FAO No.793 of 1997 -1- IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATES OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH FAO No.793 of 1997 Date of Decision. 31.08.2010 United India Insurance Company Limited, Regional Office, Sector 8- C, Chandigarh through Sh. J. Ranga Rajan, Dy. Manager ......Appellant Versus Smt. Leela Devi and others ......Respondents 2. FAO No.909 of 1997 United India Insurance Company Limited, Regional Office, Sector 8- C, Chandigarh through Sh. J. Ranga Rajan, Dy. Manager ......Appellant Versus Ravinder Singh son of Late Shrikir Singh and others ......Respondents Present: Mr. Inderjit Sharma, Advocate for Mr. Pradeep Bedi, Advocate for the appellant. None for the respondents. CORAM:HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE K. KANNAN 1. Whether Reporters of local papers may be allowed to see the judgment ? 2. To be referred to the Reporters or not ? 3. Whether the judgment should be reported in the Digest? -.- K. KANNAN J.(ORAL) 1. The insurance company challenges the award passed by the Tribunal on the ground that the driver's licence had expired on 08.11.1993 itself and at the relevant time of the accident on 12.08.1993, he did not have a valid driving licence. There had been no renewal of the licence after its expiry on 08.11.1993 but that was FAO No.793 of 1997 -2- treated to be inconsequential by the Tribunal. 2. The issue of the necessity for renewal of licence is to be seen through Section 15 of the Motor Vehicles Act itself and it has also been held by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in National Insurance Company Limited Vs. Jarnail Singh (2007) 15 SCC 28 and New India Assurance Company Limited Vs. Suresh Chander Aggarwal (2009) 15 SCC 761 that a delayed renewal beyond the period of expiry will not avail to a driver or owner to secure indemnity from the insurance company and make the insurer liable. 3. The award of the Tribunal is, under the circumstances, modified to provide for the liability of the insurance company to satisfy the claim of the claimants and it will have a right of recovery against the insured-owner. 4. The appeal is allowed to the above extent. (K. KANNAN) JUDGE August 31, 2010 Pankaj*