Rajes Kumar, J. - (1.) HEARD Sri Pranjal Mehrotra, learned counsel for the appellant. The appellant is insurer of Tempo, bearing registration No. U.P.17T -1595, which was involved in an accident occurred on 2.4.2011. On the date of accident when claimant -afjal was travelling in the Tempo he suffered injuries. The Tribunal by the impugned order awarded compensation at Rs. 26,125.
(2.) THE sole submission of learned counsel for the appellant is that the driver of the tempo possessed the licence of Motorcycle and Light Motor Vehicle. The vehicle, in question, was used for carriage of passengers for hire or reward and, thus, was a public service vehicle in view of Section 2(35) of the Motor Vehicles Act (hereinafter referred to as the "Act") and as such the same was a "transport vehicle" under Section 2(47) of the Act. Thus, the licence for the "transport vehicle" was necessary or even there should be an endorsement in the driving licence in this regard, but in the absence of any licence for transport vehicle or any endorsement in driving licence, there was a breach of policy under Section 149(2) of the Act and, thus, the insurance company is not liable. I do not find substance in the argument of learned counsel for the appellant.
(3.) SECTION 2(21) of the Motor Vehicles Act defines "light motor vehicle", which means a transport vehicle or omnibus the gross vehicle weight of either of which or a motor car or tractor or road -roller the unladen weight of any of which, does not exceed 7500 kilograms. As per the definition of the light motor vehicle, referred hereinabove, it includes a transport vehicle also. Light motor vehicle continued to cover both "light passenger carriage vehicle and light goods carriage vehicle. Therefore, if the driver possessed the licence of light motor vehicle he was eligible and competent to drive the light passengers carriage vehicle as well as light goods carriage vehicle of a weight not exceeding 7500 kilograms. In the present case, Tempo was involved in the accident. Tempo is a light passenger carriage vehicle. It is not the case of the insurance company that the weight of Tempo was more than 7500 kilograms. Thus, in my view, the driver, who possessed the licence to drive the light motor vehicle was competent and eligible to drive the Tempo.;