High Court of KeralaSingle Judge2019-07-16Appeals allowed; impugned awards set aside; rem...

MACA Nos.2383 of 2012 & con. Cases

Case / Petition Number:MACA.No.2383 of 2012 & con. Cases

Case Details & Bench

Court: High Court of Kerala
Hon'ble Judges: P.B. Suresh Kumar
Judgment Date: 2019-07-16
Court Decision / Holding: Appeals allowed; the impugned awards are set aside; the claim petitions are remitted to the Tribunals for fixation of the quantum of compensation under Section 163A of the Motor Vehicles Act. It is clarified that, if compensation is ultimately granted, the appellants will not be entitled to interest for the period of delay in filing the appeals (specific delays vary by case). All interlocutory applications are closed.
Final Disposition: Appeals allowed; impugned awards set aside; remitted to Tribunals for fixation of quantum under Section 163A; no interest for delay in filing appeals.

Parties to the Case

Appellants / Petitioners

Thampi Mathew
Neetha Thampi
Sophia Antony
A.D. Antony
Thomas Antony
Salu Alex A.A
Sujatha
Sudheeshkumar
Nitheeshkumar
Dasan
Pushpa
KALIYAMMAL
Guruswamy
Kavitha R
Sreejith
Hamsa
Baby V.A.
Honey Baby

Respondents

Jilani Hussain Nadar
Oriental Insurance Co. Ltd.
The Managing Director, KSRTC
P.K. Sudhakaran
Suresh Kumar
C.B. Sijomon
Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Co. Ltd.
Devaki
K. Mohanan
Director, Directorate of Health and Family Welfare
Kerala State Insurance Department
Raju (Died)
Roshy Jose
Sampathkumar T
SBI General Insurance Company Ltd.
Jose Varghese
Shibu Markose
Sujesh
Sujeesh? (duplicate)

Legal Representation & Advocates

Counsels for Petitioners

• P.V. Baby
• A.N. Santhosh
• BINOY VASUDEVAN
• P.G. Babitha
• SHEJI P. ABRAHAM
• P.V. Chandramohan
• A.V.M. Salahuddin
• Emil Stanley
• Domson J. Vattakuzhy
• R. Sreehari
• Sachin Vyas

Counsels for Respondents

• Babu Joseph Kuruvathazha
• K.S. Rajesh
• M. ShaJu Purushothaman
• Lal George
• C. Joseph Antony
• T.K. Shajahan
• C.D. Dileep
• John Joseph Vettikad
• N.S. Najeeb
• K.S. Santhi
• Smt.K.S.Santhhi

Case Synopsis & Summary

This batch judgment of a larger set of MACA appeals arises from Motor Accidents Claims Tribunals under Section 163A of the Motor Vehicles Act. The Kerala High Court, presided over by Judge P.B. Suresh Kumar, addresses multiple appeals challenging tribunal awards that had dismissed petitions on the ground that the accidents occurred due to the negligence of the victims themselves. The court reiterates the legal principle from the Supreme Court, United India Insurance Co. Ltd. v. Sunil Kumar & Anr., that negligence by the victim is irrelevant to the entitlement under Section 163A, and thus the tribunals’ dismissals are liable to be interfered with. The Court holds that the correct course is to remit the petitions to the respective Tribunals for fixation of quantum under Section 163A, after determining liability. The judgment is a unifying disposition across several MACA numbers (including 1443/2010, 2383/2012, 1941/2013, 799/2014, 2701/2017, 2957/2017, 4029/2017, 2014/2019, etc.), reflecting a consistent approach: set aside the impugned awards, remand for quantum, and clarify that if compensation is eventually granted, claimants will not be entitled to interest for the delay in filing the appeals (620 days in one case, 442 in another, 335 in another). The decision is rendered by a Single Judge (P.B. Suresh Kumar) and culminates in remittal and final closure of interlocutory applications.

Provisions of Law Cited

Section 163A of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988

Submissions & Arguments

Contentions of Appellants / Petitioners

The claimants contend for compensation under Section 163A of the Motor Vehicles Act, asserting that tribunals erred by dismissing petitions on the ground of the alleged negligence of the victims. Citing the Supreme Court’s ruling in United India Insurance Co. Ltd v. Sunil Kumar, they argue that negligence by the victim should not bar compensation under 163A and that the Tribunal must determine quantum. They seek remittal to fix quantum under Section 163A in each case and protection against interest for delays in filing appeals.

Contentions of Respondents

The respondents had urged that the tribunals correctly dismissed the petitions by attributing the accidents to the victims’ negligence and that the 163A regime requires quantum to be fixed after fault is determined. They relied on the statutory framework and pleaded that the appropriate remedy was to assess liability and then determine compensation, while resisting any broad remittance without final quantum adjudication.

Cited Precedents (1)

Case Name	Citation	Treatment	Explanation
United India Insurance Co. Ltd v. Sunil Kumar & Anr.	2017 (4) KLT 1093 (SC)	Positive	The Apex Court’s ruling that victim negligence is irrelevant to Sec. 163A claims is cited to justify interference with the tribunals’ orders and remand for quantum under the Act.

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Extracted Judgment Text

Exact text extracted from official judgment records.

## **IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM** ## **PRESENT** ## **THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.B.SURESH KUMAR** **TUESDAY, THE 16TH DAY OF JULY 2019 / 25TH ASHADHA, 1941** ## **MACA.No.1443 OF 2010** **AGAINST THE AWARD IN OPMV 678/2005 DATED 06-10-2009 OF MOTOR ACCIDENT CLAIMS TRIBUNAL ,ERNAKULAM** ## **APPELLANTS/PETITIONERS IN OP(MV):** **1 THAMPI MATHEW, S/O. P.J.MATHAI, PERINGATTU HOUSE, PANAMPILLY NAGAR P.O, ELAMKULAM VILLAGE, KANAYANNUR TALUK, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT. 2 NEETHA THAMPI, W/O. THAMPI MATHEW, PERINGATTU HOUSE, PANAMPILLY NAGAR P.O.,ELAMKULAM VILLAGE, KANAYANNUR TALUK,, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT.** **BY ADVS. SRI.P.V.BABY SRI.A.N.SANTHOSH** ## **RESPONDENTS/RESPONDENTS IN OP(MV):** **1 JILANI HUSSAIN NADAR, SOCIETY NAKA, J.M.MHATRE, PANVEL, DIST.RAJGAD, PIN 410 206. 2 ORIENTAL INSURANCE CO.LTD., REGIONAL OFFICE, ERNAKULAM, PIN 682 016.** **R2 BY ADV. SRI.A.R.GEORGE** **THIS MOTOR ACCIDENT CLAIMS APPEAL HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 16.07.2019, ALONG WITH MACA.2383/2012, MACA.1941/2013, MACA.799/2014, MACA.2853/2016, MACA.2701/2017, MACA.2957/2017, MACA.4029/2017, MACA.2014/2019, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:** M.A.C.A Nos.2383 of 2012 & con. Cases 2 ## **IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM** ## **PRESENT** ## **THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.B.SURESH KUMAR** **TUESDAY, THE 16TH DAY OF JULY 2019 / 25TH ASHADHA, 1941** **MACA.No.2383 OF 2012** **AGAINST THE AWARD IN OPMV 2555/2003 DATED 10-02-2012 OF MOTOR ACCIDENTS CLAIMS TRIBUNAL, ERNAKULAM** ## **APPELLANTS/PETITIONERS:** - **1 SOPHIA ANTONY, W/O.A.D. ANTONY, ANTHIKKATT HOUSE, PERUMBODATH ROAD, MANJUMMEL P.O., ELOOR VILLAGE, PARUR TALUK, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT.** - **2 A.D.ANTONY, S/O.DEVASSY, -DO- -DO-** - **3 THOMAS ANTONY, S/O.A.D.ANTONY, -DO- -DO-** - **4 SALU ALEX.A.A, S/O.A.D.ANTONY, -DO- -DO-** **BY ADVS. SRI.P.V.BABY SRI.A.N.SANTHOSH** ## **RESPONDENTS/RESPONDENTS:** - **1 THE MANAGING DIRECTOR, KSRTC, TRIVANDRUM-695023.** - **2 P.K.SUDHAKARAN,** **S/O.P.A.KOCHAKKAN, PULLIKKAL HOUSE, MEETHALA P.O., KODUNGALLUR-680069.** - **R1 BY SRI.BABU JOSEPH KURUVATHAZHA,SC,KSRTC** - **R2 BY ADV. SRI.K.S.RAJESH** - **R2 BY ADV. SRI.M.SHAJU PURUSHOTHAMAN** **THIS MOTOR ACCIDENT CLAIMS APPEAL HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 16.07.2019, ALONG WITH MACA.1443/2010(T), MACA.1941/2013, MACA.799/2014, MACA.2853/2016, MACA.2701/2017, MACA.2957/2017, MACA.4029/2017, MACA.2014/2019, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:** M.A.C.A Nos.2383 of 2012 & con. Cases 3 ## **IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM** ## **PRESENT** **THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.B.SURESH KUMAR** **TUESDAY, THE 16TH DAY OF JULY 2019 / 25TH ASHADHA, 1941** **MACA.No.1941 OF 2013** **AGAINST THE AWARD IN OPMV 702/2009 DATED 06-07-2012 OF MOTOR ACCIDENT CLAIMS TRIBUNAL , PALAKKAD** ## **- APPELLANTS/PETITIONERS 1 3:** - **1 SUJATHA, AGED 33 YEARS, W/O.LATE KRISHNAKUMAR, MALAMPALLA VEEDU, VEMBALOOR POST, ALATHUR TALUK, PALAKKAD DISTRICT.** - **2 SUDHEESHKUMAR, AGED 13 YEARS, S/O.LATE KRISHNAKUMAR, REPRESENTED BY MOTHER AND NEXT FRIEND SUJATHA, AGED 33 YEARS, W/O.LATE KRISHNAKUMAR, MALAMPALLA VEEDU, VEMBALOOR POST, ALATHUR TALUK, PALAKKAD DISTRICT.** - **3 NITHEESHKUMAR, AGED 11 YEARS, S/O.LATE KRISHNAKUMAR, REPRESENTED BY MOTHER AND NEXT FRIEND SUJATHA, AGED 33 YEARS, W/O.LATE KRISHNAKUMAR, MALAMPALLA VEEDU, VEMBALOOR POST, ALATHUR TALUK, PALAKKAD DISTRICT.** **BY ADVS. SRI.BINOY VASUDEVAN SMT.P.G.BABITHA** ## **RESPONDENTS/RESPONDENTS & 4TH CLAIMANT:** - **1 SURESHKUMAR, S/O.RAMAN, MAROTTIKKAL HOUSE, VILVATTAM, THRISSUR DISTRICT. 680010** - **2 C.B.SIJOMON, AGED 32 YEARS,** - **S/O.BABY, CHALISSERY HOUSE, PUTHUR, THRISSUR DISTRICT. 680014** - **3 BAJAJ ALLIANZ GENERAL INSURANCE CO.LTD.,** M.A.C.A Nos.2383 of 2012 & con. Cases 4 **GE PLAZA, AIRPORT ROAD, YERWADA, PUNE, MAHARASHTRA. 411001** **4 DEVAKI,** **W/O.KUNCHU, MALAMPALLA VEEDU, VEMBALOOR POST, ALATHUR TALUK, PALAKKAD DISTRICT. 678101** **R3 BY ADV. SRI.LAL GEORGE** **THIS MOTOR ACCIDENT CLAIMS APPEAL HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 16.07.2019, ALONG WITH MACA.1443/2010(T), MACA.2383/2012, MACA.799/2014, MACA.2853/2016, MACA.2701/2017, MACA.2957/2017, MACA.4029/2017, MACA.2014/2019, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:** M.A.C.A Nos.2383 of 2012 & con. Cases 5 ## **IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM** ## **PRESENT** **THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.B.SURESH KUMAR** **TUESDAY, THE 16TH DAY OF JULY 2019 / 25TH ASHADHA, 1941** ## **MACA.No.799 OF 2014** **AGAINST THE AWARD IN OP 973/2009 DATED 02-08-2013 OF MOTOR ACCIDENT CLAIMS TRIBUNAL , PALAKKAD** ## **APPELLANTS/PETITIONERS:** |**1**|**ANTHONISWAMI,**| |---|---| ||**AGED 71 YEARS,**| ||**S/O.AROGYAPILLAI, RESIDING AT KRIPAYILLM VEEDU,**| ||**K.N.PUTHUR, KANJIKODE POST, PALAKKAD.**| |**2**|**MANGALAMARY,**| ||**AGED 62 YEARS,**| ||**W/O.ANTHONISWAMI,RESIDING AT KRIPAYILLM VEEDU,**| ||**K.N.PUTHUR, KANJIKODE POST, PALAKKAD**| |**3**|**SELVARAJ,**| ||**AGED 42 YEARS,**| ||**S/O.ANTHONISWAMI,RESIDING AT KRIPAYILLM VEEDU,**| ||**K.N.PUTHUR, KANJIKODE POST, PALAKKAD**| |**4**|**SUJANA,**| ||**AGED 40 YEARS**| ||**D/O.ANTHONISWAMI,RESIDING AT KRIPAYILLM VEEDU,**| ||**K.N.PUTHUR, KANJIKODE POST, PALAKKAD**| |**5**|**BABEYOLA,**| ||**AGED 35 YEARS,**| ||**D/O.ANTHONISWAMI,RESIDING AT KRIPAYILLM VEEDU,**| ||**K.N.PUTHUR, KANJIKODE POST, PALAKKAD**| |**6**|**JAMES,**| ||**AGED 31 YEARS,**| ||**S/O.ANTHONISWAMI,RESIDING AT KRIPAYILLM VEEDU,**| ||**K.N.PUTHUR, KANJIKODE POST, PALAKKAD**| ||**BY ADVS.**| ||**SRI.BINOY VASUDEVAN**| ||**SMT.P.G.BABITHA**| M.A.C.A Nos.2383 of 2012 & con. Cases 6 ## **RESPONDENTS/RESPONDENTS:** - **1 ROSHY JOSE, AGED 33 YEARS, S/O.C.L.JOSE, NO.04, KALASIPALAYAM, NEW EXTENSION, BANGALORE,KARNATAKA-560 002, NOW RESIDING AT CHITTILAPPALLY HOUSE, ANJUR POST, MUNDUR, THRISSUR DISTRICT. 680010** - **2 SAMPATHKUMAR.T, S/O.THIUMMA NAICKER, 9/238A, MGR NAGAR, UKKARAM POST, SATHYAMANGALAM, TAMILNADU.638404** - **3 UNITED INDIA INSURANCE CO. LTD., PARK HOUSE BUILDING, 2ND FLOOR, ROUND NORTH, THRISSUR DISTRICT 680010** - **4 BABUJOOT RAJ, AGED 40 YEARS, S/O.ANTHONISWAMI, H.NO.7/262, NEAR NSB BUILDING, KOYYAMARAKKAD, KANJIKODE POST, PALAKKAD, NOW RESIDING AT KRIPAYILLAM, K.N.PUTHUR, KANJIKODE POST, PALAKKAD. 678101** - **5 UNITED INDIA INSURANCE CO. LTD., PESONAL LINE, INSURANCE OFFICE, SURYA COMPLEX, MISSION HIGH SCHOOL JUNCTION, PALAKKAD. 678101** **BY ADV.** - **R1 BY ADV. SRI.C.D.DILEEP R3, R5 BY ADV. SRI.JOHN JOSEPH VETTIKAD R3 BY ADV. SRI.C.JOSEPH ANTONY** **THIS MOTOR ACCIDENT CLAIMS APPEAL HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 16.07.2019, ALONG WITH MACA.1443/2010(T), MACA.2383/2012, MACA.1941/2013, MACA.2853/2016, MACA.2701/2017, MACA.2957/2017, MACA.4029/2017, MACA.2014/2019, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:** M.A.C.A Nos.2383 of 2012 & con. Cases 7 ## **IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM** ## **PRESENT** **THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.B.SURESH KUMAR** **TUESDAY, THE 16TH DAY OF JULY 2019 / 25TH ASHADHA, 1941** **MACA.No.2853 OF 2016** **AGAINST THE AWARD IN OPMV 1169/2015 DATED 31-05-2016 OF MOTOR ACCIDENT CLAIMS TRIBUNAL ,KOZHIKODE** ## **APPELLANTS/PETITIONERS:** - **1 DASAN, S/O.RARUKUTTY, RESIDING AT KUYYALIL HOUSE, P O MEDICAL COLLEGE, KOZHIKODE, PIN-673008.** - **2 PUSHPA, W/O.DASAN, RESIDING AT PALA PARAMBIL HOUSE, KOZHIKODE.** **BY ADVS. SRI.AVM.SALAHUDIN SMT.EMIL STANLEY** ## **RESPONDENTS/RESPONDENTS:** - **1 SIRAJAHAMMED.S.UMACHAGI, RESIDING AT PLOT NO 120, NEW BADANI NAGAR, KESHWAPUR , HUBLI, PIN-580023.** - **2 DADAFIR, S/O.GANNIBAB, RESIDING AT JANATHA COLONY, AMBATTIKARA, HUBLI, KARNATAKA, PIN-580023.** - **3 SBI GENERAL INSURANCE COMPANY LTD., DD TRADE TOWER, ROOM NO 3C, KALOOR, KADAVANTHRA ROAD, COCHIN, ERNAKULAM, PIN-682017.** **R3 BY ADV. SRI.R.AJITH KUMAR 12884** **THIS MOTOR ACCIDENT CLAIMS APPEAL HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 16.07.2019, ALONG WITH MACA.1443/2010(T), MACA.2383/2012, MACA.1941/2013, MACA.799/2014, MACA.2701/2017, MACA.2957/2017, MACA.4029/2017, MACA.2014/2019, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:** M.A.C.A Nos.2383 of 2012 & con. Cases 8 ## **IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM** ## **PRESENT** **THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.B.SURESH KUMAR** **TUESDAY, THE 16TH DAY OF JULY 2019 / 25TH ASHADHA, 1941** **MACA.No.2701 OF 2017** **AGAINST THE AWARD IN OPMV 906/2015 DATED 28-04-2017 OF MOTOR ACCIDENT CLAIMS TRIBUNAL, OTTAPALAM** ## **APPELLANTS/PETITIONERS:** |**1**|**KALIYAMMAL,**| |---|---| ||**AGED 48 YEARS, W/O. RAJU P, ENGEKATTIL**| ||**HOUSE,KRISHNA NAGAR, VILAVATTAM, KOLAZHY P.O,**| ||**THRISSUR - 680 010.**| |**2**|**GURUSWAMY,**| ||**AGED 25 YEARS, S/O. RAJU P. ENGEKATTIL**| ||**HOUSE,KRISHNA NAGAR, 3RD STREET, KOLAZHY P.O,**| ||**THRISSUR - 680 010.**| |**3**|**KAVITHA R,**| ||**AGED 23 YEARS, D/O. RAJU P, ENGEKATTIL**| ||**HOUSE,KRISHNA NAGAR, 3RD STREET, KOLAZHY P.O,**| ||**THRISSUR - 680 010.**| **BY ADV. SRI.SHEJI P.ABRAHAM** ## **RESPONDENTS/RESPONDENTS:** |**1**|**K. MOHANAN,**| |---|---| ||**S/O. PONNAPPAN NAIDU, KIZHAKKEPURA HOUSE,**| ||**PATTIPARAMBU,THIRUVILLAWMALA - 680 588 (DRIVER OF**| ||**KL 01/AB 5150 AMBULANCE)**| |**2**|**THE DIRECTOR,**| ||**DIRECTORATE OF HEALTH AND FAMILY**| ||**WELFARE,THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695 014(OWNER OF KL**| ||**01/AB 5150 AMBULANCE)**| |**3**|**KERALA STATE INSURANCE DEPARTMENT**| ||**OTTAPALAM, PALAKKAD DISTRICT, 679101 (INSURER OF KL**| ||**01/AB 5150 AMBULANCE) POLICY NO:**| ||**57070431136200006401 VALID FROM 13.08.2014 TO**| M.A.C.A Nos.2383 of 2012 & con. Cases 9 **12.08.2015.** **4 RAJU (DIED) AGE NOT KNOWN, ENGEKATTIL HOUSE,KRISHNA NAGAR, KOLAZHY P.O, THRISSUR - 680 010.(FATHER OF DECEASED)** **THE 4TH RESPONDENT IS DELETED FROM THE PARTY ARRAY AT THE RISK OF THE APPELLANTS AS PER ORDER DTD 24.11.17 IN I.A NO.4366/17 IN MACA 2701/17.** ## **BY ADV.** **SRI.T.K.SHAJAHAN, SR.GOVERNMENT PLEADER FOR R2 & R3** **THIS MOTOR ACCIDENT CLAIMS APPEAL HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 16.07.2019, ALONG WITH MACA.1443/2010(T), MACA.2383/2012, MACA.1941/2013, MACA.799/2014, MACA.2853/2016, MACA.2957/2017, MACA.4029/2017, MACA.2014/2019, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:** M.A.C.A Nos.2383 of 2012 & con. Cases 10 # **IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM** # **PRESENT** **THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.B.SURESH KUMAR** **TUESDAY, THE 16TH DAY OF JULY 2019 / 25TH ASHADHA, 1941** ## **MACA.No.2957 OF 2017** **AGAINST THE AWARD IN OPMV 773/2015 OF MOTOR ACCIDENT CLAIMS TRIBUNAL, OTTAPALAM DATED 28.04.2017** ## **APPELLANT/PETITIONER:** **SREEJITH @ JITHU, AGED 21 YEARS, S/O. BABURAJ,KANNILETH HOUSE, KAKKUPADY P.O.,KALKANDY, ATTAPADY, VIA. MANNARKKAD,PALAKKAD DISTRICT.** **BY ADV. SRI.P.V.CHANDRA MOHAN** ## **RESPONDENTS/RESPONDENTS:** **1 T.G. UNNIKRISHNAN, S/O. GOVINDAN NAIR,KRISHNA NIVAS, CHERPULASSERY P.O.,OTTAPALAM, PALAKKAD DISTRICT-679 503.** **2 NATIONAL INSURANCE CO. LTD. DIV. NO. 10, FLAT NO. 101-106,BMC HOUSE, CONNAUGHT PLACE,NEW DELHI- 10001.** **R2 BY ADV. SRI.LAL GEORGE** **THIS MOTOR ACCIDENT CLAIMS APPEAL HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 16.07.2019, ALONG WITH MACA.1443/2010(T), MACA.2383/2012, MACA.1941/2013, MACA.799/2014, MACA.2853/2016, MACA.2701/2017, MACA.4029/2017, MACA.2014/2019, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:** M.A.C.A Nos.2383 of 2012 & con. Cases 11 **IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM** ## **PRESENT** **THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.B.SURESH KUMAR** **TUESDAY, THE 16TH DAY OF JULY 2019 / 25TH ASHADHA, 1941** **MACA.No.4029 OF 2017** **AGAINST THE AWARD IN OPMV 32/2014 OF MOTOR ACCIDENT CLAIMS TRIBUNAL PALA DATED 25.05.2016** ## **APPELLANTS/PETITIONERS:** **1 BABY V.A.@BABY, AGED 43 YEARS, VATTAMKANDATHIL HOUSE, MUTHOLAPURAM P.O., JOSEGIRI BHAGOM, MUTHOLAPURAM, ELANJI. 2 HONEY BABY, W/O.BABY V.A., AGED 26 YEARS, VATTAMKANDATHIL HOUSE, MUTHOLAPURAM P.O., JOSEGIRI BHAGOM, MUTHOLAPURAM, ELANJI.** **BY ADV. SRI.DOMSON J.VATTAKUZHY** ## **RESPONDENTS/RESPONDENTS:** - **1 JOSE VARGHESE, S/O.P.M.VARGHESE, PUTHENPURACKAL HOUSE, PALAKUZHA, KOOTHATTUKULAM, MUVATTUPUZHA. 686661** - **2 SHIBU MARKOSE, VANPILLIL HOUSE, PALAKUZHA P.O., KOTHATTUKULAM. 686686** - **3 THE ORIENTAL INSURANCE CO. LTD., KANJIRAPPALLY BRANCH, KANJIRAPPALLY. 686507** - **R3 BY ADV. SRI.N.S.NAJEEB R3 BY ADV.SMT.K.S.SANTHI** **THIS MOTOR ACCIDENT CLAIMS APPEAL HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 16.07.2019, ALONG WITH MACA.1443/2010(T), MACA.2383/2012, MACA.1941/2013, MACA.799/2014, MACA.2853/2016, MACA.2701/2017, MACA.2957/2017, MACA.2014/2019, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:** M.A.C.A Nos.2383 of 2012 & con. Cases 12 ## **IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM** ## **PRESENT** **THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.B.SURESH KUMAR** **TUESDAY, THE 16TH DAY OF JULY 2019 / 25TH ASHADHA, 1941** **MACA.No.2014 OF 2019** **AGAINST THE AWARD IN OPMV 101/2014 OF MOTOR ACCIDENT CLAIMS TRIBUNAL, OTTAPALAM DATED 28.04.2017** ## **APPELLANT/PETITIONER:** **HAMSA, AGED 53 YEARS, S/O.ASSAINU HAJI, KORAKKOOTTIL HOUSE, POST VILATHUR, MANCHAMBRA, PATTAMBI TALUK, PALAKKAD DISTRICT-679304.** **BY ADVS. SRI.R.SREEHARI SRI.SACHIN VYAS** ## **RESPONDENTS/RESPONDENTS:** **1 SUJESH, AGED 32 YEARS, S/O.PRABHAKARAN, GANITHA HOUSE, PALLIPPURAM POST, PATTAMBI TALUK, PALAKKAD DISTRICT-679305.** **2 THE ORIENTAL INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED, KAIRALI TOWER, PALAKKAD ROAD, PATTAMBI, PALAKKAD DISTRICT-679303.** **BY ADV. R3 BY SMT.K.S.SANTHI** **THIS MOTOR ACCIDENT CLAIMS APPEAL HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 16.07.2019, ALONG WITH MACA.1443/2010(T), MACA.2383/2012, MACA.1941/2013, MACA.799/2014, MACA.2853/2016, MACA.2701/2017, MACA.2957/2017, MACA.4029/2017, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:** M.A.C.A Nos.2383 of 2012 & con. Cases 13 ## **M.A.C.A Nos.2383 of 2012, 1941 of 2013, 799 of 2014, 1443 of 2010, 2853 of 2016, 2701, 2957 & 4029 of 2017** ## **and 2014 of 2019** ## **J U D G M E N T** This batch of appeals are preferred by claimants in proceedings instituted before the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal under Section 163A of the Motor Vehicles Act (the Act) challenging the decisions of the Tribunals in dismissing the claim petitions. The appeals are disposed of by this common judgment as the issue arising for consideration is common. 2. The claimants are the victims of the accidents in some of the proceedings and the legal representatives of the victims in the remaining proceedings. In all these cases, the victims of the accidents were driving/riding the vehicles involved in the accidents. It is seen that the claim petitions were dismissed by the Tribunals holding that the accidents which were the subject matter of the proceedings occurred on account of the negligence of the victims themselves. Negligence on the part of the victims who were driving/riding the vehicles involved in the accidents is irrelevant in the context of the claims made under Section 163A of the Act. It is so held by the Apex M.A.C.A Nos.2383 of 2012 & con. Cases 14 Court in **United India Insurance Co.Ltd v. Sunil Kumar & Anr.** [2017 (4) KLT 1093 (SC)]. In the light of the said decision of the Apex Court, the impugned decisions are liable to be interfered with. It is, however, seen that since the claim petitions were dismissed, the compensation payable to the claimants in terms of Section 163A of the Act were not determined. In the circumstances, the appeals are allowed, the impugned awards are set aside and the claim petitions are remitted to the Tribunals for fixation of the quantum of compensation under Section 163A of the Act. It is, however, made clear that in the event of the appellants being granted compensation in the proceedings, they will not be entitled to interest for the period of delay in filing the appeals, namely 620 days in M.A.C.A. No.2014 of 2019, 442 days in M.A.C.A. No.4029 of 2017 and 335 days in M.A.C.A. No.1941 of 2013, ordered in their respective cases. All the interlocutory applications in the appeals are closed. ## **Sd/-** ## **P.B.SURESH KUMAR** Mn ## **JUDGE**