Partly allowed

The Branch Manager v. v.Gopinathan Pillai

Madras HC30 Jul 2025CMA(MD)/917/2022

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Insurer challenged quantum of compensation for a fatal road accident; negligence and liability were not contested. The High Court reduced notional monthly income from Rs.15,000 to Rs.13,500, recomputed dependency, deleted loss of consortium and transportation heads, confirmed the 10% helmet deduction, and reduced compensation to Rs.18,34,020.

What did the court decide?

Appeal partly allowed; compensation reduced from Rs.21,25,800 to Rs.18,34,020 with 7.5% interest; insurer directed to deposit modified award within four weeks.

The Branch Manager Vs v.Gopinathan Pillai — Motor Accident Claims | Madras HC (2025)

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C.M.A.(MD)No.917 of 2022

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BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT

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DATED : 30.07.2025

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CORAM:

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THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE K.K.RAMAKRISHNAN

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C.M.A.(MD)No.917 of 2022 and C.M.P.(MD)No.8999 of 2022

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Branch Manager, Cholamandalam MS General Insurance Company Limited, No.3 & 4, Dindigal Highway Road, Kalavasal, Madurai District. ... Appellant/ 3^rd Respondent

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Vs.

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1.V.Gopinathan Pillai (died) 2.A.Shylaja ... Respondents 1to2/ Petitioners 1to2 3.R.Gopinath ... 3^rd Respondent/ 1^st Respondent 4.T.Jeyaseelan ... 4^th Respondent/ 2^nd Respondent

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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C.M.A.(MD)No.917 of 2022

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5.Branch Manager,

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Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Co. Ltd., 184/25, KPS Shopping Arcade, Bye-pass Road, Madurai.

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^th Respondent/

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4^th Respondent

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(Deleted as per order in I.A.No.686 of 2018 dated 25.07.2019)

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6.Branch Manager,

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The New India Assurance Co. Ltd., Pillars Gate, Opposite to Anna Stadium, Balamore Road, Nagercoil, Agasteeswaram Taluk, Kanyakumari District .

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^th Respondent/

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5^th Respondent

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(Impleaded as per order in I.A.No.696 of 2019 dated 25.07.2019)

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Prayer : This Civil Miscellaneous Appeal has been filed under Section 173 of the Motor Vehicles Act, to set aside the judgment and decree passed in M.C.O.P.No.36 of 2018 on the file of the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal Judge (Special Judge for Forest Offence Case), Nagercoil, dated 30.12.2021.

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For Appellant : Mrs.K.R.Shivashankari For Respondents : No appearance for R1, R3 & R4

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Mr.B.Brijesh Kishore for R2 Mr.J.S.Murali for R5 Mr.C.Deepak for R6

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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C.M.A.(MD)No.917 of 2022

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JUDGMENT

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The Civil Miscellaneous Appeal has been preferred by the Insurance Company against the award dated 30.12.2021 passed in M.C.O.P.No.36 of 2018 by the Special Judge for Forest Offence Cases / Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, Nagercoil.

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The respondents 1 and 2 / claimants have filed a claim petition in M.C.O.P.No.36 of 2018, claiming compensation for the death of their son Venugopalan, in an accident that took place on 14.03.2017. The Tribunal has awarded a sum of Rs.21,25,800/- (Rupees Twenty One Lakhs Twenty Five Thousand and Eight Hundred only) with interest at 7.5% per annum as compensation.

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On the side of the claimants, 3 witnesses were examined as P.W.1 to P.W.3 and 16 documents were marked as Ex.P.1 to Ex.P.16. The respondents have adduced neither oral nor documentary evidence.

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The learned trial Judge, upon considering the evidence, both oral and documentary and on hearing the arguments of both the sides, has

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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C.M.A.(MD)No.917 of 2022

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passed the impugned award dated 30.12.2021 holding that the tempo driver was responsible for the accident, directed the appellant / insurer to pay compensation of Rs.21,25,800/- (Rupees Twenty One Lakhs Twenty Five Thousand and Eight Hundred only) with interest and costs. Against which, the appellant / insurer has preferred this appeal challenging the quantum of compensation awarded at, by the Tribunal.

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It is pertinent to note that the appellant / insurer has not challenged the negligence aspects and consequent liability fixed on them but only challenged the quantum of compensation awarded at, by the Tribunal.

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When the matter is taken up for hearing today, the learned counsel appearing for the second respondent / second claimant would submit that during the pendency of the appeal, the first respondent / first claimant died leaving behind his wife, second respondent herein as the legal heir and since she was already on record, no steps is necessary. The said submission is recorded.

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C.M.A.(MD)No.917 of 2022

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The learned counsel appearing for the appellant / insurer would

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submit that though the respondents 1 and 2 / claimants have alleged that the deceased was working as a mason, they have not produced any material to prove the avocation and income of the deceased and the Tribunal, without any basis, fixed the notional monthly income of the deceased at Rs.15,000/-, which is very high. She would further submit that the Tribunal also erred in granting amounts for loss of love and affection and loss of consortium separately and also the Tribunal has wrongly granted Rs.10,000/- under the transportation charges. Hence, the quantum of compensation fixed by the Tribunal is liable to be interfered with.

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The learned counsel appearing for the second respondent / second

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claimant would submit that the deceased was a mason by profession and the Tribunal, considering the cost of living, prices of essentials and inflation, has rightly fixed the notional monthly income of the deceased at Rs.15,000/-. Hence, he seeks to confirm the same.

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This Court considered the rival submissions made on either side. I

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perused the entire materials available on record.

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C.M.A.(MD)No.917 of 2022

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The only point that arises for consideration in this appeal is whether the compensation of Rs.21,25,800/- awarded by the Tribunal is just and reasonable.

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According to the second respondent / second claimant, the deceased was aged 29 years at the time of accident and was doing mason work and was getting Rs.22,000/- per month. Admittedly, the respondents 1 and 2 / claimants have not produced any document to prove the income of the deceased. Considering the above, fixing of monthly income at Rs.15,000/-, in the absence of clinching evidence is definitely on higher side. Considering the cost of inflation index, this Court fixes the monthly income of the deceased at Rs.13,500/-.

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The Tribunal, as per the decision of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in National Insurance Company Limited Vs. Pranay Sethi and others reported in 2017 (2) TN MAC 609 (SC) , has rightly added 40% of the income towards future prospects and after such addition, the monthly income would come to Rs.18,900/- {Rs.13,500/- + Rs.5,400/- (40% of the income)}. The Tribunal, taking note of the fact that the deceased was a

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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C.M.A.(MD)No.917 of 2022

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bachelor, has rightly deducted 50% of the income towards personal and living expenses of the deceased and after such deduction, it comes to Rs.9,450/- {Rs.18,900/- - Rs.9,450/-}. The Tribunal, by relying on Ex.P.14-SSLC certificate, has rightly fixed the age of the deceased at 29 years. The Tribunal, as per the decision of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Sarla Verma and others Vs. Delhi Transport Corporation and another reported in AIR 2009 SC 3104, has rightly applied multiplier 17. Hence, the loss of dependency would be Rs.19,27,800/- (Rupees Nineteen Lakhs Twenty Seven Thousand and Eight Hundred only) {Rs.9,450/- x 12 x 17}.

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The Tribunal, by relying on the judgment in Pranay Sethi's case, has rightly awarded Rs.40,000/- each to the respondents 1 and 2 / claimants towards loss of filial consortium, but also granted Rs.1,00,000/towards loss of love and affection.

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The Tribunal, by relying on the judgment in Pranay Sethi's case, has rightly awarded Rs.15,000/- for funeral expenses and Rs.15,000/- for loss of estate under the conventional heads. The amounts under the transportation charges is set aside. Accordingly, the compensation awarded by the Tribunal is modified as follows:-

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C.M.A.(MD)No.917 of 2022

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S. No.	Description	Amount awarded by Tribunal (Rs.)	Amount awarded by this Court (Rs.)	Award confirmed or enhanced or granted or reduced
1.	Loss of dependency	21,42,000	19,27,800	Reduced
2.	Loss of love and affection to mother and father	1,00,000	80,000 (2 x 40,000)	^Reduced
3.	Loss of consortium	80,000	Nil	Nil
4.	Loss of estate	15,000	15,000	Confirmed
5.	Funeral expenses	15,000	15,000	Confirmed
6.	Transportation	10,000	Nil	Nil
	Total	23,62,000	20,37,800	^{Reduced by} Rs.3,24,200/-

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In respect of 10% deduction made with regard to non-wearing of helmet, this Court is of the view that the same has to be confirmed and after such deduction, the total amount of compensation would be Rs.18,34,020/- {Rs.20,37,800/- - Rs.2,03,780/-}

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In the result, this Civil Miscellaneous Appeal stands partly allowed and the compensation awarded at Rs.21,25,800/- (Rupees Twenty One Lakhs Twenty Five Thousand and Eight Hundred only) is hereby

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C.M.A.(MD)No.917 of 2022

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reduced to Rs.18,34,020/- (Rupees Eighteen Lakhs Thirty Four Thousand and Twenty only). The appellant / insurer is directed the deposit the modified award amount with interest at 7.5% per annum from the date of petition till the date of payment, excluding the default period, if any, to the credit of M.C.O.P.No.36 of 2018 on the file of the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal / Special Court for Forest Offence cases, Nagercoil, less the amount already deposited, if any, within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment. On such deposit being made, the second respondent / second claimant is permitted to withdraw the entire amount together with interest and costs, less any amount already withdrawn, by filing appropriate application before the Tribunal. If the amount was already deposited, the balance amount shall be withdrawn by the appellant / insurer. Consequently, connected Miscellaneous Petition is closed. No costs.

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30.07.2025

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NCC : Yes/No Index : Yes/No Internet: Yes/No csm

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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C.M.A.(MD)No.917 of 2022

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K.K.RAMAKRISHNAN,J.