Prabhu T v Vs Rangaswamy — Karnataka HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

Prabhu T v Vs Rangaswamy — Karnataka HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Additional global compensation of Rs.25,000/- awarded without interest over and above the Commissioner's award, enhancing the employee's total compensation from Rs.1,39,627/- to Rs.1,64,627/-; Reliance General Insurance Company Limited directed to deposit the additional amount within six weeks of receipt of a certified copy of the judgment.

Issue for consideration

Whether the employee-appellant was entitled to enhancement of the compensation of Rs.1,39,627/- awarded by the Commissioner, having regard to the nature, gravity and lasting effects of the injuries suffered by him during the course of his employment.

Court's answer

The Court recorded that the fact of the appellant being the employee of the respondent, and the further fact that the accident occurred during the course of his employment, were not in dispute.

Ratio / Principle

Having regard to the nature, gravity and lasting effects of the injuries, the Court deemed it appropriate to award additional compensation of Rs.25,000/- as a global compensation, over and above the Rs.1,39,627/- awarded by the Commissioner.

Key takeaways

The employee was held entitled to the total compensation of Rs.1,64,627/- as against the sum of Rs.1,39,627/- awarded by the Commissioner.ratio¶¶34
The employee was expressly declared not entitled to interest on the additional compensation of Rs.25,000/-.ratio¶¶34
The Insurance Company was directed to deposit the additional compensation awarded within six weeks from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this judgment.ratio

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

High Court of Karnataka at Bengaluru (Hon'ble Mr. Justice Rajesh Rai K) — MFA No. 288 of 2020 (ECA), filed under Section 30(1) of the Employees Compensation Act by employee Prabhu T.V against Rangaswamy (employer) and The Manager, Reliance General Insurance Company Limited, challenging the judgment and award dated 10.04.2019 of the 2nd Additional Senior Civil Judge and Commissioner of Employees Compensation, Hassan, in ECA.No.13/2016, which partly allowed his claim awarding Rs.1,39,627/- (loss of earning capacity Rs.85,787/-; reimbursement of medical expenses Rs.33,840/-; future medical expenses Rs.20,000/-). With the employment relationship and the occurrence of the accident during the course of employment recorded as not in dispute, the Court, having regard to the nature, gravity and lasting effects of the injuries, awarded an additional global compensation of Rs.25,000/- without interest, fixing the employee's total entitlement at Rs.1,64,627/- as against Rs.1,39,627/-, and directed the Insurance Company to deposit the additional amount within six weeks from receipt of a certified copy of the judgment. Appeal partly allowed in modification of the impugned judgment and award of the Trial Court to the above extent.

NC: 2026:KHC:35959 MFA No. 288 of 2020

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HC-KAR

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU

DATED THIS THE 13^TH DAY OF JULY, 2026

BEFORE

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJESH RAI K

MISCELLANEOUS FIRST APPEAL NO. 288 OF 2020 (ECA )

BETWEEN:

PRABHU T.V S/O VENKATEGOWDA AGED ABOUT 38 YEARS THEMANAHALLI VILLAGE PALYA HOBLI, ALURU TALUK HASSAN - 573 201

…APPELLANT

(BY SRI. KAVITHA H.C, ADVOCATE)

AND:

Digitally signed by PANKAJA S Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA

RANGASWAMY S/O CHANNGEGOWDA THAWAREDEVARAKOPPAL KASABA HOBLI, HASSAN TALUK - 573 201

THE MANAGER RELIANCE GENERAL INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED KRUTHIKA ARCADE, 1^ST FLOOR, H.N. PURA ROAD HASSAN - 573 201

…RESPONDENTS

(BY SRI. LAKSHMINARAYAN.C, ADVOCATE FOR R2, VIDE ORDER DATED 23/01/2024, NOTICE TO R1 IS DISPENSED WITH)

2 - NC: 2026:KHC:35959 MFA No. 288 of 2020

HC-KAR

THIS MFA IS FILED U/S 30(1) OF EMPLOYEES COMPENSATION ACT, AGAINST THE JUDGMENT AND AWARD DATED 10.04.2019 PASSED IN ECA.NO.13/2016 ON THE FILE OF THE 2ND ADDITIONAL SENIOR CIVIL JUDGE AND COMMISIONER OF EMPLOYEES COMPENSATION, HASSAN, PARTLY ALLOWING THE CLAIM PETITION FOR COMPENSATION AND SEEKING ENHANCEMENT OF COMPENSATION.

THIS APPEAL, COMING ON FOR ADMISSION, THIS DAY, JUDGMENT WAS DELIVERED THEREIN AS UNDER:

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJESH RAI K

ORAL JUDGMENT

The employee, being dissatisfied with the

compensation of Rs.1,39,627/- awarded by the Commissioner, is in appeal.

The fact that the appellant was the employee of the respondent and the further fact that the accident had occurred during the course of his employment are not in dispute.

The Commissioner, on assessment of evidence, has

awarded compensation on the following heads:

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NC: 2026:KHC:35959 MFA No. 288 of 2020

HC-KAR

Sl. No.	Particulars	Amount in (Rs.)
1.	Loss of earning capacity caused by the injuries/disability	85,787
2.	Reimbursement of medical expenses	33,840
3.	Future medical expenses	20,000
	Total	1,39,627

Having regard to the nature, gravity and the lasting effects of the injuries suffered by the employee, I deem it appropriate to award additional compensation of Rs.25,000/- as a global compensation, in addition to what has been awarded by the Commissioner i.e., Rs.1,39,627/-. Thus, the employee is held entitled to the total compensation of Rs.1,64,627/- as against the sum of Rs.1,39,627/-. However, it is made clear that the employee is not entitled for the interest for the additional compensation of Rs.25,000/-.

The Insurance Company is directed to deposit the amount of additional compensation awarded within six weeks from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this judgment.

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NC: 2026:KHC:35959 MFA No. 288 of 2020

HC-KAR

Accordingly, in modification of the impugned

judgment and award of the Trial Court to the above extent, the

appeal is partly allowed.

SD/(RAJESH RAI K) JUDGE

CR List No.: 1 Sl No.: 27