Ravikumar D N Vs Satnam Singh — Motor Accident Claims | Karnataka HC (2026)

Ravikumar D N Vs Satnam Singh — Motor Accident Claims | Karnataka HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Appeal allowed in part. Claimant granted enhanced global compensation of Rs.50,000/- without any interest; respondent No. 2 – Insurer to deposit it before the Tribunal within six weeks, failing which interest at 6% p.a. is payable; claimant entitled to release of the entire enhanced compensation.

Issue for consideration

Whether the global compensation of Rs.50,000/- awarded by the Tribunal is on the lower side and whether the claimant is entitled to enhancement of compensation. +1 more

Court's answer

Considering the injuries sustained by the claimant, the global compensation of Rs.50,000/- awarded by the Tribunal was held to be on the lower side.

Ratio / Principle

From Ex.P.5 wound certificate the Court found that the claimant sustained a lacerated wound over left zygoma, abrasion over forehead, contusion over left upper lip, and pain and tenderness with loss of incisor teeth with bleeding gums and abrasion over nose with contusion.

Key takeaways

The claimant had been admitted in the hospital for 15 days, and the claimant did not examine the Doctor.ratio¶¶52
The claimant is entitled to enhancement of global compensation in a sum of Rs.50,000/- without interest.ratio¶¶52

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

MFA No. 7379 of 2023 (MV-I), High Court of Karnataka at Bengaluru, oral judgment dated 16 July 2026, delivered by Hon'ble Mr. Justice Shivashankar Amaranannavar (sole Judge). Claimant's appeal under Section 173(1) of the MV Act for enhancement of the global compensation of Rs.50,000/- (with interest at 6% p.a.) awarded on 06.02.2023 by the IX Additional Small Causes Judge / Member, MACT-7, Bengaluru (SCCH-7) in MVC No.4625/2019 for injuries sustained in a road traffic accident of 15.07.2019 caused by the rash and negligent driving of the driver of lorry bearing registration No. HR-56-A-7688. On Ex.P.5 wound certificate (lacerated wound over left zygoma, abrasion over forehead, contusion over left upper lip, loss of incisor teeth with bleeding gums, abrasion over nose with contusion; 15 days' hospitalisation), and although the claimant had not examined the Doctor, the Court held the Tribunal's global award was on the lower side and enhanced the compensation by a further Rs.50,000/- without interest. Appeal allowed in part; insurer directed to deposit the enhanced amount before the Tribunal within six weeks, failing which interest at 6% p.a. runs from the day of judgment; entire enhanced compensation ordered to be released to the claimant. Matter disposed at Orders/Admission stage with the consent of counsel. No precedent engaged with.

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HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:36602 MFA No. 7379 of 2023

CNR: KAHC010579282023

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU

DATED THIS THE 16^TH DAY OF JULY, 2026

BEFORE

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR MISCELLANEOUS FIRST APPEAL No. 7379 OF 2023

(MV-I)

BETWEEN:

RAVIKUMAR D N S/O LATE NARAYANAPPA AGED ABOUT 28 YEARS R/AT DEVARAHOSAHALLI POST SOMPURA HOBLI NELAMANGALA TALUK BANGALORE RURAL DISTRICT.

…APPELLANT

(BY SRI RANGEGOWDA N R, ADVOCATE)

Digitally signed by LAKSHMINARAYANA MURTHY RAJASHRI Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA

AND:

SATNAM SINGH S/O DHANI RAM AGED MAJOR R/AT VPO MOHAMMED KHERA THE ALEWA, JIND DISTRICT HARYANA STATE – 126 102.

THE REGIONAL MANAGER UNITED INDIA INSURANCE COMPANY LTD., 5^TH FLOOR, KRUSHI BHAVANA

NC: 2026:KHC:36602 MFA No. 7379 of 2023

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HUDSON CIRCLE BANGALORE – 560 001.

…RESPONDENTS

(BY SRI JANARDHAN REDDY, ADVOCATE FOR R2 V/O DTD. 16.7.2026 NOTICE TO R1 DISPENSED WITH)

THIS MFA IS FILED UNDER SECTION 173(1) OF MV ACT AGAINST THE JUDGMENT AND AWARD DATED:06.02.2023 PASSED IN MVC No.4625/2019 ON THE FILE OF THE IX ADDITIONAL SMALL CAUSES JUDGE, COURT OF SMALL CAUSES, MEMBER, MACT-7, BENGALURU (SCCH-7), PARTLY ALLOWING THE CLAIM PETITION FOR COMPENSATION AND SEEKING ENHANCEMENT OF COMPENSATION.

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

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR

ORAL JUDGMENT

This appeal is filed by the claimant seeking

enhancement of compensation awarded in the judgment dated 06.02.2023 passed in MVC No. 4625/2019 by the IX

Additional Small Causes Judge and Member MACT-7,

Bengaluru (SCCH-7).

Even though the matter is listed today for Orders/Admission, it is taken up for disposal with the

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consent of the learned counsel appearing for appellant and the learned counsel appearing for respondent No. 2 - Insurer.

Appellant – claimant made a claim petition praying to award compensation for the injuries sustained by him in a road traffic accident that occurred on 15.07.2019 due to the rash and negligent driving by the driver of lorry bearing registration No. HR-56-A-7688. The Tribunal after recording evidence appreciated the evidence on record, awarded global compensation of Rs.50,000/with interest at the rate of 6% p.a. from date of petition till the date of realization and directed respondent No. 2 – Insurer to deposit the said compensation amount with interest. Claimant, seeking enhancement of compensation awarded by the Tribunal, has filed by the present appeal.

Heard learned counsel for appellant – claimant

and learned counsel for respondent No.2 – Insurer.

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Learned counsel for appellant would contend

that the claimant had sustained head injury, multiple abrasion over forehead, contusion over left upper lip, pain and tenderness with losing of incisor teeth with bleeding gums and other injuries. He was admitted in the hospital for 15 days. Considering the said aspect the compensation awarded by the Tribunal globally in a sum of Rs.50,000/is on lower side. With this he prayed to allow the appeal.

Learned counsel appearing for respondent No. 2

– Insurer would contend that the claimant has not examined the Doctor. Compensation awarded by the Tribunal is just and proper and there are no grounds for enhancement.

Having heard learned counsel for the parties, this Court has perused the judgment and award. 8. Ex.P.5 - wound certificate indicates that claimant has sustained lacerated wound over left zygoma, abrasion over forehead, contusion over left upper lip, pain

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and tenderness with loosing of incisor teeth with bleeding gums and abrasion over nose with contusion. Claimant had been admitted in the hospital for 15 days. Claimant has not examined the Doctor. Considering the injuries sustained by the claimant, compensation awarded by the Tribunal, globally, in a sum of Rs.50,000/- is on lower side and claimant is entitled to enhancement of compensation globally in a sum of Rs.50,000/- without interest.

In view of the above, the following;

O R D E R

i) Appeal is allowed in part.

ii) Claimant is entitled to enhanced global compensation of Rs.50,000/- without any interest.

iii) Respondent No. 2 – Insurer shall deposit the enhanced compensation amount before the Tribunal within six weeks from this day failing which it is

NC: 2026:KHC:36602 MFA No. 7379 of 2023

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liable to pay interest at the rate of 6% p.a. from

this day till the date of payment.

iv) Claimant is entitled for release of entire enhanced

compensation.

Sd/(SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR) JUDGE

LRS List No.: 1 Sl No.: 11 Ct.sm