Partly allowed

Ashok Kumar S/O Lalchand (Father of Deceased) v. Veer Singh S/O Mahendra Singh

Rajasthan HC5 Oct 2023CMA/2365/2019

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

In this appeal, the High Court enhanced the compensation award for the death of a 20-year-old driver and his private coaching business, applying a higher life expectancy and loss of earnings assumption while upgrading conventional heads of claim like consortium.

What did the court decide?

The civil miscellaneous appeal was allowed; the original compensation of ₹6,10,000 was enhanced to ₹10,03,592, and the claimants' share was adjusted proportionately.

Ashok Kumar S/O Lalchand (Father of Deceased) Vs Veer Singh S/O Mahendra Singh — Rajasthan HC (2023) — LawSathi Research

¶1

HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN BENCH AT JAIPUR

¶2

S.B. Civil Miscellaneous Appeal No. 2365/2019

¶3

Ashok Kumar S/o Lalchand (Father Of Deceased), Aged About 45 Years, R/o Kotkasim Police Station And Tehsil Kotkasim, District Alwar, (Raj.)

¶4

Sunita Devi W/o Ashok Kumar (Mother Of Deceased), Aged About 39 Years, R/o Kotkasim, Police Station And Tehsil Kotkasim, District Alwar (Raj.)

¶5

----Appellants

¶6

Versus

¶7

Veer Singh S/o Mahendra Singh, R/o Jhadjhila, P.s. Kotkasim, Tehsil Kishangarhbas, District Alwar. (Driver Of Truck Rj-02 Ga 2847)

¶8

Ram Singh S/o Girraj Prasad, R/o Dilli Darwaja Bahar, Phuti Khel, P.s. City Kotwali, Alwar. (Owner Of Truck Rj-02 Ga 2847)

¶9

United India Insurance Co. Ltd., Through Manager/executive Officer, Registered Office 24, Whit Road, Chennai, Pin Code 600014, Branch Office Alwar. (Insurance Co.)

¶10

----Respondents

¶11

For Appellant(s) : Mr. Raj Kamal Gaur For Respondent(s) : Mr. Satish Kumar Khandal

¶12

HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE SHUBHA MEHTA

¶13

Order

¶14

05/10/2023

¶15

vihykFkhZx.k&nkosnkj dh vksj ls ;g vihy fo}ku eksVj nq?kZVuk nkok vf/kdj.k] ¼vij ftyk ,oa ls'ku U;k;k/kh'k la[;k&1 fd'kux<+ckl] vyoj½ fd'kux<+ckl ftyk vyoj ¼ftls vkxs vf/kdj.k ls lEcksf/kr fd;k tk,xk½ }kjk eksVj nq?kZVuk nkok la[;k& 17@2016 esa ikfjr fu.kZ; ,oa vokMZ fnukad 31-01-2019 ] ftlds ek/;e ls vihykFkhZx.k&nkosnkj ds i{k esa dqy {kfriwfrZ jkf'k

¶16

[CMA-2365/2019]

¶17

(2 of 7)

¶18

6]10]000@ &:i;s dk iapkV ikfjr fd;k x;k] ls O;fFkr gksdj ,oa mDr {kfriwfrZ jkf'k esa o`f) fd, tkus ds lEcU/k esa izLrqr dh xbZ gSA

¶19

la{ksi esa izdj.k dh rF;kRed fLFkfr ds vuqlkj fnukad 03-12-2015 dks eksfgr] HkjrsUnz ds eksVjlkbZfdy esa lokj gksdj tkrs gq, ds nkSjku jkLrs esa fd'kux<+ckl dh vksj ls vk jgs Vªd pkyd }kjk viuk okgu rst o ykijokghiwoZd pykrs gq, VDdj ekjus ds ifj.kkeLo:i mDr eksfgr dh eR;q gksus ij erd ds vkfJrx.k ¼vihykFkhZx.k½ dh vksj ls fo}ku vf/kdj.k esa Dyse izkFkZuk i= izLrqr dj fofHkUu enksa esa {kfriwfrZ jkf'k fnyk, tkus dh izkFkZuk dh xbZA foi{kh dh vksj ls tokc izLrqr fd;k x;kA fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk i{kdkjksa ds vfHkopuksa ds vk/kkj ij fook|d fojfpr fd;s x;sA i{kdkjksa dh lk{; ys[kc) dh xbZA rRi'pkr fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk nksuksa i{kksa ds rdZ lquus ,oa i=koyh ij miyC/k ekSf[kd ,oa nLrkosth lk{; ds vk/kkj ij vkyksP; fu.kZ; }kjk vihykFkhZx.k dks {kfriwfrZ jkf'k 6]10]000@& :i;s e; C;kt fnykbZ xbZ] ftlesa o`f) fd;s tkus gsrq vihykFkhZx.k&nkosnkj dh vksj ls ;g vihy izLrqr dh xbZ gSA

¶20

cgl lquh xbZA fo}ku vf/koDrk vihykFkhZx.k&nkosnkj dk rdZ gS fd e`rd chl o"kZ dk vfookfgr ;qod Fkk vkSj v/;;u ds lkFk&lkFk V~;w'ku i<+kdj 12 gtkj :i;s izfrekg vk; Hkh vftZr djrk FkkA mudk rdZ gS fd bl vk'k; dh ekSf[kd lk{; nkosnkjksa dh vksj ls izLrqr dh xbZ Fkh ijUrq fo}ku vf/kdj.k us mldh vk; dks izekf.kr ugha ekuk vkSj mls vk; vtZu ugha djus okys O;fDr dh Js.kh esa j[kdj mldh dkYifud vk; 30]000@&:i;s ekudj vk; dh {kfriwfrZ jkf'k r; dh gS] tks fof/klEer ugha gSA

¶21

mudk rdZ gS fd e`rd tks fd 20 o"kZ dk Fkk] dk dk;Z djuk lk{; ls izekf.kr gS vkSj og ;fn vk; izekf.kr ugha Fkh rks vf/kdj.k dks rRle; izpfyr U;wure etnwjh dh nj dks vk/kkj cukdj vk; dk fu/kkZj.k djrs gq, vk; dh {kfriwfrZ jkf'k r; djuh FkhA mudk rdZ gS fd rRle; vdq'ky Jfed dh U;wure etnwjh dh nj 197@&:i;s izfrfnu Fkh] bl izdkj ls 30 fnu dh vk; 5910@&:i;s gksrh gS tks fd mldh ,d ekg dh vk; ekuh tkuh pkfg, Fks ,oa blh vuqlkj vk; dh {kfriwfrZ dh x.kuk djuh pkfg, FkhA

¶22

[CMA-2365/2019]

¶23

(3 of 7)

¶24

mudk ;g Hkh rdZ gS fd erd 20 o"kZ dk Fkk vkSj erd dh Hkfo"; esa vk; vtZu esa of) dh izR;k'kk dks ns[krs gq, vk; esa 40 izfr'kr dh of) dj {kfriwfrZ jkf'k r; djuh pkfg, FkhA bl dze esa mUgksaus ekuuh; loksZPp U;k;ky; ds U;kf;d fofuf'p; National Insurance Co. Ltd. Vs. Pranay Sethi & Ors. esa izfrikfnr fl)kUrksa dk voyEc ysrs gq, rdZ izLrqr fd;k fd erd dh U;wure etnwjh vFkok vfuf'pr vk; gksus dh fLFkfr esa Hkh erd dh mez ds vk/kkj ij Hkfo"; esa gksusokyh vk; esa of) dks /;ku esa j[kdj {kfriwfrZ jkf'k dk vkdyu djuk pkfg,A orZeku ekeys esa eR;q ds le; erd dh vk;q 20 o"kZ gksus ls mDr U;kf;d fofuf'p; ds vuqlkj Hkfo"; dh vk; esa 40 izfr'kr jkf'k dh of) djds {kfriwfrZ jkf'k dk fu/kkZj.k fd;k tk,A

¶25

mudk ;g Hkh rdZ gS fd fo}ku vf/kdj.k us e`rd }kjk Lo;a ij fd;s tkus okys O;fDrxr [kpZ ds :i esa vk; ds 1@2 Hkkx dh dVkSrh djus ds i'pkr 18 dk xq.kd mi;ksx esa fy;k tkdj vk; dh {kfriwfrZ jkf'k dk fu/kkZj.k fd;k tkuk pkfg, FkkA

¶26

mudk ;g Hkh rdZ jgk fd fo}ku vf/kdj.k us laxfr] Lusg ,oa lkgp;Z dh gkfu (Loss of Consortium) ds fy, dsoy 40]000@&:i;s dh jkf'k fnykbZ gS] tcfd vihykFkhZx.k e`rd ds ekrk&firk gSa] vr% izR;sd dks 40]000@& :i;s bl en esa fnyk;s tkus pkfg,A

¶27

fo}ku vf/koDrk vihykFkhZx.k&nkosnkj us vius mDr rdksZ ds leFkZu esa fuEu U;kf;d fofu'p; izLrqr fd;s ,oa buesa izfrikfnr fl)kUr ds vuqlkj {kfriwfrZ jkf'k c<+k, tkus ,oa izkFkZuk&i= izLrqfr ls C;kt fnyk, tkus dh izkFkZuk dhA

¶28

1- National Insurance Co. Ltd. Vs. Pranay Sethi & Ors. (2017) 16 SCC 680

¶29

2- New India Assurance Co. Ltd. Vs. Somwati & Ors. (2020) 9 SCC 644

¶30

3- Magma General Insurance Co. Ltd. Vs. Nanuram & Ors. (2018) 18 SCC 130

¶31

4- United India Insurance Co. Ltd. Vs. Satinder Kaur @ Satwinder (2020) Supreme Court (SC) 425

¶32

mDr rdksZa ds fojks/k eas fo}ku vf/koDrk chek dEiuh dh vksj ls rdZ izLrqr fd;k x;k fd e`rd dh 12oha d{kk dh vadrkfydk izLrqr gqbZ gS ftlls izdV

¶33

[CMA-2365/2019]

¶34

(4 of 7)

¶35

gksrk gS fd og nq?kZVuk ds le; fo|kFkhZ Fkk vkSj bl dkj.k fo}ku vf/kdj.k us mls vk; vtZu ugha djus okys O;fDr dh Js.kh esa ekurs gq, mldh dkYifud vk; 30 gtkj :i;s izfro"kZ ekudj {kfriwfrZ jkf'k dk fu/kkZj.k fd;k gS] tks fof/klEer gSA

¶36

mudk ;g Hkh rdZ gS fd U;kf;d fofu'p; National Insurance Co. Ltd. Vs. Pranay Sethi & Ors. (2017) 16 SCC 680 esa ikjEifjd en esa dsoys 40]000@& :i;s fnyk, x, gSa ,oa blh izdkj dk fl)kUr ekuuh; mPpre U;k;ky; ds U;kf;d fofu'p; Jhjke tujy ba';ksjsal daiuh fyfeVsM&cuke&Hkxr flag ,oa vU; ,l,yih uacj 1185&1186 lu 2021 esa izfrikfnr fd;k x;k gSA vr% mDr U;kf;d fofu'p;ksa ds izdk'k esa dsoy ;gh jkf'k fnykbZ tkuh pkfg,A fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk tks {kfriwfrZ jkf'k fnykbZ xbZ gS og i;kZIr ,oa U;k;laxr gS] ftlesa fdlh Hkh izdkj dk gLr{ksi fd, tkus dk dksbZ vk/kkj ugha gSA vr% vihy fujLruh; gS] fujLr dh tk,A

¶37

nksuksa i{kksa ds fo}ku vf/koDrkx.k ds rdksZa ij euu fd;kA vkykSP; fu.kZ; ,oa izLrqr U;kf;d fofuf'p;ksa dk /;kuiwoZd v/;;u fd;k x;kA

¶38

vk; dh {kfr (Loss of Income)

¶39

izdj.k esa iz'uxr nq?kZVuk fnukad 03-12-2015 dks gksuk Lohdr rF; gSa fo}ku vf/kdj.k us erd dks vk; vtZu ugha djus okys O;fDr dh Js.kh esa j[kdj mldh dkYifud vk; 30]000@&:i;s okf"kZd ekudj vk; dh {kfriwfrZ dh x.kuk dh gSA i=koyh ij vkbZ lk{; ls izdV gksrk gS fd erd ,d 20 o"khZ; ;qod Fkk ,oa vihykFkhZx.k ds dFkukuqlkj og gq"V&iq"V ,oa esgurh FkkA fo}ku vf/kdj.k us mldk v/;;u ds lkFk&lkFk V~;w'ku ,oa dEI;wVj i<+kdj mDr dk;Z ls 12000@&:i;s izfrekg vk; vftZr djuk izekf.kr ugha ekuk gSA ijUrq i=koyh ij vkbZ lk{; ls erd dk dk;Z djuk izekf.kr gS] ,slh fLFkfr esa mls vk; vtZu ugha djus okys O;fDr dh Js.kh esa ekudj mldh dkYifud okf"kZd vk; ekudj vk; dh {kfriwfrZ dh x.kuk djuk mfpr ugha gS] oju rRle; izpfyr fof/k ds vuqlkj U;wure etnwjh dh nj 197@&:i;s izfrfnu ls mldh vk; dh x.kuk fd;k tkuk mfpr gSA

¶40

(5 of 7) [CMA-2365/2019]

¶41

;g lqLFkkfir fl)kUr gS fd vk; dh x.kuk ds fy, ,d ekg esa 30 fnu dh etnwjh dh x.kuk dh tkuh pkfg,A vr% bl U;k;ky; dh jk; esa vk; dh {kfr ds fu/kkZj.k ds dze esa e`rd dh ekfld vk; 5910@& :i;s ekuk tkuk ;qfDr;qDr ,oa U;k;laxr gSA mDrkuqlkj x.kuk djus ij okf"kZd vk; 70920@& :i;s ekuh tkrh gSA

¶42

fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk vk; dh {kfr dk fu/kkZj.k djrs le; Hkfo"; esa erd dh vk; esa gksus okyh of) dk vkdyu ugha fd;k x;k gSA U;kf;d fofuf'p; National Insurance Co. Ltd. Vs. Pranay Sethi & Ors. esa izfrikfnr fl)kUrksa ds vuq:i eR;q ds le; erd dh vk;q 20 o"kZ gksus ,oa mlds dk;Z dh izdfr dks /;ku esa j[krs gq, mldh Hkfo"; esa vk; dh of) dh izR;k'kk ds fy;s mldh vk; dk 40 izfr'kr Hkkx orZeku vk; esa tksM+k tkuk mfpr gSA

¶43

tgkWa rd erd }kjk Lo;a ij fd;s tkus okys O;fDrxr [kpZ ds :i esa dVkSrh dk iz'u gS] fo}ku vf/kdj.k esa Dyse izkFkZuk i=] erd ds ekrk&firk dh vksj ls is'k fd;k x;k gSA erd vfookfgr Fkk] vr% erd ds O;fDrxr [kpZ ds :i esa vk; ds 1@2 Hkkx dh dVkSrh fd;k tkuk fof/klEer gS] tSlk fd ekuuh; loksZPp U;k;ky; }kjk vius U;kf;d fofuf'p; National Insurance Co. Ltd. Vs. Pranay Sethi & Ors. (2017) 16 SCC 680 fu.khZr fd;k x;k gSA

¶44

ekuuh; loksZPp U;k;ky; ds U;kf;d fofuf'p; National Insurance Co. Ltd. Vs. Pranay Sethi & Ors. (2017) 16 SCC 680 ds izdk'k esa e`rd dh vk;q 20 o"kZ gksus ds dkj.k 18 dk xq.kd iz;qDr fd;k tkuk mfpr gSA

¶45

vr% vk; dh {kfr dh {kfriwfrZ jkf'k dk fu/kkZj.k fuEukuqlkj fd;k tkuk mfpr gS %&

¶46

Ø-la-	en	{kfriwfrZ jkf'k
1-	e`rd dh okf"kZd vk;	70,920/-
2-	Hkfo"; esa gksusokyh vk; dh o`f) dh izR;k'kk	28,368/- (40% of the income)
3-	;ksx	99,288/-
4-	e`rd }kjk Lo;a ij fd;s tkusokys [kpZ dh dVkSrh ¼1@2½	49,644/- (1/2 of 99288)
5-	mDr dVkSrh ds i'pkr 'ks"k jkf'k ¼vihykFkhZx.k dh okf"kZd fuHkZjrk½	99288-49644=49644/-

¶47

[CMA-2365/2019]

¶48

(6 of 7)

¶49

6- e`rd dh vk;q ds vk/kkj ij iz;ksT; xq.kd 18

¶50

7- vk; dh {kfr dh {kfriwfrZ jkf'k 49644x18= 8,93,592/-

¶51

vr% fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk vk; dh {kfr dh {kfriwfrZ Lo:i fnykbZ xbZ jkf'k 5]40]000@& :i;s esa 3]53]592@& :i;s dh o`f) djrs gq, bl U;k;ky; }kjk vk; dh {kfr dh {kfriwfrZ Lo:i 8]93]592@& :i;s jkf'k fnyk;k tkuk mfpr gSA

¶52

ikjEifjd en (Conventional Heads)

¶53

ekuuh; loksZPp U;k;ky; }kjk U;kf;d fofuf'p;ksa United India Insurance Co. Ltd. Vs. Satinder Kaur @ Satwinder (2020) Supreme Court (SC) 425, New India Assurance Co. Ltd. Vs. Somwati & Ors. (2020) 9 SCC 644 & Magma General Insurance Co. Ltd. Vs. Nanuram & Ors. (2018) 18 SCC 130 esa ikjEifjd enksa dks ifjHkkf"kr djrs gq, mlesa {kfriwfrZ jkf'k fnykbZ xbZ gSA

¶54

orZeku izdj.k esa fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk e`rd dh laxfr] Lusg ,oa lkgp;Z dh oapuk dh {kfriwfrZ ds fy, 40]000@&:i;s fnyk, gSa rFkk nkg laLdkj ,oa lEifRr dh gkfu dh {kfriwfrZ Lo:i 15&15 gtkj :i;s] bl izdkj dqy jkf'k 70]000@& :i;s fnykbZ gS] tks gekjs fopkj ls mDr U;kf;d fofu'p;ksa ds izdk'k esa la'kksf/kr dj fnyk;k tkuk mfpr gSA

¶55

vr% mi;qZDr U;kf;d fofuf'p;ksa dh jks'kuh esa e`rd ds ekrk&firk dks vius iq= dh laxfr] Lusg ,oa lkgp;Z (Filial Consortium) dh {kfr dh {kfriwfrZ ds :i esa] izR;sd dks 40000@& :i;s vFkkZr (40,000x2=80,000) :i;s dqy 80]000@&:i;s] nkg laLdkj dh en esa 15]000@& :i;s ,oa lEifRr dh gkfu dh {kfriwfrZ gsrq 15]000@& :i;s bl izdkj dqy jkf'k 1]10]000@& :i;s dh {kfriwfrZ jkf'k bl en esa fnyk;k tkuk mfpr gSA

¶56

vr% fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk bl en esa fnykbZ xbZ 70]000@& :i;s dh jkf'k esa 40]000@& :i;s dh o`f) djrs gq, bl U;k;ky; }kjk 1]10]000@& :i;s dh jkf'k fnyk;k tkuk mfpr gSA

¶57

bl izdkj fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk vihykFkhZx.k&nkosnkj dks fnykbZ xbZ {kfriwfrZ jkf'k esa mi;ZqDrkuqlkj o`f) djrs gq, fuEukuqlkj {kfriwfrZ jkf'k dk fu/kkZj.k fd;k tkrk gSA

¶58

[CMA-2365/2019]

¶59

(7 of 7)

¶60

Ø-la-	en	{kfriwfrZ jkf'k
1-	vk; dh {kfr dh {kfriwfrZ jkf'k	8,93,592/-
2-	ikjEifjd en dh jkf'k	1,10,000/-
3-	dqy {kfriwfrZ jkf'k	893592+110000=
		10,03,592/-

¶61

ifj.kker% fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk vihykFkhZx.k&nkosnkj dks fnykbZ xbZ {kfriwfrZ jkf'k 6]10]000@& :i;s esa mi;qZDrkuqlkj 3]93]592@& :i;s dh o`f) djrs gq, djrs gq, bl U;k;ky; }kjk vihykFkhZx.k&nkosnkj ds i{k esa dqy {kfriwfrZ jkf'k 10]03]592@& :i;s dk iapkV ikfjr fd;k tkrk gSA vihykFkhZx.k }kjk iwoZ esa izkIr dh xbZ jkf'k dqy {kfriwfrZ jkf'k esa lek;ksftr gksxhA

¶62

tgkWa rd C;kt dk iz'u gS] ekuuh; loksZPp U;k;ky; ds mi;qZDr U;kf;d fofu'p;ksa esa izfrikfnr fl)kUrksa dh jks'kuh esa c<+h gqbZ {kfriwfrZ jkf'k ij C;kt nj] C;kt izkIr djus dh frfFk rFkk {kfriwfrZ jkf'k ds vkuqikfrd forj.k ds dze esa leLr 'krZsa fo}ku vf/kdj.k ds vkns'kkuqlkj izHkkoh ,oa ;Fkkor jgsaxhA

¶63

mi;qZDrkuqlkj vihy fuLrkfjr dh tkrh gSA rnuqlkj yafcr izkFkZuk i=] ;fn dksbZ gks] fuLrkfjr fd;s tkrs gSaA

¶64

(SHUBHA MEHTA),J

¶65

AJAY KUMAR SINGHAL/02

Ashok Kumar S/O Lalchand (Father of Deceased) v. Veer Singh S/O Mahendra Singh

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Ashok Kumar S/O Lalchand (Father of Deceased) v. Veer Singh S/O Mahendra Singh

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

What the court decided

A compact analysis

Issues for consideration

Cases cited

Statutes considered

Parties & counsel

Coram

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