Partly allowed

The Reliance General Insurance Company Ltd. v. Pranet Harshavardhan Reddy v L @ Harshavardhan

Karnataka HC4 Aug 2022MFA/4848/2018

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

In two merged appeals under the Motor Vehicles Act, the High Court addressed liability and quantum of compensation. The court affirmed the insurer's liability despite a licensing discrepancy by applying Supreme Court precedent on LMV vs. LMV-transport licenses. The court enhanced the compensation awarded to the injured claimant, totaling Rs. 4,01,428/-, and dismissed the insurer's appeal.

What did the court decide?

Appeal allowed in part; compensation enhanced to Rs. 4,01,428/- with interest; insurer's appeal dismissed; impugned award modified.

The Reliance General Insurance Company Ltd. Vs… — Motor Accident Claims | Karnataka HC (2022)

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU

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DATED THIS THE 4^TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2022

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BEFORE

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THE HON'BLE Mr. JUSTICE HANCHATE SANJEEVKUMAR

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MISCELLANEOUS FIRST APPEAL NO.5634/2018 C/W MISCELLANEOUS FIRST APPEAL NO.4848/2018

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IN MFA NO.5634/2018

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BETWEEN:

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SRI PRANET HARDSHAVARDHAN REDDY V.L. @ HARSHAVARDAN S/O LATE LAKSHMAN REDDY V AGED ABOUT 35 YEARS R/AT:DHANAMETANAHALLI KANAPPALLI POST AMBUJI DURGA HOBLI CHINTAMANI TALUK CHIKKABALLAPUR DISTRICT.

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… APPELLANT

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(BY SRI. VISHWANATHA K. ADV.,)

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AND:

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SRI RAMESH N S/O NATARAJ R/AT NO.1487, 13^TH CROSS R.K.HEGDE NAGAR NAGAVARA, BENGALURU

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RELIANCE GENERAL INSURANCE CO. LTD., CENTENARY BUILDING, M.G.ROAD, BENGALURU. … RESPONDENTS

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(BY SRI ASHOK N. PATIL, ADV. FOR R2, R1 SERVED)

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THIS M.F.A IS FILED UNDER SECTION 173(1) OF MV ACT AGAINST THE JUDGMENT AND AWARD DATED 11.04.2018 PASSED IN MVC NO.520/2016, ON THE FILE OF THE XXI ADDITIONAL SMALL CAUSES JUDGE AND XIX ACMM., MEMBER, MACT (SCCH-23), BENGALURU, PARTLY ALLOWING THE CLAIM PETITION FOR COMPENSATION AND SEEKING ENHANCEMENT OF COMPENSATION.

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IN MFA NO.4848/2018

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BETWEEN:

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THE RELIANCE GENERAL INSURANCE COMPANY LTD., EAST WING, 5^TH FLOOR, NO.28, CENTENARY BUILDING, M.G.ROAD BENGALURU-560 001 NOW REPRESENTED BY MANAGER LEGAL.

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...APPELLANT

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(BY SRI ASHOK N. PATIL, ADV.,)

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AND:

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PRANET HARSHAVARDHAN REDDY V.L. @ HARSHAVARDHAN S/O LATE LAKSHMAN REDDY V. AGED ABOUT 34 YEARS R/AT DHANAMETANAHALLI KANAPPALLI POST, AMBAJI DURGA HOBLI CHINTHAMANI TALUK CHIKKABALLAPURA DISTRICT.

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RAMESH N S/O NATARAJ R/AT NO.1487, 13^TH CROSS R.K.HEGDE NAGAR NAGAVARA, BENGALURU.

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...RESPONDENTS (RESPONDENTS-1 AND 2 SERVED)

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THIS APPEAL IS FILED UNDER SECTION 173(1) OF MV ACT AGAINST THE JUDGMENT AND AWARD DATED 11.04.2018 PASSED IN MVC NO.520/2016 ON THE FILE OF THE XXI ADDITIONAL SMALL CAUSES JUDGE AND XIX ACMM, MEMBER, MACT, BENGALURU (SCCH-23), AWARDING COMPENSATION OF RS.2,42,688/- WITH INTEREST AT THE RATE OF 6% P.A. FROM THE DATE OF PETITION TILL THE DEPOSIT OF THE AMOUNT.

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THESE APPEALS COMING ON FOR ADMISSION THIS DAY, THE COURT DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:

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J U D G M E N T

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Both the appeals are filed under Section 173(1) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Act’, for short) being aggrieved by the judgment and award dated 11.04.2018 passed in MVC No.520/2016 by the XXI Additional Small Causes Judge and the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (SCCH-23) at Bengaluru (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Tribunal’ for brevity). MFA No.5634/2018 is filed by the claimant/appellant seeking enhancement of compensation and MFA No.4848/2018 is filed by the Insurance company questioning the liability fastened on it.

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Though the matter is listed today for

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admission, with the consent of learned counsel from both side, the matter is taken up for final disposal.

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The brief facts of the case are that on 07.12.2015 at about 4.30 p.m., while the claimant/appellant was near adur bus station, Byrathi road, Bidarahali Hobli, Bengaluru East Taluk, in his two wheeler bearing No.KA-05-HJ-6560, the driver of Tata Ace vehicle bearing No.KA-53-A-5906 driven the vehicle in a rash and negligent and dashed against the claimant/appellant causing him grievous injuries. Immediately after the accident, the claimant/appellant was shifted to MVJ Hospital, Hoskote, where he has undergone surgery for multiple fracture injuries.

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Hence, a claim petition was filed by the claimant/appellant under Section-166 of the M.V. Act, claiming compensation for the injuries sustained by him in the accident. The Tribunal, on appreciating the materials on record, allowed the petition in part with cost and awarded a compensation of Rs.2,42,688/- with interest at

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6% per annum from the date of petition till the date of deposit holding that respondent No. 2-Insurance Company is liable to pay compensation.

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Regarding liability, the learned counsel for the Insurance Company submitted that the driver of the offending vehicle Tata Ace was holding only the licence of Light Motor Vehicle (Non-Transport) but he was driving TATA Ace vehicle bearing Reg.No.KA-53-A-5906, which is LMV Transport vehicle. Therefore, there is violation of terms and conditions of the policy. Hence, the Insurance Company is not liable to pay the compensation. He placed reliance upon Ex.R4-Driving License extract wherein the driver is having licence of LMV (Non-Transport). He also submitted that the quantum of compensation awarded by the Tribunal is correct and no enhancement is required. Therefore, prays for dismissal of the appeal.

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On the other hand, learned counsel for the claimant/petitioner submitted that the driver of the offending vehicle was holding licence to drive LMV. He submitted that there is no requirement to obtain separate endorsement to drive transport vehicle, and if a driver is

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holding licence to drive LMV, he can drive LMV-transport vehicle also. Therefore, the driver of the offending vehicle was holding valid driving LMV licence as on the date of the accident. In support of his contention, he placed reliance upon the judgment of the Hon'ble Apex Court in the case of Mukund Dewangan v. Oriental Insurance Company Ltd., reported in AIR 2017 SC 3668. Hence, the Tribunal has rightly fastened liability on the Insurance Company. Therefore, prays for dismissal of the appeal filed by the Insurance company. The learned counsel for the appellant/claimant submitted that the quantum of compensation awarded under various heads is on lesser side. Therefore, seeks for enhancement of the compensation.

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In the present case, the offending vehicle is Tata Ace bearing registration No.KA-53-A-5906 dashed against the two wheeler of the claimant/appellant bearing registration No.KA-05-HJ-6560. Undisputedly, the Tata Ace vehicle is a LMV (Transport). Ex.R4 is the driving licence extract produced by the Insurance Company to contend that the driver of the Tata Ace vehicle was not

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having driving licence to drive the LMV-transport vehicle and he was having driving licence of LMV (Non-transport) and it is not liable to pay compensation. In view of the judgment of the Hon'ble Apex Court in the case of Mukund Dewangan (supra), wherein it has held that if a driver is holding licence to drive LMV (Non-transport), he can drive LMV-transport vehicle of such class without any endorsement to that effect. The present case is squarely covered by the judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Mukund Dewangan case (supra). Hence, I am of the opinion that the Insurance company is liable to pay compensation by indemnifying the owner of the Tata Ace vehicle.

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8. Regarding Quantum, the Tribunal has awarded

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compensation under various heads which are as under:

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1	Towards Pain and Sufferings	Rs.	40,000/-
2	Towards loss of future earnings	Rs.	1,22,880/-
3	Towards medical expenses	Rs.	54,788/-
4	Towards Conveyance, nourishment and nutritious food	Rs.	25,000/-
	Total	Rs.	2,42,688/-

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The appellant/claimant was a driver by profession and contended that he was earning Rs.20,000/and due to the accident he has sustained fracture of right femur lower 1/3^rd and had undergone surgery for uniting fracture injuries and another for removal of implants. The Tribunal considering the gravity, nature of injury, period of inpatient and nature of surgery, has rightly awarded compensation of Rs.40,000/- towards 'pain and sufferings' and the same found to be correct and proper.

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Further, the compensation awarded by the Tribunal towards Medical expenses, conveyance, nourishment and nutritious food are found to be correct and proper.

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The Tribunal has awarded compensation of Rs.1,22,880/- towards 'loss of future earnings' considering the disability at 8% by taking the income of the claimant at Rs.8,000/-, which is on the lower side.

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In the present case, the accident has occurred on 07.12.2015 and the claimant/appellant was a driver by

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profession. As per the chart of Karnataka State Legal Services Authorities, the notional income of the claimant/appellant is taken at Rs.9,000/- per month. The Tribunal has taken permanent disability only to an extent of 8% though the doctor-PW2, in his evidence, has stated that the claimant has suffered permanent disability to the extent of 41% to his right lower limb and 20.5% to his whole body and awarded compensation of Rs.1,22,800/-. The criteria for calculating functional disability is discussed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Raj Kumar

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Vs. Ajay Kumar and Another, reported in (2011) 1 SCC 343. Considering the nature of injuries sustained by the claimant/appellant, age and profession by driver, 13% of disability is taken into consideration as functional disability affecting the earning capacity of the claimant. The Tribunal has taken the multiplier as '16' considering the age of the claimant as 33 years as on the date of accident is found to be correct. Therefore, the 'loss of future earnings' is calculated by taking

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the income of the claimant at Rs.9000 x 13/100 x 16 x 12 = 2,24,640/-.

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The Tribunal has not awarded any

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compensation under the head 'loss of income

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during the laid up period' for the fracture caused to his right lower limb. The claimant/appellant must have undergone treatment for a period of three months. Hence, compensation of Rs.27,000/- is awarded towards

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'loss of income during the laid up period.'

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Further, the Tribunal has not awarded any compensation towards 'loss of amenities'. Due to the facture of right leg femur, he might have found difficulty in walking, squatting, climbing upstairs etc. Hence, compensation of Rs.30,000/- is awarded towards 'loss of amenities'.

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Hence, the claimant/appellant is entitled for a total enhanced compensation, under various heads as follows:

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Pain and sufferings	:	Rs.	40,000/-
Loss of future earning capacity (Rs.9,000 x 13/100 x 16 x 12)	:	Rs.	2,24,640/-
Medical Expenses	:	Rs.	54,788/-
Loss of earnings during laid of period (Rs.9,000 x 3 months)	:	Rs.	27,000/-
Loss of Amenities In Future Life	:	Rs.	30,000/-
Conveyance, nourishment and nutritious food TOTAL	:	RS. Rs.	25,000/- 4,01,428/-

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Therefore, the appellant is awarded a total compensation of Rs.4,01,428/- as against the compensation awarded by the Tribunal at Rs.2,42,668/-. Hence, the appellant is entitled for an additional compensation of Rs.1,58,760/- (Rs.4,01,428, – Rs.2,42,668), along with interest at 6% per annum from the date of filing of the petition till deposit.

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17. Accordingly, I pass the following: ORDER

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i. The appeal filed by the appellant/claimant is allowed in part .

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ii. The appeal filed by the Insurance Company is dismissed.

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iii. The impugned judgment and award dated 11.04.2018, passed in MVC No.520/2016, on the file of the XXI Additional Small Causes Judge and the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, (SCCH-23),Bengaluru, is modified to an extent that the appellant – claimant is entitled for an additional compensation of Rs.1,58,760/- (Rupees one lakh fifty eight thousand seven hundred sixty only) , along with interest at 6% per annum from the date of filing of the petition till deposit in addition to what has been awarded by the Tribunal.

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iv. The amount in deposit shall be transferred to the Tribunal forthwith.

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v. Registry is directed to return the Trial Court Records to the Tribunal, along with certified copy of the order passed by this Court forthwith without any delay.

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vi. No costs.

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vii. Draw award accordingly.

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Sd/JUDGE

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The Reliance General Insurance Company Ltd. v. Pranet Harshavardhan Reddy v L @ Harshavardhan

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

The Reliance General Insurance Company Ltd. v. Pranet Harshavardhan Reddy v L @ Harshavardhan

Case brief

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What did the court decide?

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