Insurance policy effective from start of day when issued on accident date; insurer remained liable for compensation.

An insurance policy taken on the date of an accident was treated as operative from the commencement of that day, because the term "date" was understood to mean the whole day. Applying that construction, the Court held that a fresh policy obtained on the accident date covered the risk from the start of that day, so the insurer could not avoid liability for the claim. The insurer was therefore liable to satisfy the compensation award under the Act, and the challenge to liability failed.

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Issues: Whether an insurance policy obtained on the date of the accident became operative from the commencement of that day so as to make the insurer liable for the compensation award.

Analysis: The vehicle had earlier been insured up to 31.08.1984, but instead of renewal a fresh policy was taken on 28.09.1984, the very date of the accident. Relying on the meaning of "date" as denoting the whole day and on supporting judicial authority, the Court held that a policy taken on a particular date becomes effective from the commencement of that date. On that basis, the insurer could not avoid liability for the accident occurring on the same day.

Conclusion: The insurer was liable to satisfy the award under the Act, and the challenge to liability failed.

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