Oriental Insurance Co Ltd v. Sikha Bose & Ors.

Delhi High Court · 17 Feb 2020 · 2020:DHC:1143
Najmi Waziri
MAC.APP. No.80/2020
2020:DHC:1143
civil appeal_dismissed Significant

AI Summary

The Delhi High Court dismissed the insurance company’s appeal, holding that a driving licence for LMV authorizes driving a commercial motor taxi under 7500 kgs, affirming insurance liability.

Full Text
Translation output
MAC.APP. No.80/2020 HIGH COURT OF DELHI
Date of Decision: 17.02.2020
MAC.APP. 80/2020
ORIENTAL INSURANCE CO LTD ..... Petitioner
Through: Mr. R.K. Tripathi, Adv.
VERSUS
SIKHA BOSE & ORS ..... Respondents
Through:
CORAM:
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE NAJMI WAZIRI NAJMI WAZIRI, J. (Oral)
CM APPL. 6248/2020(Exemption)
Allowed, subject to all just exceptions.
The application stands disposed-off.
MAC.APP. 80/2020 & CM APPL. 6247/2020
JUDGMENT

1. This appeal impugns the order dated 06.11.2019 passed by the learned MACT in MACT No. 50847/2016 on the ground that the driver did not possess a valid driving licence for driving a commercial vehicle, albeit he did possess one, to drive an LMV-NT. The said contention is no more valid in terms of dicta of the Supreme Court in Mukund Dewangan vs. Oriental Insurance Co. Ltd. (2017) 14 SCC 663, whereunder it is settled law that the holder of a driving licence for Light Motor Vehicle (LMV) can drive any 2020:DHC:1143 MAC.APP. No.80/2020 motor vehicle whose unladen weight is under 7500 kgs. The offending vehicle in the present case, was a motor taxi, which had an unladen weight of around 1200 kgs and laden weight of around 1600 kgs. Therefore it will be covered by the aforesaid judgment.

2. There is no merit in the appeal and the same is hereby dismissed.

3. The statutory amount, along with interest accrued thereon, be deposited into the ‘AASRA’ Fund created by this Court for the amelioration or the conditioning and rehabilitation of burns victims.

NAJMI WAZIRI, J FEBRUARY 17, 2020 kb