New India Assurance Co. Ltd @APPELLANT@Hash Vibha Kumari

Heard learned counsel for the appellant and learned counsel for the respondent nos. 1 to 3 and 5 on this Miscellaneous Appeal.

This miscellaneous appeal has been preferred against the judgment dated 14.06.2007 and award dated 22.06.2007 passed by learned Additional

District Judge-Fast Track Court-III-cum-Motor Vehicle Accident Claim Tribunal, Darbhanga in Claim Case no. 36 of 1997 whereby the learned

Tribunal allowing the claim petition filed by the claimants, directed the O.P. no. 3 The New India Assurance Company Limited to pay compensation to

the tune of Rs. 7, 75,000/- along with interest @ 9% per annum from the date of filing of the claim case till its realization to the claimants.

Factual matrix of the case is that Claim Case no. 36 of 1997 was filed by the claimants under Section 166 of the M.V. Act for awarding

compensation to the tune of Rs. 8,72,500/- on account of death of Shashi Mohan Thakur in motor vehicle accident with the case in succinct that on

30.08.1997, Shashi Mohan Thakur was proceeding to the house of his father-in-law on rickshaw, and as soon as he arrived between Baria and Zero

Mile, a passenger bus bearing registration no. B.R.06P-0707 being driven rashly and negligently by its driver dashed the rickshaw from the rear side

inflicting serious injury to the deceased, resultantly he died on the spot. The aforesaid accident took place due to rash and negligent driving of the

offending vehicle by its driver at the relevant time of accident. Regarding the aforesaid accident, Ahiyapur P.S. Case no. 173 of 1997 was lodged. The

deceased was Manager in the Super Natural Satellite Network and was getting salary of Rs. 6000/- per month from the said vocation.

O.P. nos. 1 and 3 put their appearance in the case filed separate written statement. Both parties, adduced ocular as well as documentary evidence

in buttress of their case.

After hearing the parties and perusing the record, learned Tribunal passed the impugned judgment and award as detailed in the earlier paragraph.

Being aggrieved and dissatisfied with the aforesaid judgment and award, the New India Assurance Co. Ltd. has preferred the present appeal.

It is submitted by learned counsel for the appellant that the driver of the offending vehicle, namely, Deep Lal Sah was not having valid driving

licence at the time of accident as the driving licence no. 1717/75 filed by the claimants was got verified by the appellant, and on verification, it was

found to be forged and fake and D.T.O, Patna vide its letter dated 24.02.2000 Ext-B has reported that no such driving licence has been issued by this

office in the name of Deep Lal Sah. As the driver of the offending vehicle was not having valid driving licence at the time of accident, hence, there is

utter violation of terms and condition of policy, so the appellant is not liable to pay any compensation to the claimants indemnifying the owner of the

offending vehicle.

On the other hand, learned counsel for the respondents submitted that the driver of the offending vehicle was Deep Lal Sah S/o Jagarnath Sah and

was having valid driving licence bearing no. 835/94 issued by D.T.O. Sitamarhi and not the driving licence bearing no. 1717/75. The appellant has not

got verified the aforesaid driving licence rather alleged driving licence bearing no. 1717/75 which is actually not driving licence number rather it is

token number and the aforesaid verification report, furnished by the surveyor of the appellant is irrelevant. It is further submitted that the claimants

had not furnished the driving licence in the case, so from where the appellant got the aforesaid driving licence number which was verified by it.

Learned counsel for the respondent no. 5 has filed the photocopy of the driving licence. On perusal of the aforesaid photocopy of the driving

licence, it appears that the driver of the offending vehicle is Deep Lal Sah S/o Jagarnath Sah and driving licence bearing no. 835 of 1994 was issued in

his favour by D.T.O. Sitamarhi while 1717/75 is some other number given in the earlier column of the said driving licence. Said driving licence was

issued by the D.T.O. Sitamarhi on 01.12.1994 while the accident is of 30.08.1997 i.e. it was issued preceding to the date of accident and moreover

from perusal of record, it appears that the claimants has not filed any driving licence in the case. The appellant appears to have got verified the

aforesaid number as adverted in the earlier column of the driving licence number from the D.T.O. Patna and not the actual driving licence bearing no.

835/94 from D.T.O. Sitamarhi. Hence, the aforesaid verification report filed by the appellant appears to be irrelevant. Thus, from perusal of

documents and record, it appears that the driver of the offending vehicle was having valid driving licence at the time of accident. Hence, the appellant

is not absolved from the liability of the payment of compensation indemnifying the owner of the offending vehicle.

In the facts and circumstances of the case, the aforesaid judgment and award passed by the learned Tribunal does not warrant any interference

by this Court and is upheld. Accordingly, this miscellaneous appeal is dismissed.

Let the statutory amount deposited by the appellant be sent down in the court below in the name of claimant no. 1 for its adjustment towards

payment of compensation.