Research › Search › Judgment
High Court of Karnataka · body
2025 DAILYLAW 92250 (KAR)
MANAPPA AND ANR v. KUPPANNA AND ANR
MFA/200812/2021 · 2025-11-07
H T Narendra Prasad, Tyagaraja N Inavally
body2025
[ 2025 DAILYLAW 92250 (KAR) · dailylaw.ai ]
[ 2025 DAILYLAW 92250 (KAR) · dailylaw.ai ]
Judgment text
Extracted from the PDF above. The PDF is authoritative.
- 1 -
! "#$
%" &!'"%"
&!'"#'$!!#
"!"%%! ($) *+
"!"%%! *
+
! "
"
Digitally signed by BASALINGAPPA SHIVARAJ DHUTTARGAON Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA
- 2 -
#$ %
&
' !()
&
"*
" )!")" #
+#
&
)()"")"
)"),
& & -
&
%
*
+
! "
"
#$
%
&
' !()
&
- 3 -
&
.#$.))"
%
' !(
"
' !()
#$.))"
"* #)!")"
+#
&
)()"")"
&
)"),
&
%
/
&
0&
0&
&
- 4 -
!'
0&
1")),!!")" 23456 78 9:5
:5;53<=295;;525;;5691=>? 1;@1;=931</21;>:1;9=<6
1"))!"")" 23456 78 9:5 A4=3B=<9> C<65; 5A931< +# 12 9:5 191; 5:3A45> A9 ,!! :5;53<=295;
;525;;56 91 => ?9:5 A9/ 21; >:1;9 A:=445<D3<D 9:5 EC6DB5<9 =<6 =F=;6 6=956 )()"")" @=>>56 78 9:5 664 5<31;
3G34 &C6D5 =<6
=3A:C; AA 664 5<31;
3G34&C6D5=<6
=3A:C;3< 1)"),
" =A9> D3G3<D ;3>5 91 9:5 2343<D 12 9:5 =@@5=4> 7;35248 >9=956 =;5 9:=9 1< $)")! 9:5 65A5=>56 C;CD=@@= F=> @;1A5563<D 3< :3> B191;A8A45 75=;3<D 5D3>9;=931<
1.#$..!$ 1< C;CDC<9=.3<D=>CDC; B=3< ;1=6 =<6=9=71C9( =BF:5<:5F=>@;1A5563<D<5=;=23 =7= F39:3< C;CDC<9= 344=D5 9:5 6;3G5; 12 9:5 C> 75=;3<D 5D3>9;=931< 1.#$..))" A=B5 2;1B 1@@1>395 >365 3< :3D: >@556 =<6 3< = ;=>: =<6 <5D43D5<9
- 5 -
B=<<5; =<6 6=>:56 =D=3<>9 9:5 >=36 B191;A8A45 > = ;5>C49 12 9:5 =21;5>=36 =AA365<9 9:5 65A5=>56 >C>9=3<56 D;35G1C>3<EC;35>=<6>CAACB756919:53<EC;35>
# :5 A4=3B=<9> 23456 = @593931< C<65; 5A931< $$ 12 9:5 A9 >55H3<D A1B@5<>=931< 21; 9:5 65=9: 12 9:5 65A5=>56=41<DF39:3<95;5>9
( @1< >5;G3A5 12 <193A5 9:5 ;5>@1<65<9
1" =@@5=;56 9:;1CD: A1C<>54 =<6 23456 F;3995< >9=95B5<9 65<83<D 9:5 =G5;B5<9> B=65 3< 9:5 A4=3B @593931< :5 ;5>@1<65<9 165>@395>5;G3A512<193A5636<19=@@5=; 7521;59:5;37C<=4=<6F=>@4=A565I.@=;95
< 9:5 7=>3> 12 9:5 @45=63<D> 12 9:5 @=;935> 9:5 4=3B>;37C<=42;=B569:53>>C5>=<69:5;5=295;;5A1;656 9:5 5G365<A5 :5 ;37C<=4 78 3B@CD<56 EC6DB5<9 =<6 =F=;6:=>@=;948=441F569:5A4=3B@593931<=<6:5469:=9 9:5 A4=3B=<9> =;5 5<939456 91 = A1B@5<>=931< 12 >"" "))).=41<DF39:3<95;5>9=99:5;=9512,J@=
- 6 -
=<663;5A9569:5
1;@1;=931<9165@1>399:5A1B@5<>=931< =B1C<9=41<DF39:3<95;5>953<D=DD;35G569:5@;5>5<9 =@@5=4>:=G5755<23456 $ B9;5593=93454HC<6345=;<56A1C<>54=@@5=;3<D 21;9:5
1;@1;=931<:=>;=3>569:521441F3<DA1<95<931<>
= 3;>948 9:5 =AA365<9 1AAC;;56 6C5 91 9:5 <5D43D5<A5 12 9:5 65A5=>56 12 9:5 B191;A8A45 75=;3<D ;5D3>9;=931< 1.#$..!$:56;3G5;129:57C>F=> 5I=B3<56 => . < :3> 5G365<A5 :5 :=> A=95D1;3A=448 >9=956 9:=9 9:5 65A5=>56 F=> @;1A5563<D 3< 9:5 >=36 B191;A8A45 =9 = :3D: >@556 =<6 3< = ;=>: =<6 <5D43D5<9 B=<<5; =<6 =995B@956 91 1G5;9=H5 9:5 B191;A8A45 75=;3<D ;5D3>9;=931<
1.#$..! F:3A: F=> @;1A5563<D 3< 2;1<9 12 9:5 65A5=>56/> B191;A8A45 :5 65A5=>56 41>9 A1<9;14 =<6 6=>:56 =D=3<>9 9:5 B191;A8A45 =:5=6 12 :3B 75=;3<D ;5D3>9;=931< 1.#$..!
:5;5=295; :5 41>9 7=4=<A5 =<6 6=>:56 9:5 2;1<9 >365 12 9:57C>:5>=B53>5G365<92;1B9:5;5@1;9B=;H56
- 7 -
=>I$:5;37C<=4:=>5;;563<:1463<D9:=99:56;3G5; 129:57C>=41<5F=><5D43D5<93<A=C>3<D9:5=AA365<9
7 5A1<648 9:5 65A5=>56 F:1 F=> ;363<D 9:5 B191;A8A45 636 <19 @1>>5>> = 6;3G3<D 43A5<>5 =<6 :=6 A1<>CB56=4A1:14=<69:=9:5F=>;363<D9:5B191;A8A45 3< = K3DK=D B=<<5; 5 9;356 91 1G5;9=H5 9:5 B191;A8A45 75=;3<D ;5D3>9;=931< 1.#$..! 41>9 7=4=<A5 =<6 6=>:56 =D=3<>9 9:5 2;1<9 >365 12 9:5 7C> :5;521;5 39 3> A45=;9:=99:565A5=>56=4>1A1<9;37C956919:5=AA365<9
A :3;648 3< ;5>@5A9 12 9:5 LC=<9CB >:5 :=> A1<95<656 9:=9 5G5< 9:1CD: A4=3B=<9> :=G5 A4=3B56 9:=9 9:565A5=>56F=>F1;H3<D=>=95=A:5;6;=F3<D=>=4=;812 >")))).@5;B1<9:=<6F=>=4>15=;<3<D=<=663931<=4 3<A1B512>)))).@5;B1<9:=>=G3>393<D45A9C;5;3<= @;3G=95A1445D59:5A4=3B=<9>5IA5@9@;16CA3<D9:5>=4=;8 A5;9323A=95B=;H56=>I"(9:58:=G5<195I=B3<569:5 =C9:1;129:5>=3661ACB5<9:58:=G5=4>1<19@;16CA56 =<819:5;>C@@1;93<D61ACB5<9>
- 8 -
6 1C;9:48 A1<>365;3<D 9:5 =D5 =<6 =G1A=931< 12 9:5 65A5=>56 9:5 1G5;=44 A1B@5<>=931< =F=;656 78 9:5 ;37C<=43>1<9:5:3D:5;>365
5 =>9483<G35F129:5EC6DB5<9129:3>
1C;93< 9:5 A=>5 12 "'# " " ,$ $"$ " (
*
"
"%"
-
)9:53<95;5>9=F=;656789:5;37C<=4=9,J3> 1< 9:5 :3D:5; >365 5<A5 >:5 >1CD:9 21; =441F3<D 9:5 =@@5=42345678
1;@1;=931< + 5; A1<9;= ;3 =>=G=;=E =9: 45=;<56 A1C<>54 =@@5=;3<D 21; 9:5 A4=3B=<9> :=> ;=3>56 9:5 21441F3<D A1C<95;.A1<95<931<>
= 3;>948 9:5 =AA365<9 1AAC;;56 6C5 91 9:5 <5D43D5<A5 12 9:5 6;3G5; 12 9:5 7C> :5 =AA365<9 911H @4=A51<=AC;G56;1=6:56;3G5;129:57C>F=>6;3G3<D 3<=;=>:=<6<5D43D5<9B=<<5;A=B5919:55I9;5B5;3D:9 >365=<66=>:569:5B191;A8A4593>G5;8A45=;2;1B9:5
- 9 -
;5@1;99:=99:56;3G5;129:57C>=41<5F=><5D43D5<9 3<A=C>3<D9:5=AA365<9
7 5A1<648 3< 9:5 @45=63<D> . :=6 A4=3B56 9:=99:565A5=>56F=>;363<D9:5B191;A8A45=995B@95691 1G5;9=H5 =<19:5; B191;A8A45 F:3A: F=> @;1A5563<D 3< 2;1<9 12 :3B 6=>:56 9:5 191;A8A45 75=;3<D ;5D3>9;=931<
1.#$..! 41>97=4=<A5=<69:5;5=295;6=>:569:5 7C>
A :3;6483<9:55G365<A5.65@1>569:=99:5 65A5=>56 F:345 ;363<D 9:5 B191;A8A45 F=> 9=4H3<D 1< :3> B17345@:1<5:5>9=95B5<9>B=653<9:5@45=63<D>=<6 9:5 5G365<A5 =;5 A1<9;=;8 91 1<5 =<19:5; :5 ;37C<=4 =295; A1<>365;3<D 9:5 5G365<A5 12 9:5 @=;935> =<6 9:5 B=95;3=4 =G=34=745 1< ;5A1;6 :=> ;3D:948 :546 9:=9 9:5 6;3G5; 12 9:5 7C> =41<5 F=> <5D43D5<9 3< A=C>3<D 9:5 =AA365<9
6 1C;9:48 3< ;5>@5A9 12 9:5 LC=<9CB 12 A1B@5<>=931< 3> A1<A5;<56 =9 9:5 93B5 12 9:5 =AA365<9
- 10 -
9:5 65A5=>56 F=> 5=;<3<D >#)))). @5; B1<9: => = 95=A:5; 1 @;1G5 9:5 >=B5 9:5 A4=3B=<9> :=6 @;16CA56 9:5 >=4=;8 A5;9323A=95 =<6 56CA=931<=4 LC=4323A=931< 61ACB5<9> 91 >:1F 9:=9 9:5 65A5=>56 F=> = @1>9 D;=6C=95 :=G3<D A1B@45956 3< 14393A=4 A35<A5 1<>365;3<D 9:5 B=95;3=4 @;16CA56 78 9:5 A4=3B=<9> 9:5 B1<9:48 3<A1B5 =>>5>>56 78 9:5 ;37C<=4 > ))).
F:3A:3>1<9:541F5;>365
5 329:48 3< G35F 12 9:5 EC6DB5<9 12 9:5 @5I 1C;93<9:5A=>512!" ! ,$ . '
/ 9:5 A4=3B=<9> =;5 5<939456 91 >()))). 5=A: 5<A5 :5 >1CD:9 21; 5<:=<A5B5<912A1B@5<>=931< ! 5=;6 9:5 45=;<56 A1C<>54 21; 9:5 @=;935> =<6 @5;C>569:5EC6DB5<9=<6=F=;6129:5;37C<=4 , :5 A4=3B=<9> A4=3B 9:=9 65A5=>56 C;CD=@@= F=> @;1A5563<D 1< :3> B191;A8A45 75=;3<D ;5D3>9;=931<
1. #$..!$ 1< $)")! 1< C;CDC<9= . 3<D=>CDC;
- 11 -
B=3<;1=6=9=71C9( =BF:5<:5F=>@;1A5563<D <5=;=23=7=F39:3<C;CDC<9=G344=D59:56;3G5;129:5 7C> 75=;3<D ;5D3>9;=931< 1.#$..))" A=B5 2;1B 9:5 1@@1>395 63;5A931< =9 :3D: >@556 =<6 3< = ;=>: =<6 <5D43D5<9 B=<<5; 6=>:56 =D=3<>9 9:5 65A5=>56 B191;A8A45 C5 91 9:5 3B@=A9 C;CD=@@= 2544 61F< >C225;56>5;31C>3<EC;35>=<6>CAACB756919:1>53<EC;35> ) 1 @;1G5 9:5 A=>5 9:5 A4=3B=<9 1 5I=B3<56 :3B>542 => . =<6 :=> 5I=B3<56 ;3 =D=;5663 5=6 =>95;12I@5;9C743AA:1143<D=>CDC;=>."
<65; 9:5 191; 5:3A45> A9 3< 9:5 A4=3B @593931< 7521;59:5
4=3B>;37C<=49:5>9=<6=;612@;1123>BCA: 7541F9:=<F:=93>;5LC3;563<=A;3B3<=4A=>5=>F544=> 3<9:5A3G34A=>5 161C797521;59:5;37C<=49:5;5BC>9 75>1B5B=95;3=41<9:57=>3>12F:3A:9:5;37C<=4A=< =;;3G5 1; 65A365 9:3<D> <5A5>>=;8 91 65A365 21; =F=;63<D A1B@5<>=931<7C99:5;37C<=43><195I@5A956919=H51; 91=61@9=<3A59812=A3G341;A;3B3<=4A=>5295;=44393>=
- 12 -
>CBB=;85<LC3;8=<6393>9:545D3>4=931<21;9:5F542=;5 129:51A3598:5@;1A5563<D>C<65;9:5191;5:3A45> A9 =;5 <19 =H3< 91 9:5 @;1A5563<D> C<65; A3G34 ;C45> 5<A5 >9;3A9 ;C45> 12 5G365<A5 =;5 <19 ;5LC3;56 91 75 21441F563<9:3>;5D=;6<9:5A=>512!,0 !"%#!( )
"
9:5 1</745 @5I 1C;9 :=> :546 => :5;53<7541F
“25. In Dulcina Fernandes, this Court examined similar situation where the evidence of claimant’s eyewitness was discarded by the Tribunal and that the respondent in that case was acquitted in the criminal case concerning the accident. This Court, however, opined that it cannot be overlooked that upon investigation of the case registered against the respondent, prima facie, materials showing negligence were found to put him on trial.
The Court restated the settled principle that the evidence of the claimants ought to be examined by the Tribunal on the touchstone of preponderance of probability and certainly the standard of proof beyond
- 13 -
reasonable doubt could not have been applied.”
"
4=3B=<9 1.3<:3>65@1>3931<:=>;5395;=956 9:5 >9=95B5<9> B=65 3< 9:5 A4=3B @593931< BB563=9548 =295; 9:5 =AA365<9 = A1B@4=3<9 F=> 416D56 =D=3<>9 9:5 6;3G5; 12 9:5 7C> > @5; I".A1B@4=3<9 9:5 @143A5 ;5D3>95;56 =< =D=3<>9 9:5 6;3G5; 12 9:5 7C> 295;
9:1;1CD: 3<G5>93D=931< 9:5 143A5 23456 = A:=;D5 >:559 => @5;I!12=;9:56;3G5;129:57C>:=><19A:=445<D56 9:5 A:=;D5 >:559 < 9:57=>3> 12 9:5 =445D=931<> 12 ;=>: =<6<5D43D5<96;3G3<D9:56;3G5;129:57C>F=>H5@9C<65;
>C>@5<>31< 78 9:5
1;@1;=931< :3> 2=A9 :=> 755< =6B3995678.3<:3>A;1>>5I=B3<=931< # < 9:5 @45=63<D> 12 . 39 3> >9=956 9:=9 9:5 65A5=>56 F=> ;363<D 9:5 B191;A8A45 75=;3<D ;5D3>9;=931<
1.#$..!$ < 2;1<9 12 :3> B191;A8A45 =<19:5;
B191;A8A45 75=;3<D ;5D3>9;=931< 1.#$..! F=> @;1A5563<D 3< 9:5 >=B5 63;5A931< :5 65A5=>56 9;356 91 1G5;9=H5 9:=9 B191;A8A45 41>9 7=4=<A5 =<6 6=>:56 9:5
- 14 -
2;1<9 @1;931< 12 9:5 7C> < 9:5 5G365<A5 12 . 39 3> >9=9569:=99:565A5=>56F:345;363<D9:5B191;A8A45F=> 9=4H3<D 1< :3> B17345 @:1<5 =<6 636 <19 <193A5 9:5 7C> A1B3<D 2;1B 9:5 1@@1>395 63;5A931< ;5>C493<D 3< 9:5 A1443>31< 9 3> G5;8 A45=; 9:=9 9:5;5 3> = G=;3=<A5 3< 9:5 @45=63<D> =<6 9:5 1;=4 5G365<A5 =66CA56 78 ;5>@1<65<9
1" ( G5< => @5; 9:5 ;5@1;9.I$ <1 6=B=D5 F=> A=C>56 91 9:5 B191;A8A45 75=;3<D ;5D3>9;=931< 1.#$. .! 5IA5@9 9:=9 9:5 4529 ;5=;.G35F B3;;1; F=> 75<9 :5;545G=<9@1;931<12I$3>5I9;=A9567541F
121345674892:1;8
.#$..))" ;1<97CB@5;;3D:9>3656=B=D56
;1<9;3D:9>365A1;<5;6=B=D56
;1<9;3D:9:5=643D:96=B=D56
" .#$..!
529;5=;G35F3;;1;75<6
- 15 -
# .#$..!$ ;1<9 <CB75;@4=95 A;C>: DC=;6 :=<645 2;1<9 >:1AH =7>1;75; 2;1<9 BC6 DC=;6 2;1<9 98;5 :5=6 43D:9 2;1<9 3<63A=91;> ;5=; G35F B3;;1; >345<A5;6=B=D56
:5@143A5:=6=4>16;=F<=>H59A:F:3A:3>B=;H56 =9 I( > @5; I( 39 3> G5;8 A45=; 9:=9 9:5 =AA365<9 1AAC;;561<=AC;G56;1=6:56;3G5;129:57C>A=B591 9:55I9;5B5;3D:9>365=<66=>:56=D=3<>99:5B191;A8A45 1<>365;3<D9:5>561ACB5<9>>CA:=>9:5A1B@4=3<9 A:=;D5 >:559 ;1CD: >H59A: =<6 ;5@1;9 9:5 ;37C<=4 ;3D:948 :546 9:=9 9:5 =AA365<9 1AAC;;56 6C5 91 9:5 <5D43D5<A5 12 9:5 6;3G5; 12 9:5 7C> =<6 =<>F5;56 >>C5
1"3<9:5223;B=93G5 $ < ;5>@5A9 12 9:5 LC=<9CB 12 A1B@5<>=931< 9:5 A4=3B=<9> A1<95<656 9:=9 9:5 65A5=>56 F=> 5=;<3<D >")))). @5; B1<9: => = 95=A:5; 3< I@5;9 C743A >A:114 3<D=>CDC; =<6 F=> =4>1 G3>393<D 19:5; @;3G=95
- 16 -
A1445D5> => = 45A9C;5; 5=;<3<D =< =663931<=4 3<A1B5 12 >)))).@5;B1<9:1>C7>9=<93=959:3>9:5A4=3B=<9> @;16CA569:565D;55A5;9323A=9591>:1F9:=99:565A5=>56 :=6 A1B@45956 :3> 3< 14393A=4 A35<A5 :58 =4>1 @;16CA56 9:5 >=4=;8 A5;9323A=95 B=;H56 => I"( > @5;
I"(:5F=>753<D@=36=B1<9:48>=4=;812> ))). @5; B1<9: 1 @;1G5 9:3> 61ACB5<9 :5 5I=B3<56 ". 5=6=>95;12I@5;9C743AA:1143<D=>CDC;;1B9:5 61ACB5<9>=<69:55G365<A512." 393> A45=;9:=99:5 65A5=>56 F=> F1;H3<D => = 95=A:5; 3< I@5;9 C743A A:114 3<D=>CDC; =<6 6;=F3<D = >=4=;8 12 > ))). @5; B1<9: < =663931< 39 F=> A4=3B56 9:=9 :5 F=> =4>1 5=;<3<D=<3<A1B512>)))).=>=G3>393<D45A9C;5;3< @;3G=95 A1445D5> 1F5G5; <1 61ACB5<9> :=G5 755< @;16CA56 91 @;1G5 9:5 >=B5 :5;521;5 9:5 ;37C<=4 :=> ;3D:948 :546 9:5 B1<9:48 3<A1B5 12 9:5 65A5=>56 F=> > ))). =<6 :=> A1;;5A948 A=4AC4=956 9:5 41>> 12 65@5<65<A8 :5 A1B@5<>=931< =F=;656 C<65; 19:5; :5=6>3>=4>1EC>9=<6;5=>1<=745
- 17 -
+ <;5>@5A9123<95;5>93<G35F129:5EC6DB5<9129:5 3G3>31< 5<A: 12 9:3>
1C;9 3< 9:5 A=>5 12 "'#
">C@;= 9:53<95;5>9=F=;656789:5;37C<=4:=>91 75>A=45661F<91$J2;1B,J !
AA1;63<D48F5@=>>9:521441F3<D1;65;
3 :5 =@@5=4 23456 78 9:5 A4=3B=<9> 3>
33 :5 =@@5=4 23456 78 9:5
1;@1;=931< 3> 1<483<;5>@5A9129:5;56CA931<12 3<95;5>93>A1<A5;<56
333 &C6DB5<9 =<6 =F=;6 @=>>56 78 9:5 ;37C<=4 3> B1632356 91 9:5 5I95<9 12 ;56CA931<123<95;5>9 3G :5
1;@1;=931< 3> 63;5A956 91 65@1>39 9:5 A1B@5<>=931< =B1C<9 =41<D F39: 3<95;5>9
- 18 -
=9 $J @= 2;1B 9:5 6=95 12 2343<D 12 9:5 A4=3B @593931< 9344 9:5 6=95 12 ;5=43K=931< F39:3<=@5;31612>3IF55H>2;1B9:56=95 12;5A53@912=A1@8129:3>EC6DB5<9
G > @5; 9:5 63;5A931<> 12 9:3>
1C;9 6=956 !),")"( 9:5 663931<=4 5D3>9;=; 5<5;=4:=>>C7B39956=;5@1;9>9=93<D9:=9 9:5
1;@1;=931< :=> <19 65@1>3956 9:5 >9=9C91;8 =B1C<9 12 >" ))). :5;521;5 9:5
1;@1;=931< 3> 63;5A956 91 65@1>39>" ))).F39:3<9F1F55H>2;1B 916=8
"6* (%") '
"6* (#'$!!#) '
3>9 14 1,