1€r, giaoit in diispute that the Clairriants are e::1ain3.i~:1--;g. czooliéa. doing ioading and unloading Work,-.--T z'I;'h'ey' said accident during t.he*(:»9_urse .(_)f' a'4hei:r"'€;:3pE(>y}kI1er;f_,VV2 "I'he;{'<:f<:>re, on ac:(:0u.r1£', afthé<,i:1j1.,:ri£aS":3.t,;Sf.21i1i§ed in the accident, Ehe {t1aimam'£3_ir;_ t}s:gesé"V-iivjti'appeals filed f.'I:1ei1* respeCt.iv<: Claim pi:-1:i'f.i~:.>§153V'~be:£bré'_ C<3r11mi5ss-floxaer, seeking Lt0n1ij§_€:_:1:3a€ib:;1 . 'E,1::}'i].(I1f£Ef'W the Workm.er1's Cc}131pe1_1-s_eit.i]:;_:1Hwzict. --.f'E":'£«1§: Commissioner. after asseSs1'r1g the oizzli said .d(j*ctig;:.:f1i'cI_11'£';13j;-~ evidence c"v"i;1i1E1bi€ on €116 and ether r<éi«F: V2m€; :n£z:'é%m'§3;1, takizzg into (?0i"}.S§{iEI"atiOE"§ the zzgsii: {§fut.'he CEa;§.:3<ia11t,S, e1v0cat:io'r1 and the year Sf rCNi,{,-:{,':i.&.€3K-1'E'§ "E}i21S':§:3;'§.i{}§i5't3{\E 'bath {he p£:iiii0n:~:« in parézq awzzrgiing E."f4'3i.%S:.').f}"é3}§}:€:3'f"C£§'Ifipt3§1S8.{i{}i1 an§ fas'i.€n§.z1g_§ "£.§:3<--: 1_iab§1i1:,§; 01":
E316: §§2§%:é::T'§2f:"TV'i:<3 $:;7s.,"i.is;%"f5,? thg eazarazréie Beizxgj ;a.gg;gr%{:%;9d E95; 'éiha ssaiiii. 1i>0rE.i0';1 0? 11.3% }Tur:igm€mi zmd aiwaarii, file'-3 :::ppeiE2mE, 6 IFRSEIYEEI" has prz-zsemed these ap'p€<a}s5, seeking; to amide the 1_iabi1.it::.r fast:<-::3£-:d can it by Ehe Cc3111£niss;i{>_n§t:r.
3. We have heard Ieamed cécmxasel for appellant I'nsur€:r and Itzzarned c:0L1nS§:E--»21 ppeafing C}.aimani-.s in both appeais, 4». L/earned coL111»s€1_ a.;:af3:s§.2%.'rir1g;' Er1s_-smrezf, at the 0ut:set sL1bmi'i.s.,1ih:;t4 the Ct31fami1Ssioner is not justified in <:iiV1.)'-e>_éi.:i_r1g;_ the " 'I.:'1$1fir(;r to satisfy the award, for t4hev.re:asQ31w-{T.h,2};t t}1¢"._Cl'a£i'mAéi:f3'ESQ; were travelling as grzituitiéoigs §jas_3s<~:'rigé.'rs in. :-:1-g<;r§'&"be1:*riage vehicie, in gross; v'§Q}Iéa'é:_;>11V 701" t_e1"_ms and conditions of the i:1S:,1_:9}2:;"::::£: Vp(}}i{T§Af'; '§.Ii"A"..i§§1.*&pp(3fi :31' his submission, ha submitéi £116 Ei_IGnf1:';1e Supreme C<>urt, ix}. the ease 0f Nc;§ti0n.al Ingzirfince Company Ltd. Vs. Bommithi . Séiijbiiayamma Adricivothers reported in 2005 ASJ '?2I in ' ,.V'RevJie;;§~3%e:t£':4i.en g'C}NQ.935 of 2993 in s.L.m'€; N¢3.5628 af an 2E5' February Zfiflfi, ims {:§::3&:'§.§.:-' heéci i':§':2u" ire-::i;pe<:E. 53%?' g1'2m;.§§.<}u$ §}&.§ES§§{fE-E'}%§{:jE°$§ E§1$u.:*<>:;" is zzizt. §ia%i<:V_ m satzisfy tin": g.v~:&r{§, but éihéé <:i:r;a§izn23..:":'{.s5 ara entit,1ed €10 recover the same from the <:>wne1' 0f the <:)ff(--:r:ding vehicle, Therefore, he submits the impugn ed 311 dgmem and award L' , by Commissiomzr is liable to be set: aside 0n1§Iv_4i12.VS:;ff;:4r aS"ii:_ re1ai'e3:s to fastfixing iiabiiity on ;»3.,}jpe1'1_e1£1fi'.i11Su;:¢§;f1fl.., f
5. After heariilg f.1'1e.*iearz16:ti._{:t3:,1z1se}'3;;s;§ea'rif:1g' ; appellant Iixsstzrerg We are 0f t}_1»i3 \_/jaw t.E1_2:1i'fthe'£§e is some substance in his VS«L_£bmi.;éSic.n; perusal of the aforessaid decision <>f.~t.171e:"Apexa_CE3i;:1't;'--iifis 21 W61} settled law laid 4dé1}v11}"'V3:>_y :'C€_>LVii'tL""a11ci this Court in series of;iitig;¥I}€:3t.s--.t;ha§.:, liabilfiy cannot. be f'astened on the ifzsuyer -i:1'<<i§_;'a¢s§é:«..__6'i7..g~ramit.o'L1:s pa$S<--::::g€1's, on '$116 greimd '£,h_a1'.-'é,her€'.§,é'«t1feaci2 sf 'terms; and conditioxzs sf galigtjy' f.h:»,2:': °Wif1€iI3. the: 0133191' of 'the Gfiézzdixzg " _V5€%21ic§"§é% ha:7~;_ :30': ggaid ihe requézisd ;31"t3m}.u.n1.. QEl€3Si',§€}Y'}. {if fzfgéfzxs-::*:i.;2g_ A3.§.zé;i3ii§t,y 0:': Ihiff izzstarer 22:163. me i§1S1iE'é3}t' " .s;::€;§&§f'§zi:': ;;§;j €532? award zkkess; :":<>é':, az'i.<;:;=,, "in Efihe Eight 0.? "€§C.'E{': 5;'-;:;1%3n:i5sis>:1 0? 'iihzfii E€23.r::ee:§ AA gtounséi zxppearing for appeliani Inszzrar. and also f;he judgment. of the Horfble Apex Cour': in the gage of National Insurance Co. Ltd. Vs. Subbhayamma and others (2005 AG} twe appeais are liable to be modified? o%_1}y_Vi1it5< o f'5u€'aS''-it ' relates to fast.enin,_<g Eiability on the invs:;fg?£f;..V»VV "
7. Accmdingiyg in Iig£;1'é:...(3f..A and' Ci'i'CLiI1'1Sf;E1{1Cf3S st.ate:d..V.e1bQx-F6; by the insurer are aliowed. ' V V 2 % The and award dated in WCA/NFC 34/ by ihe Labour Officer & C0Iv'}.;i'i'§;i'S9Vi0i:c r Corn pe:1"1sa'fi0r3, K0131', is hezfebgg :1'mVdi.fiéd;' séiiting aside the liabiiity f21st.er1€d on 'V " «*£:}§é,- ':0 satisfy the aavazfih A "Fi::j€.§:»é§fr<,'"' if; is heki i',E2:;s.€. the qiizzixzizazzis frmrein 'am:
€3:E'iiEE£5:' d' 'ti? I"EE{f{}V€:I' "{.§1€;' {7€}:I:p&:n$e2.€.i{;~r1 from: isifiét €}EA--'--"fE€3£' of V ni1:?r:__s3* {; ffen§iiz1g '%.-*'€-E-§"}i{fk';" by :éx€:<::a.1E:%.:2g iihér zzwzzrgéa, if :13: . gilréadjg é-3§{fi{fE§f€fi.