[2014] 14 S.C.R. 1007

HDFC BANK LTD.

KUMARI RESHMAAND ORS.

(Civil Appeal Nos. 10608-10609 of2014)

DECEMBER 01, 2014 B [DIPAK MISRA, ROHINTON FALi NARIMAN AND

UDAY UMESH LALIT, JJ.]

Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 - ss. 2(30) and 146 - Motor accident by uninsured motor vehicle which was hypothecated under hire-purchase agreement - Liability of financier - To C pay compensation to third party - Held: Where the motor vehicle is subject of hire-purchase agreement, the person in possession of the vehicle under the agreement would be the owner- In the instant case, the vehicle was not in possession of the financier and was plied on the road in violation of s.

D 146 without the knowledge of the financier - Hence the financier cannot be held liable to pay compensation.

Allowing the appeals, the.Court HELD: 1. On a plain reading of definition 'owner' E as envisaged u/s. 2(30) of Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, it is demonstrable that a person in whose name a motor vehicle stands registered is the owner of the vehicle and, where motor vehicle is the subject of hire-purchase agreement or an agreement of hypothecation, the person F in possession of the vehicle under that agreement is the owner. The legislature has deliberately carved out the exception from registered owners thereby making the person in possession of the vehicle under the agreements mentioned in the dictionary clause to be the G owners for the purposes of this Act. [Para 10][1013-F-H;

1014-A-C]

2. In the present case, the vehicle was subject of an agreement of hypothecation and was in possession and control under respondent No.2. He had taken the H

A vehicle from the dealer without paying the full premium to the insurance company and thereby getting the vehicle insured. The High Court has erroneously opined that the financier had the responsibility to get the vehicle

insured, ifthe borrower failed to insure it. The said term B in the hypothecation agreement does not convey that the appellant financier had become the owner and was in control and possession of the vehicle. It was the absolute fault of respondent No. 2 to take the vehicle from the.dealer without full payment of the insurance.

C Nothing has been brought on record that this fact was known to the appellant financier or it was done in collusion with the financier. [Paras 23 and 25][1026-A;

1027-C-F]

3. When the intention of the legislature is quite clear D to the effect, a registered owner of the vehicle should

not be held liable if the vehicle is not in his possession and control and there is evidence on record that respondent No.2, without the insurance plied the vehicle in violation of the statutory provision contained in E Section 146 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, the High Court could not have mulcted the liability on the financier.

Thus, the liability to satisfy the 'award is that of the owner, respondent No. 2.and not that of the financier. [Paras 25

and 26][1027-F-H; 1028-A-B]

National Insurance Co. Ltd. v. Deepa Devi & Ors. 2001 (13) scR 134 : 2008 (1) sec 414 ; Godavari Finance Company v.

Degala Satyanarayanamma and Ors. 2008 (6) SCR 231: 20Q8 (5) SCC 107; Pushpa alias Leela and Ors.

v. Shakuntala and Ors. 2011 (1) SCR 334 : 2011

(2) SCC 240 ; Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Coporation v. Ku/sum and Ors. 2011 (15) SCR 618: 2011 (8) SCC 142; Purnya Kala Devi

v. State of Assam & Anr. 2014 (4) SCALE 586 - relied on. •

'"II"

HDFC BANK LTD. v. KUMAR I RESHMAAND ORS. 1009

Mohan Benefit Pvt. Ltd. v. Kachraji Rayamalji & A Ors: (1997) 9 SCC 103; Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation v. Kai/ash Nath Kothari & Ors. 1997 (3) Suppl. SCR 724 : 1997 (7) SCC 481 - distinguished.

Mukesh K. Tripathi v. Senior Divisional Manager B LIC 2004 (4) Suppl. SCR 127 : 2004 (8) sec 387; Ramesh Mehta v. Sanwal Chand Singhvi 2004

(1) Suppl. SCR 418 : 2004 (5) SCC 409 ; State of Maharashtra v. Indian Medical Assn. 2001 (5) Suppl. SCR 474: 2002 (1) SCC 589; Pandey & C Co. Builders (P) Ltd., v. State ofBihar 2006 (8) Suppl. SCR 997: 2007 (1) SCC 467; National Insurance Co. Ltd. v. Durdadahya Kumar Sama/

(1988) 2 TAC 25 (Ori); Chief Officer, Bhavnagar Municipality v. Bachubhai Arjanbhai AIR 1996

 D Guj. 51 ; T. V. Jose (Dr.) V Chacko PM. 2001 (3) Suppl.-SCR 366: 2001 (8) SCC 748referred to.

CASE LAW REFERENCE

(1997) 9 sec 103 distinguished.

Para 11

1997 (3) Suppl. SCR 724 distinguished.

Para 13

2007 (13) SCR 134 relied on.

Para 15

2004 (4) Suppl. SCR 127 referred to.

Para 16

2004 (1) Suppl. SCR 418 referred to. Para 16

2001 (5) Suppl. SCR 474 referred to.· Para 16

2006 (8) Suppl. SCR 997 referred to.

Para 16

(1988) 2 TAC 25 (Ori) referred to ..

Para 16

AIR 1996 Guj. 51 referred to.

Para 16

2008 (6) SCR 231 relied on.

Para 17

2011 (1) SCR 334 relied on.

Para 18

A 2001 (3) Suppl. SCR 366 referred to.

Para 18

2011 (15) SCR 618 relied on.

Para 19

2014 (4) SCALE 586 relied on.

Paras 22

CIVILAPPELLATE JURISDICTION: Civil Appeal No(s).

B 10608-10609 of 2014._

From the Judgment and Order dated 22-10-2013 and 13-05-2014 of the High Court of Madhya Pradesh at Indore in Miscellaneous Appeal No. 2261 of 2005 and in Review Petition No. 619 of 2013 in Miscellaneous Appeal No. 2261 of 2005 c respectively.

Gopal Subramaniam, Sr. Adv., Raja! Katyal, Dinkar Kalra, Ad vs. for the Appellant.

The Judgment of the Court was delivered by

DIPAK MISRA, J.

1. Leave granted in both the Special Leave Petitions.

2. In these appeals, by special leave, the assail is to the judgment and order dated 22.10.2013 passed by the learned

Single Judge of the High Court of judicature of Madhya Pradesh Bench at Indore in Misc. Appeal No. 2261 of 2005 preferred by the Centurion Bank Limited, the predecessor-ininterest of the appellant herein, and Misc. Appeal No. 3243 of 2005 preferred by the claimants, the 1" respondent herein,

F whereby the High Court has dismissed the appeal preferred by the appellant herein and.allowed the appeal of the claimants by enhancing the awarded sum to Rs. 3 lacs opining that the • said amount would be just and equitable compensation for • the injuries sustained by her. The High Court also dismissed the review petition no. 619/2013 vide order dated 13.05.2014 G preferred by the appellant herein. Be it stated, the Additional Member, Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, Indore had awarded Rs.1,75,000/- in Claim Case No.181/2003.

3. Filtering the unnecessary details, the facts which are

H requisite to be stated are that on 20.12.2002 about 12.30 p.m.

HDFC BANK LTD. v. KUMAR I RESHMAAND ORS. 1011

[DIPAK MISRA, J.]

the claimant was going on a scooter bearing registration No.

A MP09Q92 from Shastri Bridge to Yashwant Square and at that time the Motor Cycle belonging to 2"d respondent and driven by the respondent No.3 herein, in a rash and negligent manner dashed against the scooter as a consequence of which she sustained a fractu"re in the right hand superacondylar fracture B and humerus bone fracture and certain other injuries. She availed treatment at various hospitals as she had to undergo an operation and thereafter advised to take physiotherapy regularly. Keeping in view, the injuries suffered and the amount she had spent in availing the treatment, she filed a claim petition C putting forth the claim for Rs.4,50,000/-. The tribunal as stated earlier awarded a sum of Rs.1,75,000/-with 6% interest and opined that all the non-applicants to the claim petition were jointly and severally liable to pay the compensation amount. It

is apt to state here the stand and stance put forth by the D predecessor-in-interest the appellant bank that it had only advanced a loan and the hypothecation agreement was executed on 1.11.2002 by it. As per the terms of the agreement, the owner of the vehicle was responsible to insure the vehicle at his own costs. Reliance was placed on Clause 16 and 17 E of the loan agreement which stipulated that the bank was required to getthe vehicle insured if the borrower failed to or neglected to get the vehicle insured. The accident as stated earlier had taken place on 20.12.2002 and the vehicle was llnsured by the owner on 16.1.2003. It was further put forth by F the bank that the owner deposited Rs.6,444/- with the dealer of the motor cycle i.e. PatwaAbhikaran Pvt. Ltd., whereas it was required to pay Rs.9,444/-. Despite the same, he obtained. the possession of the vehicle on the same day itself which was not permissible.

4. It was urged before the tribunal the financer was not liable to pay the compensation and it was the exclusive liability of the borrower. The tribunal on scrutiny of the clauses opined that as the financer had a duty to see that borrower does not neglect to get the vehicle insured, it was also liable along with H

A the owner anrj accordingly fastened the liability both jointly and severally.

5. In appeal, it was contended that the financercould not have been fastened with the liability to pay the compensation.

The High CA:iurt referred to the definition clause in Section 2 B (30) of the 'Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (for brevity "the Act"), took note of thr.:: language employed in Clause 16 of the agreement that ifthe owner neglects to get the vehicle insured the bank was re•quired to get it insured, and the fact that the financer and the borrower were the registered owners and, accordingly C opinfad that the bank was liable to pay. Being of this view the

learned Judge dismissed the appeal preferred by the bank and partly allowed the appeal preferred by the claimants. Be it. stated, the application for review filed by the Bank did not meet with success.

6. We have heard Mr. Gopal Subramaniam, learned senior counsel for the appellant. None has appeared on behalf of respondent despite service of notice.

7. We are obliged to mention here that while issuing E . notice we had directed that the appellant-bank shall deposit the awarded sum before the tribunal which would be at liberty to diburse the same in favour of the claimant.

Mr.

Subramaniam submitted that the bank does not intend to recover anything from the claimant but the legal position should F be made clear so that the bank, which is the financer, is not \

unnecessarily dragged into this kind of litigation.

8. Criticising the impugned award and the order passed in. appeal, learned senior counsel has submitted that the deffnition of 'owner' under Section 2(30) of the Act would not . G cover a financer who has entered into a hypothecation agreement with the borrower who is in possession and control of the vehicle. Learned senior counsel would contend that Clauses 16 and 17 of the agreement have nothing to do with the finance r's liability, for Section 146 of the Act requires the H owner to insure the vehicle before it plies on the road and in

HDFC BANK LTD. v. KU MARI RESHMAAND ORS. 1013

[DIPAK MISRA, J.]

the case at hand the borrower, who was in possession and A control of the vehicle in question, in a clandestine manner without paying the insured amount and getting the vehicle

insured had taken the vehicle the same day from the dealer and got it insured afterwards. It is urged by him that the role of the bank would come in when there is failure to insure the B vehicle and, in any case, that will not fasten a statutory liability on the financer to pay the compensation to the third party, for the vehicle is not on the road by the financer or at is instance.

Elaborating further, it is submitted by him that if the owner does not pay, the bank will pay the insurance company and recover C it from the borrower and hence, it would be inapposite to interpret the contract in a different way to fasten the liability on the financer. It is canvassed by him that there is no stipulation. in the agreement thatthe financerwould indemnify the borrower against the third party in the event of an accident and in the D absence of such a postulate the interpretation placed by the High Court is absolutely erroneous.

9. To appreciate the said submission, it is appropriate to refer to Section 2 (30) oftheActwhich reads as follows:-

"(30). "owner" means a person in whose name a motor E vehicle stands registered, and where such person is a minor, the guardian of such minor, and in relation to a motor vehicle which is the subject of a hire-purchase agreement, or an agreement of lease or an agreement of hypothecation, the person in possession of the vehicle F under that agreement."

10. On a plain reading of the aforesaid definition, it is demonstrable that a person in whose name a motor vehicle stands registered is the owner of the vehicle and, where motor G vehicle is the subject of hire-purchase agreement or an agreement of hypothecation' the person in possession of the vehicle under that agreement is the owner. It also stipulates that in case of a minor, the guardian of such a minor shll be treated as the owner. Thus, the intention of the legislature in H

HDFC BANK LTD. v. KU MARI RESHMAAND ORS. 1015

[DIPAK MISRA, J.]

only of hypothecation in the garb of hire purchase agreement.

A Affirming the view expressed by the High Court, this Court held

"Having heard the counsel and read the evidence adduced in the case, we have no doubt that the hirepurchase agreement produced by the appellant does not spell the true relationship between the appellant and the B second respondent. The High Court, therefore, was right in coming to the conclusion that, had the documents which reflected the true relationship between them been produced, they would have "exploded" the case of the appellant. Consequently, the adverse inference drawn by C the High Court was justified".

12. After so holding, the Court repelled the submission of the counsel for the appellant that there was no evidence to show the appellant had any right to control the driver of the truck. The Court opined that in the circumstances of the case, D the logical inference must be that, had the documents that set out the true relationship between the appellant and the second respondent been produced, they would have shown that the appellant had a right to exercise control in the matter of the plying of the truck and the driver thereof. E

13. In this context, we may refer to a two-Judge Bench decision in Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation

II. Kai/ash Nath Kothari & Others. 2 In.the said case, plea was taken by the Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation F (RSRTC) before the High Court that as it was only a hirer and not the owner of the bus, it could not be fastened with any liability for payment of compensation but the said stand was not accepted. It was contended before this Court that the Corporation not being the owner of the bus was not liable to G pay any compensation arising out of the accident because driver who was driving the bus at the relevant time, was not in the employment of the owner of the bus and not of the Corporation and hence, it could not be held vicariously liable

'(1997) 7 sec 481 H

A for the rash and negligent act.of the driver. The Court referred to the definition in Section 2(3), which defines "contract carriage", Section 2(19), which defines the "owner", Section 2(29), which defines "stage carriage" and Section 42 that dealt with "necessity of permits". Be it stated, these provisions B reproduced by the Court pertained to Motor Vehicles Act, 1939 (for short, 'the 1939 Act'). The owner under the.1939 Act was defined as follows:

"2. (19) 'owner' means, where the person in possession of a motor vehicle is a minor, the guardian of such minor,· C and in relation to a motor vehicle which is the subject of a hire-purchase agreement, the person in possession of the vehicle under that agreement;"

The Court referred to the conditions 4 to 7 and 15 of the agreement and in that context held thus:

"The admitted facts unmistakably show that the vehicle in question was in possession and under the actual control . of RSRTC for the purpose of running on the specified route and was being used for carrying, on hire, passengers by the RSRTC. The driver was to carry out instructions, orders and directions of the conductor and other officers of the RSRTC for operation of the bus on the route specified bythe RSRTC".

While dealing with the definition of the owner under the F 1939 Act, the Court ruled that the definition of owner under Section 2(19) of the Act is not exhaustive. It has, therefore to be construed, in a wider sense, in the facts and circumstances of a given case. The expression owner must include, in a given case, the person who has the actual possession and control G of the vehicle and under whose directions and commaAds the driver is obliged to operate the bus. To confine the meaning of "owner" to the registered owner only would in a case where the vehicle is in the actual possession and control of the hirer would not be proper for the purpose of fastening of liability in H case of an accident. The liability of the "owner" is vicarious for

HDFC BANK LTD. v. KUMAR! RESHMAAND ORS. 1017

[DIPAK MISRA, J.]

the tort committed by its employee during the course of his A employment and it .would be a question of fact in each case as to on whom can vicarious liability be fastened in the case of an accident.

14. After so stating, the Court proceeded to analyse the conditions of the agreement, especially conditions 6 and 7 B which in that case showed that the owner had not merely transferred the services of the driver to the Corporation but actual control and the driver was to act under the instructions, control and command of the conductor and other officers of RSRTC. Being of this view, it affirmed the view expressed by C the High Court and dismissed the appeal.

15. In this context, it is profitable to refer to a two-Judge Bench decision in National Insurance Co. Ltd. II. Deepa Devi & Ors.3 In the said case the question arose whether in the event a car is requisitioned for the purpose of deploying D the same in the election duty, who would be liable for payment of compensation to the victim of the accident in terms of the provisions of 1988 Act. The Court referred to the definition of 'owner' in the 1939 Act and the definition of 'owner' under Section 2(30) of the 1988 Act. In that context, the Court E observed that the legislature either under the 1939 Act or under the 1988 Act had visualized a situation of this nature. The Court took note of the fact that the respondent no. 3 and 4 continued to be the registered owners of the vehicle despite the fact that the same was requisitioned by the District Collector F in exercise of the power conferred upon him under the Representation of People Act, 1951 and the owner of the vehicle cannot refuse to abide by the order of requisition of the vehicle by the District Collector. Proceeding further, the Court ruled thus: G

" ...... While the vehicle remains under requisition, the owner does not exercise any control thereover. The driver may still be the employee of the owner of the vehicle but

'(2oos) 1 sec 414 H

A he has to drive it as per the direction of the officer of the State, who is put in charge thereof. Save and except for legal ownership, for all intent and purport, the registered owner of the vehicle loses entire control thereover. He has no say as to whether the vehicle should be driven at B a given point of time or not. He cannot ask the driver not to drive a vehicle on a bad road. He or the driver could

not possibly say that the vehicle would not be driven in the night. The purpose of requisition is to use the vehicle.

For the period the vehicle remains under the control of C the State and/or its officers, the owner is only entitled to payment of compensation therefor in terms of the Act . but he cannot not (sic} exercise any control thereupon. In

a situation of this nature, this Courtmust proceed on the presumption that Parliament while enacting the 1988 Act o did not envisage such a situation. If in a given situation, the statutory definitions contained in the 1988 Act cannot be given effect to in letter and spirit, the same should be ur.iderstood from the common sense point of view.

16. Elaborating the concept, the Court referred to E Mukesh K. Tripathi V. Senior Divisional Manager LIC',

Ramesh Mehta V. Sanwal Chand Singhvi5, State of Maharashtra V. Indian Medical Assn. 6 , Pandey & Co.

Builders (P) Ltd., V. State of Bihar and placed reliance on Kai/ash Nath Kothari (supra), National Insurance Co. Ltd.

F II. Durdadahya Kumar Sama/6 and Chief Officer, Bhavnagar Municipality V. Bachubhai Arjanbhat"'' and eventually opined the State shall be liable to pay the amount of compensation to the claimant and not the registered owner of

'(2004 > a sec 387 '(2004 > 5 sec 409 0(2002) 1 sec 589 '(2007) 1 sec 467 8(1988) 2 TAC 25 (Ori) H 'AIR1996Guj.51

HDFC BANK LTD. v. KU MARI RESHMAAND ORS. 1019

[DIPAK MISRA, J.]

the vehicle and consequently the appellant therein, the A insurance company.

17. In Godavari Finance Company II. Degala Satyanarayanamma and others10, the core question that arose for consideration whether a financier wo~Jd be an owner of the vehicle within the meaning of Section 2(30) of the 1988 B Act. It was contended before this Court that in terms of Section

168 of the Act, a financier cannot be held liable to pay compensation as the definition of 'owner' as contained in Section 2(30) of the 1988 Act would mean only a 'registered owner'; that it was not the case of the claimants that the C appellant therein was in possession or control over the vehicle at the time of accident and the findings recorded by the trial Court and the High Court that the appellant as a registered owner was liable for payment of compensation, was wholly unsustainable. The Court took note of the fact that the appellant D was a financier; that the vehicle was the subject matter of hirepurchase agreement; and that the appellant's name was mentioned in the registered book. Dealing with the definition of 'owner', the Court opined that the definition of "owner" is a comprehensive one and the dictionary clause itself states that E the vehicle which is the subject-matter of a hirecpurchase agreement, the person in possession of vehicle under that agreement shall be the owner; and that the name of financer in the registration. certificate would not be decisive for determination as to who was the owner of the vehicle. The F Court further opined that ordinarily the person in whose name the registration certificate stands should be presumed to be the owner but such a presumption can be drawn only in the absence of any other material brought on record or unless the context otherwise requires. The Court opined that in case of a G motor vehicle which is subjected to a hire-purchase agreement, the financer cannot ordinarily be treated to be the owner. The person who is in possession of the vehicle, and

10(2oosi 5 sec 101 H

A not the financer being the owner would be liable to pay

- damages for the motor accident. In that context the Court

. observed that ordinarily if the driver of the vehicle uses the. same, he remains in possession or control thereof. Owner of the vehicle, although may not have anything to do with the use B of vehicle at the time of the accident, actually he may be held

to be constructively liable as the employer of the driver. What is, therefore, essential for passing an award is to find out the liabilities of the persons who are involved in the use of the vehicle or the persons who are vicariously liable. The insurance C company becomes a necessary party to such claims as in the event the owner of the vehicle is found to be liable, it would have to reimburse the owner inasmuch as a vehicle is compulsorily insurable so far as a third party is concerned, as contemplated under Section 147 thereof. Thereafter, the Court o relied upon the decisions in Kai/ash Nath Kothari (supra) and Deepa Devi (supra) and came to hold that the appellant was not iiable to pay any compensation to the claimants.

18. In Pushpa alias Leela and others II. Shakuntala and others", the question arose whether in the obtaining E factual matrix therein the liability to pay the compensation amount as determined by the tribunal was of the purchaser of the vehicle alone or whether the liability of the recorded owner of the vehicle was co-extensive and from the recorded owner it would pass on to the insurer of the vehicle. The registered F owner of the vehicle was one Jitender Gupta who had sold the truck to one Salig Ram and handed over the possession to the transferee and on the date of the sale, the truck was covered by the insurance policy taken by Jitender Gupta. There was no dispute that the policy stood in the name of Jitender Gupta G on the date of the accident who was no longer the owner of the truck as he had transferred the vehicle to Salig Ram. The Tribunal had come to hold that Salig Ram alone was liable for payment of compensation. On an appeal being preferred, the

11(2011)2SCC240

HDFC BANK LTD. v. KU MARI RESHMAAND ORS. 1021

[DIPAK MISRA, J.]

High Court dismissed the appeals of the claimants. This Court A referred to the definition of the 'owner' uhder Section 2(30) of the 1988Act that defines the owner and Section 50 of the 1988 Act that deals with transfer of ownership. That apart, the Court

also took note of the fact that notWithstanding the sale of the vehicle, neitherthetransferor JitenderGupta northetransferee B

Salig Ram took steps to change the name of the owner in the certificate of registration of the vehicle. The Court treated Jitender Gupta to be deemed to continue as the owner of the vehicle for the purposes of the 1988 Act even though under the civil law he had ceased to be its owner after its sale. While c dealing with the facet of liability, the Court referred to the authority in T. II. Jose (Dr.) II. Chacko P.M. 12 wherein it has been held thus:

"There can be transfer of title by payment of consideration and delivery of the car. The evidence on record shows D that ownership of the car had been transferred. However, the appellant still continued to remain liable to third parties as his name continued in the records of RTO as the owner."·

Thereafter, the"Court held thus: "The decision in T. II. Jose (Dr.) was rendered under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1939. But having regard to the provisions of Section 2(30) and Section 50 of the Act,

as noted above, the ratio of the decision shall apply with F equal force to the facts of the case arising under the 1988 Act. On the basis of these decisions, the inescapable

conclusion is that Jitender Gupta, whose name continued in the records of the registering authority as the owner of the truck was equally liable for payment of the G compensation amount. Further, since an insurance policy in respect of the truck was taken out in his name he. was indemnified and the claim will be shifted to the insurer, Oriental Insurance Company Ltd."

12(2001 J a sec 748 H

 A Be it noted, in the said case, the decision rendered in

Deepa Devi (supra) on the ground that it was rendered on the special facts of that case and has no application to the facts of the case in hand. Being of this view, it fastened the liability on the insurer.

19. In this context, another decision is apposite to be taken note of. In Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Coporation If. Kulsum and others13, the question arose if an insured vehicle is plying under an agreement or contract with the Corporation, on the route as per permit granted in C favour of the Corporation, in case of an accident, whether the

Insurance Company would be liable to pay the compensation or would it be the responsibility of the Corporation or the owner.

The Court referred to Section 103 of the 1988 Act (Uttar

Pradesh Amendment Act of 1993) wherein the Corporation D has been vested with the right to take vehicles on hire as per the contract and to ply the same on the roads as the permit granted to it. In the said case, according to the terms and' conditions of the agreement, t_he mini-bus was to be plied by the Corporation on the routes as per the permit issued by the E Regional Transport Officer in his favour. Exceptforthe services :of the driver which were to be provided by the owner, all other rights of the owner were to be exercised by the Corporation only. The co.nductor was to be an employee of the Corporation and he was authorised and entitled to collect the money after F issuing tickets to the passengers and had.the duty to perform all the incidental and connected activities as a conductor on behalf of the Corporation. When'~ claim was lodged before the Tribunal, it allowed the claim petition placing reliance on Kailash Nath Kothari's case.

Being aggrieved, the G Corporation preferred appeal and the owner of the bus also

filed a cross-objection against the finding recorded by the tribunal holding therein that the insurance company was not liable to make the payment and had fastened the liability on

H "(2011) a sec 142

HDFC BANK LTD. v. KU MARI RESHMAAND ORS. 1023

[DIPAK MISRA, J.]

the owner on account of alleged breach of insurance policy.

A The Court analysed the definition under Section 2(30) of the 1988 Act, Section 103(1-A) which has been inserted by the Uttar Pradesh Amendment Act 5of1993, Sections 146 and 149 of the 1988 Acts and thereafter referred to the authority in Kai/ash Nath Kothari (supra) and distinguished the same B by holding thus:-

" In our considered opinion, in the light of the drastic and distinct changes incorporated in the definition of"owner"

in the old Act and the present Act, Kai/ash Nath case has no application to the facts of this case. We were C unable to persuade ourselves with the specific question which arose in this and connected appeals as the question projected in these appeals was neither directly nor substantially in issue in Kai/ash Nath case. Thus, reference to the same may not be of much help to us.

D Admittedly, in the said case, this Court was dealing with regard to earlier definition of "owner" as found in Section 2(19) of the old Act.

)()()( )()()( )()()( )()()( E A critical examination of both the definitions of the "owner" would show that it underwent a drastic change in the Act of 1988, already reproduced hereinabove. In our considered opinion, in the light of the distinct changes incorporated in the definition of "owner" in the old Act F and the present Act, Kai/ash Nath Kothari case shall have no application to the facts of this case".

2.0. Thereafter, the Court referred to the relevant clauses in the agreement and opined that:

"A critical examination thereof would show that the G appellant and the owner had specifically agreed that the vehicle will be insured and a driver would be provided bf

owner of the vehicle but overall control, not only on the vehicle but also on the driver, would be that of the H

A Corporation. Thus, the vehicle was given on hire by the owner of the vehicle together with its existing and running insurance policy. In view of the aforesaid terms and conditions, the Insurance Company cannot escape its

liability to pay the amount of compensation.

There is no denial of the fact by the Insurance Company that at the relevant point of time the vehicle in question was insured with it and the policy was very much in force and in existence. It is also not the case of the Insurance Company that the driver of the vehicle was not holding a valid driving licence to drive the vehicle. The Tribunal has also held that the driver had a valid driving licence at the time of the accident. It has also not been contended by it that there has been violation of the terms and conditions of the policy or that the driver was not entitled to drive the said vehicle".

21. After so stating, the Court took note of the fact that the insurance company had admittedly received the amount of the premium; that there was no difference in the tariff of premium in respect of the vehicles insured at the instance of E the owner or for the vehicle which is being attached with the Corporation; that no statutory duty is cast on the owner under the Act or under any rules to seek permission from the insurer to get the vehicle attached with the Corporation. On the aforesaid reasoning, the Court held the insurer liable.

22. Recently in Purnya Kala Devi II. State of Assam &Anr. 14, a three-Judge Bench was dealing with the issue when an offending vehicle is that under the requisition of the State Government under the Assam Requisition and Control of Vehicles Ac( 1968 ('Assam Act', for short) the registered owner would' be liable or the State Government that has requisitioned the vehicle. The Court referred to the definition of the term 'owner' under the 1939 Act as well as the 1988 Act. As was necessary in the said case, the Court referred to the relevant

142014 (4) SCALE 586

I F

HDFC BANK LTD. v. KUMARI RESHMAAND ORS. 1025

[DIPAK MISRA, J.]

provisions pertaining to release from the requisition under the A Assam Act. After analyzing the provisions, the three-Judge Bench set aside the award passed by the High Court which had held that owner was liable solely on the basis of the definition of the word 'owner' contained in Section 2(30) of the 1988 Act. The dictum laid down in the said case is as follows: B

"The High Court failed to appreciate that at the relevant time the offending vehicle was under the requisition of Respondent No. 1 - State of Assam under the provisions of the Assam Act. Therefore, Respondent No. 1 was squarely covered under the definition of "owner" as C contained in Section 2(30) of the 1988 Act. The High Court failed to appreciate the underlying legislative intention in including in the definition of "owner'' a person in possession of a vehicle either under an agreement of lease or agreement of hypothecation or D under a hire-purchase agreement to the effect that a person in control and possession of the vehicle should be construed as the "owner'' and not alone the registered owner. The High Court further failed to appreciate the

legislative intention that the registered owner of the E vehicle should not be held liable if the vehicle was not in his possession and control.· The High Court also failed to appreciate that Section 146 of the 1988Act requires that no person shall use or cause or allow any other perspn to use a motor vehicle in a public place without F an insurance policy meeting the requirements of Chapter XI of the 1988 Act and the State Government has violated the statutory provisions of the 1988 Act. "

(Emphasis supplied)

23. In the present case, as the facts have been unfurled, G the appellant bank had financed the owner for purchase of the vehicle and the owner had entered into a hypothecation agreement with the bank. The borrower had the initial obligation to insure the vehicle, but without insurance he plied the vehicle

A on the road and the accident took place. Had the vehicle been insured, the insurance company would have been liable and notthe owner. There is no cavil over the fact thatthe vehicle was subject of an agreement of hypothecation and _was ih possession and control under the respondent no.2. The.High B Court has proceeded both in the main judgment as well as in the .review that the financier steps into the shoes of the owner.

Reliance placed on Kachraji Rayamalji (supra), in our considered opinion, was inappropriate because in the instant case all the documents were filed by the bank. In the said C case, two-Judge Bench of this Court had doubted the

relationship between the appellant and the respondent therein from the hire-purchase agreement. Be that as it may, the said case rested on its own facts. The decision in Kai/ash Nath Kothari (supra), the Court fastened the liability on the o Corporation regard being had to the definition of the 'owner' who was in control and possession of the vehicle. Similar to the effect is the judgment in Deepa Devi (supra). Be it stated, in the said case the Court ruled that the State shall be liable to pay the amount of compensation to the claimant and not the E registered owner of the vehicle and the insurance company.

In the case of Degala Satyanarayanamma (supra), the learned Judges distinguished the ratio in Deepa Devi (supra) on the grourid that it hinged on its special facts and fastened the liability on the insurer. In Ku/sum (supra), the principle F stated in Kai/ash Nath Kothari (supra) was distinguished and taking note of the fact that at the relevant time, the vehicle in question was insured with .it and the policy was very much in force and hence, the insurer was liable to indemnify the owner.

24. On a careful analysis of the principles stated in the G foregoing cases, it is found that there is a common thread that the person in possession of the vehicle under the hypothecation agreement has been treated as the owner. Needless to emphasise, if the vehicle is insured, the insurer is bound_ to indemnify unless there is violation of the terms of the policy H under which the insurer can seek exoneration. ·

HDFC BANK LTD. v. KUMARI RESHMAAND ORS. 1027

[DIPAK MISRA, J.]

25. In Purnya Kala Devi (supra), a three-Judge Bench A has categorically held that the person in control and possession ofthe vehicle under an agreement of hypothecation should be construed as the owner and not alone the registered owner and thereafter the Court has adverted to the legislative intention, . 'and ruled that the registered owner of the vehicle should not B be held liable if the vehicle is not in his possession and control.

There is reference to Section 146 of the Act that no person shall use or.cause or allow any other person to use a motor vehicle in a public place without insurance as that is the mandatory statutory requirement under the 1988Act. In the C instant case, the predecessor-in-interest of the appellant, Centurion Bank, was the registered owner along with respondent no.2. The respondent no. 2 was in control and possession of the vehicle. He had taken the vehicle from the dealer without paying the full premium to the insurance company D and thereby getting the vehicle insured. The High Court has erroneously opined that the financier had the responsibility to get the vehicle insured, if the borrower failed to insure it. The said term In the hypothecation agreement does not convey that the appellant financier had become the owner and was in E control and possession of the vehicle. It was the absolute fault of the respondent no.2 to take the vehicle from the dealer withoutfull payment of the insurance. Nothing has been brought on record that this fact was known to the appellant financier or it was done in collusion with the financier. When the intention F of the legislature is quite clear to the effect, a registered owner of the vehicle should not be held liable if the vehicle is not in his possession and control and there is evidence on record that the respondent no.2, without the insurance plied the vehicle

in violation of the statutory provision contained in Section 146 G of the 1988 Act, the High Court could not have mulcted the liability on the financier. The appreciation by the learned Single Judge in appeal, both in fact and law, is wholly unsustainable.

26. In view of the aforesaid premises, we allow the appeals and hold that the liability to satisfy the award is that of the owner, the respondent no. 2 herein and not that of the financier and accordingly that part of the direction in the award is set aside. However, as has been conceded to by the learned B senior counsel for the appellant, no steps shall be taken for

realisation of the amount. There shall be no order as to costs.

Kalpana K. Tripathy Appeals allowed.