Mohammed Siddique Anr v. National Insurance Company Ltd. Ors. Air

Judgment

1. Heera Lal S/o Ramchandra, R/o Mohalla Bagron Ka, Near Police Line, Alwar Through Director, Elementary Education Department, Bikaner Raj. Driver Of Vehicle Car No. RJ 07- C-3944

2. The Director Elementary Education, V.p.o. Education Directorate, Bikaner Raj.

3. The State Of Rajasthan Through District Collector, Bikaner Raj. Vehicle Owner Car No. RJ-07-C-3944 ----Respondents For Appellant(s)

: Mr. Arvind Pareek For Respondent(s) : None Present HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE CHANDRA PRAKASH SHRIMALI Order RESERVED ON : 07/08/2025 PRONOUNCED ON : 29 /08/2025 vihykFkhZ eqds'k dqekj dh vksj ls ;g vihy fo}ku eksVj;ku nq?kZVuk okn vf/kdj.k] lhdj ¼vij ftyk ls'ku U;k;k/kh'k QkLV Vªsd Øe&1] lhdj½ }kjk Dyse ;kfpdk la[;k 460@2005 esa ikfjr vkyksP; fu.kZ; fnukad 31-05-2007 ls O;fFkr gksdj izLrqr dh gS] ftlds }kjk vihykFkhZ dks izR;FkhZ la[;k 1 ls 3 ls 45]896@& #i, {kfriwfrZ jkf'k izkIr djus vkSj mlds vfrfjDr 5]00@& #i, ;kfpdk O;; fnyk, tkus vkSj 'ks"k jkf'k ij vkosnu izLrqr djus dh fnukad 24-04-2004 ls jde dh vnk;xh rd 6-25 izfr'kr okf"kZd lk/kkj.k nj ls C;kt izkIr djus dk vf/kdkjh ekuk gSA [2025:RJ-JP:33689] (2 of 8) [CMA-116/2009] fo}ku vf/kdj.k us fu.kZ; fnukad 31-05-2007 ds }kjk nq?kZVuk Dyse la[;k 468@2005 fxjh'k dqekj 'kekZ cuke ghjkyky rFkk Dyse la[;k 460@2005 eqds'k dqekj cuke ghjkyky cxSjg nks Dyse ;kfpdk esa fu.kZ; ikfjr fd;k Fkk] pwafd bl izdj.k esa vihykFkhZ eqds'k dqekj }kjk nq?kZVuk Dyse la[;k 460@2005 dks vihy ds ek/;e ls pqukSrh nh xbZ gS] ,slh fLFkfr esa nq?kZVuk Dyse la[;k 460@2005 esa fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk ikfjr fu.kZ; fnukad 31-05-2007 ds laca/k esa gh ;g foospu fd;k tk jgk gSA vihykFkhZ ds fo}ku vfHkHkk"kd dk cgl ds nkSjku ;g rdZ jgk gS fd fnukad 23-10-2003 dks vihykFkhZ eqds'k dqekj vius vU; lkFkh fxjh'k dqekj ds lkFk eksVjlkbZfdy ij lokj gksdj xkao ukoykbZ ls Jhek/kksiqj vk jgk Fkk] tc os eÅ ls Jhek/kksiqj dh rjQ djhc nks fdyksehVj pys rks lkeus ls vejflag ds HkV~Vk ds ikl izR;FkhZ la- 1 ghjkyky viuh dkj la[;k vkj-ts- 07 lh- 3944 dks rsth o ykijokgh ls pykdj yk;k rFkk eksVjlkbZfdy ds lkbZM esa pyrh gqbZ ds VDdj ekj nh] ftlls izkFkhZ fxjh'k dqekj ,oa eqds'k dqekj ds pksVsa vkbZaA izR;FkhZ la[;k 1] izR;FkhZ la[;k 2 ds funsZ'ku esa okgu dks pyk jgk FkkA fo}ku vf/kdj.k us eksVjlkbZfdy ij rhu O;fDr cSBs gksus ds vk/kkj ij eksVjlkbZfdy pkyd dh nq?kZVuk dkfjr djus esa 30 izfr'kr dh la;qDr o ;ksxnk;h mis{kk ykijokgh crkbZ gS vkSj 70 izfr'kr dh la;qDr o ;ksxnk;h mis{kk ,EcslsMj dkj pkyd izR;FkhZ la[;k 1 ghjkyky dh crkbZ gSA mis{kk o ykijokgh eksVjlkbZfdy pkyd dh dSls jgh bl rF; dks fo}ku vf/kdj.k us foosfpr ugha fd;k gSA rhu O;fDr;ksa ds eksVjlkbZfdy ij cSBs gksus ds vk/kkj ij la;qDr o ;ksxnk;h mis{kk ugha ekuh tk ldrh gSA vr% fo}ku vf/kdj.k us eksVjlkbZfdy pkyd dh 30 izfr'kr mis{kk o ykijokgh ekudj {kfriwfrZ jkf'k 30 izfr'kr de dh gS] tks fof/k vuqdwy ugha gSA blds vfrfjDr fo}ku vf/kdj.k us tks Dyse jkf'k fnykbZ gS og Dyse jkf'k fof/k esa of.kZr izko/kkuksa ds vuq:i ugha fnyokbZ gSA vr% izfrdj@{kfriwfrZ jkf'k fof/k esa of.kZr izko/kkuksa ds [2025:RJ-JP:33689] (3 of 8) [CMA-116/2009] vuqlkj o`f) dh tkosA vihykFkhZ ds fo}ku vfHkHkk"kd }kjk vius rdksaZ ds leFkZu esa fuEu fofu'p; izLrqr fd, gSa& 1- Mohammed Siddique & Anr. Versus National Insurance Company Ltd. & Ors. Air 2020 Supreme Court 520 Order Dated 08.01.20220 izR;FkhZx.k dh vksj ls rkehy ds ckotwn dksbZ mifLFkr ughaA vihykFkhZ ds rdksZa ij euu fd;k rFkk i=koyh dk voyksdu fd;kA fo}ku U;k;k/kh'k eksVj;ku nq?kZVuk okn vf/kdj.k lhdj us bl izdj.k esa fook|d la[;k 1 dks foosfpr djrs gq, eksVjlkbZfdy pkyd dh nq?kZVuk dkfjr djus esa 30 izfr'kr dh la;qDr o ;ksxnk;h mis{kk crkbZ gSA Dyse ;kfpdk ds vuqlkj fnukad 23-10-2003 dks vihykFkhZ vius vU; lkFkh fxjh'k dqekj ds lkFk eksVjlkbZfdy ij tk jgk Fkk] lkeus ls izR;FkhZ la[;k 1 ghjkyky dkj dks rst xfr o ykijokgh ls pykdj vk;k vkSj eksVjlkbZfdy dks lkbM esa VDdj ekj nh] ftlls eqds'k ,oa fxjh'k dqekj dh pksVsa vkbZaA vihykFkhZ ,-MCY;w 1 eqds'k dqekj dh lk{; ds nkSjku ;g rF; lkeus vk;k gS fd vihykFkhZ eqds'k dqekj eksVjlkbZfdy pyk jgk Fkk vkSj fxjh'k dqekj ihNs cSBk Fkk] lkeus ls jksMost cl dks vkrs ns[k mlus eksVjlkbZfdy dks lM+d ds fdukjs fy;k vkSj jksMost cl ds ihNs ljdkjh xkM+h ,EcslsMj vksojVsd djds lkeus vkbZ vkSj mlus eksVjlkbZfdy ds VDdj ekj nhA nq?kZVuk dkj okys dh xyrh ls gqbZ ftlls muds 'kjhj ij pksVsa vkbZaA bl lk{; ds izfrijh{kk ds c;ku ls ;g Li"V gksrk gS fd eksVjlkbZfdy ij vihykFkhZ eqds'k dqekj] fnus'k rFkk fxjh'k rhuksa cSBS FksA bl lk{kh us eksVjlkbZfdy LihM esa gksus ds rF; ls budkj fd;k gSA eksVjlkbZfdy rst xfr] mis{kk o ykijokgh ls py jgh gks] bl rF; ds laca/k esa fo}ku vf/kdj.k us vius vkyksP; vkns'k esa bl izdkj dk dksbZ er O;Dr ugha fd;k gSA ,-MCY;w 2 fxjh'k dqekj 'kekZ us vius c;ku esa ;g ugha crk;k gS fd eksVjlkbZfdy pkyd rst xfr o mis{kk] ykijokgh ls pyk jgk gks] ftlls nq?kZVuk ?kfVr gqbZ gksA ,u-,-MCY;w 1 ghjkyky us vius c;ku esa eksVjlkbZfdy dks LihM ls rks crkuk dgk gS ysfdu LihM ls okgu [2025:RJ-JP:33689] (4 of 8) [CMA-116/2009] pykus ds vk/kkj ij eksVjlkbZfdy pkyd dh mis{kk o ykijokgh ugha ekuh tk ldrh gSA bl lk{kh us vksojVsd djus ds pDdj esa eksVjlkbZfdy dk fQlydj fxjuk crk;k gS vkSj eksVjlkbZfdy ij 3 O;fDr;ksa dk cSBuk crk;k gSA eksVjlkbZfdy pkyd us okgu pykus esa fdlh izdkj mis{kk o ykijokgh cjrh] bl rF; dks ,u-,-MCY;w 1 ghjkyky vius c;ku esa ugha crk ik;k gSA iqfyl us vuqla/kku vkjksi&i= izn'kZ 2 izLrqr fd;k gS o uD'kk ekSdk izn'kZ 3 cuk;k gS] ftlesa dkj pkyd izR;FkhZ la[;k 1 ghjkyky dh mis{kk o ykijokgh ls okgu pykus ds dkj.k ls nq?kZVuk ?kfVr gksuk crk;k gSA uD'ks ekSds ls Hkh fo}ku vf/kdj.k us ;g Li"V ugha fd;k gS fd eksVjlkbZfdy pkyd dh nq?kZVuk dkfjr djus esa fdl izdkj o fdruh la;qDr o ;ksxnk;h mis{kk jghA eksVjlkbZfdy ij 3 lokjh gksus ek= ls ;g ugha ekuk tk ldrk gS fd nq?kZVuk dkfjr djus esa eksVjlkbZfdy pkyd dh la;qDr o ;ksxnk;h mis{kk jgh gksA ekuuh; mPpre U;k;ky; }kjk vius fofu'p; Mohammed Siddique vs National Insurance Company Ltd on 8 January, 2020 esa ;g fl)kar izfrikfnr fd;k gS fd%&

13. But the above reason, in our view, is flawed. The fact that the deceased was riding on a motor cycle along with the driver and another, may not, by itself, without anything more, make him guilty of contributory negligence. At the most it would make him guilty of being a party to the violation of the law. Section 128 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, imposes a restriction on the driver of a two wheeled motor cycle, not to carry more than one person on the motor cycle. Section 194 C inserted by the Amendment Act 32 of 2019, prescribes a penalty for violation of safety measures for motor cycle drivers and pillion riders. Therefore, the fact that a person was a pillion rider on a motor cycle along with the driver and one more person on the pillion, may be a violation of the law. But such violation [2025:RJ-JP:33689] (5 of 8) [CMA-116/2009] by itself, without anything more, cannot lead to a finding of contributory negligence, unless it is established that his very act of riding along with two others, contributed either to the accident or to the impact of the accident upon the victim. There must either be a causal connection between the violation and the accident or a causal connection between the violation and the impact of the accident upon the victim. It may so happen at times, that the accident could have been averted or the injuries sustained could have been of a lesser degrée, if there had been no violation of the law by the victim. What could otherwise have resulted in a simple injury, might have resulted in a grievous injury or even death due to the violation of the law by the victim. It is in such cases, where, but for the violation of the law, either the accident could have been averted or the impact could have been minimized, that the principle of contributory negligence could be invoked. It is not the case of the insurer that the accident itself occurred as a result of three persons riding on a motor cycle. It is not even the case of the insurer that the accident would have been averted, if three persons were not riding on the motor cycle. The fact that the motor cycle was hit by the car from behind, is admitted. Interestingly, the finding recorded by the Tribunal that the deceased was wearing a helmet and that the deceased was knocked down after the car hit the motor cycle from behind, are all not assailed. Therefore, the finding of the High Court that 2 persons on the pillion of the motor cycle, could have added to the imbalance, is nothing but presumptuous and is not based either upon pleading or upon the evidence on record. Nothing was extracted from PW3 to the effect that 2 persons on the pillion added to the imbalance. [2025:RJ-JP:33689] (6 of 8) [CMA-116/2009]

14. Therefore, in the absence of any evidence to show that the wrongful act on the part of the deceased victim contributed either to the accident or to the nature of the injuries sustained, the victim could not have been held guilty of contributory negligence. Hence the reduction of 10% towards contributory negligence, is clearly unjustified and the same has to be set aside. mDr fofu'p; esa ekuuh; mPpre U;k;ky; }kjk vfHkfu/kkZfjr fl)kar o mijksDr foospu ds vk/kkj ij eksVjlkbZfdy ij 3 O;fDr;ksa ds cSBus ek= ls eksVjlkbZfdy pkyd dh 30 izfr'kr ;ksxnk;h mis{kk o ykijokgh ugha ekuh tkrh gSA izLrqr lk{; ls nq?kZVuk dkfjr djus esa eksVjlkbZfdy pkyd dh la;qDr o ;ksxnk;h mis{kk lkfcr ugha gqbZ gSA ,slh fLFkfr esa esjs fouez er esa fo}ku vf/kdj.k us eksVjlkbZfdy pkyd dh nq?kZVuk dkfjr djus esa 30 izfr'kr dh la;qDr o ;ksxnk;h mis{kk o ykijokgh ekuus esa fof/kd Hkwy o =qfV dh gSA vihykFkhZ ,-MCY;w 1 eqds'k dqekj ds pksV izfrosnu ifji= izn'kZ 6 ds vuqlkj vihykFkhZ ds 'kjhj ij nq?kZVuk ds QyLo:i dqy Ng pksVsa vkbZa] ftlesa 2 xaHkhj izd`fr dh pksV Fkh vkSj 4 lk/kkj.k izd`fr dh FkhA izn'kZ 34 LFkk;h fu;ksZX;rk izek.ki= ds vk/kkj ij fpfdRldksa us vihykFkhZ ds 10 izfr'kr LFkk;h fu;ksZX;rk gksuk crk;k gSA izLrqr fMLpktZ fVdV ds vuqlkj vihykFkhZ djhc 6 fnol rd vLirky esa HkrhZ jgkA ,slh fLFkfr esa mls ikSf"Vd vkgkj ds :i esa izfrfnu 500@& #i, ds fglkc ls 3000@& #i, fnykuk U;k;laxr mfpr izrhr gksrk gSA fo}ku vf/kdj.k us vihykFkhZ ds mipkj ij gq, O;; gsrq fpfdRldh; fcyksa ds vk/kkj ij 19]666@& #i, fnyk, gSa] tks fd U;k;ksfpr izrhr gksrs gSa] ifjogu O;; gsrq 5]300@& #i, fnyk, tkus ds fo}ku vf/kdj.k ds fofu'p; esa Hkh gLr{ksi fd, tkus dk dksbZ U;k;ksfpr vk/kkj ugha gSA blds vfrfjDr eksVjlkbZfdy [2025:RJ-JP:33689] (7 of 8) [CMA-116/2009] {kfrxzLr gksus ij laifRr ds uqdlku gsrq 5]000@& #i, fnyok, gSa] tks U;k;laxr mfpr izrhr gksrk gSA bl izdj.k esa fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk vihykFkhZ ds LFkk;h fu;ksZX;rk rFkk mldh vk; dks n`f"Vxr j[krs gq, o Hkfo"; dh vk; dks n`f"Vxr j[krs gq, {kfriwfrZ jkf'k ugha fnykbZ xbZ gSA vkosnu esa vihykFkhZ eqds'k dqekj dh vk;q 31 o"kZ dh crkbZ xbZ gS vkSj mlds nw/k [kjhnus cspus dk O;olk; djds 4]500@& #i, ekfld vk; vftZr djuk crk;k gS] ysfdu mlus ekfld vk; vtZu djus ds laca/k esa dksbZ nLrkosth lk{; izLrqr ugh dh gSA ,slh fLFkfr esa nq?kZVuk fnukad 23-10-2003 dks ?kfVr gksuk n`f"Vxr j[krs gq, vf/klwpuk fnukad 24-05-2008 ds vuqlkj tks vf/klwpuk fnukad 01-03-2008 ls fnukad 01-01-2011 rd izHkkoh jgh] mlds vuq:i vihykFkhZ dks vdq'ky Jfed ekurs gq, izfrfnu 100@& #i, U;wure etnwjh ekurs gq, 30 fnol dh 3000@& #i, ekfld vk; fu/kkZfjr fd;k tkuk U;k;ksfpr izrhr gksrk gSA vihykkFkhZ dh 31 ls 35 o"kZ ds vk;q dks n`f"Vxr j[krs gq, 16 dk xq.kd iz;ksx esa fy;k tkuk U;k;ksfpr izrhr gksrk gSA ekuuh; loksZPp U;k;ky; ds U;kf;d n`"VkUr txnh'k cuke eksgu o vU; ¼2018½ 4 ,l-lh-lh- 571 eas ;g izfrikfnr fd;k x;k gS fd LFkk;h fu;ksZX;rk ds ekeys esa vk; gkfu dh x.kuk djrs le; Hkfo"; esa vk; o`f) dk ykHk fn;k tkuk mfpr gSA rn~uqlkj izfrdj dh x.kuk dh tkos rks rRle; vdq'ky Jfed dh U;wure etnwjh nj 100@& :i;s izfrfnu Fkh] vf/kdj.k us nq?kZVuk dh fnukad 23-10-2003 dks vkgr dh vk;q 31 ls 35 o"kZ ds e/; ekuh gS rFkk fpfdRldh; fjiksVZ ds vuqlkj mlds 'kjhj ij dqy 10 izfr'kr LFkk;h fu;ksZX;rk ekuh x;h gSA ,sls esa vk; gkfu dh x.kuk dh tkos rks ;g 100x30x12x16x10%=57,600@& :i;s gksrh gS] ftlesa Hkfo"; esa vk; o`f) dk ykHk 40 izfr'kr dh nj ls 23]040@& :i;s gksrk gS] ftls tksM+s tkus ij ;g jkf'k dqy 80]640@& :i;s gksrh gS] tcfd vf/kdj.k }kjk [2025:RJ-JP:33689] (8 of 8) [CMA-116/2009] bl en esa dsoy 15]000@& :i;s fnyk;s x;s gSaA vr% vk; gkfu ds en esa 65]640@& :i;s c<+ksrjh ;ksX; gSaA izLrqr fMLpktZ fVdV ds vuqlkj vihykFkhZ djhc 6 fnol rd vLirky esa HkrhZ jgkA ,slh fLFkfr esa mls ikSf"Vd vkgkj ds :i esa izfrfnu 500@& #i, ds fglkc ls 3000@& #i, fnykuk U;k;laxr mfpr izrhr gksrk gS] tcfd vf/kdj.k }kjk bl en esa dsoy 600@& :i;s fnyk;s x;s gSaA vr% vk; gkfu ds en esa 2]400@& :i;s c<+ksrjh ;ksX; gSaA vr% mDr enksa esa dqy 68]040@& #i, c<+ksrjh ;ksX; gSaA vf/kdj.k }kjk vkgr dks vU; enksa esa fnyk;h x;h jkf'k iw.kZr% mfpr o i;kZIr gSa] vr% mDr enksa eas fdlh izdkj dk gLr{ksi fd;k tkuk mfpr ugha gSA bl izdkj v/khuLFk vf/kdj.k }kjk tks izfrdj jkf'k fnyk;h x;h gS] mlesa c<ksrjh djrs gq, vihykFkhZ@vkgr dqy 68]040@& :i;s vfrfjDr :i ls izkIr djus dk vf/kdkjh gSA mijksDr foospukuqlkj vihykFkhZ dh vksj ls izLrqr ;g vihy vkaf'kd :i ls Lohdkj dh tkdj fo}ku eksVj;ku nq?kZVuk okn vf/kdj.k] lhdj ¼vij ftyk ls'ku U;k;k/kh'k QkLV Vªsd Øe&1] lhdj½ }kjk Dyse ;kfpdk la[;k 460@2005 esa ikfjr vkyksP; fu.kZ; fnukad 31-05-2007 dks mikUrfjr djrs gq, vkns'k fn;k tkrk gS fd fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk ikfjr vokMZ jkf'k ds vfrfjDr bl vkns'k ds rgr vihykFkhZ 68]040@& :i;s rFkk ml ij ;kfpdk lafLFkr fd;s tkus dh fnukad ls olwyh rd 7 izfr'kr lk/kkj.k okf"kZd C;kt dh nj ls jkf'k izkIr djus dk vf/kdkjh gksxk] vk{ksfir vokMZ dh 'ks"k 'krsZa ;Fkkor jgsaxhA fopkj.k vf/kdj.k dk vfHkys[k ;fn izkIr gks j[kk gS rks vkns'k dh izfr ds lkFk vfoyEc ykSVk;k tkosA KISHAN SONI /28 (CHANDRA PRAKASH SHRIMALI),J