[2026:RJ-JP:29874] HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN BENCH AT JAIPUR S.B. Civil Miscellaneous Appeal No. 4699/2024 CNR: RJHC020957562024 | URN: CMA / 7685U / 2024 1. Smt. Sugan Kanwar W/o Shri Mohar Singh, Aged About 53 Years, 2. Mohar Singh S/o Shri Chotu Singh, Aged About 61 Years, Both R/o Dhani Toliya Wali, Tan - Kola Ka Nangal, Post - Ghasipura, Teh. - Neem Ka Thana, Dist. - Sikar (Rajasthan.) ----Appellants (Claimants) Versus 1. Tata AIG General Insurance Company Limited, Through Regional Manager, Regional Office No. F-3, Shriji Tower, C-99, First Floor, Subhash Marg, Jaipur (Raj.) (Insurer Of Vehicle Motorcycle No. RJ- 32-SH-4849). 2. Govind Singh S/o Shri Dheer Singh, R/o Rajpooto Ka Mohalla, Pragpura, Teh. - Paota, Dist.- Jaipur (Raj.) (Owner Of Vehicle Motorcycle No. RJ-32-SH-4849). 3. Sarjeet S/o Shri Jagdish Prasad, R/o Ward No. 05, Yadav Colony, Town - Kotputli, Dist. - Jaipur (Raj.) (Driver Of Vehicle Motorcycle No. RJ-32-SH-4849). ----Respondents (Non Claimants) For Appellant(s) : Mr. Atul Sharma, Adv. For Respondent(s) : Mr. C.S. Jodha, Adv. (for Insurance Company) HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ASHUTOSH KUMAR Judgment DATE OF CONCLUSION OF ARGUMENTS :: 01/07/2026 DATE OF RESERVED :: 01/07/2026 FULL/OPERATIVE PART PRONOUNCED :: FULL DATE OF PRONOUNCEMENT :: 05/08/2026 1- vihykFkhZx.k dh vksj ls izLrqr vihy /kkjk&173 eksVj okgu vf/kfu;e&1988 ds rgr U;k;ky; eksVj okgu nq?kZVuk nkok vf/kdj.k cgjksM ftyk vyoj ¼vij ftyk U;k;k/kh'k Øe&02] cgkjksM+] ftyk vyoj½ ¼ftls vkxs ^fo}ku vf/kdj.k* ds uke ls lacksf/kr fd;k tk,xk½ }kjk [2026:RJ-JP:29874] (2 of 9) [CMA-4699/2024] Dyse ;kfpdk la[;k&49@2023 ¼130@2021½ cmuoku Jherh lqxu daoj o vU; cuke VkVk ,vkbZth tujy ba';ksjsal dEiuh fyfeVsM o vU; esa ikfjr fu.kZ; fnukad 04-10-2024 ¼ftls vkxs *vk{ksfir fu.kZ;* ds uke ls lacksf/kr fd;k tk,xk½ ds fo#) izLrqr dh xbZ gSA 2- vihykFkhZx.k }kjk fnukad 07-04-2021 dks eksVj okgu nq?kZVuk esa jkds'k flag dh e`R;q gks tkus ds QyLo:i dqy 3]18]26]000@& #i;s {kfriwfrZ jkf'k izkIr djus gsrq Dyse ;kfpdk fo}ku vf/kdj.k ds le{k izLrqr dh x;h FkhA fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk vihykFkhZx.k dh vksj ls izLrqr mDr Dyse ;kfpdk dks [kkfjt fd;k x;k gSA fo}ku vf/kdj.k ds mDr vk{ksfir fu.kZ; ls O;fFkr gksdj gLrxr vihy] vihykFkhZx.k }kjk fo}ku vf/kdj.k ds vk{ksfir fu.kZ; dks vikLr djok;s tkus gsrq izLrqr dh x;h gSA 3- nkSjkus cgl fo}ku vf/koDrk vihykFkhZx.k dk rdZ jgk gS fd fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk bl vk/kkj ij Dyse ;kfpdk [kkfjt dh xbZ gS fd ?kVuk dh izFke lwpuk fjiksVZ ,d fnu foyEc ls ntZ djokbZ xbZ gS rFkk izFke lwpuk fjiksVZ esa nq?kZVuk dkfjr djus okys okgu ds uEcj vafdr ugha fd;s x;s gS rFkk vKkr okgu ls nq?kZVuk dkfjr gksuk fy[kk x;k gS o nq?kZVuk dkfjr djus okys okgu ds uEcj 26 fnu ds ckn crk;s x;s gSaA mudk ;g Hkh rdZ jgk gS fd ekeys dh ?kVuk okgu eksVjlkbZfdy la[;k vkjts&32&,l,p&4849 ¼ftls vkxs ^iz'uxr okgu* ds uke ls lacksf/kr fd;k tk,xk½ ds pkyd dh ykijokgh ds dkj.k ?kfVr gqbZ Fkh] ftldh iqf"V p{kqn'khZ lk{kh ds c;kuksa ls Hkh gksrh gS] fdUrq fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk ekeys dh ?kVuk esa iz'uxr okgu dh dksbZ fyIrrk gksuk ugha ekurs gq, =qfV dkfjr dh xbZ gSA mudk ;g Hkh rdZ jgk gS fd nq?kZVuk ds ekeyksa esa lk{; dh ckgqY;rk ¼preponderance of evidence½ ds vk/kkj ij fu.kZ; fd;k tkrk gSA Lo;a p{kqn'khZ xokg ,-MCY;w&3 us U;k;ky; ds le{k gq, c;ku esa lEiw.kZ vfHk;kstu dgkuh dk leFkZu fd;k gSA izR;FkhZ la[;k&2 okgu Lokeh }kjk /kkjk 133 eksVj;ku vf/kfu;e ds uksfVl esa ;g Lohdkj fd;k gS fd oDr ?kVuk iz'uxr okgu dks pkyd ljthr pyk jgk Fkk [2026:RJ-JP:29874] (3 of 9) [CMA-4699/2024] rFkk okgu pkyd }kjk Hkh /kkjk 134 eksVj;ku vf/kfu;e ds uksfVl esa Lohdkj fd;k gS fd oDr ?kVuk iz'uxr okgu dks og Lo;a pyk jgk FkkA iz'uxr okgu pkyd ds fo#) vkjksi i= Hkh U;k;ky; esa is'k fd;k x;k gS] ftlesa okgu pkyd dh xyrh ekuh x;h gSA ,slh fLFkfr esa fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk Dyse ;kfpdk [kkfjt dj =qfV dkfjr dh xbZ gSA vr% vihykFkhZx.k dh vksj ls izLrqr vihy dks Lohdkj fd;k tkdj fo}ku vf/kdj.k ds fu.kZ; dks vikLr fd;s tkus dh izkFkZuk dh x;hA vius rdksZa ds leFkZu esa fo}ku vf/koDrk vihykfFkZ;k }kjk U;k;ky; dk /;ku fuEu U;kf;d n`"Vkarksa dh vksj vkdf"kZr fd;k x;k %& ● ekuuh; mPpre U;k;ky; }kjk ikfjr U;kf;d n`"Vkarksa Ravi vs. Badrinarayan & Ors. reported in 2011 (4) SCC 693; Ranjeet & Anr. vs. Abdul Kayam Neb & Anr. reported in 2025 SCC OnLine SC 497 ,oa Sithara N.S. & Ors. etc. vs. Sai Ram General Insurance Company Limited reported in 2025 SCC OnLine SC 2793. ● jktLFkku mPp U;k;ky; }kjk ikfjr U;kf;d n`"VkarMahadev Prasad vs Vijay Pal @ Jagan & Anr. reported in III (2006) ACC 388. ● vka/kz izns'k mPp U;k;ky; }kjk ikfjr U;kf;d n`"Vkar K. Rajani & Ors. vs. M. Satyanarayana Goud & Anr. reported in 2014 Supreme (AP) 1098. 4- blds foijhr fo}ku vf/koDrk izR;FkhZ chek dEiuh dh vksj ls vihykFkhZx.k ds mijksDr rdksZa dk fojks/k fd;k x;k rFkk O;Dr fd;k fd fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk i=koyh ij miyC/k lk{; lkexzh dk voyksdu dj lgh :i ls fu.kZ; ikfjr fd;k x;k gSA izFke lwpuk fjiksVZ esa vKkr okgu ls nq?kZVuk dkfjr djuk crk;k x;k gS rFkk iz'uxr okgu ds uEcj nq?kZVuk ds 26 fnu ckn crk;s x;s gSA iz'uxr okgu ls dksbZ nq?kZVuk dkfjr ugha gqbZ gSA vr% fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk ikfjr fd;s x;s fu.kZ; dh iqf"V fd;s tkus rFkk vihykFkhZx.k dh vksj ls lafLFkr dh x;h vihy dks fujLr fd;s tkus dk fuosnu fd;k x;kA 5- nksuksa i{kksa dks lquk x;kA i=koyh o fo}ku vf/kdj.k ds vfHkys[k dk voyksdu fd;k x;kA [2026:RJ-JP:29874] (4 of 9) [CMA-4699/2024] 6- fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk vihykFkhZx.k dh vksj ls izLrqr Dyse ;kfpdk dks bl vk/kkj ij [kkfjt fd;k x;k gS fd ?kVuk dh izFke lwpuk fjiksVZ ,d fnu foyEc ls ntZ djokbZ xbZ gS rFkk izFke lwpuk fjiksVZ esa nq?kZVuk dkfjr djus okys okgu ds uEcj vafdr ugha fd;s x;s gS rFkk vKkr okgu ls nq?kZVuk dkfjr gksuk fy[kk x;k gS o nq?kZVuk dkfjr djus okys okgu ds uEcj 26 fnu ds ckn crk;s x;s gSaA iz'uxr okgu ls dksbZ nq?kZVuk dkfjr ugha gqbZ o iz'uxr okgu dks ekeys dh ?kVuk esa xyr :i ls fyIr fd;k x;k gS rFkk p{kqn'khZ lk{kh dk c;ku lansgkLin jgk gSA 7- tgka rd ekeys dh izFke lwpuk fjiksVZ foyEc ls ntZ djok;s tkus dk iz'u gS rks bl laca/k esa i=koyh ds voyksdu ls izdV gksrk gS fd ekeys dh ?kVuk fnukad 07-04-2021 dh crkbZ xbZ gS rFkk ?kVuk dh fjiksVZ fnukad 08-04-2021 dks ntZ djokbZ xbZ gS tks fd ?kVuk ds vxys gh fnu ntZ djok nh x;h gSA bl laca/k esa ekuuh; mPpre U;k;ky; }kjk U;kf;d n`"Vkar jfo cuke cnzhukjk;.k o vU;] fjiksVsZM bu ¼2011½ 4 ,l-lh-lh- 693 ds ekeys esa ;g er O;Dr fd;k gS fd %& "20. It is well-settled that delay in lodging FIR cannot be a ground to doubt the claimant's case. Knowing the Indian conditions as they are, we cannot expect a common man to first rush to the Police Station immediately after an accident. Human nature and family responsibilities occupy the mind of kith and kin to such an extent that they give more importance to get the victim treated rather than to rush to the Police Station. Under such circumstances, they are not expected to act mechanically with promptitude in lodging the FIR with the Police. Delay in lodging the FIR thus, cannot be the ground to deny justice to the victim. In cases of delay, the courts are required to examine the evidence with a closer scrutiny and in doing so; the contents of the FIR should also be scrutinized more carefully. If court finds that there is no indication of fabrication or it has not been concocted or [2026:RJ-JP:29874] (5 of 9) [CMA-4699/2024] engineered to implicate innocent persons then, even if there is a delay in lodging the FIR, the claim case cannot be dismissed merely on that ground. 21. The purpose of lodging the FIR in such type of cases is primarily to intimate the police to initiate investigation of criminal offences. Lodging of FIR certainly proves factum of accident so that the victim is able to lodge a case for compensation but delay in doing so cannot be the main ground for rejecting the claim petition. In other words, although lodging of FIR is vital in deciding motor accident claim cases, delay in lodging the same should not be treated as fatal for such proceedings, if claimant has been able to demonstrate satisfactory and cogent reasons for it. There could be variety of reasons in genuine cases for delayed lodgment of FIR. Unless kith and kin of the victim are able to regain a certain level of tranquility of mind and are composed to lodge it, even if, there is delay, the same deserves to be condoned. In such circumstances, the authenticity of the FIR assumes much more significance than delay in lodging thereof supported by cogent reasons." 8- bl izdkj fdlh Hkh O;fDr ds nq?kZVuk esa ?kk;y gksus ij fuf'pr :i ls mldk Lo;a dk rFkk mlds ifjokjtuksa o fudV fj'rsnkjksa dk iwjk&iwjk /;ku ?kk;y ds bykt ij jgrk gS rFkk fdlh Hkh O;fDr ls ;g ifjdYiuk ugha dh tk ldrh gS fd og ?kk;y O;fDr dks bykt ds fy, ckn esa ys tk, rFkk izFke lwpuk fjiksVZ ntZ djokus igys tk,A ,slh fLFkfr esa izFke lwpuk fjiksVZ ,d fnol foyEc ls ntZ djok;s tkus ds rF; dks fdlh izdkj ls ;kfpdk ds fy, ?kkrd ugha ekuk tk ldrk gSA 9- tgka rd izFke lwpuk fjiksVZ eas iz'uxr okgu ds uEcj vafdr ugha fd;s tkus dk iz'u gS rks bl laca/k esa i=koyh ij layXu xokg ,-MCY;w&3 HkwisUnz flag tks fd ekeys dk p{kqn'khZ lk{kh gS] ds c;kuksa dk voyksdu fd;k tk, rks xokg us vius c;ku esa nq?kZVuk dkfjr djus okys okgu ds uEcj vkjts&32&,l,p&4849 crk;s gSaA bl laca/k esa ekuuh; mPpre [2026:RJ-JP:29874] (6 of 9) [CMA-4699/2024] U;k;ky; }kjk U;kf;d n`"Vkar Sithara N.S. (supra) ds ekeys ;g er O;Dr fd;k gS fd %& "16. This Court is conscious of the settled legal position that in cases of motor vehicle accidents, the standard of proof required is that of preponderance of probabilities. It is also well settled that the absence of vehicle registration number in the FIR or complaint lodged immediately after the accident is not, by itself, fatal to the claim. An FIR is not an encyclopedia and omissions at the initial stage may not be determinative. However, the claimants must establish the specific identity of the vehicle/driver, with the caveat that the connection of the accident with the said vehicle must be established through cogent and reliable evidence." 10- bl izdkj ekuuh; mPpre U;k;ky; }kjk mijksDr U;kf;d n`"Vkar esa izFke lwpuk fjiksVZ vFkok f'kdk;r esa nq?kZVuk dkfjr djus okys okgu ds jftLVªs'ku uEcj vafdr ugha gksus ek= ls mDr rF; dks fdlh izdkj ls ;kfpdk ds fy, ?kkrd ugha ekuk x;k gSA 11- tgka rd ekeys dh ?kVuk esa iz'uxr okgu dh fyIrrk ugha gksus o mDr iz'uxr okgu ls dksbZ nq?kZVuk dkfjr ugha gksus dk iz'u gS rks bl laca/k esa i=koyh ds voyksdu ls izdV gksrk gS fd ekeys dh tks izFke lwpuk fjiksVZ izn'kZ&3 ntZ djokbZ xbZ gS] mlesa vKkr okgu ls nq?kZVuk gksuk fy[kk x;k gS] fdUrq fo}ku vf/kdj.k ds le{k ijhf{kr xokg ,-MCY;w&3 HkwisUnz flag tks fd ekeys dk p{kqn'khZ lk{kh gS] us c;ku esa nq?kZVuk dkfjr djus okys okgu ds uEcj crk;s gSa rFkk vius c;ku esa lEiw.kZ vfHk;kstu dgkuh dk leFkZu fd;k gSA bl izdkj mijksDr xokg dh lk{; ls Hkh iz'uxr okgu dh fyIrrk nq?kZVuk esa izdV gksrh gSA lkFk gh nq?kZVuk ds laca/k esa iz'uxr okgu eksVjlkbZfdy dks tfj;s QnZ izn'kZ&9 tCr Hkh fd;k x;k gS o nq?kZVuk ds laca/k esa iz'uxr okgu ds iathÑr Lokeh izR;FkhZ la[;k&2 xksfoUn flaag dks fn;s x;s uksfVl /kkjk 133 eksVj;ku vf/kfu;e izn'kZ&11 ds tokc esa Hkh iz'uxr okgu ds iathÑr Lokeh }kjk ;g vafdr fd;k x;k gS fd oDr ?kVuk mldh eksVjlkbZfdy [2026:RJ-JP:29874] (7 of 9) [CMA-4699/2024] uEcj vkjts&32&,l,p&4849 dks pkyd ljthr pyk jgk FkkA blh izdkj iz'uxr okgu ds pkyd izR;FkhZ la[;k&3 ljthr }kjk Hkh uksfVl /kkjk 134 eksVj;ku vf/kfu;e ds tokc eas Li"V :i ls bl rF; dks Lohdkj fd;k x;k gS fd oDr ?kVuk iz'uxr okgu eksVjlkbZfdy uEcj vkjts&32&,l,p&4849 dks og Lo;a pyk jgk Fkk rFkk mlds }kjk gh nq?kZVuk dkfjr gqbZ gSA vihykFkhZx.k dh lk{; ds [k.Mu esa izR;FkhZx.k dh vksj ls dksbZ lk{; Hkh i=koyh ij is'k ugha dh xbZ gSA bl laca/k esa bl U;k;ky; dh leUo; ihB }kjk ikfjr fu.kZ; egknso izlkn ¼mijksDr½ esa fuEufyf[kr er O;Dr fd;k x;k gS fd %& "6. According to the injured himself, who is the best witness in this case, the accident had taken place as described by him. According to the reply submitted to the notice under Section 133 of the Act, the owner of the offending vehicle has admitted the factum of accident in unequivocal terms. Once such an admission is made by the owner, and once his admission was readily available before the learned Tribunal, it is rather surprising that the learned Tribunal has overlooked the documentary evidence. The statement of the claimant is further corroborated by Ex. 1, the permanent disability certificate, Ex. 3, the injury report, Ex. 4, the X-ray report. Hence, there is sufficient circumstantial evidence to corroborate the statement of the injured claimant." 12- bl izdkj mijksDr fu.kZ; esa ;g fu/kkZfjr fd;k x;k gS fd eksVj;ku vf/kfu;e dh /kkjk 133 ds rgr uksfVl ds tokc esa nq?kZVuk dkfjr djus okys okgu ds ekfyd }kjk nq?kZVuk gksus dh ckr Li"V :i ls ekuh x;h gSA bl izdkj tc okgu ekfyd }kjk Lo;a ds okgu ls nq?kZVuk gksus dh ckr ekuh x;h gS rks fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk mDr nLrkosth lk{; dks utjvankt dj =qfV dkfjr dh xbZ gSA 13- blds vfrfjDr iz'uxr okgu pkyd ds fo#) ckn vuqla/kku U;k;ky; esa vkjksi&i= Hkh izLrqr fd;k tk pqdk gS] ftlls Hkh iz'uxr [2026:RJ-JP:29874] (8 of 9) [CMA-4699/2024] okgu dh fyIrrk nq?kZVuk esa izdV gksrh gSA bl laca/k esa ekuuh; mPpre U;k;ky; }kjk U;kf;d n`"Vkar Ranjeet & Anr. Vs. Abdul Kayam Neb & Anr. reported in 2025 SCC OnLine SC 497 ds ekeys fuEufyf[kr er O;Dr fd;k gS fd %& “4. It is settled in law that once a charge sheet has been filed and the driver has been held negligent, no further evidence is required to prove that the bus was being negligently driven by the bus driver. Even if the eye-witnesses are not examined, that will not be fatal to prove the death of the deceased due to negligence of the bus driver. 5. In view of the aforesaid facts, we are of the opinion that the Tribunal and the High Court both manifestly erred in law in refusing to grant any compensation to the claimants. 6. In the facts and circumstances of the case, we would have remitted the matter to the Tribunal for determination of the compensation to be payable to the claimants.” 14- bl izdkj mijksDr leLr rF;ksa ,oa ifjfLFkfr;ksa dks n`f"Vxr j[krs gq, rFkk ekuuh; mPpre U;k;k;y }kjk U;kf;d n`"Vkar Ranjeet (supra) ds ekeys esa ikfjr er ls lger gksrs gq, gLrxr ekeys esa iz'uxr okgu pkyd ds fo#) vkjksi i= izLrqr fd;s tkus ds rF; dks n`f"Vxr j[krs gq, ekeys dh ?kVuk esa iz'uxr okgu dh lafyIrrk izdV gksrh gSA fdUrq ;fn okLro esa jsLiksaMsaV dk ;g er Fkk fd iz'uxr okgu ls dksbZ ?kVuk ugha gqbZ rFkk bl ekeys esa iz'uxr okgu dks xyr :i ls fyIr fd;k x;k gS rks bl laca/k esa chek dEiuh@izR;FkhZ ?kVuk dh tkap dj ldrs Fks rFkk bl vk'k; dh lk{; fo}ku vf/kdj.k ds le{k izLrqr dj ldrs Fks fd iqfyl }kjk xyr rF;ksa ds vk/kkj ij pktZ'khV is'k dh xbZ gS] fdUrq jsLiksaMsaV@chek dEiuh dh vksj ls ,slk dksbZ dne ugha mBk;k x;k gSA bl laca/k esa fo}ku vf/koDrk vihykFkhZx.k }kjk U;k;ky; dk /;ku vka/kz izns'k mPp U;k;ky; }kjk ikfjr U;kf;d n`"Vkar K. Rajani (supra) dh vksj vkdf"kZr fd;k x;k] ftlesa vka/kz izns'k mPp U;k;ky; }kjk ;g er O;Dr fd;k x;k gS fd %& [2026:RJ-JP:29874] (9 of 9) [CMA-4699/2024] "when the insurance company came to know that the police investigation is false, they must also challenge the charge sheet in appropriate proceedings. If at all the findings of the Police are found to be incorrect, it is for the insurance company to produce some evidence to show that the contents of the charge sheet are false." 15- mijksDr leLr rF;ksa ,oa ifjfLFkfr;ksa ls ;g izrhr gksrk gS fd fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk i=koyh ij vkbZ lk{; dk lgh izdkj ls foospu ugha fd;k x;k rFkk i=koyh ij lEiw.kZ lk{; miyC/k gksus ds ckotwn ml ij fopkj ugha fd;k tkdj =qfViw.kZ fu.kZ; ikfjr fd;k x;k gS] tks vikLr fd;s tkus ;ksX; izrhr gksrk gSA 16- bl izdkj mijksDr lexz foospu vuqlkj vihykFkhZx.k dh vksj ls izLrqr vihy Lohdkj dh tkrh gS o fo}ku vf/kdj.k dk vk{ksfir fu.kZ; fnukad 04-10-2024 vikLr fd;k tkrk gS rFkk fo}ku vf/kdj.k dks i=koyh bl funsZ'k ds lkFk izfrizsf"kr ¼fjek.M½ dh tkrh gS fd fo}ku vf/kdj.k] ;kphx.k dh vksj ls izLrqr Dyse ;kfpdk dk fuLrkj.k bl fu.kZ; esa fd;s x;s foospu o U;kf;d n`"Vkarksa dh jks'kuh esa mHk; i{kksa dks lquokbZ dk volj iznku djrs gq, iqu% mfpr ,oa U;k;laxr fu.kZ; ikfjr djsaA 17- ;g Li"V fd;k tkrk gS fd fdlh Hkh i{k dks vfrfjDr lk{; izLrqr djus dk volj iznku ugha fd;k tkosA 18- mHk; i{kdkjku dks fnukad 14-09-2026 dks fo}ku vf/kdj.k ds le{k mifLFkr gksus dk funsZ'k fn;k tkrk gSA 19- fu.kZ; dh izfr ds lkFk izdj.k dk vfHkys[k lacaf/kr fo}ku vf/kdj.k dks vfoyEc ykSVk;k tkosA 20- rnuqlkj ;g vihy fuLrkfjr dh tkrh gSA 21- lHkh yfEcr izkFkZuk&i=ksa dks Hkh mijksDrkuqlkj fuLrkfjr fd;k tkrk gSA (ASHUTOSH KUMAR),J LOKESH RAJ/----