THE UNITED INDIA INSURANCE COMPANY LTDversusMAHENDRAKUMAR DEVAJI PARMAR
- Disposal
- 39-RULE DISCHARGED/DISMISSED @ FH
- Bench
- HASMUKH D SUTHAR
Holding
The First Appeal is dismissed because the compensation awarded is modest and appears just and reasonable.
Summary
The United India Insurance Company appealed under section 173 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 against a Motor Accident Claim Tribunal award of Rs.2,66,302 to the road‑accident victims. The High Court examined the appeal and, noting the modest quantum of the award, held that the compensation was reasonable and that no interference was warranted. The Court expressly refrained from opining on the merits or any legal questions raised, reserving the right to consider them in any future proceedings arising from the same accident. Consequently, the First Appeal was dismissed on the ground of the small amount, and any pending civil applications were deemed infructuous. The awarded sum, with any accrued interest, was ordered to be released to the claimants after verification.
Issues considered
- Whether a First Appeal under section 173 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 can be dismissed solely on the ground that the awarded compensation is small
- Whether the principle of res judicata applies to other proceedings arising from the same road accident or the same judgment and award
Legislation cited
- Motor Vehicles Act, 1988s. 173
Subjects
Judgment
C/FA/5076/2022 ORDER DATED: 10/02/2026
IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
R/FIRST APPEAL NO. 5076 of 2022
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THE UNITED INDIA INSURANCE COMPANY LTD
Versus
MAHENDRAKUMAR DEVAJI PARMAR & ORS.
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Appearance:
MS MASUMI V NANAVATY(9321) for the Appellant(s) No. 1
MR VIBHUTI NANAVATI(513) for the Appellant(s) No. 1
KAASH K THAKKAR(7332) for the Defendant(s) No. 3
MR ANKURBHAI G KIRI(12575) for the Defendant(s) No. 1,2
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CORAM:HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE HASMUKH D. SUTHAR
Date : 10/02/2026
ORAL ORDER
[1.0] Insurance Company is in First Appeal under section
173 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. Challenge is made to the
judgment and award dated 09.06.2022 passed by the learned
Motor Accident Claim Claims Tribunal (Auxi.), at Deodar, District
Banaskantha in Motor Accident Claim Petition No.1593 of 2015.
[2.0] Perusal of the judgment and award indicates that
Insurance Company has challenged the judgment and award
made to the tune of Rs.2,66,302/- to the victim of the road
accident.
[3.0] Heard learned advocates for the respective parties.
[4.0] Since the amount involved in the First Appeal is
Rs.2,66,302/-, paying due regard to smallness of amount, this
Court is of the considered view that the First Appeal should be
disposed of as compensation awarded seems to be just and
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C/FA/5076/2022 ORDER DATED: 10/02/2026
reasonable and no interference is called for. It is hereby made
clear that this First Appeal is disposed of only on the ground of
award of compensation being meager and small. This Court has
not expressed any opinion on merits and question of law raised in
this First Appeal and is kept open to be urged in other
proceedings which may arise from the same road accident / same
judgment and award. It is made clear that this order will not
come in the way of adjudication of any other First Appeal
pending against same judgment and award or adjudication of any
other claim petition arising from same road accident. Since the
First Appeal is disposed of only on the contention of monetary
value being small, principle of res judicata shall not be applied to
any other proceedings arising from the same road accident or
same judgment and award.
[5.0] In view of above, the First Appeal is dismissed.
Pending Civil Applications, if any, stands disposed of as having
become infructuous. No order as to costs.
[6.0] Record and Proceedings and amount, if any lying
before this Court is ordered to be transmitted to the concerned
Tribunal forthwith along with accrued interest, if any. The entire
awarded amount be disbursed and released in favour of the
claimants after due veriFcation by transferring the said amount
to the account of the claimants either by RTGS or NEFT mode.
(HASMUKH D. SUTHAR, J.)
Ajay
Original copy of this order has been signed by the Hon'ble Judge.
Digitally signed by: AJAY CHANDRAN MENON(HC00939), PRINCIPAL PRIVATE SECRETARY, at High Court of Gujarat on 10/02/2026 14:58:53
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