Iffco-Tokio General Insurance Co. Ltd. and Anr v. Ramesh and Ors

INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoATo CHANDIGARH o 246o o o o o o o o o ooCWP-16476-2021 o o o o o o oDecidedoOn:o27.03.2023o o IFFCOoTOKIOoGENERALoINSURANCEoCO.oLTD.oo ANDoANOTHER o o o o o o ...oPetitioners VERSUS

RAMESHoANDoOTHERSo o o o ...oRespondents o o CORAM:oHON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoVINODoS.oBHARDWAJo **** Present:o Mr.YogeshoGupta,oAdvocate,oforotheopetitioners.o

o o Mr.oInderjitoSingh,oAdvocateofororespondentsono.1oando2.

o o Mr.oRavioKumar,oAdvocateofororespondentono.3. **** VINODoS.oBHARDWAJ,oJo(ORAL) o o Theoquestionowhichoarisesoforoadjudicationoinotheopresentocaseoiso whetherotheoadditionalobenefitoofopersonaloaccidentounderoaoPolicyomeantoforo ano"ownerodriver"oextendsoalsootootheo"driver"owhooisonototheo"owner"oofotheo vehicleoinoquestion. o o TheopresentowritopetitionoraisesoaochallengeotootheoAwardodatedo

10.07.2021o (Annexureo P-3),opassedo byo theo Permanento Loko Adalato (Publico UtilityoService),oU.T.oChandigarh,othroughoitsoChairman.o BRIEFoHISTORY o o Brieflyosummarized,otheofactsoofotheopresentocaseoasoclaimedobyo theorespondents-applicants-oparentsoofooneoAshokoKumar,owhoowasoworkingo witho respondento no.3o Anujo Sharma–Managingo Directoro ofo theo companyo namelyo Fruito Jumpo Indiao Privateo Ltdo areo thato duringo theo courseo ofo hiso CWP-16476-2021o -2-oo 2023:PHHC:045337o

employmentoasoaodriver,odeceasedoAshokoKumarowasoassignedoTataoTrucko bearingoregistrationoNo.HR-39D-8823.oTheovehicleoinoquestionowasoinsuredo witho theo petitionero Insuranceo Companyo video Insuranceo Policyo Numbero M6425644o witho IDVo ofo Rs.10,00,000/-o (Rupeeso teno lakho only)o witho ano additionalocoverageoofopersonaloaccidentoinsuranceoofoRs.15,00,000/-o(Rupeeso fifteenolakhoonly),oasowasooptedobyotheoinsuredoforoaccidentalodeathoofodrivero ofo vehicle,o byo payingo ano additionalo o premiumo ofo Rs.325/-o (Rupeeso threeo hundredotwentyofiveoonly).oOno11.03.2019,otheoaforesaidovehicleometowithoano accidentobecauseooforashoandonegligentodrivingoofoanotherovehicleobearingo registrationoNo.oPB-11-BR-9742.oAnoFIRoquaotheoincidentowasoregistered.o Ashoko Kumar,o theo sonoofo theo respondents-applicantsounfortunatelyo passedo awayoinotheoaforesaidoaccident.oTheorespondentsocontendothatotheyosubmittedo aoclaimotootheoInsuranceoCompanyoforotheoreleaseoofotheoadditionalocoverageo amountingotooRs.15,00,000/-oinotermsoofotheoInsuranceoPolicy,ohowever,otheo petitioner-Insuranceo Companyo repudiated/o declinedo theo aforesaido claim.o Consequently,o ano applicationo undero Sectiono 22-Co ofo theo Legalo Serviceso Authoritieso Act,o 1987o waso institutedo beforeo theo Permanento Loko Adalato (PublicoUtilityoServices),oU.T.oChandigarh.o o o Upononotice,otheopetitioner-InsuranceoCompanyofiledoitsoreplyo whereino ito raisedo variouso objectionso includingo thato aso pero theo policyo document,otheopersonaloaccidentalocoverageoofoRs.15,00,000/-owasoextendableo onlyo too theo "ownero driver"o ofo theo vehicleo ando thato aso pero theo generalo regulations,oasoclarifiedoinotheoIndiaoMotoroTariff,otheo"ownerodriver"oiso"ao persono whoo iso theo registeredo ownero ando iso alsoo drivingo theo vehicleo ino question"oatotheotimeoofotheoincident.oHeocontendsothatotheobenefitoofotheo additionalo Insuranceo Covero was,o thus,o availableo onlyo too Anujo Sharma-theo CWP-16476-2021o -3-oo 2023:PHHC:045337o

registeredo ownero ofo theo vehicle,o ino caseo heo wouldo haveo beeno drivingo theo vehicleo ando theo sameo iso noto extendableo too ano independento driver,o whoo iso employedobyotheoowner.oSinceotheodeceasedoAshokoKumarowasoseparatelyo employedoasoaodriver,otheoaboveoclauseoofopersonaloaccidentoinotheopolicyodoeso noto covero theo claim.o Ito waso thus,o averredo thato theo claimo waso rightlyo repudiated/declinedobyotheoInsuranceoCompany. o o Proceedingsoforoconciliation/amicableoresolutionoofotheodisputeo wereoinitiatedobyotheoPermanentoLokoAdalato(PublicoUtilityoServices),oU.T.o Chandigarho ino termso ofo Sectiono 22-Co (4)o too (7)o ofo theo Legalo Serviceso Authoritieso Act,o1987,o however,oito failedo too amicablyo resolveo theodispute.o Consequently,oadjudicationoinoexerciseoofopowersounderoSectiono22-Co(8)oofo theoLegaloServicesoAuthoritiesoAct,o1987owasoundertakenobyotheoPermanento LokoAdalato(PublicoUtilityoServices),oU.T.oChandigarh. o o Upono considerationo ofo theo rivalo submissions,o theo applicationo filedobyotheorespondents-applicantsowasoallowedoandotheopetitioneroInsuranceo Companyo waso heldo liableo too payo theo amounto ofo Rs.15,00,000/-o too theo respondents-applicantso ando too beo apportionedo equallyo amongsto them.o Additionally,oaocostsoofoRs.5,000/-owasoalsooimposed.ooAggrievedotherefrom,o theopresentopetitionohasobeenofiled. PLEADINGSo o o Theopetitioner-InsuranceoCompanyohasoreiteratedoitsostandotakeno beforeotheoPermanentoLokoAdalato(PublicoUtilityoServices),oU.T.oChandigarho ando haso averredo thato theo personalo accidentalo covero ofo Rs.15,00,000/-o aso detailedoinoSectiono4oofotheoPolicyocoveredo"owner-driver"oandowasoavailableo onlyo too theo registeredo ownero ofo theo vehicle,o whoo dieso whileo drivingo theo vehicle.oItoisonotoaogeneraloinsuranceocoveroandoonlyoindemnifiesoaoqualifiedo CWP-16476-2021o -4-oo 2023:PHHC:045337o

exigency.oHeofurtherocontendsothatosinceotheoaforesaidoexigencyodidonotooccur,o theoAwardocouldonotohaveobeenopassedoinofavouroofoaopersonowhooisonoto coveredo undero theo policy.o Ito iso furthero contendedo thato theo Permanento Loko Adalato (Publico Utilityo Services),o U.T.o Chandigarho failedo too takeo intoo considerationotheocrucialoClausesoofotheoPolicyowhichoreadothus:- "SECTIONo4:oPERSONALoACCIDENToCOVERoFORo OWNERoDRIVER Subjectootherwiseotootheotermsoexceptionsoconditionsoando limitationsoofothisopolicyotheoCompanyoundertakesotoopayo compensationo aso pero theo followingo scaleo foro bodilyo injury/deathosustainedobyotheoowner-driveroofotheovehicleo ino directo connectiono witho theo vehicleo insuredo oro whilsto mountingo into/dismountingo fromo oro travelingo ino theo insuredo vehicleo aso ao co-driver,o causedo byo violento accidentaloexternaloandovisibleomeansowhichoindependento ofo anyo othero causeo shallo withino sixo calendaro monthso ofo suchoinjuryoresultoin: o Natureoofoinjuryo Scaleo ofo compensationo o

(i)oDeatho 100%o o

(ii)oLossoofotwoolimbsoorosightoofo 100%o twooeyesoorooneolimboandosightoofo oneoeyeo o

(iii)oLossoofooneolimboorosightoofo 50%o oneoeyeo o o

(iv)Permanento totalo disablemento 100%o fromo injurieso othero thano namedo aboveo o o Providedoalwaysothat

1.o Theocompensationoshallobeopayableounderoonlyooneoofotheo itemso(i)otoo(iv)oaboveoinorespectoofotheoowner-driveroarisingoouto ofoanyooneooccurrenceoandotheototaloliabilityoofotheoinsureroshallo CWP-16476-2021o -5-oo 2023:PHHC:045337o

notoinotheoaggregateoexceedotheosumoofoRs.15,00,000/-oduringo anyooneoperiodoofoinsurance;

2.o Noocompensationoshallobeopayableoinorespectoofodeathooro bodilyoinjuryodirectlyooroindirectlyowhollyooroinopartoarisingooro resultingofromoorotraceableotoo(a)ointentionaloselfoinjuryosuicideo oro attemptedo suicideo physicalo defecto oro infirmityo oro (b)o ano accidentohappeningowhilstosuchopersonoisounderotheoinfluenceoofo intoxicatingoliquoroorodrugs;

3.o Sucho compensationo shallo beo payableo directlyo too theo insuredoorotoohis/herolegalorepresentativesowhoseoreceiptoshallobeo theofullodischargeoinorespectoofotheoinjuryotootheoinsured;

4.o Thisocoveroisosubjectoto a)o Theo owner-drivero iso theo registeredo ownero ofo theo vehicleoinsuredoherein; b)o theo owner-drivero iso theo insuredo namedo ino thiso policy. c)o theoowner-driveroholdsoanoeffectiveodrivingolicence,o inoaccordanceowithotheoprovisionsoofoRuleo3oofotheo CentraloMotoroChidesoRules,o1989,oatotheotimeoofo theoaccident." (Emphasisosupplied)o

o o Aoreferenceoisoalsoomadeotoo"GR36"oofotheo'IndianoMotoroTariff'o laido downo ino accordanceo witho theo provisionso ofo theo Insuranceo Act,o 1938,o whichoreadsothus:- "GR36oPersonaloAccidento(PA)oCoverounderoMotoroPolicyo(noto applicableo too vehicleso coveredo undero Sectionso E,Fo ando Go ofo TariffoforoCommercialoVehicles) A.o CompulsoryoPersonaloAccidentoCoveroforoOwneroDriver CompulsoryoPersonaloAccidentoCoveroshallobeoapplicableoundero bothoLiabilityoonlyoandoPackageopolicies.oTheoowneroofoinsuredo vehicleo holdingo ano 'effective'o drivingo licenseo iso termedo aso Owner-DriveroforotheopurposesoofothisoSection.

CWP-16476-2021o -6-oo 2023:PHHC:045337o

CoveroisoprovidedotootheoOwner-Driverowhilstodrivingotheovehicleo includingomountingointo/dismountingofromoorotravellingoinotheo insuredovehicleoasoaoco-driver.

NBo ThisoprovisionodealsowithoPersonaloAccidentoCoveroando onlyotheoregisteredoowneroinopersonoisoentitledotootheocompulsoryo covero whereo he/sheo holdso ano effectiveo drivingo license.o Hence,o compulsoryo PAo covero cannoto beo grantedo whereo ao vehicleo iso ownedo byo ao company,o ao partnershipo firmo oro ao similaro bodyo corporateoorowhereotheoowner-driverodoesonotoholdoanoeffectiveo drivingolicence.oInoallosuchocases,owhereocompulsoryoPAocovero cannotobeogranted,otheoadditionalopremiumoforotheocompulsoryo P.Aocoveroforotheoowner-driveroshouldonotobeochargedoandotheo compulsoryo P.Ao covero provisiono ino theo policyo shouldo alsoo beo deleted.oWhereotheoowner-driveroownsomoreothanooneovehicle,o compulsoryoPAocoverocanobeograntedoforoonlyooneovehicleoaso optedobyohim/her."o o o o Theorespondentsohaveofiledotheirowrittenostatementoinowhichotheyo haveoreiteratedotheoavermentsonoticedoearlieroandodoonotodisputeotheofactualo aspectsoasoregardsotheodeceasedoworkingoasoAoDriverowithoAnujoSharmaoatotheo timeoofooccurrenceoofotheoincident.oTheyoalsooacknowledgeothatoMACTohado awardedo ao compensationo ofo Rs.22.80o lakho too themo ono 05.02.2021.o Theo respondentohoweverocontendsothatotheoadditionaloaccidentalocoverageowouldo covero theo drivero aso wello ando theo Insuranceo Companyo couldo noto denyo theo benefitounderotheoPolicyoafterotheoaccident. o o Ito iso furthero averredo thato Anujo Sharmao beingo theo Managingo DirectoroofotheoCompany,ocouldonotobeoexpectedotoobeodrivingotruckohimself.o Theoagentohad,ohowever,oassuredothatotheoInsuranceoCompanyogivesopersonalo accidentalo deatho coverageo eveno too ao paido driver.o Ito waso ono theo abovesaido assuranceothatotheoadditionalopremiumowasopaid.oTheodriverobeingoholderoofoao CWP-16476-2021o -7-oo 2023:PHHC:045337o

validodrivingolicenceowouldostepointootheoshoesoofotheoowneroforotheopurposeso ofobenefitsoadmissibleounderotheopolicyoandotheoAwardohasothusobeenorightlyo passedoinofavouroofotheoapplicants. ARGUMENTSo o o ItoisofurtherocontendedothatotheoPermanentoLokoAdalat,o(Publico UtilityoServices),oU.T.oChandigarhohasodispelledotheocontentionsoraisedoono behalfoofotheopetitionersobyoobservingoasounder:- "OnoperusaloofoAnnexureoR-3/2o(C-5)owhichoisoaoscheduleoofotheo insuranceo policyo oneo "Drivero Clause"o iso mentionedo ando ito iso specificallyoprovidedothereinothato"anyopersonoincludingoinsuredo providedo thato theo persono drivingo holdso ando effectiveo drivingo licenceoatotheotimeoofotheoaccident:oandoisonotodisqualifiedofromo holdingo oro obtainingo sucho ao licence.o o Providedo alsoo thato theo personoholdingoanoeffectiveolearner'solicenceomayoalsoodriveotheo vehicleoandothatosuchoaopersonosatisfiesotheorequirementsoofoRuleo 3oofotheoCentraloMotoroVehiclesoRules,o1989. oBareoreadingoofothisoclauseoclearlyoenvisagesothatoapartofromo registeredoowneroofotheovehicleo"anyootheropersonoorodriver",o whooisohavingovalidodrivingolicenceoisoalsoocoveredounderothiso insurance.oThus,otheointentionoofotheolegislationowhileoframingo termsoandoconditionsoofotheopolicyoisoveryoclearothatoapartofromo theoregisteredoowneroofotheovehicle,oanyootheropersonoincludingo theopaidodriverohavingovalidodrivingolicenceoisocoveredounderotheo policy,oparticularlyoinotheopresentocaseowhenotheorespondentono.3o haso alsoo paido additionalo premiumo foro Rs.325/-o (Rupeeso threeo hundredotwentyofiveoonly)otoocoverotheoriskoofodriveroalso. oAfteroperusaloofotheoinsuranceopolicyoAnnexureoR-3/2o)C-5),oitoiso foundothatoinocolumnoBoregardingothirdoparty,oP.Aocoverageoiso foroowner-driveroforoRs.15,00,000/-o(Rupeesofifteenolakhoonly)o witho paymento ofo premiumo ofo Rs.325/-o (Rupeeso threeo hundredo twentyofiveoonly). CWP-16476-2021o -8-oo 2023:PHHC:045337o

oTheolearnedocounseloforotheoapplicantsohasoplacedoonorecordotheo judgmento ofo theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ino theo caseo ofo Ramkhiladio (Supra),o wherein,o ito waso heldo thato borrowero oro drivero othero thano registeredo ownero steppedo intoo theo shoeso ofo ownero iso entitledo foro personalo accidento claimo witho accruedo interestoandoweofindothatoinotheopresentocaseotheoapplicantsoareo onoaobetterofootingoasolateoSh.AshokoKumarowasoaopaidodriveroofo theorespondentono.3oandotheorespondentono.3ohasoalsoopaidoextrao premiumoforothirdopartyoriskoandocategoricallyomentionedoinohiso replyo thato heo hado specificallyo askedo fromo theo agento ofo respondentsono.1oando2oregardingoinsuranceoofotheodriveroasoheo beingotheoManagingoDirectoroofotheoCompany,owasonotosupposedo toodriveotheotruckomeantoforotransportationoofotheoproductsoofotheo company.oTheseoavermentsomadeobyorespondentono.3oinohisoreplyo remainedoun-rebuttedobyotheorespondentsono.1oando2.oTherefore,o theosameoareotakenotoobeocorrect.ooMeaningothereby,othatosinceo theoregisteredoowneroofotheovehicleohasohiredoaodriverohavingo validodrivingolicence,ohasosteppedointoohisoshoesoforotheopurposeo ofogettingoclaimobyohisolegalorepresentatives/legaloheirsoonohiso deathoinotheoaccident."

o o Heo argueso thato theo findingso recordedo byo theo Permanento Loko Adalato(PublicoUtilityoServices),oU.T.oChandigarhotootheoeffectothatotheodrivero wouldo stepo intoo theo shoeso ofo ao registeredo ownero foro gettingo theo claim,o iso misconceivedo ando iso noto basedo ono correcto interpretationo ofo theo legalo instrument.oEachowordoinoaopolicyodocumentoisorequiredotoobeoassignedoao meaningoinolaw.oAnyosympatheticoconsiderationoofoaoclaimocannotoextendotheo jurisdictiono ofo Permanento Loko Adalato too re-writingo ofo theo termso ofo theo contract.o Theo Permanento Loko Adalato (Publico Utilityo Services),o U.T.o Chandigarh,o thus,o exceededo ino itso jurisdictiono ino erasingo theo distinctiono betweeno theo wordso ando theo expressionso usedo ando too perceiveo themo aso CWP-16476-2021o -9-oo 2023:PHHC:045337o

interchangeableonotwithstandingothatotheosameowasoneitherotheointentoofotheo contractingopartiesonorotheostatutoryoimport. o o Heo furthero contendso thato theo respondents-applicantso alsoo preferredoaoseparateoclaimopetitionounderotheoMotoroVehiclesoActofromobeforeo theoTribunaloagainstotheooffendingovehicleoandotheocompensationounderotheo MotoroVehiclesoActowasoalsooawardedotoothem.oTheyohaveoadditionallyoalsoo lodgedotheopresentoclaimounderotheoaforesaidopolicyoforoseekingocompensationo inoaobidotoocapitalizeoonotheounfortunateoincident. o o Counseloforotheopetitioner-InsuranceoCompanyoalsooarguedothato theotermsoofotheopolicyoareospecificoandounambiguousoaboutotheoexpressiono usedoandocannotobeoheldotoobeoaocontractounderoaomistakeoonotheopartoofotheo insured.oTheolawoisowellosettledothatocontractoofoInsuranceocreatesofinancialo liabilityoonooccurrenceoofotheoeventoorodefaultounder-writtenobyotheoInsuranceo Company.oTheopoweroofojudicialoreviewowouldonotoexceedotoore-writeotheo contractobetweenotheopartiesooroimposeoaoliabilityofororisksonotocovered.oOnceo theotermsoofotheopolicyoareoclearoandounambiguous,oassumingothatothereowasoao mistakeoonotheopartoofotheoinsuredoinounderstandingotheosame,osuchoaomistakeo beingounilateral,ocannotocreateoanyobindingoobligationoagainstotheopetitioner-Insuranceo Company.o o Financialo burdeno cannoto beo thuso imposedo upono theo petitioner-Insuranceo Companyo byo holdingo thato theo drivero ofo theo vehicleo involvedowouldostepointootheoshoesoofotheoowner.oRelianceoisoplacedoonotheo recommendation/explanationogivenobyo"IndiaoMotoroTariff"otoocontendothato theowordoandoexpressionousedoinotheoPolicyodocumentostandodulyoexplained.o TheoAwardothusoneedsotoobeosetoaside. o o Counseloforotheorespondents,oonotheootherohand,oreiteratesotheo submissionsonoticedoaboveoandocontendsothatotheofindingsohaveobeenorightlyo CWP-16476-2021o -10-oo 2023:PHHC:045337o

recordedo byo theo Permanento Loko Adalato (Publico Utilityo Services),o U.T.o Chandigarhowithotheosocialowelfareoobjectoandothatotheofindingsorecordedoareo notobasedoonomis-readingooromis-interpretationoofotheodocuments.oHeofurthero contendso thato lawo haso beeno laido downo byo theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Court,o whereino ito iso categoricallyo heldo thato wheno theo termso ando conditionso ofo ao contractoofoinsuranceoareoambiguousooroliableotoomoreothanooneointerpretation,o theointerpretationoinofavouroofotheoinsuredoisotoobeoadopted.oExerciseoofosucho discretionoinoacceptingotheointerpretationofavouringotheoinsuredoisothusoofoao correctoimportoandotheobenefitoreleasedoinofavourooforespondents-applicants-o oughtonototoobeoordinarilyointerferedowith. o o Heo furthero contendso thato theo termso ando conditionso ofo theo insuranceopolicyowereonotoplacedoonorecordobeforeotheoPermanentoLokoAdalato (PublicoUtilityoServices),oU.T.oChandigarhoorobeforeothisoCourt.ooHeofurthero contendsothatoreferenceotootheo"IndianoMotoroTariffoGR36"oisoinadmissibleoato thiso stageo sinceo theo aforesaido facto oughto too haveo beeno broughto beforeo theo Permanento Loko Adalato (Publico Utilityo Services),o U.T.o Chandigarh.o Theo petitionerowouldothusobeoprecludedofromoraisingosuchoanoissue.ooRelianceoiso alsoo placedo ono certaino judgments,o referredo too ino theo awardo too supporto hiso arguments. o o Whileo rebuttingo theo arguments,o counselo foro theo petitionerso contendso thato aforesaido objectiono iso noto tenableo sinceo theo contracto ofo insuranceoisobasedoonoconsensusoadoidemoandoisogovernedobyoUberrimaoFides.oo Deceasedo Ashoko Kumaro waso noto ao contractingo partyo ando theo understanding/consensuso establishedo haso too beo amongsto theo petitioner– InsuranceoCompanyoandotheoinsuredoi.eoAniloSharma.oHeoalsoocontendsothato theosubmissionsoasoregardsotheotermsoandoconditionsoandotheomeaningoofoPAo CWP-16476-2021o -11-oo 2023:PHHC:045337o

asomentionedoinotheoInsuranceoPolicyoisobasedouponotheogeneraloregulationso providedoinotheoIndiaoMotoroTariff.oTheosameobeingoaolegaloargument,oisonoto eveno requiredo too beo pleadedo ando cano beo raisedo ato anyo point.o Ito iso furthero submittedo byo himo thato ito wouldo alsoo beo incorrecto ono theo parto ofo theo respondents-applicantso too contendothato theo issueoinoquestiono hado noto beeno raisedo beforeo theo Permanento Loko Adalato (Publico Utilityo Services),o U.T.o Chandigarhoasotheosaidoissueowasodulyoagitatedoandoarguedobeforeothem.ooAsoao mattero ofo fact,o theo Permanento Loko Adalato (Publico Utilityo Services),o U.T.o Chandigarho haso interpretedo theo aforesaido clauseo ando concludedo thato theo 'driver'owouldostepointootheoshoesoofotheoregisteredoowner.oHeocontendsothatoito isothusonototheocaseothatotheoPermanentoLokoAdalato(PublicoUtilityoServices),o U.T.o Chandigarho waso noto apprisedo ofo theo aforesaido objection,o rather,o theo aforesaidoobjectionoisodulyonoticedoinointernalopageo7oofotheoAwardoitself.oo o o Io haveo heardo learnedo counselo appearingo ono behalfo ofo theo respectiveopartiesoandohaveogoneothroughotheodocumentsoavailableowithotheiro ableoassistance.o CONSIDERATION o o Inoorderotooappreciateotheodispute,oitowouldobeonecessaryotoorefero too variouso provisionso ofo theo Motoro Vehicleo Act,o 1988o ando theo Ruleso ando Regulationso framedo thereo under.o o Sectionso 2(9)o ando 2(30)o ofo theo Motoro VehiclesoAct,o1988odefineoao"driver"oando"owner"owhichoreadsothus:- "Sectiono2(9) "driver"oincludes,oinorelationotooaomotorovehicleowhichoisodrawno byoanotheromotorovehicle,otheopersonowhooactsoasoaosteersmanoofo theodrawnovehicle;" Sectiono2(30) "owner"omeansoaopersonoinowhoseonameoaomotorovehicleostandso registered,oandowhereosuchopersonoisoaominor,otheoguardianoofo CWP-16476-2021o -12-oo 2023:PHHC:045337o

sucho minor,o ando ino relationo too ao motoro vehicleo whicho iso theo subjectoofoaohire-purchaseoagreement,ooroanoagreementoofoleaseo oroanoagreementoofohypothecation,otheopersonoinopossessionoofo theovehicleounderothatoagreement."

o o Theo wordso "ownero driver"o are,o however,o noto definedo ino theo MotoroVehicleoAct,o1988.oTheoaforesaidoexpressionofindsoaomentionoinoGR36o ofotheoIndiaoMotoroTariffowhichoisotheoTariffoAdvisoryoCommittee,oasopero Sectiono64UoofotheoInsuranceoAct,o1938oandolaysodownorules,oregulations,o rates,oadvantages,otermsoandoconditionsoforotransactionsoofoMotoroInsuranceoino IndiaoandoisoconstitutedoinoaccordanceowithotheoprovisionsoofoPartoII-Boofotheo InsuranceoActo1938.oTheoexpressiono"ownerodriver"oinorelationotooaopersonalo accidentocoverounderotheoMotoroAccidentoPolicyohasoalreadyobeenoextractedoino theoprecedingoparagraphsoasowelloasoClauseo4oofotheoPolicyoDocument. o o Theoexpressiono"used"oinotheopolicyocoveronoteoforoextendingotheo benefitoofopersonaloaccidentocoveroiso"ownerodriver".oItodoesonotouseoanyoothero signo oro linguistico expressiono inbetweeno theo usageo ofo theo aboveo saido botho words.o Theo counselo foro theo respondent-Applicanto intendso too giveo ito ao suggestionoandointerpretationothatotheosaidoexpressionoshouldobeoconstruedoaso "owner/driver"oandothatotheodriveroshallostepointootheoshoesoofoowneroinoviewo ofotheolawolaidodownobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourt.oHeofurtherocontendsothato whereo ano expressiono iso capableo ofo twoo differento interpretations,o theo interpretationofavouringotheoinsuredohasotoobeoacceptedoandonoobenefitsoofo sucho ambiguityo cano beo extendedo too theo authoro ofo theo documento i.e.o theo InsuranceoCompany.o o o Theolawoinorelationotoointerpretationoofostatutes/documentsolayso downo variouso guidelines.o Ito iso recognizedo aso ao basico principleo thato theo intention/interpretationo ofo ao phraseo haso too beo primarilyo gatheredo fromo theo CWP-16476-2021o -13-oo 2023:PHHC:045337o

languageoused.oItowasoheldobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinotheomatteroofo ShyamoKishorioDevioVsoPatnaoMunicipaloCorporationoandoanotheroreportedo aso AIRo 1966o SCo 1678o thato theo wordso ofo ao statuteo nevero should,o whileo interpreting,obeoaddedoorobeosubstitutedowithoutoaonecessity.oHence,owhereoao constructionowhichorequires,oitsosupportofromoadditionsoorosubstitutionsoofo words/expressionso iso requiredo too beo avoided.o Theo abovesaido ruleo waso reiteratedobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinotheomatteroofoHarbhajanoSingho Vs.oPressoCounciloofoIndiaoandoothersoreportedoaso(2002)o3oSCCo722.oCertaino welloacceptedoexceptionsohave,ohowever,obeenocarvedoout.oInodischargeoofoitso interpretativeofunctions,otheoCourtocanocorrectoanoobviousodraftingoerroroinoao suitableocase.oItowasoheldoinotheomatteroofo'INCOoEuropeoLimitedoandootherso VsoFirstoChoiceoDistributiono(AoFirm)oandoothersoreportedoaso2000(2)oAllo E.Ro109o(HL)othatobeforeointerpretingoaostatute,otheoCourtomustobeoabundantlyo sureoofothreeoaspects:oo

(i)o theointendedopurposeoofotheostatuteoorotheoprovisionoinoquestion;o

(ii)o thatodueotooinadvertence,otheodraftsman/legislatureofailsotoogiveoeffectotoo thatopurposeoinotheostatuteoorotheoprovisionoinoquestion;o

(iii)o theo substanceo ofo theo provisiono theo Parliamento wouldo haveo made,o althoughonotonecessarilyotheopreciseowordsotheoParliamentowouldohaveo used,ohadotheoerroroinotheoBillobeenonoticed.oo o o Hence,oitoisogenerallyoandoordinarilyonotoallowableotooreadotheo wordsoinoaostatute/provision/documentowhichoareonotothere.oDepartureofromo theoRuleoofoliteraloconstructionomayobeolegitimateotooavoidoanyopartoofotheo provisionofromobecomingomeaningless.oRuleoofoliteraloconstructionomandateso thatotheowordsoofoaostatute/provisionoareounderstoodoinotheironatural,oordinaryo oropopularosenseoandotheophrasesoandosentencesoareotoobeoconstruedofromotheiro CWP-16476-2021o -14-oo 2023:PHHC:045337o

grammaticalomeaningounlessotheosameoleadsotoosomeoabsurdityoorothereoiso somethingoinotheocontextooroinotheoobjectowhichosuggestsotootheocontrary.oIto wasoalsooheldobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinotheomatteroofoUnionoofoIndiao Vs.oExcideoIndustriesoLimitedoreportedoaso(2020)o5oSCCo274othatowhenotheo Courtoexaminesotheovalidityoofoaoprovision,oitsoprimaryoconcernoisotheoliteralo contexto ofo theo provision.o Ito iso soo becauseo theo legislationo speakso througho contextoandoasolongoasoitoisonotospeakingoinoanoequivocalomanner,othereoisoao limitedospaceoforotheoCourtotooventureobeyondotheocontext.oIfotheotextoofoao provisiono iso unambiguous,o theo legislativeo intento getso coalescedo ando iso epitomizedotherefrom.oWhileoreferringotootheoaboveosaidoruleoofointerpretationo inotheocontextoofoanoissueopertainingotooIndianoLimitationoAct,o1908oinotheo caseoofoNagendraoNathoDeyoVs.oSureshoChandraoDeyoreportedoasoAIRo1932o Privyo Councilo 165,o Siro Dinshaho Mullao statedo thato "theo stricto grammaticalo meaningoofotheowordsois,o"theirolordshipsothinkotheoonlyosafeoguide."oTheosaido principleo haso beeno re-affirmedo byo theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ino variouso subsequentojudgments.oo o o TheosameothusonecessitatesothisoCourtotooexamineowhetherotheo literalointerpretationoofotheoexpressiono"ownerodriver"oasoclarifiedoinoGR36oofo theo"IndianoMotoroTariff"oreadowithotheodefinitionsoprovidedoinotheoMotoro Vehicleso Act,o 1988o iso likelyo too leado too ano absurdo ando ambiguouso resulto necessitatingotheoreadingoofotheosaidoexpressionoaso"owner/driver"owhichoiso suggestedo byo theo respondent-Applicanto recognizingo theo principleo thato theo driverowouldostepointootheoshoesoofotheoowneroandowouldothusobeoentitledotoo theobenefitsoasowouldoenureoinofavouroofotheoowner.oo o o Relianceoinothisoregardohasobeenoplacedobyotheocounseloforotheo respondentsoonotheojudgmentoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinotheomatteroofo CWP-16476-2021o -15-oo 2023:PHHC:045337o

'Ramkhiladio ando anothero Vs.o Unitedo Indiao Insuranceo Companyo ando another'oreportedoaso(2020)o2oSCCo550owhereinotheodeceasedohadoborrowedo theo motorcycleo fromo theo ownero ando meto witho ano accidento witho anothero motorcycleodueotoonegligenceoofotheodriveroofotheootherooffendingovehicle.o Theoborrowerodidonotoclaimocompensationofromotheoowneroofotheooffendingo vehicle,oratheroheoclaimedocompensationoonlyoagainstotheoowneroandoinsurero ofotheomotorcycle,owhichowasoborrowed.oItowasohenceoheldobyotheoHon'bleo Supremeo Courto thato theo deceased-borrowero steppedo intoo theo shoeso ofo theo owneroofotheovehicleoandonotobeingoaothirdoparty,osuchoclaimoatohisobehestowaso maintainable.oo o o Theo aboveo saido judgmento waso followedo byo thiso Courto ino theo matteroofo'M/soIFFCOoTokiooGeneraloInsuranceoCo.oLtd.oVsooSmt.Kavitao andoothers'oreportedoaso(2020(4)oPLRo114.oTheodeceasedoinotheosaidocaseohado alsoo borrowedo theo motorcycleo fromo theo Registeredo Ownero ando waso heldo entitledo too claimo compensationo aso owner/drivero ino theo personalo accidento benefit.o Ino theo abovesaido judgment,o theo borrowero waso againo heldo too haveo steppedointootheoshoesoofotheoowneroatotheotimeoofoaccident.oo o o Referenceo waso alsoo madeo too theo decisiono ofo theo Nationalo ConsumeroDisputesoRedressaloCommissionoinotheomatteroofo"UnitedoIndiao InsuranceoCo.oLtd.oVsoGyanoSinghoYadavoandoanother",oreportedoaso(2018)o 4oCPRo478owhereinosonoofotheoregisteredoownerowasodrivingotheovehicleowheno heometowithoanoaccidentoandodied.oItowasoheldothatotheobenefitoofotheotermo "owner/driver"owouldobeoextendedotootheosonoofotheoregisteredoownerowhoo wasodrivingotheovehicleoatotheotimeoofoaccident.oItowasothusotheocontentionothato theo expressiono "ownero driver"o beo reado aso "owner/driver"o aso pero theo authoritativeopronouncementsonoticedoaboveo CWP-16476-2021o -16-oo 2023:PHHC:045337o

o o Havingo heardo theo learnedo counselo foro theo partieso ando havingo goneothroughotheojudgmentsoreliedouponobyohim,oIofindoitodifficultotooagreeo withotheoargumentsoadvancedoonobehalfoofotheorespondent-applicant.oAparto fromotheoprimaryorulesoofointerpretation,owhatoisorequiredotoobeounderstoodoiso thato theosymbolo (/)ooro (-)oiso ano expressionoofogrammaticalo oro punctuationo signs,owhichoisogenerallyousedoinsteadoofoconjunctiono"or".oItoisothusousedotoo denoteotheoavailabilityoofooptionsoandochoices.oo o o AccordingotooCollinsoDictionaryoaoslash-o"/"ohasobeenodefinedoaso "ao shorto diagonalo lineo (/)o usedo betweeno twoo wordso too showo thato eithero iso applicable".oTheoEnglisholanguageousesodifferentotypesoofoslashesoi.e.oforwardo slasho(/)'obackwardoslasho(?)oandoverticaloslasho(?).oWhileoaoforwardoslasho(/)oiso mostocommonlyousedoslashosymbolotoodenoteo"or",otheobackwardoslasho(?)oiso usedoselectivelyoinocomputerocodingolanguagesoalongwithotheoverticaloslasho(?)o asowell,owhichoinsteadomeanso"suchothat"ooro"itoisotrueothat".oTheosymboloofo forwardo slasho (/)o aso suggestedo byo theo respondent-applicanto thuso tendso too suggesto theo incorporationo ofo wordo "or"o ino theo expressiono "ownero driver".o Applyingotheoprincipleoofoliteralointerpretation,ooftenoacceptedoandoaffirmedo byotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourt,osuchoadditionoinowordsoisonototoobeoordinarilyo resortedotoounlessotheosameoisoabsolutelyonecessary.oTheouseoofoexpressiono "ownerodriver"oisoaoconsciousousageoandonotoanoeventoofodefault.oThereowaso nooinhibitionoinousingotheoexpressiono"or"ooro"/"oinotheoeventotheocontractingo partiesointendedotooextendotheoabovesaidobenefitotooanyooroeveryopersonowhooiso holdingotheosteeringowheel.oTheofactsoofotheocaseodoonotomandateosuchoano additiono asotheosameo iso inonoo mannero necessaryo foroassigningo meaningfulo interpretationotootheoexpressionousedoinotheodocuments,orather,otheosuggestiono CWP-16476-2021o -17-oo 2023:PHHC:045337o

ofo theo respondent-applicanto iso likelyo too covero ao distincto categoryo foro theo benefitowhichoisonotoproposedotoothemobyotheodocument.o o o Theosecondoaspectoasotoowhetherotheodriverowouldostepointootheo shoesoofotheoownerooronotoisoalsoorequiredotoobeoseenofromotheogrammaticalo understandingoofotheophraseo"steppingointootheoshoes".oo o o Theoidiomo"stepointootheoshoesoofosomeone"oconnoteso"tootakeo someone'soplace,ooftenobyodoingotheojobotheyohaveojustoleft."oHence,oinoordero toostepointootheoshoesoofotheoowner,otheopersonoraisingosuchoaoclaimotakesoupono himselfo theo extensiono ofo theo altero egoo ofo thato persono ino theo sameo capacity/status.oo o o TheocasesoofoRamkhiladioYadav;oM/soIFFCOoTokiooGeneralo InsuranceoCompany;oasowelloasoUnitedoIndiaoInsuranceoCompanyo(Supra)o areoinorelationotootheoborrowersoofotheovehiclesofromotheoregisteredoowneroando theosonoofotheoregisteredoowner.oTheosaidocategoryoofopersonsohadotakenotheo possessionoofotheovehicleofromotheorespectiveoregisteredoownersonotoinoanyo independent,odistinctoseparateoengagement-considerationobutoasoanoexpressiono ofotheoowneroandowithosuchoanounderstandingoandowouldothusobeoanoextensiono ofotheoowneroinoallocapacitiesoandorights.o o o Perocontra,otheodriveroisoinopossessionoofotheovehicleoinoaodefinedo independento legalo relationship.o Heo exerciseso theo possessoryo rightso ofo theo vehicleo qualifiedo too drivingo alone.o Theo aforesaido exampleo cano beo furthero clarifiedobyoanoillustration.oAssumingothatotheodriverowhoohasobeenoengagedo byotheoownerotoodriveotheovehicleotoosomeoplaceofallsounwellomidwayoando authorizesohisosonoorosomeootherosubstituteotootakeotheovehicleoinohisoplaceoforo remainderoofohisojourney,otheopersonosooauthorizedowouldobeoanoextensionoofo theodriver.oThus,otheopersonowhooisoholdingotheosteeringoderivesohisostatusoando CWP-16476-2021o -18-oo 2023:PHHC:045337o

capacityofromotheopersonowhooearlieropossessedotheovehicle.oWhereothereoisonoo independento oro distincto relationshipo too governo theo intero seo rightso ando obligations,otheoborrowerowouldobeoanoextensionoofotheoowner;oandowhereo thereo areo othero independento statutoryo regulationso governingo theo status,o heo acquiresosuchostatus.oTheodriverohavingobeenoengagedobyotheoowneroforoao definedo purposeo iso entitledo too compensationo undero ao separateo seto ofo compensatoryo legislationo includingo theo Workmeno Compensationo Act,o 1923/EmployeesoCompensationoAct,o2010.oTheorightsoofotheodriveroagainsto hiso employero areo governedo byo othero statutoryo regimeo ando policies.o Theo contentionoofotheocounselofororespondent-applicantothatotheoowneroofotheotrucko cannotobeoperceivedoasodrivingotheovehicleohimselfocannotobeoacceptedoasoano unimpeachableoargument.oAsoaomatteroofofact,oaolargeonumberoofodriversoofo commercialovehiclesoareoownersothemselves.oIt,othus,ocannotobeosaidothatotheo driverowouldostepointootheoshoesoofotheoowneroforoallopurposes.oInoorderotoo heldo thato ao persono stepso intoo theo shoeso oro possessiono ofo theo other,o sucho relationshipooughtotoobeounqualifiedoandoshouldoremainoatoparoforoallointentso ando purposes.o Theo licenceo too driveo ino theo capacityo ofo ao drivero iso infacto engagingohimotooperformoaospecificodutyoandosuchoengagementoforoduty,oundero aolegalorelationship,otakesoawayotheoclaimoofotheodriverotoostepointootheoshoeso ofotheoowner.oTheoargumentoofotheorespondent-applicantoalsoofallsoforotheo reasonothatotheojudgmentsoreliedobyotheorespondentoextendosuchobenefitoonlyo tootheoborrower.oTheoaboveomentionedothreeojudgmentsoreliedouponobyotheo counselofororespondent-applicantowouldothusobeonotoapplicableotoofactsoando circumstancesoofotheopresentocase.o o o Moreover,otheostatusoofo"ownerodriver"ohavingobeenoclarifiedoino theo "Indiano Motoro Tariff",o whicho iso ao statutoryo Committeeo undero theo CWP-16476-2021o -19-oo 2023:PHHC:045337o

InsuranceoAct,o1938ofurtherodemolishesotheocaseoofotheorespondent-applicant.o Theo sameo beingo parto ofo theo statutoryo scheme,o ito iso noto requiredo too beo necessarilyoraisedoinotheopleadingsoandocanobeoraisedoasoanoargumentoevenoato theo levelo ofo Higho Court.o Hence,o examiningo ito fromo anyo perspective,o theo reasonsogivenobyotheoPermanentoLokoAdalato(PublicoUtilityoServices)otooallowo theo Applicationo ando awardo theo claimo againsto theo Petitioner-Insuranceo Companyorunocontraryotoolawoandoisobasedouponotheoerroneousoapplicationoofo theojudgmentoofoRamkhiladioandoanothero(supra).oTheofineodistinctionoinotheo relationshipoofotheodeceasedoAshokoKumaroandotheoclaimantsothereinohasonoto beenotakenointooconsiderationobyotheoPermanentoLokoAdalat.oo o o Theonextoargumentoraisedobyotheorespondent-applicantothatoheo wasoalluredobyotheoagentothatotheopolicyowouldocoverotheodriveroasowell,oalsoo failsotooinspireoanyoconfidence.oTheocontractualoagreementoisobasedouponoono consensusoadoidem.oTheoassurance,oifoany,ocanoatobestobeoanooraloagreement.o Onceotheopolicyodocumentopursuantotooanoallegedooraloagreementoisoissuedo lateroinopointoofotime,otheolegalopresumptionowhichodrawsofromoundisputedo policyodocumentsoisothatotheosameohasobeenoissuedoinoaccordanceowithotheo agreementoarrivedoatobetweenotheoparties.oInotheoeventoofoanyodiscrepancyoino theoassuranceomadeoandotheotermsoandoconditionsoofotheopolicyodocument,otheo holdero ofo theo policyo documento waso withino hiso righto too returno theo policyo documentoandotooclaimorefundothereof,ooroinotheoalternative,oseekoaonovationo ofotheocontractoandoclaimoincorporationoofotheoconditions/risksoagreedointoo betweenotheoparties.oHavingochosenonototoodooso,oanyosuchoimpressionocarriedo ono byo theo respondent-applicanto cano ato besto beo construedo aso ao unilateralo mistake.oSectiono20oofoContractoAct,o1872orendersoonlyothoseocontractsovoido whereobothotheopartiesoareounderomistakeoasotooaomatteroofofact.oAounilateralo CWP-16476-2021o -20-oo 2023:PHHC:045337o

mistakeowouldonotorenderoaocontractovoidounlessotheomistakeoaboutotheotermso andoconditionsoofotheocontractoisosooseriousoasotooundermineotheoentireobargain.o TheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtohasoaffirmedotheoaforesaidopositionoinolawoinotheo judgmentoofo'JacoboPunnenooandoanothersoVersusoUnitedoIndiaoInsuranceo CompanyoLtd.'oreportedoaso(2022)o3oSCCo655.oTheorelevantoextractoofotheo sameoisoreproducedohereinafterobelow:o

26.oo InoTarsemoSinghov.oSukhminderoSingho(1998)o3oSCCo471,o thisoCourtoclarifiedothatoaounilateralomistakeowouldonotorenderoao contractovoidounderotheoIndianocontractolaw:oo "20.oSectiono20oofotheoActolaysodownoasounder:o

20.oAgreementovoidowhereobothopartiesoareounderomistakeo aso too mattero ofo fact.o Whereo botho theo partieso too ano agreemento areo undero ao mistakeo aso too ao mattero ofo facto essentialotootheoagreement,otheoagreementoisovoid.o Explanation.oAnoerroneousoopinionoasotootheovalueoofotheo thingowhichoformsotheosubject-matteroofotheoagreement,oiso nototoobeodeemedoaomistakeoasotooaomatteroofofact."o

21.oThisosectionoprovidesothatoanoagreementowouldobeovoido ifobothotheopartiesotootheoagreementowereounderoaomistakeo aso too ao mattero ofo facto essentialo too theo agreement.o Theo mistakeohasotoobeomutualoandoinoorderothatotheoagreemento beotreatedoasovoid,obothotheopartiesomustobeoshownotoobeo sufferingo fromo mistakeo ofo fact.o Unilateralo mistakeo iso outsideotheoscopeoofothisosection.oo (EmphasisoSupplied)"o

27.o Therefore,o theo lawo ino Indiao iso thato unlesso theo unilateralo mistakeo abouto theo termso ofo ao contracto iso soo seriouso aso too adverselyo undermineo theo entireo bargain,o ito doeso noto resulto ino automaticoavoidanceoofoaocontract.oo………"oo (EmphasisoSupplied)k k o o Theolastoargumentsoraisedoonobehalfoofotheorespondent-applicanto iso thato theo Permanento Loko Adalato iso governedo byo theo guidingo principleso CWP-16476-2021o -21-oo 2023:PHHC:045337o

enshrinedoinoSectiono22oofotheoLegaloServicesoAuthoritiesoAct,o1987oandothato onceotheosaidodiscretionohasobeenoexercised,otheosameoshouldonotoordinarilyobeo interfered.o o o Ito is,o noo doubt,o thato Sectiono 22o (D)o ofo theo Legalo Serviceso Authorities,oAct,o1987olaysodownotheoguidingoprinciplesoforotheoPermanento LokoAdalato(PublicoUtilityoServices),otoobeoguidedobyoprinciplesoofonaturalo justice,o objectivity,o equity,o fairnesso ando othero principleso ofo justiceo ino consideringo theo disputeo beforeo it.o Theo exerciseo ofo discretion,o wheno theo conclusionodrawnoisoinoconsonanceowithotheolawoapplicableotootheofacts,owouldo thusobeoaofactorowhichotheoHighoCourtoisorequiredotookeepoinoconsiderationo whileo recordingo itso conclusiono aso too whethero ano Awardo passedo byo ao PermanentoLokoAdalatodeservesotoobeointerferedowithooronot.oWhenotheoAwardo isobasedouponomisinterpretationoofotheostatuteooromisplacedoapplicationoando interpretationoofolawotootheofactsoofotheocase,osuchoanoAwardowouldosufferotheo viceoofoanoillegalityoandocannotobeoprotected.oExtensionoofoprotectionotooanyo sucho Awardo wouldo infacto beo perpetuatingo ano illegalityo ando burdeningo theo otherocontractualopartyowithofinancialoliabilityowhichoitoisonotoboundoinolawooro byocontractotoodischarge.oo o o Noo othero argumento haso beeno raisedo byo theo counselo foro respondent-applicantobeforeothisoCourt.oo DECISIONo o o Hence,oforotheoforegoingoreasonsoandotheosettledoprinciplesoofo lawoasowelloasotheofactothatotheojudgmentsoreliedouponobyotheocounseloforo respondent-applicantoareonotoapplicableotootheofactsoandocircumstancesoofotheo presentocase,oIofindothatotheoAwardodatedo10.07.2021o(AnnexureoP-3)opassedo byo theo Permanento Loko Adalato (Publico Utilityo Services)o iso basedo upono CWP-16476-2021o -22-oo 2023:PHHC:045337o

misreadingoofojudgments;omisinterpretationoofolawoandopolicyodocumentoando non-considerationo ofo theo grammatical/punctuationo expressiono usedo ino theo policyodocument.oThereowasonoopossibilityoofoanyoambiguityoinotheoexpressiono usedo ando thato upono applicationo ofo theo firsto principleo governingo theo interpretationoofodocuments,otheopersonocoveredounderotheopersonaloaccidento benefitoisoonlyotheo"ownerodriver"oi.e.otheoregisteredoownerodrivingotheovehicleo himselfoorohiso"alteroego"oandowouldonotoextendotooaopersonowhoohasobeeno licensed/permittedounderoaoqualifiedorelationshipoforoaolimitedopurposeoi.e.oforo drivingoofotheovehicle.oo o o Hence,otheosubmissionsoofotheocounselofororespondent-applicanto failotooimpressothisoCourtotooacceptotheoimpugnedoAwardodatedo10.07.2021o (Annexureo P-3)o passedo byo theo Permanento Loko Adalato (Publico Utilityo Services).oConsequently,oforotheoreasonsorecordedohereinabove,othisopetitionoiso allowedo ando theo Awardo datedo 10.07.2021o (Annexureo P-3),o passedo byo theo Permanento Loko Adalato (Publico Utilityo Service),o U.T.o Chandigarh,o iso accordinglyosetoaside.o o o o o o o o o o ooo (VINODoS.oBHARDWAJ)

27.03.2023o o o o o o oooooo oooooJUDGE mamta/rajendero o oo o o o o o � o o Whetherospeaking/reasonedo :oYes/Noo Whetheroreportableo o :oYes/Noo