K. Deepak Vs R. Gopi — Madras HC (2025) — LawSathi Research

K. Deepak Vs R. Gopi — Madras HC (2025) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Enhanced compensation of Rs.2,50,000/- over and above the Tribunal's awarded amount (Rs.3,36,000/- with 7.5% per annum interest, already deposited and withdrawn), to be deposited within six weeks of receipt of the award and withdrawable by the claimant without filing any formal petition; disbursement through RTGS/NEFT on proper identification without insisting on a permission petition; and refund of the full court fee paid to the appellant under Section 69-A of the Tamil Nadu Court-Fees and Suits Valuation Act, 1955 and the Court Fees Act, 1870 read with sub-section (1) of Section 21 r/w Section 25 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.

Issue for consideration

Whether the claimant/appellant is entitled to compensation over and above the Tribunal's award of Rs.3,36,000/- with interest at 7.5% per annum in M.C.O.P.No.6271 of 2019.

Court's answer

After negotiation, mediation and conciliation, the parties settled for an additional sum of Rs.2,50,000/- over and above the amount awarded by the Tribunal, in full quit.

Ratio / Principle

The remaining settlement amount shall be deposited within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of the award.

Key takeaways

On such deposit, the claimant is permitted to withdraw the enhanced amount without filing any formal petition, and the award is passed accordingly.ratio¶36
The Tribunal is directed to transfer the amount through RTGS/NEFT to the parties concerned on proper identification in accordance with the terms of the award, without insisting on any formal permission petition.ratio¶37
The full court fee paid shall be refunded to the appellant in the manner provided under Section 69-A of the Tamil Nadu Court-Fees and Suits Valuation Act, 1955 and the Court Fees Act, 1870, as provided under sub-section (1) of Section 21 r/w Section 25 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 as amended in 1994.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

National Lok Adalat Award (Chapter VI and u/s 21, Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987), High Court Legal Services Committee, Chennai — CMA.No.3089 of 2025, disposed of on 13.12.2025 by the Bench comprising Justice P.B.Balaji (presiding), Mr.N.Balasubramanian, District Judge (Retd.) and Mr.P.Kannan, Advocate. The appeal by claimant K.Deepak against the Tribunal's judgment and decree dated 29.11.2023 in M.C.O.P.No.6271 of 2019 (award of Rs.3,36,000/- with 7.5% per annum interest, already deposited and withdrawn) was settled on the basis of mutual negotiation, mediation and conciliation for an additional sum of Rs.2,50,000/- over and above the awarded amount in full quit. Terms: remaining amount to be deposited within six weeks of receipt of a copy of the award; claimant entitled to withdraw the enhanced amount without filing any formal petition; Tribunal directed to transfer the amount through RTGS/NEFT on proper identification without insisting on any formal permission petition; full court fee paid to be refunded to the appellant under Section 69-A of the Tamil Nadu Court-Fees and Suits Valuation Act, 1955 and the Court Fees Act, 1870 as provided under sub-Sec.(1) of Section 21 r/w 25 of LSA Act 1987 as amended in 1994.