Priyanka and Others Vs Sunder Lal and Another — Motor Accident Claims | Punjab & Haryana HC (2026)

Priyanka and Others Vs Sunder Lal and Another — Motor Accident Claims | Punjab & Haryana HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Impugned award modified with re-worked compensation components (monthly income Rs.9,000/-, 40% future prospects, 4 dependents, 1/4 deduction, multiplier 17, loss of consortium Rs.48,400 x4, loss of estate Rs.18,000/-, funeral expenses Rs.18,000/-); interest to abide by the award; appeal disposed of.

Issue for consideration

Whether the compensation awarded to the claimants (appellants) for the death of Bhagmal in the motor vehicular accident dated 07.03.2019 should be enhanced/re-worked in terms of the ratio of law laid down by the Supreme Court.

Court's answer

Compensation is re-worked in terms of the ratio of law laid down by the Supreme Court in Sarla Verma (2009 ACJ 1298), Pranay Sethi (2017(4) RCR (Civil) 1009) and Magma General Insurance (2018(4) RCR (Civil) 333), applying: age of deceased 30 years, monthly income Rs.9,000/-, future prospects 40%, 4 dependents, deduction of 1/4, multiplier 17, loss of consortium Rs.48,400 x4, loss of estate Rs.18,000/- and funeral expenses Rs.18,000/-.

Ratio / Principle

Interest shall abide by the award.

Key takeaways

With the aforesaid modification in the impugned award, the appeal is disposed off.ratio¶24

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Oral single-judge decision of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh (Pankaj Jain, J.) disposing of the claimants' appeal for enhancement of compensation under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 for the death of Bhagmal (aged 30 years) in a motor vehicular accident dated 07.03.2019. Relying on the Supreme Court ratios in Sarla Verma v. Delhi Transport Corporation (2009 ACJ 1298), National Insurance Co. v. Pranay Sethi (2017(4) RCR (Civil) 1009) and Magma General Insurance v. Nanu Ram @ Chuhru Ram (2018(4) RCR (Civil) 333), the court re-worked the compensation: monthly income Rs.9,000/-, future prospects 40%, 4 dependents, 1/4 personal deduction, multiplier 17, loss of consortium Rs.48,400 x4, loss of estate Rs.18,000/-, funeral expenses Rs.18,000/-; interest to abide by the award; appeal disposed of.

(O&M)

147 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH

(O&M) Date of decision : 25.05.2026

Smt. Priyanka & ors.

...... Appellants

versus

Sunder Lal & anr.

..... Respondents

CORAM : HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE PANKAJ JAIN

Present: Mr. M.S.Randhawa, Advocate for the appellants.

Mr. Raj Kumar, Advocate for respondent No.2.

PANKAJ JAIN, J. (ORAL)

1 The claimants are in appeal seeking enhancement of compensation awarded in a claim petition filed under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, on account of death of Bhagmal, who died in a motor vehicular accident dated 07.03.2019 at the age of 30 years.

2 The compensation needs to be re-worked in terms of ratio of law laid down by Supreme Court in the case of Sarla Verma and others v. Delhi Transport Corporation and another, 2009 ACJ 1298, National Insurance Company Ltd. vs. Pranay Sethi and others, 2017(4) RCR (Civil)1009 and Magma General Insurance Company Ltd., Vs. Nanu Ram

POOJA SHARMA 2026.06.05 16:21 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document

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(O&M)

@ Chuhru Ram & ors., 2018(4) RCR (Civil) 333. The award is modified

as under :-

1	Age of the deceased	30 years
2	Date of accident	07.03.2019
3	Monthly income	Rs.9,000/-
4	Future prospects	40%
5	No. of dependents	4
6	Deduction	¼
7	Multiplier	17
8	Loss of consortium	Rs.48,400 x4
9	Loss of estate	Rs.18,000/-
10	Funeral expenses	Rs.18,000/-

3 Needless to say, the interest shall abide by the award.

4 With the aforesaid modification in the impugned award, the appeal is disposed off.

( PANKAJ JAIN ) 25.05.2026 JUDGE Pooja Sharma-I Whether speaking/reasoned: Yes/No Whether reportable: Yes/No

POOJA SHARMA 2026.06.05 16:21 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document

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