State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission
Vima Niyamak Shree vs Chauhan Kastueben Shamjibhai on 11 March, 2022
S[; NFB, TFZLBo (v!vZ_Z_ S[; O[;, TFZLBo !!v#vZ_ZZ S[; lGSF,GF lNJ;M o Z JQF" Z DF; # lNJ;
U|FCS TSZFZ lGJFZ6 SlDXG4 U]HZFT ZFHI4 VDNFJFNP SM8" G\P 5 V5L, G\P $!$qZ_Z_ lJJFNL o JLDF lGIFDSzL4 JLDF lGIFDSzLGL SR[ZL4 H]GF ;lRJF,I4 UF\WLGUZP lJZ]wW
5|lTlJJFNL o s!f RF{CF6 S:T]ZA[G XFDHLEF.4 D]P RF\NLU-4 TFP S[XMN4 HLP H]GFU-P sZf ;ZSFZL zD VlWSFZLzLsB[Tf4 ;ZNFZ AFU4 HL<,F pnMU S[gN= 5F;[4 HLP H]GFU-P s#f ;eI;lRJzL4 U|FD zD VFI]STzL4 U]HZFT U|FD zDIMUL S<IF6 AM0"4 a,MS G\P &q#4 0MP HLJZFH DC[TF ;\S],4 UF\WLGUZP SMZD o zLDTL pQFFA[G 5LP HFGL4 5|L;F.0L\U D[dAZ V[0JMS[8; o lJJFNL TZO[ o lJwJFG JSL, zLP AL5LG SFS0LIF
5|lTlJJFNL G\PZq# TZO[ o lJwJFG JSL, zLP JLP ALP 58[, BORICHA APPEAL NO. 414/2020 Page 1 of 7 C]SD o zLDTL pQFFA[G 5LP HFGL4 l5|;F.0L\U D[dAZ wJFZF R]SFNM !P CF,GF lJJFNL v D]/ ;FDFJF/F G\P ! GFV[ lJwJFG H]GFU- HL<,F U|FCS TSZFZ lGJFZ6 OMZD[4 OMZD S[; G\P ()qZ_!)4 GF SFD[ SZJFDF\ VFJ[, TFP )v!_vZ_!) GF C]SDYL GFZFH Y. CF,GL VF V5L, VT|[GF SlDXGDF\ NFB, SZ[, K[P ZP CF,GF lJJFNL D]/ OZLIFNGF ;FDFJF/F G\P ! K[ VG[ CF,GF 5|lTlJJFNL G\P !4 Z VG[ # D]/ OZLIFNDF\ VG]S|D[ OZLIFNL VG[ ;FDFJF/F G\P # VG[ Z K[P T[YL ;Z/TF BFTZ lJwJFG OMZD[ OZLIFNGF SFD[ 51FSFZMG[ H[ ZLT[ ;\AMW[, K[4 T[ ZLT[ lJJFNGF SFD[ ;\AMWJFDF\ VFJ[, K[P #P VZNFZGL VZHLGL 8\]SDF\ CSLST V[JL K[ S[4 U]HZFT ;ZSFZzL wJFZF V;\U9LT SFDNFZG[ VS:DFT D'tI] ;AA4 U]HZFT ZFHI ;FD]CLS H]Y sHGTFf VS:DFT JLDF IMHGF VD,DF\ CMI4 T[JF SFDNFZG\] VFSl:DS DZ6 YTF\ ;FDFJF/F G\P ! wJFZF T[GF JFZ;NFZMG[ Z]FP !4__4___qv J/TZ R]SJJFGL HMUJF. K[P OZLIFNLGF 5lT XFDHLEF.G\] TFP 5v&vZ_!& GF ZMH JFCG VS:DFTDF\ DZ6 YI[, K[P ;FDFJF/F G\P ! GFG[ lJWLJT S,[.D SZ[, CMJF KTF\ J/TZ R]SJFJDF\ VFJ[, GYLP T[DH S,[.D D\H]Z S[ GFD\H]Z G SZTF\ 5[g0L\U ZFB[, K[P T[YL OZLIFNLV[ lJwJFG U|FCS OMZD ;D1F OZLIFN NFB, SZL ;FDFJF/F G\P !4 Z]FP !4__4___qv G\] J/TZ 5}6" J;],FT ;]WL !Z 8SF jIFH ;FY[ VG[ OZLIFNGM BR" R]SJL VF5[ T[JL NFN VF5JF lJG\TL SZ[, K[P $P ;FDFJF/FVMG[ GM8L; AHTF\ T[VMV[ H6FJ[, K[ S[4 ;FDFJF/F G\P ! G[ GM8L; AHTF\ T[VMV[ ,[BLT HJFA ZH] SZL H6FJ[, K[ S[4 U]HZGFZ VS:DFT BORICHA APPEAL NO. 414/2020 Page 2 of 7 ;DI[ DM8Z ;FIS, R,FJTF CTF VG[ T[ DF8[ J[,L0 VG[ .O[S8LJ 0=F.JLU ,FI;g; WZFJTF CMJF HM.V[P OZLIFNL 5F;[ D'TSG\] 0F=.JL\U ,FI;g; D\UFJ[,4 H[ T[VMV[ ZH] SZ[, GYL4 H[YL S,[.D GFD\H]Z SZ[, K[ VG[ ;[JFDF\ SM. BFDL G CMI4 OZLIFN ZN SZJF H6FJ[, K[P ;FDFJF/F G\P Z VG[ # GFV[ ,[BLT HJFA VF5L H6FJ[, K[ S[4 T[VMV[ lGIT ;DIDIF"NFD\F ;FDFJF/F G\P ! G[ OZLIFNLGM S[; DMS,L VF5[, VG[ 5MTFG[ SZJFGL YTL SFI"JFCL 5}6" SZ[, K[P J/TZ R]SJJFGL HJFANFZL ;FDFJF/F G\P # GL K[P 5P A\G[ 51FSFZMGL N,L,M ,1FDF\ ,. lJwJFG OMZD[ OZLIFNLGL OZLIFN D\H]Z SZL ;FDFJF/F G\P ! GFV[ J/TZGL ZSD Z]FP !4__4___qv TFP !*v&vZ_!) YL J;], YTF\ ;]WL ) 8SF jIFH ;lCT TYF BR" 5[8[ Z]FP #4___qv OZLIFNLG[ R]SJL VF5JFGM C]SD SZ[,P H[ C]SDYL GFZFH Y. D]/ ;FDFJF/F G\P ! GFV[ CF,GL lJJFN VZH SZ[, K[P &P VF V5L,GF SFD[ lJJFNL TZO[ lJwJFG JSL, zLP AL5LG SFS0LIFG[ lJUT[ ;F\E?IFP T[VMV[ N,L, SZTF\ H6FJ[, K[ S[4 U]HZGFZ 5F;[ VS:DFT ;DI[ J[,L0 VG[ .O[S8LJ ,FIg; G CT\]P T[YL JLDF lGIFDSzLV[ 9ZFJGF D]N'F G\P * D]HA VG[ JLDF 5M,L;LGL XZTM D]HA U]HZGFZ 5F;[ J[,L0 VG[ .O[S8LJ ,FI;g; G CMJFGF SFZ6M;Z S,[.D GFD\H]Z SZ[, K[4 T[ jIFHAL VG[ IMuI K[ VG[ T[ CSLST lJwJFG OMZD[ ,1FDF\ G ,. R]SFNM VF5JFDF\ DCtJGL E], SZ[, CMI4 T[DGL VF V5L, D\H]Z SZL lJwJFG OMZDGM R]SFNM ZN SZJF lJG\TL SZL K[P BORICHA APPEAL NO. 414/2020 Page 3 of 7 lJJFNLGF lJwJFG JSL,zLV[ VF V5L,GF SFD[ VT|[GF :8[8 SDLXG[ V5L, G\P Z&5qZ_!( GM R]SFNM ZH] SZL T[GF p5Z VFWFZ ZFB[, K[P VDMV[ ;NZ V5L,GM R]SFNF J\RF6[ ,LW[, K[P ;NZC] R]SFNFGL CSLSTM HMTF\ T[ R]SFNM CFY p5ZGF S[;DF\ ,FU\] 50TM GYLP *P 5|lTlJJFNL G\P ! TZO[ SM. CFHZ ZC[, GYLP HIFZ[ 5|lTlJJFNL G\P Z VG[ # TZO[ lJwJFG JSL, zLP JLP ALP 58[,G[ ;F\E?IFP T[VMGF H6FjIF D]HA T[VMV[ lGIT ;DIDIF"NFD\F lJJFNL G\P ! v D]/ ;FDFJF/F G\P # G[ S[; DMS,L VF5[, VG[ S,[.D R]SJJFGL VFBZL ;tTF ;FDFJF/F G\P # GL K[P (P VDMV[ lJwJFG OMZDGM R]SFNM J\RF6[ ,LWMP VF SFD[ ZH] YI[, N:TFJ[HL 5]ZFJF ,1FDF\ ,[TF\ V[ CSLST lGlJ"JFN K[ S[4 OZLIFNLGF 5lT XFDHLEF.G\] VJ;FG JFCG VS:DFTYL YI[, K[ V[G U]HZGFZG\] VS:DFT ;DIG\] J[,L0 VG[ .O[S8LJ 0=F.JL\U ,FI;g; ZH] SZ[, GYLP CF,GF lJJFNLV[ 56 VS:DFT ;DI[ U]HZGFZ 5F;[ J[,L0 VG[ .O[S8LJ ,FI;g; G CMI S,[.D GSFZ[, K[P CJ[ VS:DFT DMT ZHL:8ZGL OZLIFN wIFG[ ,[TF\ ;FD[YL VFJTF VHF^IF JFCG RF,S[ 5MTFGF CJF,FJF/\] JFCG XFDHLEF.GF DM8Z;FIS, ;FY[ E8SF0TF\4 XFDHLEF. ;FZJFZ NZdIFG DZ6 UI[, K[P T[ CSLST wIFG[ ,[TF\ VS:DFT ;DI[ U]HZGFZGL A[NZSFZL VG[ lGQSF/HL CTL GCL VG[ VS:DFT U]HZGFZG[ SFZ6[ YI[,M GYLP 5Z\T]4 ;FDFJF/F JFCG RF,SGL A[NZSFZLG[ SFZ6[ VS:DFT YI[, CMJFYL OZLIFNLGF U]HZGFZ 5lTGL SM. A[NZSFZL G CMI VS:DFT ;DI[ T[GL 5F;[ .O[S8LJ VG[ J[,L0 ,FI;g; CT\] S[ S[Dm T[ 5|xG GSSL SZJFGM ZC[TM GYLP V[OPVF.PVFZP wIFG[ ,[TF\ GLR[ D]HA H6FI K[P BORICHA APPEAL NO. 414/2020 Page 4 of 7 ccVF SFDGF DZ6 HGFZ XFDHLEF. GZXLEF. RF{CF64 Z[P RF\NLU-JF/F 5MTFG\] DM8Z;FIS, AHFH 8[,LAZ G\P HLH[v&vV[DJLv* G\] ,.G[ HTF CTF tIFZ[ SM. VHF^IF JFCG RF,S[ 5MTFG\] JFCG 5]Zh05[ VG[ A[OLSZF. UO,TEZL ZLT[ R,FJL DZ6 HGFZG[ C0O[8[ ,. DMT GL5HFJL GFXL H. U]gCM SIF" AFATPcc )P GFDNFZ ;]l5|D SM8"GF AIR 2016 SUPREME COURT 315 LAXMI CHAND V. RELIANCE GENERAL INSURANCE GF R]SFNFDF\ GFDNFZ ;]l5|D SM8"[ 5[ZFv!( DF\ GLR[ D]HA 9ZFJ[, K[P "18. It becomes very Clear from a perusal of the above mentioned case law of this Court that the insurance company, in order to avoid liability must not only establish the defence claimed in the proceeding concerned, but also establish breach on the part of the owner/insured of the vehicle for which the burden of proof would rest with the insurance company. In the instant case, the respondent-Company has not produced any evidence on record to prove that the accident occurred on account of the overloading of passengers in the goods carrying vehicle. Further, as has been held in the case of B.V.Nagaraju (AIR 1996 SC 2054) (supra) that the insurer to avoid his liability, the breach of the policy must be so fundamental in nature that it brings the contract to an end. In the instant case, it is undisputed that the accident was infact caused on account of the rash and negligent driving of the offending vehicle by its driver, against whom a criminal case vide FIR No.66 of 2010 was registered for the offences referred to supra under the provisions of the IPC. These facts have not been taken into consideration by either the State Commission or National Commission while exercising their jurisdiction and setting aside the order of the District Forum. Therefore, the judgment and order of the National Commission dated 26.04.2013 passed in the Revision Petition No.2032 of 2012 is liable to be set aside, as the said findings recorded in the judgment are erroneous in law."
!_P JW]DF\ VT|[GF :8[8 SDLXGGL ,FH"Z A[gR[ V5L, G\P *!5qZ_!* VG[ V5L, G\P &_!qZ_!& DF\ VF5[,F R]SFNFGL CSLSTM wIFG[ ,[TF\ CFY p5ZGF S[;DF\ ,FU\] 50[ K[ VG[ T[ R]SFNF VDMG[ A\WGSTF" K[P BORICHA APPEAL NO. 414/2020 Page 5 of 7 !!P CFY p5ZGF S[;GL CSLSTM p5ZMST GFDNFZ ;]l5|D SM8"GF R]SFNFGF 5lZ5|[1IDF\ HM.V[ TM OZLIFNLGF U]HZGFZ 5]T|GL A[NZSFZLYL VF VS:DFT YI[,M GYL VG[ T[ ;\HMUMDF\ ;]l5|D SM8"GF R]SFNFDF\ 5|:YFl5T YI[, l;wWF\T D]HA JLDF lGIFDSzL V[ CSLST ;FALT SZJFD\F lGQO/ UI[, K[ S[4 VS:DFT OZLIFNLGF U]HZGFZ 5lTGL A[NZSFZLYL AG[,M K[ VG[ H[YL 5M,L;LGL D]/E]T XZTMGM SM. E\U YTM GYLP J/L4 VT|[GF :8[8 SDLXGGL ,FH"Z A[gR[ VF5[, p5ZMST A\G[ R]SFNF 56 VDMG[ A\WGSTF" K[P VF ;\HMUMDF\ VDFZF D\TjI D]HA lJwJFG OMZDGM R]SFNM IMuI4 SFIN[;Z VG[ IYFY" H6FI K[4 H[YL GLR[ D]HA VFBZL C]SD SZJFD\F VFJ[ K[P C]SD s!f lJJFNLGL lJJFN VZH GFD\H]Z SZJFDF\ VFJ[ K[P sZf lJwJFG H]GFU- HL<,F U|FCS TSZFZ lGJFZ6 OMZD[4 OMZD S[; G\P ()qZ_!)4 GF SFD[ SZJFDF\ VFJ[, TFP )v!_vZ_!) GF ZMHGM C]SD IYFJT ZFBJFDF\ VFJ[ K[P s#f BR" V\U[ SM. C]SD SZJFDF\ VFJTM GYLP s$f VT|[GL ZHL:8=LG[ VFYL VFN[X VF5JFD\F VFJ[ K[ S[4 lJJFNGF SFD[ lJJFNLV[ ;LPV[DPV[P G\P !(qZ_Z_ TYF ;NZ lJJFNDF\ VT|[ SlDXGDF\ HDF SZFJ[, ZSDGL IMuI RSF;6L VG[ BZF. SZL VG[ T[GL p5Z H[ SM. jIFH ;CLTGL ZSDGM lJJFNLGF GFDGM V[SFpg8 5[. R[S AGFJL lJJFNLG[ VF5JF ;FZ\] lJJFNLGF lJwJFG JSL,zLG[ VF5JM VG[ ;NZ R[S D?IF AN,GL 5FSL 5CM\R lJJFNL 5F;[YL D[/JL ,[JLP BORICHA APPEAL NO. 414/2020 Page 6 of 7 s5f ZHL:8=LG[ V[JL 56 ;}RGF VF5JFD\F VFJ[ K[ S[4 HL<,F SDLXG H]GFU-G[ VF C]SDGL GS, 5LP 0LP V[OP OMD"[8DF\ .vD[.,YL HZ]ZL SFI"JFCL SZJF DF8[ DMS,L VF5XMP VF R]SFNFGL V[S GS, 51FSFZMG[ lJGF D]<I[ DMS,L VF5JLP VFH TFZLBo !! DFR"4 Z_ZZ GF ZMH C]SD HFC[Z SIM"P szLDTL pQFFA[G 5LP HFGLf
5|L;F.0L\U D[dAZ BORICHA APPEAL NO. 414/2020 Page 7 of 7