2004 (1) TMI 676 - SC - Indian Laws

Whether an insurance policy in respect of a goods vehicle would also cover gratuitous passengers, in view of the legislative amendment in 1994 to Section 147 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988?

Issues Involved:
1. Coverage of gratuitous passengers under an insurance policy for a goods vehicle.
2. Impact of the 1994 legislative amendment to Section 147 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
3. Liability of the insurer versus the owner of the vehicle.
4. Prospective application of the legal position clarified by the court.

Issue-wise Detailed Analysis:

1. Coverage of Gratuitous Passengers Under an Insurance Policy for a Goods Vehicle:
The primary question addressed in this judgment is whether an insurance policy for a goods vehicle covers gratuitous passengers. The Claims Tribunal and the High Court had relied on the decision in New India Assurance Co. v. Satpal Singh, which implied such coverage. However, this decision was later reversed by the Supreme Court in New India Assurance Co. Ltd. Vs. Asha Rani and Oriental Insurance Co. Ltd. Vs. Devireddy Konda Reddy. The Court clarified that the term "any person" in Section 147 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, does not include gratuitous passengers in a goods vehicle but is confined to third-party risk.

2. Impact of the 1994 Legislative Amendment to Section 147 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988:
The respondents argued that the amendment to Section 147 by the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 1994, which included the words "including owner of the goods or his authorized representative carried in the vehicle," implied that gratuitous passengers should also be covered. However, the Court found no merit in this argument. The amendment clarified that the coverage extended to the owner of the goods or his authorized representative but did not extend to gratuitous passengers. The Court emphasized that any other interpretation would render the specific inclusion of the owner and his representative redundant.

3. Liability of the Insurer Versus the Owner of the Vehicle:
The Court held that the statutory liability to insure a vehicle does not extend to gratuitous passengers. The liability of the insurer is confined to third-party risks and the owner of the goods or his authorized representative. Therefore, in cases involving gratuitous passengers, the owner of the vehicle, not the insurer, would be liable to satisfy the decree. The Court also discussed the application of the Heydon's Rule, which aims to suppress the mischief the statute intended to remedy. The Court found that the legislative intent was not to cover gratuitous passengers under the insurance policy for goods vehicles.

4. Prospective Application of the Legal Position Clarified by the Court:
The Court acknowledged that the law was not clear until the decision in Asha Rani. Therefore, it decided that the legal position clarified in this judgment should have a prospective effect. The Court directed the appellant insurer to satisfy the awarded amount to the claimant and allowed the insurer to recover the same from the vehicle owner. This approach ensures fairness and equity, considering the previous reliance on the now-overruled Satpal Singh decision.

Conclusion:
The appeals were partly allowed, with the Court directing the insurer to satisfy the awarded amount and recover it from the vehicle owner. The judgment clarified that the insurance policy for a goods vehicle does not cover gratuitous passengers, and this legal position would apply prospectively. The decision underscores the legislative intent and the specific coverage provided by the 1994 amendment to Section 147 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.

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