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High Court of Gujarat

THE ORIENTAL INSURANCE CO LTDversusCHIRAGBHAI PARSOTTAMBHAI PATANI

Disposal
39-RULE DISCHARGED/DISMISSED @ FH

Holding

The appeals are dismissed because the compensation amount involved is less than Rs.1,00,000, without expressing any opinion on the merits.

Summary

The Oriental Insurance Co Ltd appealed under Section 173 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 against a Motor Accident Claims Tribunal award, arguing that the compensation amount was less than Rs.1,00,000. The Court noted the small quantum of the award and, after hearing counsel, dismissed the appeals solely on the basis of the amount involved, without addressing the merits or legal questions raised. The Court clarified that the dismissal was only due to the smallness of the compensation and left the merits open for future appropriate appeal. It ordered the tribunal records and any deposited amounts to be transmitted to the appropriate court, with the award to be released to the claimants after verification. No costs were awarded.

Issues considered

  • Whether an appeal under Section 173 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 can be dismissed solely on the ground that the compensation amount is less than Rs.1,00,000.
  • Whether the compensation awarded by the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal is just and reasonable.

Legislation cited

Subjects

Motor Vehicles ActSection 173motor accident claimsmall quantum dismissalappealcompensation award

Judgment

     C/FA/1647/2021                                ORDER DATED: 07/02/2023




           IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD

                       R/FIRST APPEAL NO. 1647 of 2021

                                    With
                        R/FIRST APPEAL NO. 1640 of 2021
                                    With
                        R/FIRST APPEAL NO. 1644 of 2021
==========================================================
                       THE ORIENTAL INSURANCE CO LTD
                                   Versus
                      CHIRAGBHAI PARSOTTAMBHAI PATANI
==========================================================
Appearance:
MR RATHIN P RAVAL(5013) for the Appellant(s) No. 1
MR MOHSIN M HAKIM(5396) for the Defendant(s) No. 1
RULE SERVED for the Defendant(s) No. 2,3
==========================================================

 CORAM:HONOURABLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE MR. JUSTICE
       ARAVIND KUMAR

                               Date : 07/02/2023

                                 ORAL ORDER


1.            These appeals have been filed by the insurer under

Section 173 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 challenging the

judgment and award passed by the Motor Accident Claims

Tribunal.



2.            At the outset, it deserves to be noted that challenge

made by the insurer in these appeals is less than Rs.1,00,000/-

or restricted to less than Rs.1,00,000/-.




                                   Page 1 of 3
     C/FA/1647/2021                                ORDER DATED: 07/02/2023




3.            I have heard the learned advocates appearing for the

parties.    Learned   advocate     appearing       for    the     respective

appellant - Insurer fairly submitted that in view of the amount

involved in these appeals has been less than Rs.1,00,000/-, these

appeals may be disposed of in accordance with law.



4.            On perusal of the grounds urged in the appeals

memorandum and in view of the submission that amount

involved in these appeals is less than Rs. 1,00,000/- and having

regard to the smallness of the amount,             this Court is of the

considered view that appeals deserve to be dismissed and

accordingly they are dismissed.              The compensation awarded

seems just and reasonable and no interference is called for. It is

clarified, these appeals are disposed of only on the ground of

smallness of the compensation amount without expressing any

opinion on merits and question of law raised in the appeals is

kept open to be urged in appropriate appeal by the insurer. This

order would not come in the way of adjudication of any other

appeal pending against the same judgment and award or

adjudication of any other claim petition arising out of same



                               Page 2 of 3
      C/FA/1647/2021                          ORDER DATED: 07/02/2023




accident. Pending civil application/s, if any, stands disposed of

as having become infructuous. No order as to costs.



5.             Record & Proceedings of the Tribunal and amount, if

any deposited in these appeals, are ordered to be transmitted by

the Registry of this Court to the jurisdictional court or Tribunal

forthwith along with accrued interest if any. The entire award

amount be disbursed and released in favour of claimant/s after

due verification by transferring said amount/s to the account/s

of claimant/s by RTGS or NEFT.


                                               (ARAVIND KUMAR,CJ)
AMAR SINGH




                               Page 3 of 3


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