Facts:

The appellant, Singh Ram, appealed against the decision of the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal which found that the insured did not hold a valid driving license at the time of the accident.

The Tribunal directed the insurer to pay compensation to the claimant and recover it from the owner of the offending motorcycle.

The High Court upheld the Tribunal's decision based on the precedent set in National Insurance Co. Ltd. vs. Swaran Singh.

The appellant, as the owner and driver of the offending vehicle, appealed against the decision.

Issues:

Whether the Tribunal and the High Court erred in imposing liability on the appellant and granting a right of recovery to the insurer?

Held:

The Court referred to the precedent set in Swaran Singh and highlighted that the holder of a driving license has a 30-day period after its expiry to renew it. The burden of proof lies on the insurer to establish breach of policy conditions, such as the absence of a valid driving license, to avoid liability.

However, the breach must be fundamental and contribute to the cause of the accident. In the present case, the owner failed to depose in evidence and produced a fake license. Another license he attempted to produce had expired before the accident and was renewed well after the prescribed period.

The Court concluded that the owner had failed to take reasonable care and upheld the direction of the Tribunal and the High Court to pay and recover the compensation. Therefore, the appeal was dismissed, and no order was issued regarding costs.

Facts:

The appellant, Jagdish, was injured in a motor accident on November 24, 2011, resulting in severe injuries.

The accident occurred when Jagdish, riding a motorcycle, was hit by a dumper, causing 90% permanent disability.

Issues:

The appellant sought an enhancement of compensation on several grounds, including loss of future prospects, computation of disability, and increase in monthly income.

Held:

The Court determined that the appellant's claimed monthly income of Rs. 6,000/- was reasonable and allowed it for computation.

Considering the severity of disability, the Court held that the disability was 100% and increased the compensation accordingly.

The total compensation awarded to the appellant was Rs. 25,38,308/- along with interest at the rate of 9% per annum.

The Court directed the amount to be deposited before the Tribunal within a specified period.

The appeal was allowed, and no order was made regarding costs.

Facts:

The case involves a claim for compensation arising from a fatal road accident. The claimant's husband died in a collision with a truck, and the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal initially awarded compensation. The High Court later enhanced the compensation.

Issues:

The liability of the insurance company, which the Tribunal absolved based on the classification of the vehicle and the driver's license.

Held:

In reference to the previous judgment in Mukund Dewangan v. Oriental Insurance Company Limited, the Court clarified that a transport vehicle falling within the light motor vehicle category, with a gross weight not exceeding 7500 kg, can be driven by a driver with a license for a light motor vehicle, without requiring a separate endorsement. Therefore, the liability of the insurer cannot be absolved solely based on the classification of the vehicle and the driver's license.

The Court allowed the appeal, setting aside the Tribunal's order absolving the insurer from liability. It held that the liability shall be jointly and severally fastened on the insurer, owner, and driver.

Facts:

The claimant sustained injuries in a motor accident and sought compensation under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act. Initially awarded Rs. 22,85,322/- by the Tribunal, the amount was reduced to Rs. 12,00,000/- by the High Court. The Supreme Court examined the evidence and computations to determine the appropriate compensation.

Issues:

Whether the compensation awarded by the Tribunal and subsequently reduced by the High Court was appropriate.

Whether the claimant's disability was temporary or permanent, affecting the quantum of compensation.

Held:

The Court found discrepancies in the Tribunal's computation of the claimant's income and identified errors in considering the disability as permanent. Consequently, the compensation awarded by the Tribunal was deemed excessive. The Court recalculated the compensation, awarding Rs. 5 lakhs for loss of income, Rs. 2 lakhs for trauma, pain, and suffering, and retaining Rs. 2,09,622/- for medical expenses, totaling Rs. 9,10,000/-. Interest at 9% per annum was also awarded from the date of filing the petition. The impugned judgment of the High Court was set aside, and the appeals were disposed of accordingly.

Facts:

The appellant, Dwarike Prasad, acted as a guarantor for a loan granted to another individual, secured by an equitable mortgage on certain immovable property. The appellant failed to repay the loan, leading to the initiation of proceedings under the SARFAESI Act by the bank. These proceedings culminated in the sale of the mortgaged property through auction.

Issues:

Whether the appellant had the right to redeem the mortgaged property after the sale?

Whether the appellant complied with the provisions of Section 13(8) of the SARFAESI Act?

Held:

The Supreme Court upheld the decision of the High Court, which rejected the appellant's plea for redemption rights. The Court emphasized the importance of compliance with Section 13(8) of the SARFAESI Act. The appellant failed to fulfill the requirements of the provision by not tendering the full amount due along with costs and expenses before the date fixed for sale or transfer. Consequently, the right to redemption stood extinguished upon the execution of the registered sale deed, as per the principles laid down in Mathew Varghese v. M. Amritha Kumar.

However, the Court acknowledged the appellant's entitlement to a refund of the amount deposited by him during the proceedings. It directed the bank to refund the deposited amount with interest at 9% per annum within 8 weeks.

Facts: The appellant, Bharati Reddy, was elected to the post of Adhyaksha of Zilla Panchayat. A writ petition was filed before the High Court alleging that Reddy played fraud on the government by submitting a false affidavit for the issuance of an Income and Caste Certificate.

Issues:

Whether the High Court was justified in issuing a writ of quo warranto directing Reddy to vacate the office of Adhyaksha.

Whether the Income and Caste Certificate issued to Reddy was valid.

Whether the discrepancies in Reddy's affidavits warranted her disqualification from holding the office.

Held:

The post of Adhyaksha of Zilla Panchayat is a public office for which a writ of quo warranto can be issued if the incumbent is ineligible or incurs disqualification (Para 13).

The High Court erred in issuing the writ of quo warranto without first determining the validity of the Income and Caste Certificate issued to Reddy. The certificate's validity was to be determined by the Caste Verification Committee (Para 22).

Discrepancies in Reddy's affidavits and the expedited issuance of the certificate did not automatically invalidate it. The Caste Verification Committee was tasked with investigating these matters (Para 20-21).

The High Court's decision to leave the question of the certificate's validity to the Caste Verification Committee was correct. The Committee should expedite its inquiry (Para 37).

Decision: The decisions of the Single Judge and the Division Bench of the High Court were set aside. The Caste Verification Committee was directed to expedite its inquiry into the validity of the Income and Caste Certificate issued to Reddy and conclude the same preferably within a stipulated period (Para 38).

Referred Cases in the Judgment:

Decided on : 06-03-2018

Constitution of India, 1950 - Article 226

Counsel for Appearing Parties

H. Chandra Sekhar, Advocate, for the Appellants; S-Legal Associates, for the Respondents

Facts:

The case concerned an auction sale of a property which was confirmed in favor of the respondents. The appellants contested this auction sale through a writ petition, which was dismissed by the High Court. However, the High Court observed that the Deputy Commissioner had the authority to set aside the auction sale suo motu under Section 177 of the Mysore Land Revenue Act. The High Court also noted its inability to direct the Deputy Commissioner to exercise this discretion. Subsequently, a revision petition regarding an application filed by the appellants to invoke the Deputy Commissioner's discretion to set aside the auction sale became the subject of another writ petition.

The High Court rejected the tenability of this application under Section 177, a decision that was upheld in writ appeal. Following these legal proceedings, the appellants filed a suit seeking a declaration of ownership and possession of the property.

This suit was dismissed by both the trial court and the High Court on the grounds of the principles of res judicata.

Issues:

Whether the principle of res judicata applied to the appellants' suit seeking a declaration of ownership and possession of the property, considering the previous adjudication of the matter in the writ petition and subsequent proceedings.

Held:

The Supreme Court upheld the decisions of the lower courts, affirming that the entire issue regarding the confirmation of the auction sale had already been adjudicated upon between the same parties concerning the same land and cause of action.

Therefore, the appellants were rightly non-suited due to the application of the principles of res judicata. The Court emphasized that the principle of res judicata, as enshrined in Section 11 of the Code of Civil Procedure, is based on the maxim "Nemo Debet Bis Vexari Pro Una Et Eadem Causa" (no one should be vexed twice for the same cause).

The Court concluded that the trial court and the High Court correctly applied this principle, leading to the dismissal of the appellants' suit for declaration of ownership and possession.

Facts:

Anu Bhandari and Pradip Bhandari, who were married in 1997, had been living separately since March 2011 due to marital discord. They had two children. The parties were involved in various civil and criminal litigations, with a total of twenty-three cases pending before different courts.

Efforts for settlement had been made previously, including the intervention of Justice Lisa Gill and the appointment of Meenakshi Arora as a mediator. However, these efforts were not fully successful until the parties appeared before the Supreme Court.

Issues:

The court was to resolve the matrimonial disputes between Anu Bhandari and Pradip Bhandari and to facilitate their divorce by mutual consent.

Held:

The court dissolved the marriage between Anu Bhandari and Pradip Bhandari by a decree of divorce by mutual consent. This decision was based on the settlement reached by the parties and their conscious decision, uninfluenced by any extraneous factors. The court also quashed, dismissed, or disposed of various cases according to the terms of the settlement.

Additionally, the court issued directions for the transfer of property and the payment of a specified amount. It emphasized the importance of courts actively intervening to assist parties in reaching settlements, as mandated by Section 9 of the Family Courts Act, 1984.

The judgment appreciated the efforts of Justice Lisa Gill, Meenakshi Arora, and the legal counsels involved. The Civil Appeals were disposed of with no order as to costs.

Facts:

A loan was granted by a non-financial company (not covered under the SARFAESI Act) to the respondent borrower.

Subsequently, the non-financial company merged with the appellant-company, a financial company covered by the SARFAESI Act.

The appellant initiated proceedings under the SARFAESI Act for the recovery of the loan.

Issues:

Whether the provisions of the SARFAESI Act could be invoked in this case where the company granting the loan was not covered by the Act at the time of granting the loan.

Whether proceedings under the SARFAESI Act were barred if a case was filed under Section 9 of the Arbitration Act, invoking an arbitration clause.

Held:

The loan, debts, and financial assets stood vested in the appellant pursuant to the amalgamation scheme filed under Sections 391 and 394 of the Companies Act, 1956. Upon sanctioning of the scheme, all assets including loans, recoveries, security, interest, financial documents, etc., got transferred to and vested in the appellant. The respondent borrowers became borrowers of the appellant as if the financial assistance was granted by the appellant to them.

The debt with underlying securities was considered the asset of the predecessor company, which had the right to transfer/assign its assets to any person without seeking consent of the borrower.

The court rejected the argument that the merger was devised solely to bring the provisions of the SARFAESI Act into effect for the recovery of dues from the borrowers.

Proceedings under the SARFAESI Act are to be placed on a higher pedestal, given that the Act provides a speedy remedy to banks and financial institutions without recourse to the court of law. Merely because steps were taken under the Arbitration Act did not foreclose the remedy under the SARFAESI Act.

The respondent was treated as a 'borrower', the arrangement was classified as a 'security arrangement', the agreements created 'security interest', and the appellant became a 'secured creditor' under the SARFAESI Act.

Decision: The appeal was allowed, affirming the application of the SARFAESI Act and prioritizing its provisions over general laws.