- (1.)THIS is a revision application by the Jupiter General Insurance Co. Ltd. , defendant No. 3 against an order of the Senior Civil Judge No. I, Jaipur City, refusing to allow it to defend the suit in the name of Shri Beharilal defendant No. 1.
(2.)THE 10 year-old-son of the plaintiff was run over by a truck belonging to beharilal and was killed on the spot on 14-7-59. The present suit for the recovery of damages was filed on 13-7-60 against Beharilal, the owner of the truck. Lallu, driver of the truck, the Jupiter General Insurance Co. , the Insurer of the truck, and m/s. Prakash and Co. the financier who advanced money for the purchase of the truck. The Insurer and the financier filed separate written statements on 30-5-61. Shri J. K. Gupta who appeared on behalf of defendant No. 3 also filed a power on behalf of Beharilal defendant No. 1. But no written statement was filed on his behalf. On 18-8-61 the Insurer filed an application to the court for permission to defend the suit on behalf of and in the name of defendant No. 1 No order was passed on this application. On 21-9-61 it was mentioned in the order-sheet that the suit was proceeding ex parte against defendant No. 1. The plaintiffs closed their evidence on 1-5-62, and 4-8-62 was fixed for the evidence of defendants nos. 3 and 4. As no order had been passed on the application of defendant No. 3 dated 18-8-61 another application to the same effect was moved on 3-7-62. The learned Senior Civil Judge did not pass any order on this application either. The Insurer thereupon sent for the Insured and got him to apply for the setting aside of the ex parte order on 30-7-62. This application was allowed by the learned Senior Civil Judge on 24-10-62. But the order was set aside in revision by this Court as no sufficient ground for non-appearance of defendant No. 1 was made out. Beharilal admittedly left for Nepal without giving any instructions to shri J. K, Gupta because he knew that the damages would only be recovered from the Insurer. The insurance policy is for Rs. 20,000/- but a sum of Rs. 30,000/- has been claimed as damages and if any sum above Rs. 20,000/-is decreed the insured would be personally liable to pay it.
(3.)THE contention on behalf of the Insurer is that the Insured was negligent in defending the suit and it should be allowed to defend it in the name of the Insured as it is bound to meet the liability under the decree to the extent of Rs. 20,000/ -. Reliance is placed on the decision in Vimlabai v. General Assurance Society Ltd. , air 1955 Bom 278 and Royal Insurance Co. v. Abdul Mahomed. AIR 1955 Bom 39.
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