Tr.P(C).283/2023 & Tr.P(C).331/2023 (Transfer Petitions) - High Court of Kerala at Ernakulam - High Court of Kerala (2024)

Case Details & Bench

Court: High Court of Kerala
Hon'ble Judges: The Honourable Dr. Justice Kauser Edappagath
Judgment Date: 2024-03-25
Court Decision / Holding: Tr.P(C).283/2023 allowed; OPMV 435/2019 pending before MACT Ernakulam transferred to MACT Alappuzha to be tried along with OPMV 1338/2018. Tr.P(C).331/2023 dismissed.
Final Disposition: Transfer petitions disposed; Tr.P(C).283/2023 allowed, Tr.P(C).331/2023 dismissed; OPMV 435/2019 transferred to MACT Alappuzha to be tried with OPMV 1338/2018.

Parties to the Case

Appellants / Petitioners

Amina Beevi
Muhammed Bilal
Balkees K

Respondents

Nazeer M M
Shahul Hameed E A
Cholamandalam General Insurance Co. Ltd
Rajesh M G
The Managing Director, KSRTC
The National Insurance Co. Ltd
Bilal@ Muhammed Bilal
Ruksana @ Balkees
Amina Beevi

Legal Representation & Advocates

Counsels for Petitioners

• A. T. Anil Kumar
• V. Shylaja

Counsels for Respondents

• Joy C. Paul
• Anil Prasad
• Jacob Mathew P.
• Alex Antony Sebastian
• George A. Cherian
• Mathews Jacob (Sr.)
• Sabu P. Joseph
• C. N. Sreekumar
• Tony George Thomas
• Arya K.K.
• K. S. Muhammed Shefin
• K. Jacob Mathew
• N. R. Rajesh
• Bobby George
• Eldhose Joy
• Noble George

Case Synopsis & Summary

This order deals with two transfer petitions concerning rival Motor Accident Claims Tribunals (MACTs) at Alappuzha and Ernakulam. The petitions arise from two MACT claim petitions linked to the death of Kabeer P.S.: O.P.(MV)1338/2018, filed by the deceased’s first wife and children, and O.P.(MV)435/2019, filed by the second wife and other claimants, before different MACTs. The essential issue is which tribunal should try and adjudicate the claims where petitioners have filed in two different High Court jurisdictions. The court cites the Supreme Court’s Gohar Mohammed v. Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (2023) 1 KHC 1 (SC), particularly para 62, which states that the first petition shall be maintained by the tribunal where it was filed and the subsequent petitions shall be transferred to that tribunal, without the petitioners needing to approach this Court for transfers. Following this dictum, the court holds that OPMV 435/2019 filed before the MACT at Ernakulam should be transferred to MACT Alappuzha to be tried along with OPMV 1338/2018. Consequently, Tr.P(C).283/2023 is allowed, and Tr.P(C).331/2023 is dismissed. The order consolidates proceedings to avoid parallel proceedings and ensures uniform adjudication of the claims between the same parties.

Legal Doctrines & Maxims

First petition rule (Gohar Mohammed v. Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation): when rival claim petitions are filed before different High Courts, the first petition shall be maintained by the tribunal where it was filed and subsequent petitions shall be transferred to that tribunal.

Submissions & Arguments

Contentions of Appellants / Petitioners

The applicants contended for transfer of OPMV 435/2019 to MACT Alappuzha to be tried with OPMV 1338/2018, citing consolidation of claims and the guiding principle laid down by the Supreme Court in Gohar Mohammed v. Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation.

Contentions of Respondents

Not explicitly detailed in the order; the decision rests on the Supreme Court's dictum and the first petition rule.

Cited Precedents (1)

Case Name	Citation	Treatment	Explanation
Gohar Mohammed v. Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation	2023 (1) KHC 1 (SC)	Positive	The Court relied on the para 62 dictum to transfer the later-filed claim to the tribunal handling the first petition.

Extracted Judgment Text

Exact text extracted from official judgment records.

## **IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM** ## **PRESENT** **THE HONOURABLE DR. JUSTICE KAUSER EDAPPAGATH** **MONDAY, THE 25[TH] DAY OF MARCH 2024 / 5TH CHAITHRA, 1946** **TR.P(C) NO. 283 OF 2023** **OPMV NO.435 OF 2019 OF MOTOR ACCIDENT CLAIMS TRIBUNAL,** ## **ALAPPUZHA** ## **PETITIONERS/CLAIM APPLICANTS IN OPMV NO.1338/2018:** - **1 AMINA BEEVI AGED 42 YEARS W/O LATE KABEER P.S., EZHARACHIRAYIL HOUSE, KAKKAZHOM, AMBALAPUZHA, ALAPPUZHA, PIN - 683110** **2 MUHAMMED BILAL AGED 38 YEARS S/O LATE KABEER P.S, RESIDING AT EZHARACHIRAYIL HOUSE, KAKKAZHOM, AMBALAPUZHA, ALAPPUZHA-, PIN - 683108** **3 BALKEES. K AGED 20 YEARS D/O. LATE KABEER P.S., S/O. LATE KABEER P.S.,EZHARACHIRAYIL HOUSE, KAKKAZHOM, AMBALAPUZHA, ALAPPUZHA, PIN - 688005** **BY ADVS. A.T.ANILKUMAR V.SHYLAJA** ## **RESPONDENTS/RESPONDENTS IN OPMV1338/2018/PETITIONER &** **RESPONDENTS IN OPMV 435/19:** Tr.P(C).No.283 & 331 of 2023 ## -:2:- - **1 SONU.R. JOSE AGED 35 YEARS** - **W/O LATE KABEER P.S, AGED 35 YEARS, KARAMAYIL HOUSE MUPPATHADAMP.O.PARAVUR, ERNAKULAM, PIN - 683110** - **2 NAZEER M M AGED 38 YEARS** - **S/O MAJEED M.A, MOOPPUKANDATHIL HOUSE, ULIYANNOOR P.O, ALUVA, ERNAKULAM, PIN - 683108** - **3 SHAHUL HAMEED.E.A AGED 57 YEARS** - **S/O.ABOOBACKER, ELAVAKKAD HOUSE, VAZHAKKALA SOUTH, KAKKANAD P.O, ERANAKULAM, PIN - 682030** - **4 THE CHOLAMANDALAM MS GENERAL INSURANCE CO.LTD REP.BY.ITS MANAGER, 3RD PARTY CLAIM CELL, IIFLOOOR, ACEL ESTATE NO.40/856, IYYATTIL JUNCTION,CHITTOOR ROAD,COCHIN, PIN - 682011** - **5 RAJESH M.G AGED 45 YEARS** - **S/O GOPALAN, , MADATHANIYIL HOUSE, THRIKKALATHOOR P.O, MUVATTUPUZHA, PIN - 686661** - **6 THE MANAGING DIRECTOR K.S.R.T.C, TRANSPORT BHAVAN FORT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM,, PIN - 609523** - **7 THE NATIONAL INSURANCE CO.LTD** - **REP. BY. ITS MANAGER, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM BRANCH, II SECOND FLOOR, K.K BUILDING, ARISTO JUNCTION, THAMPANOOR, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695014** Tr.P(C).No.283 & 331 of 2023 -:3:- **BY ADVS. JOY C. PAUL Anil Prasad jacob mathew p ALEX ANTONY SEBASTIAN P.A. GEORGE A.CHERIAN MATHEWS JACOB (SR.)(M-186) SABU P.JOSEPH(K/1406/1998) C.N.SREEKUMAR(K/716/1996) TONY GEORGE THOMAS(K/818/2020) ARYA K.K.(K/1275/2022) K.S.MUHAMMED SHEFIN(K/002107/2021) K.JACOB MATHEW(J-481) N.R.RAJESH(K/1349/1999) BOBBY GEORGE(K/262/2000) ELDHOSE JOY(K/172/2022) NOBLE GEORGE(K/002440/2022)** **THIS TRANSFER PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 25.03.2024, ALONG WITH Tr.P(C).331/2023, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:** Tr.P(C).No.283 & 331 of 2023 -:4:- ## **IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM** ## **PRESENT** **THE HONOURABLE DR. JUSTICE KAUSER EDAPPAGATH MONDAY, THE 25[TH] DAY OF MARCH 2024 / 5TH CHAITHRA, 1946 TR.P(C) NO. 331 OF 2023** **IN OPMV NO.1338 OF 2018 OF ADDITIONAL MOTOR ACCIDENT CLAIMS TRIBUNAL, ALAPPUZHA** **PETITIONER/PETITIONER IN OPMV 435/19 AND NON PARTY IN OPMV** **1338/18:** **SONU R JOSE, AGED 36 YEARS W/O LATE KABEER P.S KARAMAYIL HOUSE MUPPATHADAM P.O PARAVUR , ERNAKUAM, PIN - 682311** **BY ADVS.JOY C. PAUL N.R.RAJESH, BOBBY GEORGE ELDHOSE JOY, REEJO JOHNSON NOBLE GEORGE** ## **RESPONDENTS/RESPONDENTS IN OPMV 435/19 & PETITIONERS IN** **OPMV 1338/18 :** - **1 NAZEER M M,AGED 35 S/O MAJEED M.A MOOPUKANDATHIL HOUSE ULIYANNOOR P.O , ALUVA., PIN - 683108** - **2 SHAHUL HAMEED E A S/O ABOOBECKER ELAVAKKADU HOUSE, VAZHAKKALA SOUTH, KAKKANADU P.O ERNAKULAM,, PIN - 682030** - **3 THE CHOLAMANDALAM GENERAL INSURANCE CO. LTD REP. BY ITS MANAGER 3RD PARTY CLAIM CELL , 2ND FLOOR ACEL ESTATE NO. 40/856 IYYATTIL JN. CHITTOOR ROAD, COCHIN, PIN - 682011** Tr.P(C).No.283 & 331 of 2023 -:5:- - **4 RAJESH M G, AGED 42, S/O GOPALAN MADATHANIYIL HOUSE, THRIKKALATHOOR P.O MUVATTUPUZHA ERNAKULAM DISTRICT, PIN 683541, PIN - 683541** - **5 THE MANAGING DIRECTOR , K.S.R.T.C TRANSPORT BHAVAN FORT THIRUVANATHAPURAM -23,, PIN - 695023** - **6 THE NATIONAL INSURANCE CO. LTD. BY ITS MANAGER THIRUVANATHAPURAM BRANCH 2ND FLOOR , K.K BUILDING , ARISTO JN. THAMPANOOR THIRUVANATHAPURAM DISTRICT,, PIN - 695014** - **7 BILAL@ MUHAMMED BILAL S/O LATE KABEER EZHARACHIRAYIL HOUSE, KAKKAZHAM AMPALAPUZHA P.O, ALAPPUZHA DISTRICT,, PIN - 688561** - **8 RUKSANA @ BALKEES, D/O LATE KABEER EZHARACHIRAYIL HOUSE, KAKKAZHAM AMPALAPUZHA P.O, ALAPPUZHA DISTRICT,, PIN - 688561** - **9 AMINA BEEVI, EZHARACHIRAYIL HOUSE, KAKKAZHAM AMPALAPUZHA P.O, ALAPPUZHA DISTRICT, PIN 688561, PIN - 688561** **BY ADVS.jacob mathew p** **ALEX ANTONY SEBASTIAN P.A., GEORGE A.CHERIAN A.T.Anilkumar A.T., V.SHYLAJA(K/1281/1995) GEORGE CHERIAN (SR.)(G-81), K.JACOB MATHEW(J-481) MATHEWS JACOB (SR.)(M-186)** **THIS TRANSFER PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 25.03.2024, ALONG WITH Tr.P(C).283/2023, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:** Tr.P(C).No.283 & 331 of 2023 ## -:6:- ## **O R D E R** Dated this the 25[st] day of March, 2024 Two claim petitions filed before two Motor Accident Claims Tribunals (for short 'MACT') by the rival claimants are the subject matter of these transfer petitions. 2. One Mr.Kabeer P.S. died in a motor accident. His first wife and children filed claim petition as O.P.(MV) No.1338/2018 before the MACT, Alappuzha. His second wife filed O.P.(MV) No.435/2019 before the MACT, Ernakulam. 3. Tr.P(C).No.331/2023 has been filed to transfer O.P. (MV)No.1338/2018 pending before the MACT, Alappuzha to the MACT, Ernakulam, while Tr.P(C).No.283/2023 has been filed to transfer O.P(MV) No.435/2019 pending before the MACT, Ernakulam to MACT, Alappuzha. 4. I have heard both sides. 5. The Apex Court in **Gohar Mohammed v. Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation** [ 2023 (1) KHC 1 (SC)] considered the question, which Tribunal has to try and dispose of claim petition when rival claimants filed claim petitions before different Tribunals. It was held in paragraph 62 thus: ## Tr.P(C).No.283 & 331 of 2023 ## -:7:- “62. xxxx xii) In case the claimant(s) or legal representative(s) of the deceased have filed separate claim petition(s) in the territorial jurisdiction of different High Courts, in the said situation, the first claim petition filed by the claimant(s)/legal representative(s) shall be maintained by the said Claims Tribunal and the subsequent claim petition(s) shall stand transferred to the Claims Tribunal where the first claim petition was filed and pending. It is made clear here that the claimant(s) are not required to apply before this Court seeking transfer of other claim petition(s) though filed in the territorial jurisdiction of different High Courts. The Registrar Generals of the High Courts shall take appropriate steps and pass appropriate order in this regard in furtherance to the directions of this Court. xxxx” Going by the dictum laid down above, O.P.(MV) 435/2019 which is filed subsequently has to be transferred to the MACT, Alappuzha. Hence Tr.P(C) No.283/2023 is allowed and O.P.(MV) No.435/2019 pending before the MACT, Ernakulam is transferred to the MACT, Alappuzha to try along with O.P.(MV) No.1338/2018. Tr.P.(C).No.331/2023 is dismissed. Sd/- **DR. KAUSER EDAPPAGATH** **JUDGE** **kp** Tr.P(C).No.283 & 331 of 2023 -:8:- ## **APPENDIX OF TR.P(C) 331/2023** **PETITIONER ANNEXURES** **Annexure A1 TRUE OFFICE COPY OF THE CLAIM PETITION OF OP(MV) 435/2019 Annexure A2 RELATIONSHIP CERTIFICATE OF THE DECEASED OBTAINED FROM VILLAGE OFFICE ,KADUNGALLOOR VILLAGE DATED 03/08/2019 Annexure A3 TRUE COPY OF THE CLAIM PETITION, OP(MV) 1338/2018 BEFORE MACT ALAPPUZHA** Tr.P(C).No.283 & 331 of 2023 -:9:- ## **APPENDIX OF TR.P(C) 283/2023** **PETITIONER EXHIBITS** **Exhibit P1** **THE TRUE COPY OF THE ORIGINAL PETITION IN OPMV NO. 1338/2018 ON THE FILE OF MOTOR ACCIDENT CLAIM TRIBUNAL ERNAKULAM** **Exhibit P2** **TRUE COPY OF THE ORIGINAL PETITION IN OPMV NO:435/2019 ON THE FILE OF MOTOR ACCIDENT CLAIM TRIBUNAL ALAPPUZHA**

Tr.P(C).283/2023 & Tr.P(C).331/2023 (Transfer Petitions) - High Court of Kerala at Ernakulam