- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:9149 MFA No. 102385 of 2014 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, DHARWAD BENCH DATED THIS THE 24TH DAY OF JULY, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE HANCHATE SANJEEVKUMAR MISCELLANEOUS FIRST APPEAL NO.102385 OF 2014 (MV-I) BETWEEN: UNITED INDIA INSURANCE CO. LTD., BY ITS DIVISIONAL MANAGER, DIVISIONAL OFFICE, SEETA SMRUTHI, MARUTI GALLI, BELAGAVI, REPRESENTED BY ITS ASSISTANT MANAGER. … APPELLANT (BY SRI. R.R. MANE, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. SHRI MADIWALAPPA GOUDAPPA HITTALAMANI, AGE: 59 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURIST, R/O: VEERAPUR, TQ: BAILHONGAL, DIST: BELAGAVI. 2. SHRI CHAMBAPPA SHANKAREPPA SADHUNAVAR, AGE: MAJOR, OCC: AGRICULTURIST, R/O: VEERAPUR, TQ: BAILHONGAL, DIST: BELAGAVI,(OWNER OF MOTORCYCLE NO.KA-29/Q-1312). … RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. SURESH P. HUDEDAGADDI, ADVOCATE FOR R1; R2-SERVED) THIS MFA IS FILED UNDER SECTION 173(1) OF MV ACT, 1988, PRAYING TO SET ASIDE THE JUDGMENT AND AWARD DATED 26/04/2014 PASSED IN MVC NO.1228/2012 ON THE FILE OF THE SENIOR CIVIL JUDGE AND ADDL. M.A.C.T., BAILHONGAL, AND TO PASS SUCH OTHER ORDER OR ORDERS INCLUDING AN ORDER OF REMITTING THE MATTER BACK TO THE TRIBUNAL. THIS APPEAL, COMING ON FOR ADMISSION THIS DAY, JUDGMENT IS DELIVERED THEREIN AS UNDER: MALLIKARJUN RUDRAYYA KALMATH Digitally signed by MALLIKARJUN RUDRAYYA KALMATH Date: 2025.08.14 12:07:09 +0530 - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:9149 MFA No. 102385 of 2014 ORAL JUDGMENT (PER: THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE HANCHATE SANJEEVKUMAR) Though this appeal is listed for admission, with consent of learned counsel for the parties, it is taken up for final disposal. 2. This appeal is filed by the Insurance Company challenging the judgment and award dated 26.04.2014 passed in MVC No.1228/2012 on the file of Senior Civil Judge and Additional MACT, Bailhongal (for short, ‘ the Tribunal’), questioning the liability fastened on it. 3. In the present case, claimant/respondent No.1, who was proceeding as a pillion rider in a motorcycle bearing registration No.KA-29/Q-1312 from Veerapur to M.K.Hubli Sugar Factory, at that time, the rider of said motorcycle driven the same in a very rash and negligent manner and lost his control over the motorcycle and fell down on the road. Due to the said impact, the claimant/respondent No.1 sustained grievous injuries. Hence, filed claim petition seeking compensation. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:9149 MFA No. 102385 of 2014 4. Upon the claim petition filed by the claimant/respondent No.1, the Tribunal has awarded compensation of Rs.97,000/- along with interest at the rate of 6% per annum from the date of petition till the date of payment by fastening liability on the owner and insurer of motorcycle bearing registration No.KA-29/Q-1312. Admittedly, claimant/respondent No.1 was a pillion rider on the offending motorcycle. Therefore, when the insurance policy is liability only policy and the claimant was a pillion rider, hence, the risk of pillion rider is not covered under the liability only policy. The issue is squarely covered by this Court in the case of DIVISIONAL MANAGER, UNITED INDIA INSURANCE COMPANY Ltd., AND OTHERS VS. SHAMARAYA AND OTHERS1. Therefore, under the liability only policy, the risk of pillion rider is not covered, unless there is an evidence of payment of extra premium covering the risk of pillion rider. Therefore, the Insurance Company is not liable to pay compensation and is exonerated from 1 MANU/KA/4690/2020 - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:9149 MFA No. 102385 of 2014 payment of compensation. But the owner of motorcycle alone shall pay compensation to the claimant. 5. Hence, the appeal filed by the Insurance Company is liable to be allowed. Accordingly, the appeal is allowed. 6. In the result, I proceed to pass the following: ORDER i) The appeal is allowed. ii) The judgment and award dated 26.04.2014 passed in MVC No.1228/2012 on the file of Senior Civil Judge and Additional MACT, Bailhongal, is modified holding that the owner of motorcycle bearing registration No.KA-29/Q-1312 alone shall pay compensation to the claimant. iii) The amount in deposit, if any, shall be transmitted to the Tribunal. iv) No order as to cost. Sd/- (HANCHATE SANJEEVKUMAR) JUDGE PMP CT:BCK LIST NO.: 1 SL NO.: 36