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Khenyei Vs. New India Assurance Co. Ltd. & Ors.

  Supreme Court Of India Civil Appeal/4244/2015
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In this case, the appellant collided with a bus and a trailer truck. The insurance company is admittedly the insurer of the bus. However, based on additional evidence adduced the ...

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Page 1 1

Reportable

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

CIVIL APPEAL NO.4244 OF 2015

[Arising out of SLP (C) No.14015/2010]

Khenyei ... Appellant

Vs.

New India Assurance Co. Ltd. & Ors. ... Respondents

With CA No.4245/2015 @ SLP [C] No.14699/2010; CA No.4246/2015 @

SLP [C] No.14700/2010; CA No.4247/2015 @ SLP [C] No.14701/2010;

CA No.4248/2015 @ SLP [C] No.14743/2010; CA No.4249/2015 @ SLP

[C] No.14847/2010; and CA No.4250/2015 @ SLP [C] No.14865/2010.

J U D G M E N T

ARUN MISHRA, J.

1. Leave granted.

2. In the appeals, the main question which arises for

consideration is, whether it is open to a claimant to recover entire

compensation from one of the joint tort feasors, particularly when in

accident caused by composite negligence of drivers of trailor-truck and bus

has been found to 2/3

rd

and 1/3

rd

extent respectively.

3. In the instant cases the injuries were sustained by the

claimants when two vehicles – bus and trailor-truck collided with each

other. The New India Assurance Co. Ltd. is admittedly the insurer of the

bus. However, on the basis of additional evidence adduced the High Court

has come to the conclusion that the New India Assurance Co. Ltd. is not the

insurer of the trailor-truck, hence is not liable to satisfy 2/3

rd

of the award.

Page 2 2

4. It is a case of composite negligence where injuries have been

caused to the claimants by combined wrongful act of joint tort feasors. In a

case of accident caused by negligence of joint tort feasors, all the persons

who aid or counsel or direct or join in committal of a wrongful act, are

liable. In such case, the liability is always joint and several. The extent of

negligence of joint tort feasors in such a case is immaterial for satisfaction

of the claim of the plaintiff/claimant and need not be determined by the

court. However, in case all the joint tort feasors are before the court, it may

determine the extent of their liability for the purpose of adjusting inter-se

equities between them at appropriate stage. The liability of each and every

joint tort feasor vis a vis to plaintiff/claimant cannot be bifurcated as it is

joint and several liability. In the case of composite negligence,

apportionment of compensation between tort feasors for making payment to

the plaintiff is not permissible as the plaintiff/claimant has the right to

recover the entire amount from the easiest targets/solvent defendant.

5. In Law of Torts, 2nd Edn., 1992 by Justice G.P. Singh, it has

been observed that in composite negligence, apportionment of

compensation between two tort feasors is not permissible.

6. In Law of Torts by Winfield and Jolowicz, 17

th

Edn., 2006,

the author has referred to Performance Cars Ltd. v. Abraham [1962 (1) QB

33], Baker v. Willoughby 1970 A.C. 467, Rogers on Unification of Tort

Law: Multiple Tortfeasors; G.N.E.R. v. Hart [2003] EWHC 2450 (QB),

Page 3 3

Mortgage Express Ltd. v. Bowerman & Partners 1996 (2) All E.R. 836 etc.

and observed thus :

“WHERE two or more people by their independent breaches of

duty to the claimant cause him to suffer distinct injuries, no

special rules are required, for each tortfeasor is liable for the

damage which he caused and only for that damage. Where,

however, two or more breaches of duty by different persons cause

the claimant to suffer a single, indivisible injury the position is

more complicated. The law in such a case is that the claimant is

entitled to sue all or any of them for the full amount of his loss,

and each is said to be jointly and severally liable for it. If the

claimant sues defendant A but not B and C, it is open to A to seek

“contribution” from B and C in respect of their relative

responsibility but this is a matter among A, B and C and does not

affect the claimant. This means that special rules are necessary to

deal with the possibilities of successive actions in respect of that

loss and of claims for contribution or indemnity by one tortfeasor

against the others. It may be greatly to the claimant’s advantage

to show that he has suffered the same, indivisible harm at the

hands of a number of defendants for he thereby avoids the risk,

inherent in cases where there are different injuries, of finding that

one defendant is insolvent (or uninsured) and being unable to

execute judgment against him. Even where all participants are

solvent, a system which enabled the claimant to sue each one

only for a proportionate part of the damage would require him to

launch multiple proceedings, some of which might involve

complex issues of liability, causation and proof. As the law now

stands, the claimant may simply launch proceedings against the

“easiest target”. The same picture is not, of course, so attractive

from the point of view of the solvent defendant, who may end up

carrying full responsibility for a loss in the causing of which he

played only a partial, even secondary role. Thus a solicitor may

be liable in full for failing to point out to his client that there is

reason to believe that a valuation on which the client proposes to

lend is suspect, the valuer being insolvent; and an auditor will be

likely to carry sole responsibility for negligent failure to discover

fraud during a company audit. A sustained campaign against the

rule of joint and several liability has been mounted in this country

by certain professional bodies, who have argued instead for a

regime of “proportionate liability” whereby, as against the

claimant, and not merely among defendants as a group, each

Page 4 4

defendant would bear only his share of the liability. While it has

not been suggested here that such a change should be extended to

personal injury claims, this has occurred in some American

jurisdictions, whether by statute or by judicial decision. However,

an investigation of the issue by the Law Commission on behalf of

the Dept of trade and Industry in 1996 led to the conclusion that

the present law was preferable to the various forms of

proportionate liability.”

7. Pollock in Law of Torts, 15

th

Edn. has discussed the concept

of composite negligence. The relevant portion at page 361 is extracted

below :

“Another kind of question arises where a person is injured

without any fault of his own, but by the combined effects of the

negligence of two persons of whom the one is not responsible for

the other. It has been supposed that A could avail himself, as

against Z who has been injured without any want of due care on

his own part, of the so-called contributory negligence of a third

person B. It is true you were injured by my negligence, but it

would not have happened if B had not been negligent also,

therefore, you can not sue me, or at all events not apart from B.

Recent authority is decidedly against allowing such a defence,

and in one particular class of cases it has been emphatically

disallowed. It must, however, be open to A to answer to Z: You

were not injured by my negligence at all, but only and wholly by

B's. It seems to be a question of fact rather than of law (as, within

the usual limits of a jury's discretion, the question of proximate

cause is in all ordinary cases) what respective degrees of

connection, in kind and degree, between the damage suffered by

Z and the independent negligent conduct of A and B will make it

proper to say that Z was injured by the negligence of A alone, or

of B alone, or of both A and B,. But if this last conclusion be

arrived at, it is now quite clear that Z can sue both A and B.

At page 362 Author has observed as :-

"The strict analysis of the proximate or immediate cause of the

event: the inquiry who could last have prevented the mischief by

Page 5 5

the exercise of due care, is relevant only where the defendant says

that the plaintiff suffered by his own negligence. Where negligent

acts of two or more independent persons have between them

caused damage to a third, the sufferer is not driven to apply any

such analysis to find out whom he can sue. He is entitled- of

course, within the limits set by the general rules as to remoteness

of damage- to sue all or any of the negligent persons. It is no

concern of his whether there is any duty of contribution or

indemnity as between those persons, though in any case he can

not recover in the whole more than his whole damage."

8. In Palghat Coimbatore Transport Co. Ltd. v. Narayanan,

[ILR (1939) Mad. 306], it has been held that where injury is caused by the

wrongful act of two parties, the plaintiff is not bound to a strict analysis of

the proximate or immediate cause of the event to find out whom he can sue.

Subject to the rules as to remoteness of damage, the plaintiff is entitled to

sue all or any of the negligent persons and it is no concern of his whether

there is any duty of contribution or indemnity as between those persons,

though in any case he cannot recover on the whole more than his whole

damage. He has a right to recover the full amount of damages from any of

the defendants.

9. In National Insurance Co. Ltd. v. P.A. Vergis & Ors. [1991

(1) ACC 226], it has been observed that the case of composite negligence is

one when accident occurs and resulting injuries and damages flow without

any negligence on the part of the claimant but as a result of the negligence

on the part of two or more persons. In such a case, the Tribunal should pass

a composite decree against owners of both vehicles. In United India Fire &

Page 6 6

Genl. Ins. Co. Ltd. v. Varghese & Ors. [1989 2 ACC 483 = 1989 ACJ 472],

it has been observed that in a case of composite negligence, the injured has

option to proceed against all or any of the joint tortfeasors. Therefore, the

insurer cannot take a defence that action is not sustainable as the other joint

tort feasors have not been made parties. Similar is the view taken in United

India Fire & General Insurance Co. Ltd. v. U.E. Prasad & Ors. [AIR 1985

Kar. 160]. In Andhra Marine Exports (P) Ltd. & Anr. v. P. Radhakrishnan

& Ors. [AIR 1984 Mad. 358], it has been held that every wrong doer is

liable for whole damages in the case of composite negligence if it is

otherwise made out.

Similar is the view taken in Smt. Kundan Bala Vora & Anr. v. State

of U.P. [AIR 1983 All. 409], where a collision between bus and car took

place. Negligence of both the drivers was found. It was held that they would

be jointly and severally liable to pay the whole damages. In Narain Devi &

Ors. v. Swaran Singh & Ors. [1989 2 ACC 116 (Del.) = 1989 ACJ 1118]

there was a case of composite negligence by drivers of two trucks involved

in an accident which hit the tempo from two sides. The proportion in which

the two vehicles misconducted or offended was not decided. It was held by

the High Court that the Tribunal was right in holding the liability of tort

feasors as joint and several.

10. A Full Bench of the High Court of Karnataka at Bangalore in

Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation, Bangalore and etc. v. Arun

Page 7 7

alias Aravind and etc. etc. [AIR 2004 Kar. 149] has affirmed the decision of

another Full Bench of the same High Court in Ganesh v. Syed Munned

Ahamed & Ors. [ILR (1999) Kar. 403]. A Division Bench referred the

decision in Ganesh’s case (supra) on following two questions to the larger

Bench :

“1. If the proceedings are finally determined with an award made

by the Tribunal and disposed of in some cases by the appeal

against the same by the High Court, does the Tribunal not become

functus officio for making any further proceedings like

impleading the tort feasor or initiating action against him legally

impermissible ?

2. What is the remedy of a tort feasor who has satisfied the award,

but who does not know the particulars of the vehicle which was

responsible for the accident?”

11. A Full Bench in KSRTC v. Arun @ Aravind (supra) while

answering aforesaid questions has observed that it was a case of composite

negligence and the liability of tort feasors was joint and several. Hence,

even if there is non-impleadment of one of tort feasors, the claimant was

entitled to full compensation quantified by the Tribunal. The Full Bench

referred to the decision of a Division Bench of the Gujarat High Court in

Hiraben Bhaga & Ors. v. Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation [1982

ACJ (Supp.) 414 (Guj.)] in which it has been laid down that it is entirely the

choice of the claimant whether to implead both the joint tort feasors or

either of them. On failure of the claimant to implead one of the joint tort

feasors, contributory liability cannot be fastened upon the claimant to the

extent of the negligence of non-impleaded joint tort feasors. It is for the

Page 8 8

joint tort feasors made liable to pay compensation to take proceedings to

settle the equities as against other joint tort feasors who had not been

impleaded. It is open to the impleaded joint tort feasor to sue the other

wrong doer after the decree or award is given to realize to the extent of

others’ liability. It has been laid down that the law in Ganesh’s case (supra)

has been rightly laid down and it is not necessary to implead all joint tort

feasors and due to failure of impleadment of all joint tort feasors,

compensation cannot be reduced to the extent of negligence of

non-impleaded tort feasors. Non-impleadment of one of the joint tort

feasors is not a defence to reduce the compensation payable to the claimant.

In our opinion, the law appears to have been correctly stated in KSRTC v.

Arun @ Aravind (supra).

12. A Full Bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court in Smt. Sushila

Bhadoriya & Ors. v. M.P. State Road Transport Corpn. & Anr. [2005 (1)

MPLJ 372] has also laid down that in case of composite negligence, the

liability is joint and several and it is open to implead the driver, owner and

the insurer one of the vehicles to recover the whole amount from one of the

joint tort feasors. As to apportionment also, it has been observed that both

the vehicles will be jointly and severally liable to pay the compensation.

Once the negligence and compensation is determined, it is not permissible

to apportion the compensation between the two as it is difficult to determine

the apportionment in the absence of the drivers of both the vehicles

Page 9 9

appearing in the witness box. Therefore, there cannot be apportionment of

the claim between the joint tort feasors. The relevant portion of decision of

Full Bench is extracted hereunder :

“When injury is caused as a result of negligence of two joint

tort-feasors, claimant is not required to lay his finger on the exact

person regarding his proportion of liability. In the absence of any

evidence enabling the Court to distinguish the act of each joint

tort-feasor, liability can be fastened on both the tort-feasors

jointly and in case only one of the joint tort-feasors is impleaded

as party, then entire liability can be fastened upon one of the joint

tort-feasors. If both the joint tort-feasors are before the Court and

there is sufficient evidence regarding the act of each tort-feasors

and it is possible for the Court to apportion the claim considering

the exact nature of negligence by both the joint tort-feasors, it

may apportion the claim. However, it is not necessary to

apportion the claim when it is not possible to determine the ratio

of negligence of joint tort-feasors. In such cases, joint tort-feasors

will be jointly and severally liable to pay the compensation.

On the same principle, in the case of joint tort- feasors where the

liability is joint and several, it is the choice of the claimant to

claim damages from the owner and driver and insurer of both the

vehicles or any one of them. If claim is made against one of them,

entire amount of compensation on account of injury or death can

be imposed against the owner, driver and insurer of that vehicle

as their liability is joint and several and the claimant can recover

the amount from any one of them. There can not be

apportionment of claim of each tort- feasors in the absence of

proper and cogent evidence on record and it is not necessary to

apportion the claim.

To sum up, we hold as under:-

(i) Owner, driver and insurer of one of the vehicles can be sued

and it is not necessary to sue owner, driver and insurer of both the

vehicles. Claimant may implead the owner, driver and insurer of

both the vehicles or anyone of them.

Page 10 10

(ii) There can not be apportionment of the liability of joint

tort-feasors. In case both the joint tort-feasors are impleaded as

party and if there is sufficient material on record, then the

question of apportionment can be considered by the Claims

Tribunal. However, on general principles of Jaw, there is no

necessity to apportion the inter se liability of joint tort-feasors.

Reference is answered accordingly. Appeal be placed before

appropriate Bench for hearing.”

13. In our opinion, the law laid down by the Madhya Pradesh

High Court in Smt. Sushila Bhadoriya (supra) is also in tune with the

decisions of the High Court of Karnataka in Ganesh (supra) and Arun @

Aravind (supra). However, at the same time, suffice it to clarify that even if

all the joint tort feasors are impleaded and both the drivers have entered the

witness box and the tribunal or the court is able to determine the extent of

negligence of each of the driver that is for the purpose of inter se liability

between the joint tort feasors but their liability would remain joint and

several so as to satisfy the plaintiff/claimant.

14. There is a difference between contributory and composite

negligence. In the case of contributory negligence, a person who has

himself contributed to the extent cannot claim compensation for the injuries

sustained by him in the accident to the extent of his own negligence;

whereas in the case of composite negligence, a person who has suffered has

not contributed to the accident but the outcome of combination of

Page 11 11

negligence of two or more other persons. This Court in T.O. Anthony v.

Karvarnan & Ors. [2008 (3) SCC 748] has held that in case of contributory

negligence, injured need not establish the extent of responsibility of each

wrong doer separately, nor is it necessary for the court to determine the

extent of liability of each wrong doer separately. It is only in the case of

contributory negligence that the injured himself has contributed by his

negligence in the accident. Extent of his negligence is required to be

determined as damages recoverable by him in respect of the injuries have to

be reduced in proportion to his contributory negligence. The relevant

portion is extracted hereunder :

“6. 'Composite negligence' refers to the negligence on the part of

two or more persons. Where a person is injured as a result of

negligence on the part of two or more wrong doers, it is said that

the person was injured on account of the composite negligence of

those wrong-doers. In such a case, each wrong doer, is jointly and

severally liable to the injured for payment of the entire damages

and the injured person has the choice of proceeding against all or

any of them. In such a case, the injured need not establish the

extent of responsibility of each wrong-doer separately, nor is it

necessary for the court to determine the extent of liability of each

wrong-doer separately. On the other hand where a person suffers

injury, partly due to the negligence on the part of another person

or persons, and partly as a result of his own negligence, then the

negligence of the part of the injured which contributed to the

accident is referred to as his contributory negligence. Where the

injured is guilty of some negligence, his claim for damages is not

defeated merely by reason of the negligence on his part but the

damages recoverable by him in respect of the injuries stands

reduced in proportion to his contributory negligence.

7. Therefore, when two vehicles are involved in an accident, and

Page 12 12

one of the drivers claims compensation from the other driver

alleging negligence, and the other driver denies negligence or

claims that the injured claimant himself was negligent, then it

becomes necessary to consider whether the injured claimant was

negligent and if so, whether he was solely or partly responsible

for the accident and the extent of his responsibility, that is his

contributory negligence. Therefore where the injured is himself

partly liable, the principle of 'composite negligence' will not

apply nor can there be an automatic inference that the negligence

was 50:50 as has been assumed in this case. The Tribunal ought

to have examined the extent of contributory negligence of the

appellant and thereby avoided confusion between composite

negligence and contributory negligence. The High Court has

failed to correct the said error.”

15. The decision in T.O. Anthony v. Karvarnan & Ors. (supra) has

been relied upon in Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corpn. & Anr. v.

K Hemlatha & Ors. [2008 (6) SCC 767].

16. In Pawan Kumar & Anr. v. Harkishan Dass Mohan Lal &

Ors. [2014 (3) SCC 590], the decisions in T.O. Anthony (supra) and

Hemlatha (supra) have been affirmed, and this Court has laid down that

where plaintiff/claimant himself is found to be negligent jointly and

severally, liability cannot arise and the plaintiff’s claim to the extent of his

own negligence, as may be quantified, will have to be severed. He is

entitled to damages not attributable to his own negligence. The

law/distinction with respect to contributory as well as composite negligence

has been considered by this Court in Machindranath Kernath Kasar v. D.S.

Mylarappa & Ors. [2008 (13) SCC 198] and also as to joint tort feasors.

This Court has referred to Charlesworth & Percy on negligence as to cause

Page 13 13

of action in regard to joint tort feasors thus:

“42. Joint tortfeasors, as per 10

th

Edn. of Charlesworth & Percy

on Negligence, have been described as under :

Wrongdoers are deemed to be joint tortfeasors, within the

meaning of the rule, where the cause of action against each of

them is the same, namely, that the same evidence would support

an action against them, individually….. Accordingly, they will be

jointly liable for a tort which they both commit or for which they

are responsible because the law imputes the commission of the

same wrongful act to two or more persons at the same time. This

occurs in cases of (a) agency; (b) vicarious liability; and (c)

where a tort is committed in the course of a joint act, whilst

pursuing a common purpose agreed between them.”

The question also arises as to the remedies available to one of the

joint tort feasors from whom compensation has been recovered. When the

other joint tort feasor has not been impleaded, obviously question of

negligence of non-impleaded driver could not be decided apportionment of

composite negligence cannot be made in the absence of impleadment of joint

tort feasor. Thus, it would be open to the impleaded joint tort feasors after

making payment of compensation, so as to sue the other joint tort feasor and

to recover from him the contribution to the extent of his negligence. However,

in case when both the tort feasors are before the court/tribunal, if evidence is

sufficient, it may determine the extent of their negligence so that one joint tort

feasor can recover the amount so determined from the other joint tort feasor in

the execution proceedings, whereas the claimant has right to recover the

compensation from both or any one of them. This Court in National

Insurance Co. Ltd. v. Challa Bharathamma & Ors. [2004 (8) SCC 517] with

Page 14 14

respect to mode of recovery has laid down thus :

“13. The residual question is what would be the appropriate

direction. Considering the beneficial object of the Act, it would

be proper for the insurer to satisfy the award, though in law it has

no liability. In some cases the insurer has been given the option

and liberty to recover the amount from the insured. For the

purpose of recovering the amount paid from the owner, the

insurer shall not be required to file a suit. It may initiate a

proceeding before the concerned Executive Court as if the dispute

between the insurer and the owner was the subject matter of

determination before the Tribunal and the issue is decided against

the owner and in favour of the insurer. Before release of the

amount to the claimants, owner of the offending vehicle shall

furnish security for the entire amount which the insurer will pay

to the claimants. The offending vehicle shall be attached, as a part

of the security. If necessity arises the Executive Court shall take

assistance of the concerned Regional Transport Authority. The

Executing Court shall pass appropriate orders in accordance with

law as to the manner in which the owner of the vehicle shall make

payment to the insurer. In case there is any default it shall be open

to the Executing Court to direct realization by disposal of the

securities to be furnished or from any other property or properties

of the owner of the vehicle i.e. the insured. In the instant case

considering the quantum involved we leave it to the discretion of

the insurer to decide whether it would take steps for recovery of

the amount from the insured.”

17. In Oriental Insurance Co. Ltd. v. Nanjappan & Ors. [2004

(13) SCC 224] also, this Court has laid down thus :

“8. Therefore, while setting aside the judgment of the High court

we direct in terms of what has been stated in Baljit Kaur's case

[2004 (2) SCC 1] that the insurer shall pay the quantum of

compensation fixed by the Tribunal, about which there was no

dispute raised, to the respondents-claimants within three months

from today. The for the purpose of recovering the same from the

insured, the insurer shall not be required to file a suit. It may

initiate a proceeding before the concerned Executing Court as if

Page 15 15

the dispute between the insurer and the owner was the subject

matter of determination before the Tribunal and the issue is

decided against the owner and in favour of the insurer. Before

release of the amount to the insured, owner of the vehicle shall be

issued a notice and he shall be required to furnish security for the

entire amount which the insurer will pay to the claimants. The

offending vehicle shall be attached, as a part of the security. If

necessity arises the Executing Court shall take assistance of the

concerned Regional Transport authority. The Executing Court

shall pass appropriate orders in accordance with law as to the

manner in which the insured, owner of the vehicle shall make

payment to the insurer. In case there is any default it shall be open

to the Executing Court to direct realization by disposal of the

securities to be furnished or from any other property or properties

of the owner of the vehicle, the insured. The appeal is disposed of

in the aforesaid terms, with no order as to costs.”

18. This Court in Challa Bharathamma & Nanjappan (supra) has

dealt with the breach of policy conditions by the owner when the insurer

was asked to pay the compensation fixed by the tribunal and the right to

recover the same was given to the insurer in the executing court concerned

if the dispute between the insurer and the owner was the subject-matter of

determination for the tribunal and the issue has been decided in favour of

the insured. The same analogy can be applied to the instant cases as the

liability of the joint tort feasor is joint and several. In the instant case, there

is determination of inter se liability of composite negligence to the extent of

negligence of 2/3

rd

and 1/3

rd

of respective drivers. Thus, the vehicle –

trailor-truck which was not insured with the insurer, was negligent to the

extent of 2/3

rd

. It would be open to the insurer being insurer of the bus after

making payment to claimant to recover from the owner of the trailor-truck

Page 16 16

the amount to the aforesaid extent in the execution proceedings. Had there

been no determination of the inter se liability for want of evidence or other

joint tort feasor had not been impleaded, it was not open to settle such a

dispute and to recover the amount in execution proceedings but the remedy

would be to file another suit or appropriate proceedings in accordance with

law.

What emerges from the aforesaid discussion is as follows :

(i)In the case of composite negligence, plaintiff/claimant is entitled to

sue both or any one of the joint tort feasors and to recover the entire

compensation as liability of joint tort feasors is joint and several.

(ii)In the case of composite negligence, apportionment of

compensation between two tort feasors vis a vis the plaintiff/claimant is not

permissible. He can recover at his option whole damages from any of them.

(iii)In case all the joint tort feasors have been impleaded and evidence is

sufficient, it is open to the court/tribunal to determine inter se extent of

composite negligence of the drivers. However, determination of the extent

of negligence between the joint tort feasors is only for the purpose of their

inter se liability so that one may recover the sum from the other after

making whole of payment to the plaintiff/claimant to the extent it has

satisfied the liability of the other. In case both of them have been

impleaded and the apportionment/ extent of their negligence has been

determined by the court/tribunal, in main case one joint tort feasor can

Page 17 17

recover the amount from the other in the execution proceedings.

(iv)It would not be appropriate for the court/tribunal to determine the

extent of composite negligence of the drivers of two vehicles in the absence

of impleadment of other joint tort feasors. In such a case, impleaded joint

tort feasor should be left, in case he so desires, to sue the other joint tort

feasor in independent proceedings after passing of the decree or award.

19. Resultantly, the appeals are allowed. The judgment and order

passed by the High Court is hereby set aside. Parties to bear the costs as

incurred.

...........................CJI

(H.L. Dattu)

................................J.

(S.A. Bobde)

New Delhi; ...............................J.

May 07, 2015. (Arun Mishra)

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