Palak Sangoi v. Vasanti Sangoi
Case brief
What is this about?
Keywords: apportionment of motor accident compensation among legal heirs; dependency as sole criterion; equal division among heirs not mandatory; widow versus mother; unrebutted/unimpeached testimony to be given due credence; Tribunal gravely erred in equal footing; 90:10 modification of award. Parties: Palak Sangoi (appellant/widow) v. Vasanti Sangoi (mother), M.Sathish Kumar, M/s.Cholamandalam MS General Insurance Company. Case: C.M.A.(MD)No.418 of 2022 with C.M.P.(MD)No.3695 of 2022, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, decided 28.01.2025 (signature block 27.01.2025), G.R. Swaminathan J. (author) and R. Poornima J.; arises from M.C.O.P.No.330 of 2012, Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, Madurai, award dated 07.03.2016 (Rs.86,50,000/- with 7.5% interest; Rs.43,25,000/- each). Statute: Section 173, Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. Precedent followed: Saroja V. Parvathy and four others, order dated 01.06.2021 in C.M.A.No.3264 of 2019 (Madras High Court DB). Facts hooks: fatal tipper lorry accident 03.06.2011, Kundrathur-Poonamalle road, Crime No.1044 of 2011, claim of Rs.1 crore.