Civil Appeal No. 5082 of 2009 (Arising out of SLP (C) No. 3372 of 2007) and Civil Appeal No. 5083 of 2009 (Arising out of SLP (C) No. 4176 of 2007). Case: 1. New India Assurance Co. Ltd., 2. United India Insurance Co. Ltd. Vs 1. Kusum and Ors., 2. Darshan Singh and Ors.. Supreme Court (India)

Case NumberCivil Appeal No. 5082 of 2009 (Arising out of SLP (C) No. 3372 of 2007) and Civil Appeal No. 5083 of 2009 (Arising out of SLP (C) No. 4176 of 2007)
JudgesS.B. Sinha and Deepak Verma, JJ.
IssueMotor Vehicles Act, 1988 - Section 168; Constitution of India - Articles 136, 142 and 227
Citation2006 ACJ 2655 , JT 2009 (12) SC 504 , 2010 (1) MahLj 889 , (2009) 8 SCC 377
Judgement DateAugust 04, 2009
CourtSupreme Court (India)

Judgment:

S.B. Sinha, J.

1. Leave granted.

2. These appeals involving common questions of law and fact were taken up for hearing together and are being disposed of by this common judgment.

3. We would, however, notice the fact of the matter from CA @ Special Leave Petition (C) No. 3372 of 2007.

On or about 14.7.1999, respondent No. 3 was traveling in a bus bearing Registration No. PB-23-0189 which met with an accident as a result of which the deceased, Sanjay Kumar, got injured and while being taken to the hospital, he succumbed thereto. The said bus was owned by New Patiala Bus Service (Regd.) Sirhind, the respondent No. 4 herein.

Legal representatives of the deceased filed a claim petition before the Motor Accidents Claim Tribunal which by its order dated 4.12.2001 awarded a sum of Rs. 2,68,800 by way of compensation. The learned Tribunal held that the driver of the bus had not been possessing a valid driving licence. The primary liability to pay the said amount was held to be that of respondent No. 3 and 4, the driver and owner of the bus. The appellant was directed to deposit the amount directing that the company may recover the same from respondent Nos. 3 and 4. Pursuant to the said observations, the appellant company made payments to the claimants on or about 15.3.2002 by depositing a sum of Rs. 3,03,552/- by cheque.

4. On or about 8.5.2002 in terms of the order of the Tribunal, an Execution Petition was filed, stating:

11. That in the claim petition No. 82-T/99/26.9.2000 titled as Kusum widown of Sanjay Kumar and Ors. v. Raghbir Singh alias Prince and Ors., the Hon'ble Court was pleased to allow the claim petition partly on 4.12.2001 that the claimants are held entitled to Rs. 2,68,800/- as compensation to be shared equally by them.. The claimants are also entitled to interest at the rate of 9 per cent per annum from the date of claim application till its actual realization. Though the primary liability to pay the amount of compensation is that of respondent No. 1 and 2 jointly and severally, however, it will also be open to the Claimants to recover the same from Respondent No. 3 Insurance Company. As already held above, the insurance company would be at liberty to recover the same from Respondent No. 1 and 2 in terms already mentioned in the preceding paragraphs.

12. That as per the directions of this Hon'ble Court, the DH/Applicant. Insurance Company has deposited Rs. 3,03,552/- in the Hon'ble Court on 30.3.2002 and DRO of this amount has also been issued by this Hon'ble Court.

13. That as per the terms and conditions of the award, the DH/Applicant is entitled to recover the deposited amount of Rs. 3,03,552/- along with 9% interest on the deposited amount from 31.3.2002 onwards.

14. That the JDs/Respondents have not paid even single...

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