IN THE COURT OF THE CHAIRMAN, MACT – CUM – DISTRICT JUDGE,
ADILABAD
Present:
S.Jagannadham,
CHAIRMAN, MACT-CUM-DISTRICT JUDGE,
ADILABAD
WEDNESDAY, THIS THE 5TH DAY OF DECEMBER, 2012
MVOP NO: 216 OF 2010
Between:
1.Thangedipalli Ravi S/o. Dathu, aged 28 years, Occ.Carpenter.
2. Thangedipalli Latha @ Thangedipalli Ghanatha W/o. T.Ravi, aged 28 years, occ.Beedi roller. ( Both R/o. Gopalpet village mandal Sarangapur, Dist. Adilabad) … PETITIONERS
// AND //
1.Sable Nekku Singh S/o. Balaram aged 46 years, occ.Driver of Maheswar Public School bus bearing No. AP 20 T 9987 C/o. Maheshwara Public School, near Dyangapur village, mandal Sarangapur, Dist.Adilabad.
2. Maheshwara Public School, rep.by Sri A.Maheshwar Reddy S/o. Padmanabha Reddy, aged major years, Occ.MLA Nirmal and Owbner of School bus bearing No. AP 20 T 9987, R/o. Nirmal village mandal Nirmal, Dist.Adilabad. … RESPONDENTS
This original petition coming on for final hearing on 26-11-2012 in the presence of Sri A.Amarender Reddy, Advocate for the petitioner and Respondents No. 1 and 2 remained exparte and the matter having stood over for consideration till this day this court made the following:
O R D E R
1)This is a claim application filed Under Section 166 of Motor Vehicles Act 1988 by the Petitioners Thangedipalli Ravi and Thangedipalli Latha parents of deceased by name Thangedipalli Swetha, aged 2 years, claiming compensation of Rs.1,50,000- 00 against respondent No.1 Sable Nekku Singh and R2 Maheshwara Public school for causing the death of the deceased Swetha by R1 by driving the School bus of
R2 bearing No. AP 20 T 9987 on 23-2-2010 at 1600 hours near GP Office, at
Gopalpet village, Sarangapur mandal of Adilabad District in a rash and negligent manner and running over the deceased and causing her instantaneous death.
2) The Police, Sarangapur registered case in Cr.No. 23 of 2010 against r1 U/s.
304-A IPC, conducted investigation and filed charge sheet also.
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3)Originally R2 remained ex-parte and R1 filed written statement pleading interalia that he was licenced driver employed by R2 and driver of the bus which met with an accident and he was driving the bus occasionally and due to negligence of mother of deceased by leaving the tender girl on the road un-attended and due to suddenly coming on to the road by the deceased, she met with an accident and he was not responsible for the death of the deceased as he was not at all rash or negligent in driving the bus. R2 being the owner alone is responsible to pay the compensation and that the compensation claim is excessive, the Petitioners are not the Dependants of the deceased and so, he denied his liability.
4)The Tribunal framed the following issues basing on the pleadings.
1) Whether the pleaded accident occurred resulting in the death of the deceased .
2) Whether the accident occurred due to the rash or negligent act on the part of the driver of R-1’s vehicle ?
3) Whether the vehicle of R1 stood insured with R2 insurance company on the date of the accident and if so, whether that policy covers the risk of the deceased ?
4) Whether the Claimants are entitled to compensation and if so, to what amount and what is the liability of R-1 and R-2 ?
5) To what relief ?
5)During trial, PWs 1 and 2 are examined and Ex.A1 to A6 are marked for the
Petitioners. R1 having filed written statement also remained ex-parte.
6)Some errors occurred while framing the issues by my predecessor in issue
No.2 , it mentioned as whether the accident occurred due to rash and negligent act of driver of R1. In fact R1 himself is the driver. So, the issue should be whether the accident occurred due to the rash and negligent driving of the bus, by R1.
7)In issue No.3, it was mentioned as though whether the vehicle of R1 stood insured with R2. In fact, R1 is the driver, R2 is the owner of the vehicle and no insurer is made as party, so this issue is un-necessarily. So the issues are re-caste as follows:
1) Whether the accident took place due to the rash and negligent driving of the School bus of R2 by R1 ?
2) Whether the Claimants are entitled to compensation and if so, to what amount and from which of the respondent ?
3) To what relief ?
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ISSUE NO.1:
8)Admittedly, the School bus which caused the accident is owned by R2. R1 was the driver of at the time of the accident. The accident is not in dispute. The death of the deceased in the accident is also not in dispute. The dispute is with regard to the rashness or negligence on the part of R1.
9)R1 having filed written statement remained ex-parte. He did not enter the witness box and explains how he is not responsible to the accident. The deceased was only aged about 2 years. So, she cannot have any road sense. The driver owe a duty to the young children. The evidence of PW-2 coupled with the contents mentioned in
Ex.A1 , the copy of FIR, Ex.A3 the copy of inquest report, Ex.A5 the copy of charge sheet discloses that the deceased was on the side of the road. R1 having dropped the children while going back drove the bus and the bus ran over on tender aged girl of 2 years. The evidence of PW-2 is clear that the driver was both negligent and rash in driving the bus without taking care of presence of tender girl on the road. So, the nature of the accident , the place of accident and the manner in which the accident took place explains that there was both rashness and negligence on the part of R1 in driving the bus. So this Court concludes that the accident took place due to the rash and negligent driving of the bus by its driver i.e. R1.
ISSUE NO.2 :
10)The deceased is a girl aged about 2 years. The Petitioners are young parents of the deceased. It was pleaded that the deceased alone was the child of the
Petitioners and they have undergone family planning operation and so, they are not likely to beget any further child. But no proof is placed before the Court that they underwent family planning operation and there is no possibility of their begetting any other child.
11) The deceased is a girl of tender age 2 years. So the Petitioners are not the dependants on the deceased. Further they have to spend money on the deceased and to bring her up, educate her and they have to spend money to perform her marriage in future and settle her life and their dependency on the deceased is remote. So the petitioners cannot be stated to be the dependants of the deceased.
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12)The learned Counsel for the Claimants placed reliance the Judgment of the
Supreme Court in Manju Devi and another Vs. Musafir Paswan and another reported in 2005 ACJ 99 . In that case, the deceased was a boy aged 13 years. So the multiplier 15 was applied taking the income at Rs.15000-00 per annum being non earning member.
13)In this case, the deceased is female aged 2 years. So similar principle cannot be made applicable.
14)The learned Counsel placed reliance the Judgment of our High Court in National
Insurance Company Limited through its Branch Manager, Adilabad Vs. Pittala Ramulu and others reported in 2006 (5) ALT 688.
15)In the above case, the deceased is aged One year. So the multiplier 15 was applied being non earning member, the income was taken as Rs.15000-00 per annum and 1/3 was deducted and the remaining amount was awarded as compensation which was upheld by the High Court.
16)In the present case, the deceased is only female aged 2 years. So the parents depending upon female is remote. Further, they have to spend on the girl to bring her up to perform her marriage and to meet other expenses even thereafter and further she cannot provide any maintenance to parents . The parents have lost their beloved daughter. So they underwent mental agony. Further, the deduction should be half as the deceased is female. So keeping all the aspects in mind, this court is of the considered view that a fixed compensation of Rs.1,00,000-00 can be awarded to meet the ends of justice. So the compensation is arrived at Rs.1,00,000-00.
17) Respondent No.1 caused the accident and so, he is primarily responsible . He was working under Respondent No.2 . So Respondent No.2 is vicariously liable to pay compensation to the Petitioners as his servant caused the accident while discharging his duties as driver under Respondent No.2 So both Respondents No.1 and 2 jointly and severally liable to pay compensation to the Petitioner.
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ISSUE NO.3 :
18)IN THE RESULT, the petition is partly allowed.
i)The Petitioners are awarded compensation of Rs.1,00,000-00 payable by
Respondents No. 1 and 2 jointly and severally with costs and with interest at 9% p.a.
from the date of petition till the date of deposit of compensation in to Court.
ii)The Respondents 1 and 2 shall deposit the compensation within (30) days from the date of order.
iii)Petitioners are equally entitled for the compensation deposited.
iv)Petitioners are permitted to withdraw Rs.25,000-00 each on the deposit of compensation and the remaining amount shall be kept in fixed deposit for a period of three years.
v)As per the amended Rule 471 of Andhra Pradesh Motor Vehicle Rules, the
Petitioners are informed that they need not pay any percentage to their Counsel out of compensation.
vi)The rest of petition claim is dismissed, but in the circumstances without costs.
Dictated to the Personal Assistant, transcribed by him, corrected and
pronounced by me in open court this the 5th day of December, 2012.
CHAIRMAN
M.A.C.T-CUM-DISTRICT JUDGE
ADILABAD
APPENDIX OF EVIDENCE
WITNESSES EXAMINED
For PetitionersFor Respondents
PW-1: T.Ravi -Nil- PW-2: K.Rajeshwar
EXHIBITS MARKED
Ex.A-1: Attested copy of FIR -NIL- Ex.A-2: Attested copy of MVI Report Ex.A-3: Attested copy of Inquest report. Ex.A-4: Attested copy of PME report Ex.A-5: Attested copy of charge sheet Ex.A-6: True copy attested by Public Prosecutor of Certificate of registration of bus bearing No. AP 20 T 9985.
CHAIRMAN,
MACT-CUM-DISTRICT JUDGE
ADILABAD
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D E C R E E
IN THE COURT OF THE CHAIRMAN, MACT – CUM – DISTRICT JUDGE,
ADILABAD
Present:
S.Jagannadham,
CHAIRMAN, MACT-CUM-DISTRICT JUDGE,
ADILABAD
WEDNESDAY, THIS THE 5TH DAY OF DECEMBER, 2012
MVOP NO: 216 OF 2010
Between:
1)Thangedipalli Ravi S/o. Dathu, aged 28 years, Occ.Carpenter.
2)Thangedipalli Latha @ Thangedipalli Ghanatha W/o. T.Ravi, aged 28 years, occ.Beedi roller. ( Both R/o. Gopalpet village mandal Sarangapur, Dist. Adilabad) … PETITIONERS
// AND //
1)Sable Nekku Singh S/o. Balaram aged 46 years, occ.Driver of Maheswar Public School bus bearing No. AP 20 T 9987 C/o. Maheshwara Public School, near Dyangapur village, mandal Sarangapur, Dist.Adilabad.
2)Maheshwara Public School, rep.by Sri A.Maheshwar Reddy S/o. Padmanabha Reddy, aged major years, Occ.MLA Nirmal and Owbner of School bus bearing No. AP 20 T 9987, R/o. Nirmal village mandal Nirmal, Dist.Adilabad. … RESPONDENTS
CLAIM FOR : The O.P is filed U/Sec. 166 (1) (c) of Motor Vehicles Act 1988 seeking compensation of Rs.1,50,000-00 for the death of one Thangedipalli Swetha in a motor vehicle accident which occurred on 23-2-2010 near Grampanchayath Office at Gopalpet village, Mandal Sarangapur, due to rash and negligent driving of the bus bearing No. AP 20 T 9987, by its driver.
VALUATION: A Court fee of Rs. _______/- is paid under Sec.475 (1) of M.V. Act.
PETITION PRESENTED ON :
PETITION FILED ON :
This original petition coming on for final hearing on 26-11-2012 in the
presence of Sri A.Amarender Reddy, Advocate for the petitioner and Respondents
No. 1 and 2 remained exparte and the matter having stood over for consideration till this day, this court doth Order and Decree as follows:
i) That the petition is be and hereby partly allowed.
i)That the Petitioners are awarded compensation of Rs.1,00,000-00 payable by
Respondents No. 1 and 2 jointly and severally with costs and with interest at 9% p.a.
from the date of petition till the date of deposit of compensation in to Court.
7 ii)That the Respondents 1 and 2 shall deposit the compensation within (30) days from the date of order.
iii)That the Petitioners are equally entitled for the compensation deposited.
iv)That the Petitioners are permitted to withdraw Rs.25,000-00 each on the deposit of compensation and the remaining amount shall be kept in fixed deposit for a period of three years.
v)That as per the amended Rule 471 of Andhra Pradesh Motor Vehicle Rules, the
Petitioners are informed that they need not pay any percentage to their Counsel out of compensation.
vi)That the rest of petition claim is dismissed, but in the circumstances without costs.
COST OF THE PETITION
For PetitionerAmount For RespondentAmount Rs.
Rs. Stamp on petitionStamp on power2.00 Stamp on powerStamp on Exhibits-- Stamp on ExhibitsPleaders Fee-- Pleaders fee Cf./N.CService of process-- Service of processMisc.-- Commissioner’s Fee-- Misc.-- Paper Publication receipt T O T A L :T O T A L :2.00
Given under my hand and seal of the court on this the 5th day of December, 2012.
CHAIRMAN
M.A.C.T-CUM-DISTRICT JUDGE
ADILABAD.
NOTE : The parties should apply as soon as possible for the return of all exhibits which they may wish to preserve as the record will be liable to be destroyed after 3 years or after 6 years from the date, according to the nature of the exhibits under the rules for the destruction of record.
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Office of the Spl.Judl.Magistrate of I Class (Mobile) Court, Adilabad
From :To
Ms.G.Govinda Laxmi B.A.,BL., The Judicial First Class Magistrate Spl.Judl.Magistrate of I Class (Mobile) Court, Adilabad. Adilabad
Lr.Dis.No. /2012, dt. -12-2012
Madam,
Sub: Sending of entire record in PRC.No. 32/2012 on the file of this ( Old PRC No. 46/2012 on the file of JFCM, Adilabad), for want of Original report of RFSL, Karimnagar, in Cr.No. 25/2012 of PS Thamsi - Reg.
Ref: Hon'ble Prl.District and Sessions Court, Adilabad vide Dis.No. 6016/2012, dt. 1-12-2012.
***
With reference to the subject cited above, I am to state that the Committal record in PRC.No. 46/2012 on the file of Judicial First Class Magistrate Court, Adilabad, was made over to this Court by transfer and subsequently the said PRC was numbered as PRC 32/2012 in this Court. Later the said case was committed to the Court of Hon'ble District and Sessions Court, Adilabad. There upon, the said record was returned to this Court from the Hon'ble District Court on the ground that the Original RFSL report was not found in the said file and on verification, the attested copy of the said RFSL report is only filed in this case.
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Therefore, I am herewith returning the entire record in PRC.No. 32/2012 on the file of this Court (OLD PRC.No. 46/2012 on the file of JFCM, Adilabad) duly indexed, for want of the Original RFSL report so as to enable this Court to commit the said record to the Hon'ble District and Sessions Court, Adilabad.
Yours faithfully
Encl: Entire record in PRC 32/2012
Spl. Judicial Magistrate of I Class Mobile (PCR), Adilabad.
OP.NO. 216/2010 DT. 5-12-2012
IN THE RESULT, the petition is partly allowed.
i)The Petitioners are awarded compensation of Rs.1,00,000-00 payable by Respondents No. 1 and 2 jointly and severally with costs and with interest at 9% p.a. from the date of petition till the date of deposit of compensation in to Court. ii)The Respondents 1 and 2 shall deposit the compensation within (30) days from the date of order. iii)Petitioners are equally entitled for the compensation deposited.
1 iv)Petitioners are permitted to withdraw Rs.25,000-00 each on the deposit of compensation and the remaining amount shall be kept in fixed deposit for a period of three years.
v)As per the amended Rule 471 of Andhra Pradesh Motor Vehicle Rules, the Petitioners are informed that they need not pay any percentage to their Counsel out of compensation. vi)The rest of petition claim is dismissed, but in the circumstances without costs.