Sri. Muniraju Vs Iffco-Tokio General Insurance Co. Ltd. — Karnataka HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

Sri. Muniraju Vs Iffco-Tokio General Insurance Co. Ltd. — Karnataka HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Appeal allowed in part: compensation awarded by the MACT, Bengaluru in MVC No.2607/2018 dated 04.04.2019 is enhanced by Rs.1,37,900/-; the enhanced sum shall carry interest at 6% p.a. from the date of petition till the date of deposit; Respondent No.1 directed to deposit the enhanced sum within 8 weeks of receipt of certified copy of the judgment; on such deposit the appellant may withdraw the entire amount.

Issue for consideration

Whether the Tribunal's computation of loss of future earnings was inadequate because it applied 10% whole-body disability although the disability in respect of whole body had been quantified at 15% (Pw.4 having deposed 41% disability in respect of right lower limb and 22% in respect of whole body). +2 more

Court's answer

Considering the evidence of Pw.4, the disability in respect of whole body ought to have been taken as 15% (and not the 10% adopted by the Tribunal).

Ratio / Principle

Taking whole-body disability as 15%, notional income as Rs.12,500/- per month and applying the appropriate multiplier '13' (as done by the Tribunal), the compensation payable towards loss of future earnings is Rs.2,92,500/- (Rs.12,500x12x13x15%).

Key takeaways

Since the Tribunal had awarded Rs.1,71,600/- towards loss of future earnings, the additional sum payable under that head is Rs.1,20,900/- (Rs.2,92,500 - Rs.1,71,600).ratio¶37
Considering the nature of injuries sustained (which includes two grievous injuries), the appellant could have taken bed rest for at least 4 months; loss of earnings during the laid-up period therefore comes to Rs.50,000/- (Rs.12,500x4).ratio¶41

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Enhancement of motor-accident compensation - MFA under S.173(1) MV Act, High Court of Karnataka (Dr. Justice Chillakur Sumalatha), decided 19.06.2026. Claimant injured in a 2018 road traffic accident (posterior dislocation of right hip; fracture of left clavicle; multiple lacerated wounds; 6 days inpatient treatment; Pw.4 deposed 41% disability in respect of right lower limb and 22% whole body) appealed against the award dated 04.04.2019 in MVC No.2607/2018 (MACT, Bengaluru). Holding that, in view of Pw.4's evidence, whole-body disability ought to have been taken as 15% instead of the 10% adopted by the Tribunal, the Court recomputed loss of future earnings as 15% x Rs.12,500/- (KSLSA notional income for 2018) x 12 x multiplier 13 = Rs.2,92,500/-, i.e., an additional Rs.1,20,900/- over the Tribunal's Rs.1,71,600/-. Allowing bed rest of at least 4 months, laid-up-period loss was fixed at Rs.50,000/- (additional Rs.17,000/- over the Tribunal's Rs.33,000/-). All other heads found justifiable and left undisturbed. Total enhancement Rs.1,37,900/- with interest at 6% p.a. from date of petition till deposit; Respondent No.1 (insurer) to deposit within 8 weeks; appeal allowed in part.

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HC-KAR

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU

DATED THIS THE 19^TH DAY OF JUNE, 2026

BEFORE

THE HON'BLE DR. JUSTICE CHILLAKUR SUMALATHA MISCELLANEOUS FIRST APPEAL NO.4810 OF 2019(MV-I)

BETWEEN:

SRI. MUNIRAJU S/O. SIDDANARASAIAH, AGED ABOUT 41 YEARS, R/AT BEERAVARA, LAKKENAHALLI, MAGADI TALUK, RAMANAGARA DISTRICT.

…APPELLANT

(BY SRI. RAGHU R., ADVOCATE)

AND:

Digitally signed by AASEEFA PARVEEN Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA

IFFCO-TOKIO GENERAL INSURANCE CO. LTD., REGIONAL OFFICE, NO.8, III MAIN, SHANTHI TOWERS, V FLOOR, EAST TO NGF LAYOUT, KASTURINAGAR, BENGALURU-560 043, REP. BY ITS MANAGER.

SMT. SUMITHRA N., W/O. MURALIDHARA, NO.40, NEAR ANJANEYA SWAMY TEMPLE, ARCHKARU, OLAGEREHALLI,

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K.S. TOWN, BENGALURU-560 060.

…RESPONDENTS

(BY SRI. P. S. JAGADISH, ADVOCATE FOR R1; R2-SERVICE OF NOTICE DISPENSED WITH, V/O. DATED 27.07.2023)

THIS MFA FILED U/S. 173(1) OF MV ACT AGAINST THE JUDGMENT AND AWARD DATED 04.04.2019 PASSED IN MVC NO.2607/2018 ON THE FILE OF THE XIX ADDITIONAL SMALL CAUSE JUDGE, MACT, XLI ACMM, BENGALURU (SCCH-17), 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 DR. JUSTICE CHILLAKUR SUMALATHA

ORAL JUDGMENT

Heard Sri.Raghu.R, learned counsel for the appellant as well as Sri.P.S.Jagadish, learned counsel for respondent No.1.

Being aggrieved by the sum that is awarded as compensation by the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, Bengaluru through orders in MVC No.2607/2018 dated 04.04.2019, the claimant therein preferred this appeal.

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Arguing on the merits of the matter, learned counsel for the appellant contended that appellant sustained multiple grievous injuries in the road traffic accident that occurred in the year 2018. Appellant produced the evidence of Pw.4 to establish the nature of injuries sustained, the treatment taken and the aspect of disability. Pw.4 clearly stated that the appellant suffers with 41% disability in respect of right lower limb and 22% in respect of whole body. Tribunal made a clear observation that the disability in respect of whole body can be quantified as 15%. However, while calculating the compensation which the appellant is entitled to receive towards loss of future earnings, Tribunal took the disability in respect of whole body as 10% and thereby awarded lower sum as compensation towards loss of future earnings. Learned counsel also stated that the accident occurred in the year 2018 and for the relevant period, Karnataka State Legal Services Authority is taking the notional income as Rs.12,500/- per month. However,

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Tribunal took the notional income as Rs.11,000/- per month. Learned counsel thereby seeks to pass necessary orders.

The submission made by learned counsel for respondent No.1 on the other hand is that, Tribunal granted justifiable sum under all heads. However, considering the submission of learned counsel for the appellant, the notional income may be taken as Rs.12,500/- per month and thereby there may be marginal enhancement.

By all the evidence produced, appellant succeeded in establishing that due to the accident there was posterior dislocation of right hip, fracture of clavicle left side and multiple lacerated wounds on right shoulder and a dorsum of wrist. Appellant also established that he underwent close reduction, skin traction and suturing during the course of taking treatment as inpatient. He also established that he took treatment as inpatient for a period of 6 days. Tribunal at page No.17 of the impugned

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order made an observation that the disability in respect of whole body can be quantified as 15%. However, Tribunal also made an observation that considering the avocation of Pw.1, it can be said that the disability affects his occupation to an extent of 10%. But considering the evidence of Pw.4, this Court is of the view that the disability in respect of whole body ought to have been taken as 15%. Thus taking the disability in respect of whole body as 15%, the notional income as Rs.12,500/-

per month and applying the appropriate multiplier '13' as done by the Tribunal, the compensation which the appellant is entitled to receive towards loss of future earnings is Rs.2,92,500/- (Rs.12,500x12x13x15%). The Tribunal held that appellant is entitled to a sum of Rs.1,71,600/- towards loss of future earnings. Therefore, the additional sum which the appellant is entitled to receive towards loss of future earnings is Rs.1,20,900/(Rs.2,92,500 - Rs.1,71,600).

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Also considering the nature of injuries sustained

which includes two grievous injuries, this Court is of the view that appellant could have taken bed rest at least for a period of 4 months. Thus loss of earnings during laid up period comes to Rs.50,000/- (Rs.12,500x4). But the Tribunal held that appellant is entitled to a sum of Rs.33,000/only under the said head. Thus the enhancement will be Rs.17,000/- (Rs.50,000 - Rs.33,000).

The compensation granted by the Tribunal under all other heads is justifiable and therefore, the same requires no interference. Hence, the additional amount which the appellant is entitled to receive as compensation is Rs.1,37,900/- (Rs.1,20,900 + Rs.17,000).

Therefore, the appeal is disposed of with the following:

ORDER

(i) Appeal is allowed in part .

(ii) Compensation that is granted by the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, Bengaluru

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through orders in MVC No.2607/2018 dated 04.04.2019 is enhanced by Rs.1,37,900/-.

(iii) The enhanced sum shall carry interest at the rate of 6% p.a. from the date of petition till the date of deposit.

(iv) Respondent No.1 is directed to deposit the enhanced sum within a period of 8(eight) weeks from the date of receipt of certified copy of this judgment.

(v) On such deposit, appellant is permitted to withdraw the entire amount.

Sd/(DR.CHILLAKUR SUMALATHA) JUDGE

NS

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