This court modified motor accident compensation claims for a minor. While confirming medical expenses, the court reduced future loss of earnings and enhanced damages for pain, suffering, and interim loss of income. The total compensation was reduced.
Compensation reduced to Rs.3,89,321 with 7.5% interest; appellant directed to deposit balance.
This page shows the compact analysis of this judgement. The full analysis — procedural history, issue-by-issue holdings with ratio and obiter, advocates, and paragraph-level evidence for every claim — is being added to the record in batches and will appear here when this judgement has been through it.
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 24.07.2019
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MRS.JUSTICE S. RAMATHILAGAM
and M.P.No.1 of 2015
The Branch Manager, M/s.Cholamandalam MS General Ins.Co.,Ltd, The Regional Office, Salem. .. Appellant/2nd Respondent
Vs.
1.S.Prabhu
2.P.Kumar .. Respondents/Petitioner and
1 st Respondent
Prayer: This Civil Miscellaneous Appeal is filed under Section 173 of Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, against the judgment and decree dated 05.06.2014 made in M.C.O.P.No.238 of 2009, on the file of the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal, Principal Subordinate Court, Krishnagiri.
For Appellant : Mr.M.B.Raghavan For R1 : Mr.E.Kannadasan For R2 : Ex-parte
J U D G M E N T
The Civil Miscellaneous Appeal has been preferred against the judgment and decree dated 05.06.2014 made in M.C.O.P.No.238 of 2009, on the file of Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, Principal Subordinate Court, Krishnagiri.
On 30.12.2007 at about 20.30hrs, the petitioner along with one Gopi was coming from Krishnagiri to Hosur in the motor cycle Bajaj C T 100 bearing Registration No.TN 24 A 9628 as pillion rider, near the 'U' turn kakkanpuram junction road, the rider of the above said vehicle was driving slowly and cautiously, observing the traffic rules and sounding horn. At that time,
the JCB vehicle bearing Registration No. PY 01 S 7925 belonging to the first respondent, insured with the second respondent came in the opposite side, in a rash and negligent manner without observing any rules of the road, without applying break, without sounding horn at an uncontrollable speed, dashed against the vehicle. The rider of the said two wheeler was died on the spot. Hence, the claimant filed a claim petition in M.C.O.P.No.238 of 2009 claiming a sum of Rs.5,42,121/- as compensation.
3.In the grounds of an appeal, the appellant contended that the compensation determined by the Tribunal is not in in consonance with the facts and circumstances of the case in awarding the future loss of earning at Rs.4,60,800/- by adopting multiplier method, which is very much on the high side. The nature of injuries and disability were grossly exaggerated for the purpose of the case, further there is no reliable or believable evidence for loss of employment and therefore adoption of multiplier method is not sustainable. The sum awarded under the other heads also on the higher side and liable to be set aside.
4.Heard Mr.M.B.Raghavan, learned Counsel appearing for the appellant and Mr.E.Kannadasan, learned Counsel appearing for the first respondent and perused the documents available on records.
5.On perusal on records, it is seen that the respondent/claimant sustained grievous injuries due to the accident that was happened on 30.12.2007. He sustained injuries on right thigh lacerated injury, back side of the head, right shoulder and all over the body and he was immediately given treatment in the Government Hospital, Krishnagiri and further treatment at Government Hospital, Salem. Regarding the treatment given to the injured claimant and also the nature of treatment given to the respondent claimant were all proved by way of filing the accident register as Ex.P.2 and also Ex.P.5 that is discharge summary. To prove the injury and also the disability sustained by him before the Tribunal P.W.2 was examined. P.W.2 Doctor has examined the petitioner and he deposed that the petitioner has sustained blood clot in the head and fracture in left leg and surgery was done to him by fixing screws. Even though the fracture is malunited upto two degree, he has sustained disability at 60%. The Tribunal considering the documents and disability assessed by P.W.2 at 60% was determined the loss of income by adopting proper multiplier 16 at Rs.4,60,800/-(4000X12X16X60%).
6.The appellant herein is very much aggrieved that it is only a fracture injury and proper treatment was also given by fixing the screw, there cannot be any such excessive disability
as assessed by P.W.2. and therefore the claimant is not entitled for the loss of income determined by the Tribunal.
7.On the other hand, the respondent claimant contended that the injured person was doing business by selling fancy item and he is only 24 years old at the time of accident. He is a self employed person and total income has been very much affected. Since he is a self employed person and considering the treatment and the nature of injuries, the sum awarded by the Tribunal by multiplier method is reasonable and need not be modified. Consider the nature of injuries and treatment given to the claimant this Court is inclined to modify the sum awarded under the loss of income by taking Rs.3000/- per percentage and accordingly this sum is modified to Rs.1,80,000/- (6000X60).
7.Further verifying the nature of injuries and also the treatment given to the claimant, for surgery, the sum awarded under the pain and suffering is very much on the meagre side, to be enhanced to Rs.40,000/-. Similarly, the sum awarded under the heads of extra nourishment, attender charges and transportation are also enhanced to sums of Rs.20,000/-, Rs.15,000/- and Rs.15,000/- respectively under those heads. Since the sum awarded under medical expenses is proper, the same does not require at modified. It is clear evidence that the claimant was running a fancy items shop by way of self employment, hence it would be proper to calculate the loss of income for 8 months by taking monthly income at Rs.6,000/- by taking into considering the year of the accident which is of the year 2007, hence the loss of income for 8 months is enhanced to Rs.48,000/- . It is seen that the fracture in the head and in the right shoulder and all over the body has not been considered by the Tribunal, hence, that has to be properly considered by awarding sum, under the head of the loss of amenities and therefore a sum of Rs.34,000/- is awarded under the said head and Rs.10,000/- towards loss of damages. Thus the compensation is awarded by the Tribunal is modified by this court as follows:
| S.N o |
Description | Amount awarded by Tribunal (Rs) |
Amount awarded by this Court (Rs) |
Award confirmed or enhanced or granted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Disability | 4,60,800/- | 1,80,000/- (3000X60) |
Reduced |
| 2. | Pain and suffering |
15,000/- | 40,000/- | Enhanced |
| 3. | Medical Expenses |
36,321/- | 36,321/- | Granted |
10.The appellant/Insurance Company is directed to deposit the entire amount as modified by this court with interest and costs, less the amount already deposited, if any, within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. On such deposit, the 1st respondent/1st claimant is permitted to withdraw the award amount with accrued interest and costs, after adjusting the amount if any, already withdrawn. The appellant/Insurance Company is permitted to withdraw the excess amount, if any lying in the deposit to the credit of M.C.O.P.No.238 of 2009, if the entire amount has already been deposited by them.
Sd/Assistant Registrar(CS-IV) //True copy//
Sub Assistant Registrar
jas
To
+1cc to Mr.E.Kannadasan, Advocate SR.No.63578
+1cc to Mr.M.B.Gopalan, Advocate SR.No.63966
C.M.A.No.1246 of 2015
and
M.P.No.1 of 2015
SAI(CO)
GMY(23/01/2020)
1 provisions across 1 enactments
The Branch Manager, M/s Cholamandalam MS General Ins.Co Ltd
1.S.Prabhu
2.P.Kumar
S. Ramathilagam
As recorded by the court registry
Judgements on the same questions, provisions and authorities, from every court
