M/S Malnad Traders Vs.
M/S New India Assurance Co. Ltd. [2009] INSC 124 (22 January 2009)
Judgment
CIVIL APPELLATE
JURISDICTION CIVIL APPEAL NO. 362 OF 2009 (Arising out of SLP(c) No. 9122 of
2008) M/s. Malnad Traders ...Appellant Versus M/s. New India Assurance Co. Ltd.
...
Respondent
B.SUDERSHAN REDDY,J.
1.
Leave
granted.
2.
This
appeal is directed against the judgment and order of the High Court of
Karnataka dated 17.8.2007 passed in RFA No. 959 of 2001 which was allowed in
part reducing 2 the amount of damages of Rs. 1,26,055.87 granted by the trial
court to that of Rs. 48,556/- only with interest @ 6% from the date of suit
till realization.
3.
Brief
facts needed for disposal of this appeal are as under:
4.
The
appellant - M/s. Malnad Traders (hereinafter referred to as "the appellant
firm") is a registered partnership firm carrying on its business in Rice
Mills and Oil Mills at Shimoga in various buildings, godowns and open yards. On
7.12.1982, the entire premises of the appellant firm including buildings,
machineries, equipments and stocks in trade were insured with the respondent -
M/s. New India Assurance Company Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "the
respondent company") under the fire insurance policy bearing
No.1229400593. On 26.3.1983, there was a fire accident in the business premises
of the appellant firm resulting in damage to the insured properties and as well
as injuries to two of its employees. On 11.4.1983, a detailed 3 report of the
incident and extent of damages suffered was sent to the respondent company.
After completing the formalities, the Surveyor of the respondent company inspected
the premises and prepared a detailed report about the extent of damages caused
to the properties of the appellant firm. Thereafter the appellant firm lodged
its claim with the respondent company amounting to Rs. 3,33,056.87 as
compensation for damages caused to its properties due to the fire accident
along with documentary evidence. On failure of the respondent company in
settling the claim, the appellant firm served a legal notice on 5.7.1984 which
remained uncared for by the respondent company.
Thereafter the
appellant firm filed the suit bearing No. 61 of 1986 claiming inter alia an
amount of Rs. 3,33,055.87 towards damages along with interest @ 19.5% per annum
before the Principal Civil Judge (Sr. Dn.) and C.J.M. at Shimoga. The Principal
Civil Judge, Shimoga decreed the suit for a sum of Rs. 1,26,055.87 and awarded
interest at 6% from the date of filing of the suit till realization. The 4
respondent company being aggrieved by the same filed RFA No. 959 of 2001 before
the High Court of Karnataka at Bangalore which was allowed in part reducing the
amount of damages of Rs. 1,26,055.87 granted by the trial court to that of Rs.
48,556/- with interest @ 6% from the date of filing of the suit till
realization. Hence this appeal.
5.
We
have heard the learned counsel for the appellant and perused the impugned
judgment and the material made available on record. Despite service of notice
none appeared on behalf of the respondent company.
6.
Appearing
on behalf of the appellant, Shri G.V. Chandrashekar, learned counsel submitted
that the High Court has committed serious error in reducing the amount of
damages without assigning any reason whatsoever. It was also submitted that the
High Court was under an erroneous impression as if the appellant was seeking further
enhancement of the claim and in the process made an 5 observation commenting
as if the appellant manipulated and altered the documentary evidence.
7.
It
is to be noted that both the courts concurrently found that the insurance
coverage was in respect of entire premises and machinery installed therein and
the policy was alive and in force on the date of fire accident. The appellate
court even rejected the submission of the respondent company that the appellant
under document Exhibit D-5 agreed to receive a sum of Rs. 21,440/- only in full
and final settlement of the claims. The appellate court in this regard came to
the conclusion that there was no proof of full and final settlement of claims
in terms of document Exhibit D-5.
8.
The
damages claimed by the appellant firm were classified under the following
heads:- 1. Damage to building.
2. Damage to
machinery 3. Damage to electrical wiring.
6 In support of the
claim the appellant firm relied on the documents viz. bills (Exhibit P-6 to
Exhibit P-213) and also oral evidence of PW-2 to PW-9.
9.
PW-2
Ramachandrappa, a building contractor has been examined who stated in the
evidence that a sum of Rs. 30,000/- was spent for purchase of materials and a
sum of Rs. 5,000/- was paid for labour charges towards the civil works of the
building. The learned trial court upon appreciation of the evidence allowed
only a sum of Rs. 5,000/- towards labour charges and the amount spent towards
purchase of building materials was disallowed for want of proof. The learned
appellate court construed the finding of the trial court as if the appellant
firm preferred appeal in that regard and in the process came to the conclusion
that there was no proof regarding the amount spent for purchase of materials.
In fact, the trial court did not award any amount in that regard. The approach
adopted 7 by the appellate court is more or less similar in respect of all the
issues.
10.
The
appellate court went on upholding the findings recorded by the trial court
which actually were not in favour of the appellant firm. The whole approach
adopted by the High Court was as if the appellant firm preferred the first
appeal without any merit whatsoever. The first appeal, in fact, was preferred
by the respondent company.
11.
The
appellate court having upheld and accepted the reasoning of the trial court
without recording any reason whatsoever modified the amount of damages of Rs. 1,26,055.87
awarded by the trial court to that of Rs. 48,556/-.
12.
A
perusal of the trial court judgment discloses that it had not only taken note
of oral evidence but of each and every document filed by the parties and
recorded a specific 8 finding in respect of each of the items. The trial court
held that the appellant firm is not entitled to a sum of Rs. 2,07,000/- out of
the total claim of Rs. 3,33,055.87 in the following manner:
1. Item No. 71 for
Rs. 88,000.00
2. Item No. 76 for
Rs. 30,000.00
3. Item No. 77 for
Rs. 47,000.00
4. Item No. 78 for
Rs. 40,000.00 Plus Rs. 2,000.00 Total: Rs.2,07,000.00 The reason adopted in
disallowing the claims in respect of the items referred to herein above has
been upheld by the High Court but without recording any reason further reduced
the amount of damages granted by the trial court.
There is no reason
whatsoever based on which the High Court could have interfered with the well
considered judgment of the trial court. It is clear that the trial court upon
appreciation of evidence upheld the receipts in exhibit 9 P-70, P-71, P-72,
P-75, P-77, P-181 and P-183. The trial court also relied upon exhibit P-190 and
P-199. The trial court relying upon exhibit P-190, exhibit P-188 and exhibit
P-199 and for the detailed reasons had granted Rs. 5,000/-, Rs. 8,000/- and Rs.
5,000/- respectively under the said documents. Total amount thus comes to Rs.
1,26,055.87.
The trial court after
an elaborate consideration rightly deducted the claim in respect of item Nos.
71, 76, 77 and 78 and accordingly allowed only a sum of Rs. 1,26,055.87 towards
the damages. There is not a single reason in the judgment of the High court for
reducing the quantum of damages awarded by the trial court.
13.
For
the aforesaid reasons, the appellant succeeds in this appeal. The impugned
judgment of the High court made in RFA No. 959 of 2001 is set aside and the
decree and judgment of the trial court is accordingly restored.
14.
The
appeal is, accordingly, allowed without any order as to costs.
..........................................J.
(Lokeshwar Singh Panta)
..........................................J.
(B. Sudershan Reddy)
New
Delhi;
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