Lilly Pushpam alias Asha v. Sunil Kumar Fenn and Others (MACA Nos. 524/2007 & 559/2007), High Court of Kerala at Ernakulam

Case Details & Bench

Court: High Court of Kerala
Hon'ble Judges: T. V. Anil Kumar
Judgment Date: 2021-02-17
Court Decision / Holding: The appeals are disposed of by passing a common award accepting the terms and conditions of the Memorandum of Agreement. The compromise is incorporated into the award, all pending interlocutory applications are closed, and the terms of the MOA are binding on the parties in both MACA 524/2007 and MACA 559/2007.
Final Disposition: Common award passed incorporating the Memorandum of Agreement; ADR-based settlement finalizes the matter; all pending interlocutory applications closed.

Parties to the Case

Appellants / Petitioners

Lilly Pushpam alias Asha

Respondents

Sunil Kumar Fenn (and Others)
United India Insurance Company Ltd. (Divisional Office III)
GTBU Abraham Joseph
Kunnnkuzhy P. O., Thiruvananthapuram
The Oriental Insurance Company Ltd.
Peeru Mohammed
M. Santhosh

Legal Representation & Advocates

Counsels for Petitioners

• Sri. G. P. Shinod

Counsels for Respondents

• Ajit G. Anjarlekar
• Jayakumari
• Anithakumari
• Anil Kumar
• Renil A. Ito Katiyathy
• A. S. Sabu

Case Synopsis & Summary

This is a consolidation of two Motor Accidents Claims Appeals (MACA Nos. 524/2007 and 559/2007) before the High Court of Kerala at Ernakulam arising from awards of the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal, Thiruvananthapuram, in OP Nos. 68/2002 and 424/2004. The appellant Lilly Pushpam alias Asha (wife of the deceased Sreekumar) sought enhancement of compensation, while the respondents included Sunil Kumar Fenn and various insurers and other parties. The matter culminated after mediation at the Ernakulam Mediation Centre. On 17 February 2021, the court recorded that the disputes had been settled voluntarily through a Memorandum of Agreement under Section 89 of the CPC read with Rules 24 & 25 of the Civil Procedure (ADR) Rules, 2008. The MOA provides that the compensation awarded or enhanced will be apportioned among the parties as agreed (the terms indicate a specific apportionment and binding effect on both MACA 559/2007 and MACA 524/2007). Pending interlocutory applications are to be closed. The court disposed of the appeals by passing a common award incorporating the MOA terms, thereby finalizing the proceedings through ADR and avoiding further litigation.

Provisions of Law Cited

Code of Civil Procedure, Section 89Civil Procedure Code (ADR) Rules, 2008, Rules 24 & 25

Submissions & Arguments

Contentions of Appellants / Petitioners

Counsel for the appellant submitted that the disputes between the appellant and the respondents had been amicably resolved through mediation at the Ernakulam Mediation Centre. The Memorandum of Agreement recorded the terms, including the apportionment of compensation and the relinquishment of further claims. The appellant urged that the voluntary compromise be sanctioned under Section 89 CPC read with the ADR Rules, with the MOA terms incorporated into a common award and all pending interlocutory applications closed, thereby bringing finality to the matter and avoiding prolonged litigation.

Contentions of Respondents

Counsel for the respondents acknowledged the mediation outcome, emphasizing voluntary consent to settlement. They urged acceptance of the Memorandum of Agreement and the consequent common award, with binding terms across both MACA 559/2007 and MACA 524/2007. The parties sought finality of disputes, no future claims between the concerned parties, and closure of all pending interlocutory matters by virtue of the MOA and the ADR-enabled process, consistent with the statutory objective of ADR to expedite and finalize resolutions.

Extracted Judgment Text

Exact text extracted from official judgment records.

# Iti[ THE EIGE COT'RT OF KERAI.A AT ER}IAKIILAII ## PRESENT THE HONOT'RJABLE MR. JI'STICE T.V.ATiIILKUIITAR > WSDNESDAY, THE 17TIt DAy OE' FEBRUARY 202]- / 28TH !{AGHA,L942 I{ACA. No . 524 OF 2007 AGATNST THE AWARD DATED 31-01-2006 rN O.p. (!{rr)NO.68/2002 OF MOTOR ACCIDENT CLAI}'S TRIBT'TiIAL,TIIIRT'VAIIAIITEAPI'RAII ## AP PELI.AI{T,/AP PL I CAIIT : LILLY PUSHAPA!{ G ASIIA, w/o. r,ATE. v. SREEKIIIAR, vADAyrL VEEDU, K.p.-rrr/LL1, BEACH[p.O.,] TH I RWANATiITHAPT'RJAM . BY ADV. SRI.G.P.SHINOD ## RESPONDENTS/RES PONDENTS : - 1 SUNIT KT'MAR FEIIN, IIAr{AGING PARTNER, M/S. GATEWAY SYSTEM, TC-LL / 18L , VAyAr, ROAD , PLAI{OODU , PATTOM, T H I RWANATiITHAPT'RJAM . - T'NITED INDIA INST'RA}ICE COMPA}IY LTD. , DIVISIONAI, OFE.ICE NO. III, MAI,A}IKARJA BUILDINGS, PALAYA!{, THIRWAIiIATITHAPURjN'! . - GTBU ABRAHAM JOSEPII, TC-21 / 549, Ar{DOOR, TIIAI{PURjAI{MUKKU, VATiTCHIYOOR, - KT'NNT'KUZHY P. O. , TH I RWAI{AIiITHAPT,RJAII'. 37 . - 4 THE ORIENTAL INSI'RJA}ICE COMPAI{Y LTD. , RAMAKRISHNA BUILDINGS, ARTSTO .][,NCTTON, TIIAI{PATiIOOR, T H I RWA}IATTT HAPURJN'I . - q PEERU MOHAMMED, TC-35 /L245, P. D.NAGAR, VALLAKKADAW P.O., THI RT'VAIiINiITHAPT'RAII- 8 . - 6 M. SAI{THOSH, S/O. MURT'KAbI, - tc-32/ 680, PUTHI'VAT COLONY, > lv.A.c.A.Nos .524 & 559/2007 VETTUKAD, TH I RTTAilTAIiITHAPI'RA}I . THE !!AI[AGER, NEW INDT.E INSTJRA}ICE COMPA}IY BRAIICH-r, TC-26/L436, @VERNMENT PRESS ROJAD, TH I RT'VA}IANTIIAPT'R;AM . R4 BY ADV. SRI.GEORGE CHERIATiI THIRT'VAII.A THIS MOTOR ACCIDENT CI,AIMS APPEJAL HAVING BEEN FINALTY HEjARD ON L7.02.202L, ALONG WITH M.A.C.A.NO.559/2OO7, rHE COT'RT ON THE SA!{E DAY DELIVERED THE TOLLOWING: M.A.c.A.Nos. 524 & 559/2007 IN THE HIGH COttRT OF KERjALA AT ERNAKITT.A!,! ## PRESENT THE HONOURABLE MR. JI'STICE T.V.AT.{IILKUMAR > WEDNESDAY, TIIE 17TH DAy OF FEBRUARY 2O2L / 28TH ![AGHA,L942 MACA.No.559 OF 2007 > AGATNST THE ALARD DATED 31-01-2006 rN O.p.(!nr)NO.424/200L OF MOTOR ACCIDENT CI,AIMS TRIBUNAT, THIRTryA}IA}ITI'API'R.A}I ## APPELI.AIIT: LILLY PUSHPA!{ G ASHA, W/O LATE V.SREEKT'!{AR, VADAYIL VEEDU, K.P-rrr/L[1 r BE.LCH F.O., THIRWANANTHAPURAII'. BY ADV. SRT.G.P.SHINOD ## RES PONDENTS /RES PONDENTS AIiID APPLICATiITS : - 1 SUNIL KUMAR E:ENN A}ID OTHERS, M/S. GATEWAY SYSTEM, T .C-LL/7SL , VAYAL ROAD, Pr,eMooDU , PAtroM, TH I RWA}IAIITHAPT'RAIT . I'NITED INDIA INST'RJA}ICE COMPATiIY LTD. DIVISIONAI OFFICE NO. III, MATATiIKARJA BUII,DINGS, V. iT. T . IIAIL ROJAD, PAI,AYAM / T H I RTryAI{A}IT HAPI'R;AII . PEERU MOIIAI{MED, T. C. 35/L245 , P. D . NAGAR VAII.AKKADAW P. O. THIRIryA}IAI{TIIAPI'RAM- 8 . > 4 M. SA!{THOSH KEERr, S/O MT'RT'KA}I ASSARI, G. G. NII,AYAI{, T.C 32/680, PUTHWAIJ COLONY, VETTUKAD, , > M.A.c.A.Nos .524 & 559/2007 -:4: - ## TH I RWANAN TIIAPT'RJA!{ . - MS.NEW INDIA ASST'RJAIICE COMPAIiIY LTD. DrvrsroNAt oFFrcE, KOTTARATHTL BUTLDINGS .AIINEXE, PAI,AYA!{, TH T RUVA}IA}IT IIAPURJAM . JAYAKUMART, D/O OMAlrA, SIVAPADOM, KAII,AS I,A}IE, KttDAPParmKXUmVu P. O, T H I RWAI{AIiITIIAPT'RJAII . - ATiIITHAI(I'IIARI D/O O!{A!{A, , POOVATHOOR HOUSE, r.c.3L/620, S.N.NAGAR, PETTAIT P.O. , - TH T RWAIiIA}IT IIAPT'RAII . - AI{IL KU!!AR, S/O I;ATE VASU, A!{EESH BHAVAI{, K. P. rrr/232 , KARIKKAKOM, BE.ACH P.O., TIT TRWAIVAT.{ITIIAPT'R.;AII'- 7 . > 9 SREEKAT.A, D/O OMAIiIA, RESIDING AT DO. DO. R2 BY ADV. SRI . P.V. JYOTHI PRASAD R6, 7 & 8 BY ADV. SRI.NAGARJA\' NARJAYATiIA}I R5 BY ADV. SRI.RENIL A}ITO KATiIDA!{KI'IATHY R1 BY ADVS. SRI. SAIiIO ITASSA}I SRI.A. S. SABU THIS MOTOR ACCIDENT CI,AIMS APPEJAL HAVING BEEN FINALTY HE.ARD ON L1 .02.202L, AroNG WrrH !'ACA.52A/2O07 , MACA.524/2007 (B) , THE COLRT ON THE SAME DAy DELTVERED THE FOLLOWING: N4.A.c.A.Nos .524 & 559/2007 -.' 5: - Dated this the 17th day of February,202l ## JUDGMENT > oi sputes between parti es i n these appeal s were settled at Ernakulam Medi ation centre > attached to tti gh Cou rt of Ke ral a . rhe te rms and conditions as to the compromise have been reduced to wri ti ng i n the form of Memorandum of Agreerfieflt under Section 89 of the Code of Civil[procedure] read wi th Rul es 24 & 25 of the Ci vi 1 Procedu re (al ternati ve o'i spute Resol uti on) , Rul es , 2008 . > 2. I heard the I ear"ned counsel for" the parti es on either side. 3. r am sati sfi ed that compromi se entered i nto by parti es i s vol untary. rhe terms and conditions in the Memorandum of Agreement are recorded. Parti es rel i nqu'i shed thei r cl ai m for enhancement of compensation and agreed to apportion the amount payable under the award in terms of what has been reduced to writing. 4. rn the resul t , these appea'l s are di sposed of by passi ng a common award accepti ng the terms and conditions in the Memorandum of Agreement. rhe > M.A.c.A.Nos .524 & 559/2007 -:6: - terms and conditions in the Memorandum of Agreement would form part of the award. Al I pend-i ng i nte r'l ocuto ry appl i cati ons wi I I stand closed. sd/_ T.V.ANILKUMAR, JUDGE DST / /true[copy/] P.A.To rudge j\ i : I ## ERNAKULAM N'IEDIATION CENTRE ## (H[GH COURT I{ALL} (2no[floor, above SBl, High Court Building, Emakulam, ] Kodri-31.(ph:04U2S62Z3gl /2,, Dated: ,*r/Z The NdalOfficer, > Emakulam Mediation Cenfe (H.C.), Emakulam. To The Registrar (Judicial), High Court of Kerala, Emakulam. Sir, Ref:- Sub:- Mediation Referral orderin..H.A of refened cases - Reg.. - ssz/* c./ aatea... . . . . //. .7. ..rt the Hon, bte High Cou rt of Kerata. {/4 l (* r,[0to] c A1-\,, The report of the Mediator in the **r. d*n with fre enclosures is fumished herewith for information and necessary action. Ernakulam Mediation Centre Encl:- 1. Report of the Mediator, Settlement Agreement. lt 2. copy of refenat order dated 5/u//3... of the High courtof Kerata. 3. Copy of Petition. # BEFORE[THE ][HONOURABLE ][HIGH ][COURT ][OF] KERALA AT ERNAKULAM # M.A.C.A. No,55912007 Lilly PushPam[Alias ][Asha] ': ## Appellant Vs. Sunil Kumar[Fenn ][and ][others] # Respondents # REPORT SUBMITTED[BY ][THE ][MEDIATOR] ADV. CHINCY[GOPAKUMAR] matter[is ][settled'] Mediated., Terms and conditions[are ][attached ][herewith'] Dated this the 4ay "/[of ][November' ][2019'] t Adv. ChincY[GoPakumar] Med iator Ernakulam[Mediation ][Centre] I ## BEFORE THE HONOURABLE[HIGH ][OF ][KERALA ][AT] ERNAKULAM MACA 5s912007 Lilly Pushpam Alias Asha : Appellant Vs. Sunil Kumar Fenn & Others : Respondents MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT[UNDER ][SECTION 89 ][OF ][THE] CODE OF CIVI PROCEDURE READ[WITH ][RULES ][24 ][&25 ][OF ][THE] crvrl PROCEDURE (ALTERNATM[DISPUTE ][RESOLUTION),] RULES,2OOS: 1. The appellant in MACA :559/07 and[MACA:524/2007 ][is ][the] person claiming to be the wife of the[deceased Sreekumar, ][who] died from the injuries sustained in the[motor ][accident. ][The ][party] respondents are the siblings of the[aforesaid Sreekumar.] - Both the aforementioned MACAs were[filed by ][Lilly ][Pushparn ][@] Asha, seeking the entitlement of compensation[awarded ][by ][the] motor accident claims Tribunal,[Thiruvanathapuram ][to ][her.] g- 3. The appellant - namely, Lilly Pushpam[@ ] Asha[and ][the contesting] respondents (R6 to R9 in MACA 559/200n and their[counsel,] presented themselves before the Nodal Officer Emakulam, Mediation Centre, High Court of Kerala on1'4.1'l'.20L9[and resolved] settle that disputes on the following terms and conditions. ,,""*,o ,.<ut'.[a. ][The parties ][agree ][and ][affirm ][that the ][compensation awarded ][or] the enhanced compensation liable to be determined /'and *.*loler* "":R adjudicated by this honourable court shall be apportioned in ag""^."";i such a manner that the appellant and the contesting respondents No.6,7,8 &.9 in MACA559/20017 shall be entitled to 1/5th odr'+='+" *s* fftn s nonouraple **l** ;r":ff[i:il:ensationawar]ed courr. ,[/ ][tobe@ot] r'; .\\\4, t#'[,ff:i_ p"r' ( -'*ff; . ;itt0l.*rr* \ ffi; ;ffitr'd- / - Thepartiesdeclarethatallsubdistingdisputesbetweenthe appeiant[and ][respondents ][6 ][to ][9 ][in ][MACA ][559 ][/2007.and ][MACA] s[q/zooz[have been settled ][amicably ][and ][that they ][shall ][not ][raise] any claims[in future ][as ][between ][them'] - c. Theterms&conditionsofthisagreementshallbebindingon MACA524/200Tonapparentandconductingrespondents6to9 inMACAssg/2007andMACA524/200Tandthetermsand conditionsshallbebindingandapplicabletotheabovesaid with[respect ][to the ][issues ][in ][MACA ][524/2007 ][is ][also'] - parties - d'Thiscompromiseisvalidonlyfortheissuesbetween.the appellant and[the respondents ][6 ][to ][9 ][in MAC ][A559/2007 ][and the] issues between[the ][same ][parties ][inMACA ][524/2007'] - e. This comPromise APPALANT[:] LILLY PUSHPAM[@ ][A] LIYAS[V] ASHA **==> picture [454 x 243] intentionally omitted <==** **----- Start of picture text -----** @"1,,\lo_ RESPONDANTS: ADVACATE [FOR ] [APPELANT:] t / AJIT G. ANJARLEKAR 1. JAYAKUMARI J*T',','-- 2. ANITHAKUMARI ,At"\C 3. ANILKUMAR ft!$h-- 4. 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