1. In connection with the vehicular accident that took place on 03.04.2008 in which Pappusing Gurusing Parmar expired, the heirs and legal representatives of deceased preferred claim petition being M.A.C.P. No.198/2008 u/s.163-A of the Motor Vehicles Act before the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, Gondal, Camp at Jetpur. The said claim petition was allowed in part by judgment and award dated 28.01.2011. Being aggrieved by the same, the appellant-Insurance Company has preferred the present appeal.
2. It has been mainly contended on behalf of the appellant-Insurance Company that though specific contention was raised before the Tribunal regarding liability of the Insurance Company, apart from other contentions, the same were not appreciated by the Tribunal in its proper perspective. Reliance has been placed on the decision of the Apex Court in the case of National Insurance Co. v. Sinitha and others, (2012) 2 SCC 356 [2011 (13) SCALE 84].
3. On the other hand, it has been submitted on behalf of the respondent-claimants that the deceased was travelling as a 'labourer' in the vehicle in question and therefore, the Tribunal was justified in holding the appellant liable to satisfy the award. Reliance has been placed on the decisions of the Apex Court in the case of Jawahar Singh v. Bala Jain and others in Special Leave Petition (C) No.8660/2009 dated 09.05.2011 and in Kusum Lata and others v. Satbir and others, 2011 ACJ 926.
4. Considering the facts of the case and in view of the principle rendered in Sinitha's case (supra), it would be appropriate that the Tribunal re-considers the matter afresh.
5. Hence, the following order is passed;
(i) The appeal is allowed in part.
(ii) The impugned judgment and award is quashed and set aside and the matter is remanded to the Tribunal concerned for consideration afresh in light of the decision rendered in Sinitha's case (supra).
(iii) The Tribunal concerned shall decide the claim petition within a period of Two Years from the date of receipt of writ of this order.
(iv) Both the sides shall be at liberty to adduce evidence, which shall be duly considered by the Tribunal, in view of the decision of the Apex Court, as referred to herein above.
(v) Until the claim petition is decided, the Tribunal concerned shall invest the entire amount lying with it in FDR and interest accruing thereon shall be accumulated.
(vi) However, the claimants shall be entitled for periodical interest up to the date of this order. The entire amount, including interest, shall be disbursed in favour of the party, who finally succeeds in the claim petition, after giving necessary set-off against payments that may have been made earlier.
(vii) This order of remand has been passed in light of the decision rendered in Sinitha's case (supra) and not on merits and therefore, the Tribunal shall decide the issue afresh on its own merits being uninfluenced by this order.
(viii) The appeal stands disposed of accordingly. No order as to costs.
(ix) R & P, if lying with this Court, be sent back.
[K. S. JHAVERI, J.] Pravin/*