Allowed

National Insurance Co. Ltd. v. Shri Bakul Chetia and 4 Ors.

Gauhati HC27 Oct 2024I.A.(Civil)/135/2019

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

The Gauchati High Court allowed an appeal by an Insurance Company against a Motor Accident Claims Tribunal award. The Court held that the Tribunal erred in calculating compensation and modified the award to a lower amount based on its own computation of future prospects, income, and expenses.

What did the court decide?

The impugned award is modified; Insurance Company directed to pay ₹15,49,758 along with interest at 6% per annum from filing date.

National Insurance Co. Ltd. Vs Shri Bakul Chetia and 4… — Motor Accident Claims | Gauhati HC (2024)

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GAHC010285832018

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THE GAUHATI HIGH COURT (HIGH COURT OF ASSAM, NAGALAND, MIZORAM AND ARUNACHAL PRADESH)

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Case No. : MACApp./31/2019

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NATIONAL INSURANCE CO. LTD

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HAVING ITS REGISTERED AND HEAD OFFICE AT 3, MIDDLETON STREET, KOLKATA 700071 AND ONE OF THE REGIONAL OFFICE AT G.S. ROAD, BHANGAGARH, GUWAHATI 781005

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VERSUS

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ON THE DEATH OF BAKUL CHETIAH, HIS LEGAL HEIRS/O DIMBESWAR CHETIA, R/O VILL. SANTAPUR, P.O. LAHALIAL, P.S. BIHPURIA, DIST. LAKHIMPUR, ASSAM, PIN 784160

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1:a) PINKY CHETIA W/O LT. BAKUL CHETIA R/O VILL. SANTAPUR P.O. LAHALIAL P.S. BIHPURIA DIST. LAKHIMPUR ASSAM PIN 784161

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1:c) REKHA CHETIA AGE 6 MONTHS D/O LT. BAKUL CHETIA R/O VILL. SANTAPUR P.O. LAHALIAL P.S. BIHPURIA DIST. LAKHIMPUR ASSAM PIN 784161

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1:b) MISS BORNALI CHETIA D/O LT. BAKUL CHETIA

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Page No.# 2/6

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R/O VILL. SANTAPUR P.O. LAHALIAL P.S. BIHPURIA DIST. LAKHIMPUR ASSAM PIN 784161 1:d) LALITA CHETIA MOTHER OF LT. BAKUL CHETIA R/O VILL. SANTAPUR P.O. LAHALIAL P.S. BIHPURIA DIST. LAKHIMPUR ASSAM PIN 784161 2:MD. SAHID ALI S/O MD. MANNAF ALI R/O WARD NO. 3 P.O. AND P.S. ABHYAPURI DIST. BONGAIGAON ASSAM PIN 783384 3:SAJIDUR RAHMAN S/O MD. AKBAR ALI R/O C.D. ROAD WARD NO. 3 P.O. AND P.S. LAKHIMPUR DIST. LAKHIMPUR ASSAM PIN 7870001 4:CHIEF REGIONAL MANAGER UNITED INDIA INSURANCE CO. LTD. CHIBBER HOUSE M.S.S. PATH CHRISTIANBASTI P.O. AND P.S. DISPUR GUWAHATI ASSAM PIN 781005 5:JAYANTA BHUYAN S/O MANIK BHUYAN R/O VILL. SANDAHKHOWA P.O. AND P.S. LAKHIMPUR DIST. LAKHIMPUR

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Page No.# 3/6

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ASSAM PIN 78700

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Advocate for the Petitioner : MR. A J SAIKIA, MR. K BORAH,MR. U K DUTTA,MS B KASSHYAP,MR. B KAKATI

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Advocate for the Respondent : MR. P GOGOI, MR. B BARUAH,FOR CAVEATOR,MS. M ACHARYYA,MR. R CHOUDHURY,MR B ACHARYYA,MR. B J MUKHERJEE,MR. P GOGOI,MR. B BARUAH

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Linked Case : I.A.(Civil)/135/2019

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NATIONAL INSURANCE CO. LTD HAVING ITS REGISTERED AND HEAD OFFICE AT 3 MIDDLETON STREET KOLKATA 700071 AND ONE OF THE REGIONAL OFFICE AT G.S. ROAD BHANGAGARH GUWAHATI 781005

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VERSUS

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SHRI BAKUL CHETIA AND 4 ORS S/O DIMBESWAR CHETIA R/O VILL. SANTAPUR P.O. LAHALIAL P.S. BIHPURIA DIST. LAKHIMPUR ASSAM PIN 784160

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2:MD. SAHID ALI S/O MD. MANNAF ALI R/O WARD NO. 3 P.O. AND P.S. ABHYAPURI DIST. BONGAIGAON ASSAM PIN 783384

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3:SAJIDUR RAHMAN S/O MD. AKBAR ALI R/O C.D. ROAD WARD NO. 3

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Page No.# 4/6

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P.O. AND P.S. LAKHIMPUR DIST. LAKHIMPUR ASSAM PIN 7870001

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4:CHIEF REGIONAL MANAGER UNITED INDIA INSURANCE CO. LTD. CHIBBER HOUSE M.S.S. PATH CHRISTIANBASTI P.O. AND P.S. DISPUR GUWAHATI ASSAM PIN 781005

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5:JAYANTA BHUYAN S/O MANIK BHUYAN R/O VILL. SANDAHKHOWA P.O. AND P.S. LAKHIMPUR DIST. LAKHIMPUR ASSAM PIN 787001 -----------Advocate for : MR. A J SAIKIA Advocate for : MR. P GOGOI appearing for SHRI BAKUL CHETIA AND 4 ORS

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::: PRESENT:::

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THE HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE PARTHIVJYOTI SAIKIA

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For the Appellant :	Mr. A.J. Saikia, Advocate.
For the Respondents:	Mr. B. Baruah and Mr. H. Buragohain, Advocates.
Date of Hearing :	02.08.2024.
Date of Judgment :	28.10.2024.

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JUDGMENT AND ORDER (CAV)

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Heard Mr. A.J. Saikia, learned counsel representing the appellant as well as Mr. B. Baruah and Mr. H. Buragohain learned counsel appearing for the respondents.

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2. This is an appeal under Section 173 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 against the judgment and award dated 09.10.2018 passed by the learned Member, Motor Accident Claims Tribunal No.2, Kamrup (Metro), Assam in MAC Case No.62/2014.

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Page No.# 5/6

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3. On 05.10.2013 at about 11.30 A.M., Sri Bakul Chetia was working as a handyman in vehicle bearing Registration No. AS-07-C-0631 (Trax Cruiser). On that day, the vehicle was plying from North Lakhimpur side towards Bihpuria. When the said vehicle stopped at Gendheli for picking up passengers, one MAX Pickup Van bearing Registration No.AS-03-E-1608 had hit Bakul Chetia. He sustained grievous injuries. As a result of which, both the legs of Bakul Chetia had to be amputated.

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4. At the time of the accident, Bakul Chetia was 22 years old and he was earning ₹5,000/- per month.

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5. A claim petition was filed before the Tribunal. The Insurance Company had contested the case by filing written statement. According to the Insurance Company, the vehicle in which Bakul Chetia was working had collided with the vehicle bearing Registration No.AS-07-C-0631. The Insurance Company claimed that the accident occurred because of the vehicle where Bakul Chetia was travelling.

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6. The claimant examined himself only. He submitted medical vouchers. The present appellants did not examine any witness.

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7. Finally, the Tribunal allowed the claim petition and directed the appellant Insurance Company to pay a compensation of ₹27,11,038/- along with existing bank interest.

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8. Aggrieved by the aforesaid judgment, the appellant Insurance Company filed the present appeal.

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9. I have considered the submission made by the learned counsel of both sides.

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10. This Court is of the opinion that the learned Tribunal has erroneously calculated the compensation amount.

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11. The calculation should have been like this-

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Income ₹5,900/-

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Future prospect @ 40% ₹2,360/-

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Annual Income : ₹8,260 x 12= ₹99,120/-

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After deduction of 25% for personal expenses, the 75%

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of the annual income will be : ₹99,120 – ₹24,780/-

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=₹74,340/-

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Multiplier 18 (for age 21 to 25 years) : ₹74,340 x 18 = ₹13,38,120/- Total Compensation Loss of Income : ₹13,38,120/Medical Expenditure : ₹1,61,638/Attendance Charges : ₹25,000/Nutrition and diet etc. : ₹25,000/_________________ ₹15,49,758/-

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12. The appeal is allowed. The impugned judgment and award dated 09.10.2018 passed by the learned Member, Motor Accident Claims Tribunal No.2, Kamrup (Metro) in MAC Case No.62/2014 stands modified accordingly.

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13. The Insurance Company is directed to pay ₹15,49,758/- to the claimant along with interest at the rate of 6% per annum to be calculated from the date of filing of the claim petition. The compensation amount shall be deposited within next 6(six) weeks in the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal No.2, Kamrup (M), Guwahati.

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14. The statutory deposit shall be returned to the Insurance Company.

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Send back the LCR.

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JUDGE

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Comparing Assistant

National Insurance Co. Ltd. v. Shri Bakul Chetia and 4 Ors.

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

National Insurance Co. Ltd. v. Shri Bakul Chetia and 4 Ors.

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

What the court decided

A compact analysis

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Statutes considered

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