The High Court allowed the appeal and enhanced the compensation awarded by the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal by increasing the monthly income from Rs.6,000 to Rs.12,000, adding future prospects, and increasing pain and sufferings to Rs.50,000.
Compensation enhanced from Rs.7,82,351/- to Rs.11,00,863/-; judgment and decree of tribunal modified.
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.
C.M.A.No.826 of 2021
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 19.12.2023
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI
C.M.A.No.826 of 2021
P.Sivaperumal
... Appellant
Vs.
1.E.Govindan
... Respondents
Prayer:
Civil Miscellaneous Appeal filed under Section 173 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, to set aside the judgment and decree dated 03.09.2020 made in M.C.O.P.No.612 of 2016 on the file of the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal, Special Subordinate Court, Dharmapuri.
For Appellant : Mr.D.Rameshkumar For Respondents : R1 – No Appearance Mr.E.Rajadurai for M/s.M.B.Gopalan Associates for R2
J U D G M E N T
This appeal has been filed seeking to set aside the judgment
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and
decree dated 03.09.2020 passed by the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal Special Subordinate Court, Dharmapuri, in M.C.O.P.No.612 of 2016.
2.The learned counsel appearing for the appellant submitted that on 17.07.2015 at about 17.00 hours, the appellant claimant was riding the Bajaj Discover motorcycle bearing Registration No.TN29-AA-0781 along with his sister and her minor daughter from Paupparappatti to Moongappatti near Mattukarankottai Bore Pipe. At that time, a TATA ACE bearing Registration No.TN-29-AD-5303 belonging to the first respondent and insured with the second respondent came in a rash and negligent manner and hit against the motorcycle, due to which, the appellant sustained injuries.
3.The learned counsel appearing for the appellant further submitted that thereafter, the injured claimant/ appellant filed claim petition before the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal, claiming compensation of Rs.20 Lakhs. After adjudication, the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal awarded a sum of Rs.7,82,351/- with interest at the
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rate of 7.5% p.a. from the date of petition till the date of deposit and proportionate costs and directed the second respondent to deposit the
compensation along with interest and proportionate costs and to recover the same from the first respondent.
4.The learned counsel appearing for the appellant further submitted that the Hon'ble Apex Court in Syed Sadiq case fixed a sum of Rs.6,500/- as notional monthly income of the vegetable vendor in the year 2008. In the present case, the accident took place during the year 2015, however, the Tribunal fixed the monthly income of the injured at Rs.6,000/- and awarded a meagre compensation and hence, the appellant claimant has filed this appeal for enhancement in compensation.
5.The learned counsel appearing for the second respondent Insurance Company submitted that the Tribunal after considering all the factual aspects, awarded the compensation which is just and reasonable and hence, the impugned judgment warrants no interference.
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6.Heard the learned counsel appearing for the appellant
claimant
as well as the learned counsel appearing for the second respondent Insurance Company and perused the materials available on record.
7.The accident and the manner in which the accident happened are not disputed. The concept of pay and recovery ordered by the Tribunal is also not disputed. This appeal has been filed only questioning the quantum of compensation.
8.The tribunal after elaborately discussing the factual aspects awarded a sum of Rs.1,95,840/- for just compensation, Rs.24,000/for loss of earnings, Rs.20,000/- for permanent loss of amenities, Rs.40,000/- for pain and sufferings, Rs.30,000/- for cost of nourishment, Rs.10,000/- for cost of attender, Rs.3,92,211/- for medical expenses, Rs.69,300/- for transport expenses, Rs.1,000/- for loss of clothing on accident and arrived at a total compensation of Rs.7,82,351/- with interest at the rate of 7.5% p.a. from the date of petition till the date of deposit.
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9.The Hon'ble Apex Court in Syed Sadiq case fixed a sum of Rs.6,500/- as notional monthly income of the vegetable vendor in the
year 2008. In the present case, the accident took place during the year 2015, however, the Tribunal fixed the monthly income of the injured at Rs.6,000/-, which in the opinion of this Court is low and this Court fix the monthly income of the injured as Rs.12,000/-. The injured claimant suffer 16% permanent disability. Hence, the amount awarded for just compensation works out to Rs.3,91,680/[Rs.12,000/- X 12 X 17 = Rs.24,48,000/-, 16% of Rs.24,48,000/- = Rs.3,91,680/-]. This Court is of the opinion that some amount has to be awarded for future prospects. Accordingly, this Court awards 40% of just compensation for future prospects and the same works out to Rs.1,56,672/- [40% of Rs.3,91,680/- = Rs.1,56,672/-].
10.The amount awarded under the head pain and sufferings, in the opinion of this Court is low and hence, the amount awarded under the head pain and sufferings is enhanced to Rs.50,000/- from Rs.40,000/-. The amount awarded by the Tribunal under the heads loss of earnings and permanent loss of amenities, in the opinion of
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this Court are not necessary and the same are deleted. The amount awarded under the other heads, in the opinion of this Court are just and reasonable and the same are confirmed.
11.Accordingly, the compensation amount is re-assessed as
follows:
| S.No. | Description | Amount Awarded by the Tribunal |
Amount Awarded by this Court |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Just compensation | Rs.1,95,840/- | Rs.3,91,680/- |
| 2. | Loss of earnings | Rs. 24,000/- | --- |
| 3. | Permanent loss of amenities | Rs. 20,000/- | --- |
| 4. | Pain and sufferings | Rs. 40,000/- | Rs. 50,000/- |
| 5. | Cost of Nourishment | Rs. 30,000/- | Rs. 30,000/- |
| 6. | Cost of Attender | Rs. 10,000/- | Rs. 10,000/- |
| 7. | Medical expenses | Rs.3,92,211/- | Rs.3,92,211/- |
| 8. | Transport expenses | Rs. 69,300/- | Rs. 69,300/- |
| 9. | Loss of clothing on accident | Rs. 1,000/- | Rs. 1,000/- |
| 10. | Future prospects | --- | Rs.1,56,672/- |
| Total | Rs.7,82,351/- | Rs.11,00,863/- |
12.The appellant claimant is entitled to total compensation of Rs.11,00,863/- along with interest at the rate of 7.5% p.a. from the date of petition till the date of deposit. The pay and recovery ordered by the Tribunal is confirmed.
13.The civil miscellaneous appeal is allowed on the above
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terms. The judgment and decree of the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, Special Subordinate Court, Dharmapuri in M.C.O.P.No.612 of 2016 dated 03.09.2020, is modified to the above extent only in respect of the quantum of compensation. No costs.
14.The second respondent Insurance Company is directed to deposit the modified/ enhanced award amount before the Tribunal within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment, less the amount if any, already deposited. On such deposit being made, the appellant/ claimant is permitted to withdraw the modified/ enhanced award amount, along with accrued interest and proportionate costs, after deducting the amount already withdrawn, if any, on making proper and necessary application before the Tribunal. The appellant/ claimant shall not be entitled to any interest for the period of delay, if any, in filing the appeal. The appellant/ claimant is directed to pay the requisite Court fee for the enhanced compensation amount, if required. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, Special Subordinate Court, Dharmapuri, shall disburse the enhanced amount upon production of certified copy showing proof of payment of Court fee by the appellant/ claimant.
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pri
Index: Yes/ No Speaking Order: Yes/ No NCC: Yes/ No
M.DHANDAPANI,J. pri
To
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3 issues framed by the court
Whether the quantum of compensation awarded by the Tribunal was reasonable and required enhancement.
Whether the monthly income fixed by the Tribunal for the vegetable vendor claimant was appropriate for the relevant year.
Whether the Tribunal erred in awarding relief for loss of earnings and permanent loss of amenities.
Colour shows how this judgement treated each authority
Syed Sadiq caseReferred¶30
1 provisions across 1 enactments
P. Sivaperumal
E. Govindan
Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Company Limited
M. Dhandapani
As recorded by the court registry
Judgements on the same questions, provisions and authorities, from every court
M. Dhandapani
Parties & counsel
