M/S.
National Insurance Co. Ltd. Vs. Smt. Jijubhai Nathuji Dabhi & Ors [1996] INSC
1468 (20 November 1996)
K. Ramaswamy,
G.T. Nanavati, K. Venkataswami
ACT:
HEAD NOTE:
THE
20TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 1996 Present;
Hon'ble
Mr. Justice K. Ramaswamy Hon'ble Mr. Justice G.T. Nanavati Hon'ble Mr. Justice
K. Venkataswami Jitender Sharma, Sr. Adv., Mrs. Gunwant Dara, Ms. Minakshi Vij.
P. Gaur, Advs. with him for the appellant H.A. Raichura, Adv. for the
respondent in C.A.No.2671/91
O R D
E R
The
following order of the Court was delivered:
This
appeal by special leave is confined to the question as to whether the accident
had occurred during the operation of the insurance policy in controversy. The
admitted position is that the renewal of the insurance was effected as under:
Address;
Jal Apartment,. Pd. Vile Parle (N) Bombay 5.
It is
hereby understood and agreed that the renewal premium of Rs.1307/- only under
this Policy having been paid on 25.10.1983 and not within the renewal date viz.
14.10.1983 the Insurance by this Policy is suspended from 14.10.1983 (4 p.m) to
24.10.1983.
Further,
it is declared and agreed that the cover under this Policy is reinstated and
renewed for a further period of twelve months from 25.10.1983 to 24.10.1984 at
a premium of Rs.1307/-.
The
Tribunal also had recorded, as a fact, that on October 25, 1983 at 4.00
p.m., the contract of
renewal had come into force and it would be operative upto October 24, 1984. The Tribunal also recorded, as a
fact, that the accident had occurred on October 25, 1983 at 11.14 a.m., that is , before the renewal of the contract. Under these
circumstances, it would be clear that the accident had occurred when the
renewal had not taken effect.
This
Court in New India Assurance Co. vs. Ram Dayal [(1990) 2 SCR 570] had held that
in the absence of any specific time mentioned in that behalf, that contract
would be operative from the mid-night of the day be operation of provisions of
the General Clauses Act. But in view of the special contract mentioned in the
insurance policy, namely, it would be operative from 4.00 p.m. on October
25, 1983 and the
accident had occurred earlier thereto, the insurance coverage would not enable
the claimant to seek recovery of the amount from the appellant-Company.
The
appeal is accordingly allowed only to the above extent. In respect of any claim
against the owner, the respondent is at liberty to have it recovered. No costs.
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