Judgment · High Court

Dilwale 1 7-WP-10769-17 GROUP.odtIN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAYBENCH AT AURANGABAD7 WRIT PETITION NO. 10769 OF 2017 The New India Assurance Co Ltd Through Its ManagerVERSUSAnushree Rajkumar Jalawad And Another...Advocate for the Petitioner/appellant in all first appeals : Mr. DeshpandeDhananjay P.Advocate for Respondents in WP/FA : Mr. Kanawade Ajay T. Advocate for Respondents in FA/CA : Mr. Shrikant S. Kulkarni...FIRST APPEAL NO.1139 OF 2026FIRST APPEAL NO.1140 OF 2026FIRST APPEAL NO.1141 OF 2026FIRST APPEAL NO.1142 OF 2026FIRST APPEAL NO. 1690 OF 2019FIRST APPEAL NO.1143 OF 2026FIRST APPEAL NO.1138 OF 2026CORAM: SIDDHESHWAR S. THOMBRE, J.DATE:30.03.2026PER COURT :

Heard the learned counsel for the respective parties.

The present writ petition and all the first appeals arise out of thesame accident and involve common questions of fact and law. Hence, they were clubbed together by the order of Hon’ble Administrative Judgeof this Court and are being decided by this common order. Dilwale 2 7-WP-10769-17 GROUP.odt3.The petitioner–Insurance Company has assailed the judgment andaward passed by the learned Ad-hoc District Judge–1 and Ex-OfficioMember, Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, Bhokar, District Nanded infollowing matters:-WP/FA No.Case No.Date of DecisionDecisionWP-10769/2017MACP No.16/201109/12/2016Partly allowed withproportionate costs.FA-1139/2026MACP No.20/201117/12/2016Partly allowed withproportionate costs.FA-1140/2026MACP No.17/201117/12/2016Partly allowed withproportionate costs.FA-1141/2026MACP No.15/201117/12/2016Partly allowed withproportionate costs.FA-1142/2026MACP No.13/201117/12/2016Partly allowed withproportionate costs.FA-1690/2019MACP No.12/201107/12/2016Allowed with costs.FA-1143/2026MACP No.22/201217/12/2016Partly allowed withproportionate costs.FA-1138/2026MACP No.18/201117/12/2016Partly allowed withproportionate costs.

Learned counsel for the petitioner/appellant submits that theclaimants themselves have admitted that the vehicle was engaged on hirebasis at the rate of Rs.6 per kilometer and that the passengers were fare-paying passengers. It is submitted that the charge-sheet and police papersclearly establish that the vehicle was used for commercial purposes. Despite this, the Tribunal erroneously held that the vehicle was not usedcommercially.

It is further submitted that there was a fundamental breach of Dilwale 3 7-WP-10769-17 GROUP.odtpolicy conditions, as the seating capacity of the vehicle was 8+1, whereasabout 15 passengers were traveling at the relevant time but the policycovers only 9 passengers including driver. According to the learnedcounsel, carrying excess passengers beyond the permitted capacityamounts to a breach of policy conditions, and therefore, the InsuranceCompany is entitled to avoid liability under Section 149 of the MotorVehicles Act, 1988.

It is also contended that the evidence of the owner was collusiveand intended to support the claimants. Further, the salary certificate ofthe deceased in Claim Petition No.12 of 2011 was not duly proved, andthe Tribunal erred in relying upon the same. It is also urged thatappropriate deduction towards personal expenses of the deceased wasnot made. The learned Tribunal ought to have deducted 1/3rd amounttowards personal expenses.

Per contra, Mr. Kanawade and Mr. Kulkarni, the learned counsel forthe respective respondents support the impugned awards and submit thatthe Tribunal has rightly appreciated the evidence on record.

I have gone through the entire record, including the oral anddocumentary evidence. The evidence of PW-1 Gita Dasarwad, wife of thedeceased in First Appeal No.1690/2019, indicates that she, along withher husband and others, had travelled in the vehicle due to personalacquaintance and not on payment of fare. Nothing has been elicited inher cross-examination to establish that the vehicle was hired. The owner Dilwale 4 7-WP-10769-17 GROUP.odtof the vehicle has also deposed that the passengers were known to himand had accompanied him for a visit to Shirdi. There is no cogentevidence on record to establish that the vehicle was hired or that fare waspaid by the passengers.