Rekha Devi and Others Vs Vinod Kumar and Others — Punjab & Haryana HC (2025) — LawSathi Research

Rekha Devi and Others Vs Vinod Kumar and Others — Punjab & Haryana HC (2025) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Appeal allowed in terms of the settlement dated 12.12.2025: respondent No.3-Insurance Company to pay a consolidated Rs. 3,50,000/- over and above the Tribunal award of Rs. 17,52,280/-, apportionment as directed by the Tribunal; amount to be transferred to the claimants' bank accounts within 45 days on furnishing of account particulars within 15 days (per Parminder Singh v. Honey Goyal, AIR 2025 SC 1713); minor claimants' shares to be kept in fixed deposits till majority; failure to deposit in time attracts interest @ 7.5% per annum from the date of the order till realization; pending applications disposed of.

Issue for consideration

Whether the appeal should be disposed of in terms of the settlement dated 12.12.2025 entered into between the parties before the Mediation and Conciliation Centre of the Court. +1 more

Court's answer

The appeal is allowed in terms of the settlement: respondent No.3-Insurance Company shall pay a consolidated amount of Rs. 3,50,000/- over and above the compensation awarded by the Tribunal vide the impugned Award, with apportionment as directed by the Tribunal.

Ratio / Principle

Applying the Supreme Court judgment in Parminder Singh v. Honey Goyal, respondent No.3-Insurance Company shall transfer the compensation amount into the bank accounts of the claimants within 45 days, upon the claimants furnishing particulars of their bank account(s) to the Insurance Company within 15 days.

Key takeaways

The share of the minor claimants shall be kept in fixed deposits by the Bank concerned until they attain majority.ratio¶22
In case of failure by the Insurance Company to deposit the amount within the stipulated period, the claimants shall be entitled to interest at 7.5% per annum from the date of the order till realization.ratio¶22

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Punjab & Haryana High Court (Alka Sarin, J., oral speaking order, decision dated 23.12.2025) allows FAO-1526-2023 in terms of a settlement dated 12.12.2025 arrived at before the Mediation and Conciliation Centre of the Court. Respondent No.3-Insurance Company is directed to pay a consolidated sum of Rs. 3,50,000/- towards full and final settlement over and above the compensation of Rs. 17,52,280/- already awarded by the Tribunal under the impugned Award, apportionment thereof to be as directed by the Tribunal. Following the Hon'ble Supreme Court's judgment in Parminder Singh v. Honey Goyal & Ors. (AIR 2025 SC 1713 = 2025 SCC OnLine SC 567), the insurer must transfer the amount into the bank accounts of the claimants within 45 days, upon the claimants furnishing bank account particulars within 15 days; the shares of minor claimants are to be kept in fixed deposits by the Bank concerned till they attain majority; and on failure to deposit within the stipulated period the claimants become entitled to interest at 7.5% per annum from the date of the order till realization. Pending applications stand disposed of.

139

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH

FAO-1526-2023 (O&M) Date of Decision : 23.12.2025

Rekha Devi & Ors ... Appellant(s)

Versus

Vinod Kumar & Ors ... Respondent(s)

CORAM : HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE ALKA SARIN

Present : Mr. Rajesh Goyal, Advocate for the appellants.

Mr. Pradeep Kumar, Advocate for respondent No.3.

ALKA SARIN, J. (Oral)

CM-25992-CII-2025

This is an application for preponing the date of hearing from 29.04.2026 to an early date on the ground that the matter since stands settled between the parties.

Notice of the application to respondent No.3-Insurance Company.

Mr. Pradeep Kumar, Advocate accepts notice on behalf of respondent No.3-Insurance Company and states that he has no objection if the present application is allowed.

In view of the above and for the reasons stated in the application, the same is allowed. With the consent of the learned counsel for the parties, the main appeal is taken on Board today itself.

FAO-1526-2023

Learned counsel for the parties are ad idem that the parties have

YOGESH SHARMA 2025.12.24 10:12 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document Chandigarh

2

FAO-1526-2023 (O&M)

since settled the matter before the Mediation and Conciliation Centre of this Court and have entered into a settlement dated 12.12.2025 (Annexure A-1). As per the said settlement, respondent No.3-Insurance Company has agreed to pay a consolidated amount of ₹3,50,000/- towards full and final settlement over and above the amount of compensation i.e. ₹17,52,280/- already awarded by the Tribunal.

Accordingly, the appeal is allowed. Respondent No.3- Insurance Company shall pay the above consolidated amount of ₹3,50,000/-, over and above the amount of compensation awarded by the Tribunal vide the impugned Award. The apportionment thereof shall be as directed by the Tribunal. In view of Judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Parminder Singh Vs. Honey Goyal & Ors. [AIR 2025 SC 1713 = 2025 SCC OnLine SC 567] , respondent No.3-Insurance Company shall transfer the above compensation amount in the bank accounts of the claimants within 45 days from today on furnishing of the particulars of bank account(s) by the claimants to the Insurance Company within 15 days from today. The share of the minor claimants shall be kept in fixed deposits by the Bank Concerned till they attain majority. In case of failure to deposit the above amount by the Insurance Company within the above period, the claimants shall be entitled to interest @ 7.5 % per annum from the date of this order till realization.

Pending applications, if any, also stand disposed off.

23.12.2025 Yogesh Sharma

( ALKA SARIN ) JUDGE

NOTE: Whether speaking/non-speaking: Speaking Whether reportable: YES/NO

YOGESH SHARMA 2025.12.24 10:12 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document Chandigarh