M/S Reliance General Insurance Co. Ltd. v. Smt. R Lakshmi
Case brief
What is this about?
Karnataka HC DB, 06.01.2025; MFA 9627/2017, 9628/2017, 1679/2018, 1681/2018 (MV-D) c/w; MVC 3200/2016 & 3201/2016; Reliance General Insurance Co. Ltd.; fatal tipper lorry accident 27.02.2016, lorry KA-05 AD 6624; insurer's defences of unauthorized passengers and invalid driving licence rejected for want of proof; burden of proving policy/licence defence on insurer; charge sheet presumptive value; notional income Rs.9,500/- p.m.; 40% future prospects; multipliers 17 and 15; consortium Rs.40,000/- per claimant with 10% escalation; compensation enhanced to Rs.22,43,900/- and Rs.20,04,500/-; interest reduced 8% to 6%; Pranay Sethi, Sarla Verma, Magma General Insurance applied; Rukmani (1998) 9 SCC 160 and ILR 2019 Kar 5361 relied on.
What did the court decide?
All four appeals partly allowed; impugned awards modified — claimants in MVC No.3200/2016 awarded Rs.22,43,900/- and claimants in MVC No.3201/2016 awarded Rs.20,04,500/- with interest at 6% p.a. from date of petition till realization; respondent No.1/Insurer to deposit before the Tribunal within four weeks adjusting amounts already deposited; Tribunal's apportionment/investment award maintained; amounts in deposit and TCRs to be transmitted to the Tribunal.