RAMESH KUMAR Vs. NATIONAL INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED

LAWS(SC)-2001-8-93

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

Decided on August 17,2001

ORIENTAL INVESTMENT COMPANY LIMITED,NATIONAL INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED,RAMESH KUMAR,UNITED INDIA INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED,NEW INDIA ASSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED,ORIENTAL INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED,NATIONAL INSURANCE CO. LTD.,KONA NEGESWARA RAO,NEW INDIA ASSURANCE CO.LTD.,NEW INDIA ASSURANCE CO. LTD.,RAMAPPA,BAL SHANTABEN,NEW INDIA ASSURANCE CO.,SATYABAMA,ORIENTAL INSURANCE CO.LTD.,ORIENTAL INSURANCE CO. LTD.,K.E.SUHARA,VIDHA DEVI (DEAD) THRU RAM PRASAD MITTAN Appellant

VERSUS

NATIONAL INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED,ASHA RANI,RAMESH KUMAR,KRISHNI,PAVANKUMAR KESHAVLAL SHAH,SUSHIL KUMAR,ORIENTAL FIRE AND GEN.INS.COMPANY LIMITED,MANJULABEN VIRJI,LALITHA,HATUBEN,DUNDAIAH SHANKARAIAH MATAPATHI,MALLAPPA MAHADEVA WALADA,ELLAPPA,NATIONAL INSURANCE CO.LTD,ZANSUBAI,JADIBEN,OD.PARUBAI CHANNA,OD.BAI PARU KHEMA,RUKHIBEN PACHAJI NAI,AJMAL MAFAJI THAKOR,GANGABEN,RAMESH CHAND,BHAG DEVI,UTTAM NAMDEO PATIL,GANESHLAL NATHUJI CHAUDHARY,A.P.PAPER MILLS,POTUGANTI CHIMMANNAGARI BASAVAMMA,NATIONAL INSURANCE CO. LTD,MEERA BAI,CHAMAN LAL,BHARAMAVVA,K.J.ABRAHAM,LALA,ROSHNI DEVI,SHANTI,SHANTA DEVI,LEHRI,PAGEDALA VENKATA NARASAMMA,LADHU DEVI,BHARATI NASKAR,KRISHAN MONDAL,KHILALI RAM,SITA,BHANWARIDEVI Respondents

JUDGEMENT

- (1.) Leave Granted.
(2.) The aforesaid sets of cases have been classified in three categories, which raises common question about the liability of payment of compensation by the Insurance Company under the Motor Vehicles Act. Category I C.A.No. 5010 of 1999, C.A.No. 5051/1999, C.A.No.623/1997, C.A.No. 40/1986, C.A.No. 5457 of 2001 (arising out of SLP (C) 20312/1997), C.A.No. 5458 of 2001 (arising out of SLP (C) 20313 of 1997), C.A.Nos. 3393-3395 of 1996, C.A.Nos. 10846/10850 of 1996, C.A.No. 5459 of 2001 (arising out of SLP (C) No. 13945 of 2001), C.A.No. 5460 of 2001 (arising out of SLP (C) No. 14855 of 2000), C.A.Nos. 950-957 of 1999, C.A.No. 1090 of 1999, C.A.No. 521 of 1993, C.A.No. 522 of 1993, C.A.No. 523 of 1993, C.A.Nos. 5461-62 of 2001, (arising out of SLP (C) Nos. 15554-15555 of 2000), C.A.No. 1249 of 1999, C.A.No. 1253 of 1999, C.A.No. 1255 of 1999, C.A.No. 1254 of 1999, C.A.No. 1251 of 1999, C.A.No. 1252 of 1999, C.A.No. 5463 of 2001 (arising out of SLP No. 3938 of 1996), C.A.No. 6542 of 1994, C.A.No. 6543 of 1994, C.A.No. 6544 of 1994, and C.A.No. 6545 of 1994. Category II C.A. No. 5385 of 2001 (arising out of SLP(C) No. 9873 of 2000) C.A. No. 16793-16796 of 1996, C.A.229 of 1999, C.A. Nos. 5386-541 of 2001, (arising out of SLP (C)Nos. 4098-4122 of 2001), C.A. Nos. 5411-16 of 2001, (arising out of SLP) (C) Nos. 11427-11432 of 2001), C.A. No. 5417 of 2001 (arising out of SLP (C) Nos. 11760 of 2001), C.A. Nos. 5418-27 of 2001 (arising out of SLP (C) Nos. 10938-10947 of 2000), C.A. No. 4458 of 1999, C.A. No. 5223 of 2000, C.A. No. 5428-32 of 2001 (arising out of SLP (C) Nos. 12889-93 of 2001), C.A. No. 1697 of 1999, C.A. No. Nos. 5433-44 of 2001 (arising out of SLP (C) Nos. 12627-38 of 2000), C.A. No. 6237 of 1997, C.A. Nos. 272-77 of 1999, C.A. Nos. 5445-50 of 2001(arising out of SLP (C) Nos. 8116-22 of 2001), C.A. Nos. 5451-52 of 2001(arising out of SLP (C) Nos. 6956-57 of 2001), C.A. Nos. 5453-56 of 2001 (arising out of SLP (C) Nos. 10419-22 of 2001), and C.A. No. 3843 of 2000. Category lll C.A. No. 5464 of 2001(arising out of SLP (C) Nos. 3408 of 2001), C.A. No. 5465 of 2001 (arising out of SLP (C) Nos. 3409 of 2001), C.A. No. 6577 of 1999, C.A. Nos. 5466-67 of 2001 (arising out of SLP (C) Nos. 8765-66 of 2001), and C.A. Nos. 5468-69 of 2001 (arising out of SLP (C) Nos. 9892-93 of 2001).
(3.) The first category of cases arise out of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1939 (hereinafter referred to as 'Old Act'). The question raised for this category is: "Whether insurance company is liable to pay the compensation on account of the death or bodily injury of the gratuitous passengers including owner or his representative of the goods, travelling in a goods vehicle under Section 95 of the said Act -;

Click here to view full judgement.