The Divisional Manager v. Sri. Basappa S/O Shivappa Kareppanavar
Case brief
What is this about?
Karnataka High Court, Dharwad Bench (DB: S. Sunil Dutt Yadav & Vijaykumar A. Patil JJ.; oral judgment by Vijaykumar A. Patil J.), decided 13.08.2025; NC: 2025:KHC-D:10225-DB; MFA 100206/2024 c/w 100121, 100208, 100210, 100345, 101347, 103134 of 2024. Seven appeals u/s 173(1) MV Act 1988 against awards dated 11.08.2023 (Sr. Civil Judge & Addl. MACT, Bailhongal) in MVC 2523, 2061 & 2522/2019 from a 27.08.2019 fatal collision between Ashok Leyland truck KA-25/A-3284 and Bajaj motorcycle KA-24/X1814 (rider Dilavarsab, pillion Kareppa; deaths of two Army personnel); motorcycle uninsured. Tribunal had fixed 70:30 liability (truck insurer New India Assurance : motorcycle owner) for contributory negligence and paid Rs.1,13,96,424/- and Rs.55,08,334/- with 6% interest. Court affirmed the negligence/liability split (no perversity), introduced pay-and-recover (insurer pays entire compensation, recovers 30% from motorcycle owner KA-24/X-1814 in MVC 2523 & 2061), confirmed incomes (Kareppa Rs.7,01,964/- p.a.; Dilavarsab Rs.4,22,536/- p.a.), kept quantum and 6% interest unchanged, and revised dependent shares to wife 50% : mother 30% : father 20%. Insurer appeals dismissed; claimant appeals allowed in part; deposit within six weeks. Keywords: contributory negligence apportionment; pay and recover; uninsured vehicle owner; enhancement denied; quantum unaltered; apportionment among dependents; S.166 & S.173(1) MV Act.