National Insurance Company Ltd. v. Shama & Ors.

Delhi High Court · 19 Jul 2017 · 2017:DHC:3706
R. K. Gauba
MAC Appeal No. 490/2008
2017:DHC:3706
civil appeal_dismissed Significant

AI Summary

The Delhi High Court dismissed the insurer's appeal, holding that liability under a motor vehicle insurance policy cannot be denied solely due to the driver's license category, following Supreme Court precedent.

Full Text
Translation output
MAC Appeal No. 490/2008 HIGH COURT OF DELHI
Date of Decision: 19th July, 2017 MAC APPEAL No. 490/2008
NATIONAL INSURNACE COMPANY LTD. ..... Appellant
Through: Mr. Pankaj Seth, Adv.
VERSUS
SHAMA & ORS. ..... Respondents
Through: Mr. Yogesh Chhabra, Adv. for R-3.
Mr. Awadhesh Kumar, Adv. for R-4.
CORAM:
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE R.K.GAUBA
JUDGMENT
(ORAL)

1. On the claim petition (suit no.395/2006) of the first and second respondents in this appeal, the tribunal, by judgment dated 09.07.2008, awarded compensation directing the appellant insurance company to pay, it concededly being the insurer of the motor vehicle involved. The insurance company had raised the issue of breach of terms and conditions of the insurance policy on the ground that the driving license held by the third respondent, he being the owner and driver of the offending vehicle, was meant for driving a light motor vehicle. The contention of the insurance company that such license would not 2017:DHC:3706 MAC Appeal No. 490/2008 hold good in respect of the offending vehicle, it being a goods vehicle, was rejected.

2. The appeal is pressed to reiterate the above submission and to claim recovery rights. This plea must be rejected as the law has been settled by a bench of three Hon’ble Judges of the Supreme Court in Mukund Dewangan vs. Oriental Insurance Co. Ltd 2017 (7) SCALE 731, which is the view taken by this Court in New India Assurance Co. Ltd. vs Arvinder Kaur & Ors. MAC Appeal No. 32/2006 decided on 17.02.2016.

3. The appeal is therefore, dismissed. R.K.GAUBA, J. JULY 19, 2017 nk