20 November 1996
Supreme Court
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M/S. NATIONAL INSURANCE CO. LTD. Vs SMT. JIJUBHAI NATHUJI DABHI & ORS.

Bench: K. RAMASWAMY,G.T. NANAVATI,K. VENKATASWAMI
Case number: Appeal (civil) 2671 of 1991


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PETITIONER: M/S. NATIONAL INSURANCE CO. LTD.

       Vs.

RESPONDENT: SMT. JIJUBHAI NATHUJI DABHI & ORS.

DATE OF JUDGMENT:       20/11/1996

BENCH: K. RAMASWAMY, G.T. NANAVATI, K. VENKATASWAMI

ACT:

HEADNOTE:

JUDGMENT:                THE 20TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 1996 Present;               Hon’ble Mr. Justice K.Ramaswamy               Hon’ble Mr. Justice G.T.Nanavati               Hon’ble Mr. Justice K. Venkataswami      Jitender Sharma,  Sr.  Adv.,  Mrs.  Gunwant  Dara,  Ms. Minakshi Vij. P.Gaur, Advs. with him for the appellant      H.A.Raichura, Adv. for the respondent in C.A.No.2671/91                          O R D E R      The following order of the Court was delivered:      This  appeal  by  special  leave  is  confined  to  the question as  to whether the accident had occurred during the operation  of  the  insurance  policy  in  controversy.  The admitted position  is that  the renewal of the insurance was effected as under:      Address; Jal Apartment,  .......Pd.      Vile Parle (N) Bombay 5.      It is  hereby understood and agreed      that the  renewal  premium  of  Rs.      1307/-  only   under  this   Policy      having been  paid on 25.10.1983 and      not within  the renewal  date  viz.      14.10.1983 the  Insurance  by  this      Policy is suspended from 14.10.1983      (4 p.m) to 24.10.1983.      Further, it  is declared and agreed      that the cover under this Policy is      reinstated  and   renewed   for   a      further  period  of  twelve  months      from 25.10.1983  to 24.10.1984 at a      premium of Rs.1307/-.      The Tribunal  also had  recorded, as  a fact,  that  on October 25,  1983 at  4.00 p.m., the contract of renewal had come into  force and  it would be operative upto October 24, 1984. The  Tribunal also  recorded,  as  a  fact,  that  the accident had  occurred on  October 25,  1983 at  11.14 a.m., that is  , before  the renewal  of the contract. Under these circumstances, it  would be  clear  that  the  accident  had occurred when the renewal had not taken effect.      This Court  in New  India Assurance  Co. vs.  Ram Dayal

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[(1990) 2  SCR 570]  had held  that in  the absence  of  any specific time  mentioned in that behalf, that contract would be operative  from the  mid-night of the day be operation of provisions of  the General  Clauses Act.  But in view of the special contract  mentioned in the insurance policy, namely, it would be operative from 4.00 p.m. on October 25, 1983 and the accident  had occurred  earlier thereto,  the  insurance coverage would  not enable  the claimant to seek recovery of the amount from the appellant-Company.      The appeal  is accordingly  allowed only  to the  above extent. In  respect of  any claim  against  the  owner,  the respondent is at liberty to have it recovered. No costs.