published in http://judis.nic.in/supremecourt/imgst.aspx?filename=40695
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CIVIL APPEAL NO. 8276 OF 2009
Pepsu Road Transport Corporation … Appellant (s)
Versus
National Insurance Company … Respondent (s)
J U D G M E N T
KURIAN, J.:
1. Breach of conditions under Section 149(2)(a) of the Motor Vehicles
Act, 1988 absolves the insurer of its liability to the insured.
Section
149(2)(a)(ii) deals with the conditions regarding driving licence.
In case
the vehicle at the time of accident is driven by a person who is not duly
licensed or by a person who has been disqualified from holding or obtaining
a driving licence during the period of disqualification, the insurer is not
liable for the compensation.
In the instant case, we are called upon to
deal with a situation where the driver allegedly possessing only a fake
driving licence.
2. Widow and two minor sons of late Gurjinder Singh Modi are claimants
before the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal, Chandigarh in M.A.C.T. No.
63/481 filed in the year 2002. The allegation was that Gurjinder
Singh Modi died out of a motor accident on 04.10.2001 on account of
the negligent driving of bus no. PB-11-K-8512 of the Pepsu Road
Transport Corporation (for short, ‘PRTC’), Patiala, the appellant
herein. Rs.30,00,000/- was claimed as compensation. Negligence was
proved. The Tribunal awarded Rs.11,03,404/- as compensation. However,
the insurance company was absolved of its liability since the licence
issued to the driver was found to be fake. The insurance company took
the Local Commissioner to licensing authority, Darjeeling, West-Bengal
and, on verification of the available records, it was reported that no
such licence as possessed by the driver has been issued by the said
licensing Authority at Darjeeling. Thus, aggrieved, the owner of the
vehicle, viz., PRTC, Patiala has come up in appeal.
3. It is the contention of the appellant that they had appointed the
third respondent - Nirmal Singh as driver with PRTC in 1994, he was
given proper training from the driving school at Patiala and, thus,
having taken reasonable steps in verifying the driving licence and,
thereafter, having trained the driver by the employer himself, it
cannot be said that the insurance company is not liable. There is no
breach of any conditions by the insured. In other words, it is
contended that even if the licence is fake, the owner having taken all
reasonable steps, the insurer is liable. The other contention on
merits is that the insurer had not established before the Tribunal
that the licence issued to Nirmal Singh was fake. In this context, our
reference has been invited to Annexure-2-evidence of the licensing
authority before the Tribunal. It is stated that as per the available
office records, no driving licence was issued to Nirmal Singh on
12.06.1985 with no.12385 of 1985. Licence numbers of 1985 as per
record start from 22579 of 1985. Photocopy of the register maintained
for issuing the licences was marked as R-1. However, it was also
stated that: -
“…It can be possible that other licence register pertaining to year
1985 are not available today as it might be misplaced during the
shifting of our office…”
Still further, it was stated:
“… It is possible that the registers which are misplaced might contain
the name of Nirmal Singh.”
4. Though the appellant is entitled to succeed on the ground that the
insurer had not proved beyond doubt that driver Nirmal Singh did not
possess a valid driving licence, we shall also advert to the legal
position regarding the liability of the insurance company when the
driver of the offending vehicle possessed a fake driving licence.
5. In United India Insurance Company Limited vs. Lehru and Others[1], a
two-Judge Bench of this Court has taken the view that the insurance
company cannot be permitted to avoid its liability only on the ground
that the person driving the vehicle at the time of accident was not
duly licensed. It was further held that the wilful breach of the
conditions of the policy should be established. Still further it was
held that it was not expected of the employer to verify the
genuineness of a driving licence from the issuing authority at the
time of employment. The employer needs to only test the capacity of
the driver and if after such test, he has been appointed, there cannot
be any liability on the employer. The situation would be different
when the employer was told that the driving licence of its employee is
fake or false and yet the employer not taking appropriate action to
get the same duly verified from the issuing authority. We may extract
the relevant paragraphs from the judgment:
“18. Now let us consider Section 149(2). Reliance has been
placed on Section 149(2)(a)(ii). As seen in order to avoid liability
under this provision it must be shown that there is a "breach". As
held in Skandia and Sohan Lal Passi cases the breach must be on part
of the insured. We are in full agreement with that. To hold otherwise
would lead to absurd results. Just to take an example, suppose a
vehicle is stolen. Whilst it is being driven by the thief there is an
accident. The thief is caught and it is ascertained that he had no
licence. Can the Insurance Company disown liability? The answer has to
be an emphatic "No". To hold otherwise would be to negate the very
purpose of compulsory insurance. The injured or relatives of the
person killed in the accident may find that the decree obtained by
them is only a paper decree as the owner is a man of straw. The owner
himself would be an innocent sufferer. It is for this reason that the
Legislature, in its wisdom, has made insurance, at least third party
insurance, compulsory. The aim and purpose being that an insurance
company would be available to pay. The business of the company is
insurance. In all businesses there is an element of risk. All persons
carrying on business must take risks associated with that business.
Thus it is equitable that the business which is run for making profits
also bears the risk associated with it. At the same time innocent
parties must not be made to suffer or loss. These provisions meet
these requirements. We are thus in agreement with what is laid down in
aforementioned cases viz that in order to avoid liability it is not
sufficient to show that the person driving at the time of accident was
not duly licensed. The insurance company must establish that the
breach was on the part of the insured.”
“20. When an owner is hiring a driver he will therefore have to
check whether the driver has a driving licence. If the driver produces
a driving licence which on the face of it looks genuine, the owner is
not expected to find out whether the licence has in fact been issued
by a competent authority or not. The owner would then take the test of
the driver. If he finds that the driver is competent to drive the
vehicle, he will hire the driver. We find it rather strange that
insurance companies expect owners to make enquiries with RTOs, which
are spread all over the country, whether the driving licence shown to
them is valid or not. Thus where the owner has satisfied himself that
the driver has a licence and is driving competently there would be no
breach of Section 149(2)(a)(ii). The Insurance Company would not then
be absolved of liability. If it ultimately turns out that the licence
was fake, the insurance company would continue to remain liable unless
they prove that the owner/insured was aware or had noticed that the
licence was fake and still permitted that person to drive. More
importantly, even in such a case the insurance company would remain
liable to the innocent third party, but it may be able to recover from
the insured. This is the law which has been laid down in Skandia,
Sohan Lal Passi and Kamla cases. We are in full agreement with the
views expressed therein and see no reason to take a different view.”
6. The matter was subsequently considered by a three-Judge Bench of this
Court in National Insurance Company Limited vs. Swaran Singh and
Others[2]. The said Bench was of the view that in case the insured did
not take reasonable and adequate care and caution to verify the
genuineness or otherwise of the licence, the liability would still be
open-ended and will have to be determined on the basis of facts of
each case. The relevant discussions are available at paragraphs 92,
99, 100 and 101, which are extracted below:
“92. It may be true as has been contended on behalf of the
petitioner that a fake or forged licence is as good as no licence but
the question herein, as noticed hereinbefore, is whether the insurer
must prove that the owner was guilty of the wilful breach of the
conditions of the insurance policy or the contract of insurance. In
Lehru case, the matter has been considered in some detail. We are in
general agreement with the approach of the Bench but we intend to
point out that the observations made therein must be understood to
have been made in the light of the requirements of the law in terms
whereof the insurer is to establish wilful breach on the part of the
insured and not for the purpose of its disentitlement from raising any
defence or for the owners to be absolved from any liability
whatsoever.”
“99. So far as the purported conflict in the judgments of Kamla
and Lehru is concerned, we may wish to point out that the defence to
the effect that the licence held by the person driving the vehicle was
a fake one, would be available to the insurance companies, but whether
despite the same, the plea of default on the part of the owner has
been established or not would be a question which will have to be
determined in each case.”
“100. This Court, however, in Lehru must not be read to mean
that an owner of a vehicle can under no circumstances have any duty to
make any enquiry in this respect. The same, however, would again be a
question which would arise for consideration in each individual case.”
“101. The submission of Mr. Salve that in Lehru case, this Court
has, for all intent and purport, taken away the right of insurer to
raise a defence that the licence is fake does not appear to be
correct. Such defence can certainly be raised but it will be for the
insurer to prove that the insured did not take adequate care and
caution to verify the genuineness or otherwise of the licence held by
the driver.”
7. Swaran Singh’s case (supra) was subsequently considered by a two-
Judge Bench of this Court in National Insurance Company Limited vs.
Laxmi Narain Dhut[3]. It was explained that:
“Mere absence, fake or invalid driving licence or disqualification of
the driver for driving at the relevant time are not in themselves
defences available to the insurer against either the insured or the
third parties. To avoid its liability towards the insured the insurer
has to prove that the insured was guilty of negligence and failed to
exercise reasonable care in the matter of fulfilling the condition of
the policy regarding use of vehicles by duly licensed driver or one
who was not disqualified to drive at the relevant time…”
8. In a claim for compensation,
it is certainly open to the insurer under
Section 149(2)(a)(ii) to take a defence that the driver of the vehicle
involved in the accident was not duly licensed.
Once such a defence is
taken, the onus is on the insurer.
But
even after it is proved that
the licence possessed by the driver was a fake one,
whether there is
liability on the insurer is the moot question.
As far as the owner of
the vehicle is concerned, when he hires a driver, he has to check
whether the driver has a valid driving licence. Thereafter he has to
satisfy himself as to the competence of the driver.
If satisfied in
that regard also, it can be said that the owner had taken reasonable
care in employing a person who is qualified and competent to drive the
vehicle.
The owner cannot be expected to go beyond that, to the extent
of verifying the genuineness of the driving licence with the licensing
authority before hiring the services of the driver.
However, the
situation would be different if at the time of insurance of the vehicle or thereafter the insurance company requires the owner of the vehicle to have the licence duly verified from the licensing authority or if the attention of the owner of the vehicle is otherwise invited to the allegation that the licence issued to the driver employed by him is a fake one and yet the owner does not take appropriate action for verification of the matter regarding the genuineness of the licence from the licensing authority.
That is what is explained in
Swaran Singh’s case (supra). If despite such information with the owner that the licence possessed by his driver is fake, no action is taken by the insured for appropriate verification, then the insured will be at fault and, in such circumstances, the insurance company is not liable for the compensation.
9. On facts, in the instant case,
the appellant employer had employed the
third respondent Nirmal Singh as driver in 1994.
In the process of
employment, he had been put to a driving test and he had been imparted
training also.
The accident took place only after six years of his
service in PRTC as driver. In such circumstances, it cannot be said
that the insured is at fault in having employed a person whose licence
has been proved to be fake by the insurance company before the
Tribunal.
As we have already noted above, on scanning the evidence of
the licensing authority before the Tribunal, it cannot also be
absolutely held that the licence to the driver had not been issued by
the said authority and that the licence was fake.
Though the
appellant had also taken a contention that the compensation is on the
higher side, no serious attempt has been made and according to us
justifiably, to canvas that position.
10. In the above circumstances, the appeal is allowed. The fourth
respondent - insurance company is liable to indemnify the appellant
and, hence, there can be no recovery of the compensation already paid
to the claimants.
11. There is no order as to costs.
…………….…..…………J.
(GYAN SUDHA MISRA)
.……..……………………J.
(KURIAN JOSEPH)
New Delhi;
August 26, 2013.
-----------------------
[1] (2003) 3 SCC 338
[2] (2004) 3 SCC 297
[3] (2007) 3 SCC 700
-----------------------
REPORTABLE
-----------------------
3
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CIVIL APPEAL NO. 8276 OF 2009
Pepsu Road Transport Corporation … Appellant (s)
Versus
National Insurance Company … Respondent (s)
J U D G M E N T
KURIAN, J.:
1. Breach of conditions under Section 149(2)(a) of the Motor Vehicles
Act, 1988 absolves the insurer of its liability to the insured.
Section
149(2)(a)(ii) deals with the conditions regarding driving licence.
In case
the vehicle at the time of accident is driven by a person who is not duly
licensed or by a person who has been disqualified from holding or obtaining
a driving licence during the period of disqualification, the insurer is not
liable for the compensation.
In the instant case, we are called upon to
deal with a situation where the driver allegedly possessing only a fake
driving licence.
2. Widow and two minor sons of late Gurjinder Singh Modi are claimants
before the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal, Chandigarh in M.A.C.T. No.
63/481 filed in the year 2002. The allegation was that Gurjinder
Singh Modi died out of a motor accident on 04.10.2001 on account of
the negligent driving of bus no. PB-11-K-8512 of the Pepsu Road
Transport Corporation (for short, ‘PRTC’), Patiala, the appellant
herein. Rs.30,00,000/- was claimed as compensation. Negligence was
proved. The Tribunal awarded Rs.11,03,404/- as compensation. However,
the insurance company was absolved of its liability since the licence
issued to the driver was found to be fake. The insurance company took
the Local Commissioner to licensing authority, Darjeeling, West-Bengal
and, on verification of the available records, it was reported that no
such licence as possessed by the driver has been issued by the said
licensing Authority at Darjeeling. Thus, aggrieved, the owner of the
vehicle, viz., PRTC, Patiala has come up in appeal.
3. It is the contention of the appellant that they had appointed the
third respondent - Nirmal Singh as driver with PRTC in 1994, he was
given proper training from the driving school at Patiala and, thus,
having taken reasonable steps in verifying the driving licence and,
thereafter, having trained the driver by the employer himself, it
cannot be said that the insurance company is not liable. There is no
breach of any conditions by the insured. In other words, it is
contended that even if the licence is fake, the owner having taken all
reasonable steps, the insurer is liable. The other contention on
merits is that the insurer had not established before the Tribunal
that the licence issued to Nirmal Singh was fake. In this context, our
reference has been invited to Annexure-2-evidence of the licensing
authority before the Tribunal. It is stated that as per the available
office records, no driving licence was issued to Nirmal Singh on
12.06.1985 with no.12385 of 1985. Licence numbers of 1985 as per
record start from 22579 of 1985. Photocopy of the register maintained
for issuing the licences was marked as R-1. However, it was also
stated that: -
“…It can be possible that other licence register pertaining to year
1985 are not available today as it might be misplaced during the
shifting of our office…”
Still further, it was stated:
“… It is possible that the registers which are misplaced might contain
the name of Nirmal Singh.”
4. Though the appellant is entitled to succeed on the ground that the
insurer had not proved beyond doubt that driver Nirmal Singh did not
possess a valid driving licence, we shall also advert to the legal
position regarding the liability of the insurance company when the
driver of the offending vehicle possessed a fake driving licence.
5. In United India Insurance Company Limited vs. Lehru and Others[1], a
two-Judge Bench of this Court has taken the view that the insurance
company cannot be permitted to avoid its liability only on the ground
that the person driving the vehicle at the time of accident was not
duly licensed. It was further held that the wilful breach of the
conditions of the policy should be established. Still further it was
held that it was not expected of the employer to verify the
genuineness of a driving licence from the issuing authority at the
time of employment. The employer needs to only test the capacity of
the driver and if after such test, he has been appointed, there cannot
be any liability on the employer. The situation would be different
when the employer was told that the driving licence of its employee is
fake or false and yet the employer not taking appropriate action to
get the same duly verified from the issuing authority. We may extract
the relevant paragraphs from the judgment:
“18. Now let us consider Section 149(2). Reliance has been
placed on Section 149(2)(a)(ii). As seen in order to avoid liability
under this provision it must be shown that there is a "breach". As
held in Skandia and Sohan Lal Passi cases the breach must be on part
of the insured. We are in full agreement with that. To hold otherwise
would lead to absurd results. Just to take an example, suppose a
vehicle is stolen. Whilst it is being driven by the thief there is an
accident. The thief is caught and it is ascertained that he had no
licence. Can the Insurance Company disown liability? The answer has to
be an emphatic "No". To hold otherwise would be to negate the very
purpose of compulsory insurance. The injured or relatives of the
person killed in the accident may find that the decree obtained by
them is only a paper decree as the owner is a man of straw. The owner
himself would be an innocent sufferer. It is for this reason that the
Legislature, in its wisdom, has made insurance, at least third party
insurance, compulsory. The aim and purpose being that an insurance
company would be available to pay. The business of the company is
insurance. In all businesses there is an element of risk. All persons
carrying on business must take risks associated with that business.
Thus it is equitable that the business which is run for making profits
also bears the risk associated with it. At the same time innocent
parties must not be made to suffer or loss. These provisions meet
these requirements. We are thus in agreement with what is laid down in
aforementioned cases viz that in order to avoid liability it is not
sufficient to show that the person driving at the time of accident was
not duly licensed. The insurance company must establish that the
breach was on the part of the insured.”
“20. When an owner is hiring a driver he will therefore have to
check whether the driver has a driving licence. If the driver produces
a driving licence which on the face of it looks genuine, the owner is
not expected to find out whether the licence has in fact been issued
by a competent authority or not. The owner would then take the test of
the driver. If he finds that the driver is competent to drive the
vehicle, he will hire the driver. We find it rather strange that
insurance companies expect owners to make enquiries with RTOs, which
are spread all over the country, whether the driving licence shown to
them is valid or not. Thus where the owner has satisfied himself that
the driver has a licence and is driving competently there would be no
breach of Section 149(2)(a)(ii). The Insurance Company would not then
be absolved of liability. If it ultimately turns out that the licence
was fake, the insurance company would continue to remain liable unless
they prove that the owner/insured was aware or had noticed that the
licence was fake and still permitted that person to drive. More
importantly, even in such a case the insurance company would remain
liable to the innocent third party, but it may be able to recover from
the insured. This is the law which has been laid down in Skandia,
Sohan Lal Passi and Kamla cases. We are in full agreement with the
views expressed therein and see no reason to take a different view.”
6. The matter was subsequently considered by a three-Judge Bench of this
Court in National Insurance Company Limited vs. Swaran Singh and
Others[2]. The said Bench was of the view that in case the insured did
not take reasonable and adequate care and caution to verify the
genuineness or otherwise of the licence, the liability would still be
open-ended and will have to be determined on the basis of facts of
each case. The relevant discussions are available at paragraphs 92,
99, 100 and 101, which are extracted below:
“92. It may be true as has been contended on behalf of the
petitioner that a fake or forged licence is as good as no licence but
the question herein, as noticed hereinbefore, is whether the insurer
must prove that the owner was guilty of the wilful breach of the
conditions of the insurance policy or the contract of insurance. In
Lehru case, the matter has been considered in some detail. We are in
general agreement with the approach of the Bench but we intend to
point out that the observations made therein must be understood to
have been made in the light of the requirements of the law in terms
whereof the insurer is to establish wilful breach on the part of the
insured and not for the purpose of its disentitlement from raising any
defence or for the owners to be absolved from any liability
whatsoever.”
“99. So far as the purported conflict in the judgments of Kamla
and Lehru is concerned, we may wish to point out that the defence to
the effect that the licence held by the person driving the vehicle was
a fake one, would be available to the insurance companies, but whether
despite the same, the plea of default on the part of the owner has
been established or not would be a question which will have to be
determined in each case.”
“100. This Court, however, in Lehru must not be read to mean
that an owner of a vehicle can under no circumstances have any duty to
make any enquiry in this respect. The same, however, would again be a
question which would arise for consideration in each individual case.”
“101. The submission of Mr. Salve that in Lehru case, this Court
has, for all intent and purport, taken away the right of insurer to
raise a defence that the licence is fake does not appear to be
correct. Such defence can certainly be raised but it will be for the
insurer to prove that the insured did not take adequate care and
caution to verify the genuineness or otherwise of the licence held by
the driver.”
7. Swaran Singh’s case (supra) was subsequently considered by a two-
Judge Bench of this Court in National Insurance Company Limited vs.
Laxmi Narain Dhut[3]. It was explained that:
“Mere absence, fake or invalid driving licence or disqualification of
the driver for driving at the relevant time are not in themselves
defences available to the insurer against either the insured or the
third parties. To avoid its liability towards the insured the insurer
has to prove that the insured was guilty of negligence and failed to
exercise reasonable care in the matter of fulfilling the condition of
the policy regarding use of vehicles by duly licensed driver or one
who was not disqualified to drive at the relevant time…”
8. In a claim for compensation,
it is certainly open to the insurer under
Section 149(2)(a)(ii) to take a defence that the driver of the vehicle
involved in the accident was not duly licensed.
Once such a defence is
taken, the onus is on the insurer.
But
even after it is proved that
the licence possessed by the driver was a fake one,
whether there is
liability on the insurer is the moot question.
As far as the owner of
the vehicle is concerned, when he hires a driver, he has to check
whether the driver has a valid driving licence. Thereafter he has to
satisfy himself as to the competence of the driver.
If satisfied in
that regard also, it can be said that the owner had taken reasonable
care in employing a person who is qualified and competent to drive the
vehicle.
The owner cannot be expected to go beyond that, to the extent
of verifying the genuineness of the driving licence with the licensing
authority before hiring the services of the driver.
However, the
situation would be different if at the time of insurance of the vehicle or thereafter the insurance company requires the owner of the vehicle to have the licence duly verified from the licensing authority or if the attention of the owner of the vehicle is otherwise invited to the allegation that the licence issued to the driver employed by him is a fake one and yet the owner does not take appropriate action for verification of the matter regarding the genuineness of the licence from the licensing authority.
That is what is explained in
Swaran Singh’s case (supra). If despite such information with the owner that the licence possessed by his driver is fake, no action is taken by the insured for appropriate verification, then the insured will be at fault and, in such circumstances, the insurance company is not liable for the compensation.
9. On facts, in the instant case,
the appellant employer had employed the
third respondent Nirmal Singh as driver in 1994.
In the process of
employment, he had been put to a driving test and he had been imparted
training also.
The accident took place only after six years of his
service in PRTC as driver. In such circumstances, it cannot be said
that the insured is at fault in having employed a person whose licence
has been proved to be fake by the insurance company before the
Tribunal.
As we have already noted above, on scanning the evidence of
the licensing authority before the Tribunal, it cannot also be
absolutely held that the licence to the driver had not been issued by
the said authority and that the licence was fake.
Though the
appellant had also taken a contention that the compensation is on the
higher side, no serious attempt has been made and according to us
justifiably, to canvas that position.
10. In the above circumstances, the appeal is allowed. The fourth
respondent - insurance company is liable to indemnify the appellant
and, hence, there can be no recovery of the compensation already paid
to the claimants.
11. There is no order as to costs.
…………….…..…………J.
(GYAN SUDHA MISRA)
.……..……………………J.
(KURIAN JOSEPH)
New Delhi;
August 26, 2013.
-----------------------
[1] (2003) 3 SCC 338
[2] (2004) 3 SCC 297
[3] (2007) 3 SCC 700
-----------------------
REPORTABLE
-----------------------
3
