TATA AIG GENERAL INSURANCE CO LTD v. VIJAY KUMAR @ VIJAY BAHADUR & ORS

Delhi High Court · 20 Jan 2020 · 2020:DHC:372
Najmi Waziri, J.
MAC.APP. No. 20/2020
2020:DHC:372
civil appeal_dismissed Significant

AI Summary

The Delhi High Court dismissed the insurer's appeal, holding that a vehicle with unladen weight below 7,500 kgs is a light motor vehicle under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and the insurer is not entitled to recover compensation from the vehicle owner when the driver holds a valid licence.

Full Text
Translation output
MAC.APP. No. 20/2020 HIGH COURT OF DELHI
Date of Decision: 20.01.2020.
MAC.APP. 20/2020
TATA AIG GENERAL INSURANCE CO LTD ..... Appellant
Through: Mr. Rudra Kahlon, Adv. with Ms. Vandana Kahlon, Adv.
VERSUS
VIJAY KUMAR @ VIJAY BAHADUR & ORS ..... Respondents
Through
CORAM:
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE NAJMI WAZIRI NAJMI WAZIRI, J. (Oral)
CM APPL. 1904/2020 (Exemption)
JUDGMENT

1. Allowed, subject to all just exceptions.

2. The application stands disposed-off. MAC.APP. 20/2020 & CM APP. 1903/2020

3. This appeal impugns the award of compensation dated 11.10.2019 passed by the learned MACT in MACP No. 294/2016, insofar as it has not granted right of recovery to the appellant against the owner of the vehicle. It is the appellant’s contention that the offending vehicle weighed over 11,900 kgs. However, in terms of the dicta of the Supreme Court in Mukund Dewangan vs. Oriental Ins. Co. Ltd., (2016) 4 SCC 298, where the unladen weight of the vehicle does not exceed 7,500 kgs., it is considered as a light motor vehicle under section 2(21) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. 2020:DHC:372 MAC.APP. No. 20/2020

4. Admittedly, unladen weight of the vehicle involved in the motor vehicular accident was 5,050 kgs., therefore, it is covered under the category of light motor vehicle, for which the driver had a valid driving licence. The non-grant of right of recovery does not call for any interference.

5. The appeal is without merit and is accordingly, dismissed.

6. The statutory amount, alongwith interest accrued thereon, be deposited into the ‘AASRA’ Fund created by this Court.

NAJMI WAZIRI, J JANUARY 20, 2020 kb