IN THE COURT OF MEMBER MOTOR ACCIDENT CLAIM TRIBUNAL, NAGAON (ASSAM) M.A.C. Case No.454/09

Transcription

1 IN THE COURT OF MEMBER MOTOR ACCIDENT CLAIM TRIBUNAL, NAGAON (ASSAM) M.A.C. Case No.454/09 Sri Ina Bordoloi : Claimant. -Vs- (1) Md. Abdul Karim and (2) Bajaj Allianz General Ins. Co. Ltd., : Opp. Parties. Present: Smti Selina Begum, Member M.A.C.T., Nagaon. Advocate for the claimant : Mr.H.I.Bhuyan. Advocate for the Ins. Co. : Mr. G.Bhattacharjee. Date of evidence : & Date of argument : & Date of Judgment : J U D G M E N T The present claim case has arisen out of a claim petition filed U/S 166 of the M.V.Act by one Sri Ina Bordoloi for the injuries sustained by him in a motor vehicle accident. The case of the claimant in a nut shell is that on the fateful day of accident i.e., on at about 9.30 a.m., while the claimant was travelling in the vehicle bearing registration no.as-02/e-2193 (auto rickshaw) which was going from Nagaon side towards Juria in a rash and negligent manner and when the said vehicle reached at Silongoni it met with an accident. As the result of the accident the claimant sustained grievous multiple injuries and fracture of left forum, chest

2 and other parts of the body and immediately after the accident the claimant was bought to B.P. Civil Hospital, Nagaon. The accident took place due to rash and negligent driving of the driver of the offending vehicle bearing registration no.as- 02/E-2193 (auto rickshaw). On receipt of the notice from the tribunal, the Bajaj Allianz General Ins. Co. Ltd. contested the case by filing W/S denying the whole fact of accident as alleged. The insurance company also denied receipt of any injury by the claimant. Rash and negligent driving on the part of the driver is also denied. The insurance company denied the age, income, occupation of the injured as alleged in the claim petition. It is submitted that the driver of the vehicle had no authorised valid driving licence at the relevant time of accident and hence the company is not liable to indemnify the owner. None has appeared on behalf of the O.P. the owner of the vehicle to contest the case hence, the case proceeded ex-parte against the owner of the vehicle. The following issues are framed for decision:- 1. Is there any cause of action for filing the claim petition? 2. Whether claim petition is maintainable? 3. Whether the accident occurred due to rash and negligent driving of the driver of vehicle no.as-02/e-2193 (auto rickshaw)? 4. Whether the claimant is entitled to receive compensation and if so to what extent and who is liable to pay the same? 5. To what relief/reliefs are the parties entitled? DECISION AND REASONS THEREOF Issue No 1 & 2 The claimant has filed this claim U/S 166 of the M.V.Act. In the claim petition the claimant impleaded the owner and also the insurer of the offending vehicle as party to the suit. The driver of the vehicle should have been impleaded but failure to implead the driver would not affect the claim case. The evidence of the claimant is that the incident occurred due to rash and negligent driving of the

3 driver of the vehicle no. AS-02/E-2193 (auto rickshaw). As accident is alleged to have occurred due to reckless and negligent driving of the driver of the vehicle no. AS-02/E-2193 (auto rickshaw) and as the owner and insurer of the vehicle have been impleaded by the claimant, so as per my opinion the claim petition is maintainable. Accordingly, it is decided that claim petition is maintainable and there is cause of action for filing the claim petition. These issues are decided accordingly in favour of the claimant. Issue No.3 The claimant adduced evidence in support of his claim petition as P.W.1. He disclosed during his testimony that on the fateful day of accident i.e., on at about 9.30 a.m., while he was travelling in the vehicle bearing registration no.as-02/e-2193 (auto rickshaw) which was going from Nagaon side towards Juria in a rash and negligent manner and when the said vehicle reached at Silongoni it me with an accident. He disclosed that as the result of the accident he sustained grievous injuries on his person and immediately after the accident he was brought to B.P. Civil Hospital, Nagaon for treatment. He disclosed that the accident took place due to rash and negligent driving of the driver of the offending vehicle bearing registration no.as-02/e-2193 (auto rickshaw). He has submitted the documents from Ext.2 to Ext.7 as the medical documents relating to his treatment. Defence though cross-examined this witness thoroughly yet could not assail his evidence regarding rash and negligent driving of the driver of the offending vehicle for whose fault the accident happened. Insurance company though took the plea that accident was caused due to the fault of claimant yet could not establish the said fact. Accident information report shows that a G.D.Entry being Nagaon P.S. Traffic Branch G.D.Entry No.40 dated was registered by Nagaon P.S., Traffic Branch regarding the accident caused by the offending vehicle bearing registration No. AS-02/E-2193 (auto rickshaw) and Ina Bordoloi was shown as the ill fated person who sustained injuries due to the accident. The evidence of the

4 claimant and the accident information report proves the fact that the accident was caused due to rash and negligent driving on the part of the driver of the vehicle bearing registration No.AS-02/E-2193 (auto rickshaw). Medical documents shows that claimant sustained injuries in the accident. Accordingly this issue is decided in favour of the claimant. Issue No.4 & 5 Ext.2 the discharge certificate of B.P. Civil Hospital, Nagaon shows that claimant was admitted into the said hospital on and discharged on for fracture BB left forearm and he was referred to Ortho GMCH, Guwahati. Ext.3 is the prescription of Aastha Poly clinic. Ext.4 and 6 the X-ray requisition of B.P. Civil Hospital, Nagaon. Ex.5 X-ray report dated shows old fracture with collous formation of both bones of forearm. Ext.7 is the X-ray report of B.P. Civil Hospital, Nagaon dated shows fracture middle third of left forearm. Since the claimant sustained fracture injury the motor vehicular accident due to fault of the driver of the offending vehicle No. AS-02/E-2193 (auto rickshaw) hence, he is entitled to receive compensation. Now, it is to be determined what would be the just and proper compensation and who is liable to pay the compensation. I have carefully perused the prescriptions and cash memos. From perusal of the cash memos Ext.9, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17 and 18 it appears that there is o prescriptions. So those cash memos cannot be accepted as genuine cash memos. From the remaining cash memos it appears that claimant has expended an amount of Rs.2,637/- for his treatment. So he is entitled for this amount as pecuniary damages. The claimant testified that he earned monthly Rs.5,000/- only by doing business. However, no certificate regarding his income could be submitted by

5 him. However, as an able bodied man the injured definitely would have earned an amount of Rs.3,000/- per month. Medical documents shows that claimant sustained fracture BB left forearm. So, definitely for such type of injury he must be out of work for atleast 2 months. So, he is entitled to Rs.6,000/- as loss of income. For pain and suffering for causing such injury an amount of Rs.7,000/- is added. Thus, the total amount of compensation the claimant is entitled to Rs.15,637/-. claimant. Now the question is who is liable to pay the compensation to the It is already discussed that the accident occurred due to rash and negligent act on the part of the driver of the vehicle bearing no.as-02/e-2193 (auto rickshaw). Though the insurance side took the plea that the driver of the vehicle had no valid licence yet the insurance side could not prove the said fact. The accident information report on the other hand shows the fact that driver had the licence bearing no. 9577/07/Ngg which is valid upto which was issued by D.T.O. Nagaon. Above facts shows that the offending vehicle was driven by a driver having valid licence and owner as such has not violated the condition of the insurance policy. As per the claim petition and accident information report the vehicle bearing no. AS-02/E-2193 (auto rickshaw) is insured with Bajaj Allianz General Ins. Co. Ltd., vide policy no. OG which is valid u Hence, the Bajaj Allianz General Ins. Co. Ltd., is liable to pay compensation to the claimant. AWARD AND ORDER Therefore, it is ordered that the Bajaj Allianz General Ins. Co. Ltd., is to make payment within 2 months of Rs.15,737/- only with 7% per annum from the date of filing the claim petition till realisation. The claimant shall also be entitled to Rs.1,000/- as cost of this proceeding. Copy of judgment and order be communicated to the O.P.

6 The judgment is pronounced and delivered in the open court under my hand and seal of this court on this the 31 th day of March/2015. Dictated & corrected by me:- Member, M.A.C.T., Nagaon. Member, Motor Accident Claim Tribunal, Nagaon(Assam).

7 A P P E N D I X Claimant examined 1) P.W.1 : Sri Ina Bordoloi Opp.Party examined Nil Claimant exhibited 1) Ext.1 : Accident Information Report. 2) Ext.2 to 7 : Medical documents. 3) Ext.8 to 18 : Cash memos Opp.party exhibited Nil Member, Motor Accident Claim Tribunal, Nagaon(Assam).