Rajesh Vs. Munni Bai Choudhary and ors. - Court Judgment

SooperKanoon Citationsooperkanoon.com/508920
SubjectMotor Vehicles
CourtMadhya Pradesh High Court
Decided OnAug-10-2005
Case NumberM.A. No. 1491 of 2004
JudgeArun Mishra and ;U.C. Maheshwari, JJ.
Reported in2006ACJ321
AppellantRajesh
RespondentMunni Bai Choudhary and ors.
Appellant AdvocateR.K. Tiwari, Adv.
Respondent AdvocateRajroop Patel, Adv.
DispositionAppeal dismissed
Cases ReferredPramod Kumar Agrawal v. Mushtari Begum
Excerpt:
- madhya pradesh municipal corporation act (23 of 1956)section 91 & m.p. municipal corporation act (1956), section 307(5): [a.k. patnaik, c.j., a.m. sapre & s.k.seth, jj] public nuisance - suit for injunction - held, section 91(i) of the c.p.c. is not exhaustive of the remedies that are available to a party even in case of a public nuisance or other wrongful act affecting or likely to affect the public. the remedy of the corporation and any other person under sub-section (5) of section 307 of the act of 1956 is independent of the provisions of section 91 of the c.p.c. and not only the corporation but any other person can apply to the district court for injunction or removal or alteration of a building on the ground that the provisions of the act of 1956 or the bye-laws made thereunder have been contravened. sections 41(j) & 4 & m.p. municipal corporation act (1956), section 307(5): [a.k. patnaik, c.j., a.m. sapre & s.k. seth, jj] relief of injunction held, the reliefs under the specific relief act, 1963 are granted for the purpose of enforcing individual civil rights as will be clear from section 4 of the specific relief act. 1963. accordingly, injunction under part iii of the specific relief act, 1963 is granted to the plaintiff either to prevent a breach of an obligation in favour of the plaintiff, or to compel the performance of an obligation in his favour. unless, therefore, there is an obligation in favour of the plaintiff which needs to be enforced, the court cannot grant injunction. hence, it is provided in section 41(j) of the specific relief act. 1963 that an injunction cannot be granted when the plaintiff has no personal interest in the matter. the provisions of the specific relief act, 1963 do not apply to the right conferred on the corporation and any other person under sub-section (5) of section 307 of m.p. municipal corporation act, 1956. under the provisions of the act of 1956, every building must comply with the provisions of the act of 1956 and the byelaws made thereunder and hence if there is any breach of the provisions of the act of 1956 or the bye-laws made thereunder, sub-section (5) of section 307 of the act of 1956 confers a right not only on the corporation but also any other person to apply to the district court for an injunction for removal or alteration of a building on the ground that there has been the contravention of the provisions of the act of 1956 or the bye-laws made thereunder. this remedy under sub-section (5) of section 307 of the act of 1956 is independent of and different from the remedies under the specific relief act. 1963. section 307(5): [a.k. patnaik, c.j., a.m. sapre & s.k. seth,jj] injunction for removal or alternation of any building-locus standi to claim - held, the word any which has diverse meanings, therefore, has to be interpreted depending on the context and the subject matter of statute in which it is used. there are various other provisions in the act of 1956 and the byelaws made thereunder relating to buildings within the area of the corporation which have to be complied with. legislature has., therefore, to provide for some remedy if the provisions of the act of 1956 or the byelaws thereunder in respect of a building are violated. it is only for this reason that under sub-section (5) of section 307 of the act of 1956, a right has been conferred not only on the corporation but on any other person to apply to the district court for injunction for removal of a building or alteration of any building on the ground that it contravenes any provisions of the act or the byelaws made thereunder. hence, not only the corporation but every other person has been given the right to apply to the district court for injunction for the removal or alteration of any building on the ground that it contravenes any provisions of the act or the byelaws made thereunder. the context and the subject-matter of the statute in which the word any has been used is thus, wide enough to include all persons other than the corporation or every other person other than the corporation or any other person other than the corporation. - it was not clearly stated in the claim petition that fare was paid, at which place fare was paid has not come on the record.arun mishra, j.1. the owner has preferred an appeal aggrieved by an award dated 5.4.2004 passed by the additional motor accidents claims tribunal, umaria in claim case no. 28 of 2003. the learned claims tribunal has awarded compensation of rs. 1,87,000 on account of death of bhola das to the widow and children of the deceased who died in an accident dated 17.4.2003.2. the factum of accident, question of negligence and quantum of compensation has not been assailed in this appeal by the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the appellant. however, he has assailed the compensation and submitted that insurer ought to have been saddled with the responsibility to make the payment of compensation.3. mr. r.k. tiwari, the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the appellant has submitted that vehicle was insured. it was not clearly stated in the claim petition that fare was paid, at which place fare was paid has not come on the record. the claims tribunal has erred in law in relying on the statement of witnesses examined by the claimants. thus, the insurer be saddled with the liability to make the payment of compensation.4. mr. rajroop patel, learned counsel appearing on behalf of insurer, respondent no. 6, has submitted that no case for interference is made out in this case as it has come in the statement of soni lal, cw 2 and shyam lal, cw 3, that fare of rs. 500 was fixed to be paid to the owner. jeep was plied on hire at the time of incident. insurer has rightly been exonerated.5. after going through the statement of soni lal and shyam lal, it is clear that the jeep was on hire at the time of the accident. fare of rs. 500 was fixed. jeep was admittedly insured for private use. it could not have been plied on hire. thus, it is clear that there is violation of terms and conditions of the insurance policy. hence, the insurer cannot be said to be liable. however, the supreme court in pramod kumar agrawal v. mushtari begum, : air2004sc4360 , has held that even if the insurer is not liable in such circumstances, it is open to the claimants to claim the compensation from insurer and insurer will recover from the owner. the apex court has held that:(12) therefore, while upholding the judgment of the high court we direct in terms of what has been stated in baljit kaur's case, : air2004sc1340 , that the insurer shall pay the quantum of compensation fixed by the claims tribunal, about which there was no dispute raised, to respondents-claimants within 3 months from today. for the purpose of recovering the same from the owner the insurer shall not be required to file a suit. it may initiate a proceeding before the concerned executing court as if the dispute between the insurer and the owner was the subject-matter of determination before the tribunal and the issue is decided against the owner and in favour of the insurer. before release of the amount to the claimants, owner of the vehicle, i.e., appellant no. 1 shall furnish security for the entire amount which the insurer will pay to claimants. the offending vehicle shall be attached, as a part of the security. if the necessity arises the executing court shall also take assistance of the concerned regional transport authority. the executing court shall pass appropriate orders in accordance with law as to the manner in which the owner of the vehicle, i.e., appellant no. 1 shall make payment to the insurer. in case there is any default, it shall be open to the executing court to direct realisation by disposal of the securities to be furnished or from any other property or properties of the owner of the vehicle, the insured (the appellant no. 1).6. in view of the aforesaid discussion, it is held that insurer is not liable, however, it would be open to the claimants to recover the compensation from the insurer and the insurer in turn, shall recover the amount from the owner.7. appeal is disposed of. consequently, m.c.c. no. 2162 of 2004 stands disposed of. no costs.
Judgment:

Arun Mishra, J.

1. The owner has preferred an appeal aggrieved by an award dated 5.4.2004 passed by the Additional Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal, Umaria in Claim Case No. 28 of 2003. The learned Claims Tribunal has awarded compensation of Rs. 1,87,000 on account of death of Bhola Das to the widow and children of the deceased who died in an accident dated 17.4.2003.

2. The factum of accident, question of negligence and quantum of compensation has not been assailed in this appeal by the learned Counsel appearing on behalf of the appellant. However, he has assailed the compensation and submitted that insurer ought to have been saddled with the responsibility to make the payment of compensation.

3. Mr. R.K. Tiwari, the learned Counsel appearing on behalf of the appellant has submitted that vehicle was insured. It was not clearly stated in the claim petition that fare was paid, at which place fare was paid has not come on the record. The Claims Tribunal has erred in law in relying on the statement of witnesses examined by the claimants. Thus, the insurer be saddled with the liability to make the payment of compensation.

4. Mr. Rajroop Patel, learned Counsel appearing on behalf of insurer, respondent No. 6, has submitted that no case for interference is made out in this case as it has come in the statement of Soni Lal, CW 2 and Shyam Lal, CW 3, that fare of Rs. 500 was fixed to be paid to the owner. Jeep was plied on hire at the time of incident. Insurer has rightly been exonerated.

5. After going through the statement of Soni Lal and Shyam Lal, it is clear that the jeep was on hire at the time of the accident. Fare of Rs. 500 was fixed. Jeep was admittedly insured for private use. It could not have been plied on hire. Thus, it is clear that there is violation of terms and conditions of the insurance policy. Hence, the insurer cannot be said to be liable. However, the Supreme Court in Pramod Kumar Agrawal v. Mushtari Begum, : AIR2004SC4360 , has held that even if the insurer is not liable in such circumstances, it is open to the claimants to claim the compensation from insurer and insurer will recover from the owner. The Apex Court has held that:

(12) Therefore, while upholding the judgment of the High Court we direct in terms of what has been stated in Baljit Kaur's case, : AIR2004SC1340 , that the insurer shall pay the quantum of compensation fixed by the Claims Tribunal, about which there was no dispute raised, to respondents-claimants within 3 months from today. For the purpose of recovering the same from the owner the insurer shall not be required to file a suit. It may initiate a proceeding before the concerned executing court as if the dispute between the insurer and the owner was the subject-matter of determination before the Tribunal and the issue is decided against the owner and in favour of the insurer. Before release of the amount to the claimants, owner of the vehicle, i.e., appellant No. 1 shall furnish security for the entire amount which the insurer will pay to claimants. The offending vehicle shall be attached, as a part of the security. If the necessity arises the executing court shall also take assistance of the concerned Regional Transport Authority. The executing court shall pass appropriate orders in accordance with law as to the manner in which the owner of the vehicle, i.e., appellant No. 1 shall make payment to the insurer. In case there is any default, it shall be open to the executing court to direct realisation by disposal of the securities to be furnished or from any other property or properties of the owner of the vehicle, the insured (the appellant No. 1).

6. In view of the aforesaid discussion, it is held that insurer is not liable, however, it would be open to the claimants to recover the compensation from the insurer and the insurer in turn, shall recover the amount from the owner.

7. Appeal is disposed of. Consequently, M.C.C. No. 2162 of 2004 stands disposed of. No costs.