Single Bench appeal where the High Court enhanced death compensation from Rs. 2,87,600 to Rs. 6,66,280. The court revised loss of income estimation and awarded conventional heads for funeral, estate, and consortium based on National Insurance and New India Insurance precedents.
Appeal allowed; compensation enhanced from Rs. 2,87,600 to Rs. 6,66,280.
This page shows the compact analysis of this judgement. The full analysis — procedural history, issue-by-issue holdings with ratio and obiter, advocates, and paragraph-level evidence for every claim — is being added to the record in batches and will appear here when this judgement has been through it.
HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN BENCH AT JAIPUR
S.B. Civil Miscellaneous Appeal No. 4174/2008
through their natural gurdian/mother Mst. Manju Devi W/o Late Rajendra R/o Samota Ki Dhani, Shahpura Distt. Jaipur
----Appellant/Claimants
Versus
----Respondent/Opposite Parties
| For Appellant(s) | : Mr. Sandeep Mathur |
|---|---|
| For Respondent(s) | : Mr. Raj Pal Choudhary |
| Mr. Amarnath Pareek |
HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE SHUBHA MEHTA
| Order | ||
|---|---|---|
| Reserved on | :: | 11/08/2023 |
| Pronounced on | :: | 15/09/2023 |
vihykFkhZx.k&nkosnkj dh vksj ls ;g vihy fo}ku eksVj nq?kZVuk nkok U;k;kf/kdj.k] 'kkgiqjk ftyk t;iqj ¼ftls vkxs vf/kdj.k ls lEcksf/kr fd;k tk,xk½ }kjk eksVj nq?kZVuk nkok la[;k& 195@2001 esa ikfjr fu.kZ; ,oa vokMZ fnukad 29-01-2004 ] ftlds ek/;e ls vihykFkhZx.k&nkosnkj ds i{k esa dqy {kfriwfrZ jkf'k 2]87]600@ &:i;s dk iapkV ikfjr fd;k x;k] ls O;fFkr gksdj ,oa mDr {kfriwfrZ jkf'k esa c<ksrjh fd, tkus ds lEcU/k esa izLrqr dh xbZ gSA
[CMA-4174/2008]
(2 of 7)
la{ksi esa izdj.k dh rF;kRed fLFkfr ds vuqlkj fnukad 16-10-1998 dks ewypan] ';ksjke o jktsUnz mQZ jktw thi ds thi esa lokj gksdj tkrs gq, ds nkSjku jkLrs esa pkanwokl ds ikl fnYyh ls vk jgh cl pkyd }kjk viuk okgu rst o ykijokghiwoZd pykrs gq, VDdj ekjus ds ifj.kkeLo:i mDr O;fDr;ksa dh eR;q gksus ij erd jktsUnz 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 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 2]87]600@& :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
cgl lquh xbZA fo}ku vf/koDrk vihykFkhZx.k&nkosnkj dk rdZ gS fd fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk e`rd dh ekfld vk; 2100@& :i;s ekurs gq, {kfriwfrZ jkf'k dk fu/kkZj.k fd;k x;k gS] ftls os bl vihy esa dksbZ pqukSrh ugha nsrs gSaA
mudk rdZ jgk fd fo}ku vf/kdj.k us erd }kjk Lo;a ij fd;s tkus okys O;fDrxr [kpZ ds :i esa vk; ds 1@3 Hkkx dh dVkSrh dh gS] tcfd erd ij mlds ekrk&firk] iRuh ,oa ,d iq=h vFkkZr pkj O;fDr;ksa dh vkfJrrk dks /;ku esa j[krs gq, {kfriwfrZ jkf'k dh x.kuk ds dze esa vk; ds 1@3 ds LFkku ij 1@4 Hkkx dh dVkSrh O;fDrxr [kpZ ds fy;s gksuh pkfg,A blh izdkj mudk ;g Hkh rdZ jgk fd fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk e`rd dh vk;q 25 o"kZ ekurs gq, 17 dk xq.kd iz;qDr fd;k x;k gS] tcfd mDr mez gsrq 17 ds LFkku ij 18 dk xq.kd iz;qDr esa fy;k tkuk pkfg,A
mudk ;g Hkh rdZ jgk fd fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk erd dh Hkfo"; esa gksus okyh vk; dh of) dks /;ku esa j[kdj {kfriwfrZ jkf'k dk vkdyu ugha fd;k x;k gSA 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 e`rd dh U;wure etnwjh vFkok vfuf'pr
[CMA-4174/2008]
(3 of 7)
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 25 o"kZ gksus ls mDr U;kf;d fofuf'p; ds vuqlkj Hkfo"; dh vk; esa 40 izfr'kr jkf'k dh o`f) djds {kfriwfrZ jkf'k dk fu/kkZj.k fd;k tk,A
mudk ;g Hkh rdZ jgk fd fo}ku vf/kdj.k us laxfr] Lusg ,oa lkgp;Z dh gkfu (Loss of Consortium) esa e`rd dh iRuh] mldh iq=h ,oa ekrk&firk dks dksbZ jkf'k ugha fnykbZ gSA vr% izR;sd dks Hkh 40]000@& :i;s fnyk;s tkus pkfg,A blh izdkj nkg laLdkj (Funeral) dh en esa 15]000@& :i;s rFkk lEifRr dh gkfu (Loss of Estate) ds fy;sa 15]000@& :i;s dh jkf'k fnyk;s tkus dh izkFkZuk dh xbZA
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
mDr rdksZa ds fojks/k eas fo}ku vf/koDrk chek dEiuh dh vksj ls rdZ izLrqr fd;k x;k fd fo}ku vf/kdj.k us erd dh ekfld vk; 2100@& :i;s xyr :i ls ekuh gSA rRle; vdq'ky Jfed ds fy;s U;wure etnwjh ekuh tkuh pkfg, Fkh] ftlds vuqlkj erd dh ekfld vk; 1500@& :i;s gksrh gS vkSj blh vk/kkj ij {kfriwfrZ jkf'k dk fu/kkZj.k djuk pkfg,A
mudk ;g Hkh rdZ jgk fd fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk {kfriwfrZ jkf'k ij 09 izfr'kr okf"kZd nj ls C;kt fnyk;k x;k gS] tks vR;f/kd gSA mudk fuosnu jgk fd ;fn ;g U;k;ky; {kfriwfrZ jkf'k esa c<+ksRrjh djuk mfpr le>rk gS rks c<+kbZ xbZ jkf'k ij 06 izfr'kr okf"kZd C;kt fnyk;k tk,A
[CMA-4174/2008]
(4 of 7)
chek dEiuh ds mDr rdksZa ds fojks/k esa vihykFkhZx.k&nkosnkj ds fo}ku vf/koDrk us rdZ izLrqr djrs gq, izdV fd;k gS fd ;g vihy nkosnkj dh vksj ls {kfriwfrZ jkf'k esa c<+ksRrjh fd;s tkus ds laca/k gSA bl U;k;ky; ds le{k chek dEiuh dh dksbZ vihy ;k izfr&vkifRr;kWa ugha gSa fd og e`rd dh vk; esa deh djds {kfriwfrZ jkf'k dks fu/kkZfjr djsA bl dze esa mudh vksj ls ekuuh; loksZPp U;k;ky; ds fuEu U;kf;d fofu'p; izLrqr fd;sA
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
vk; dh {kfr (Loss of Income)
bl izdj.k esa fo}ku vf/kdj.k ds le{k izLrqr Dyse ;kfpdk esa erd dk [ksrh dk dk;Z djuk vkSj izfrfnu 150@& :i;s dh vk; vftZr djuk vfHkdfFkr fd;k Fkk] ijUrq fo}ku vf/kdj.k us miyC/k lk{; ds vk/kkj ij ;g izekf.kr ugha ekuk vkSj 2100@& :i;s izfrekg vk; vftZr djuk ekurs gq, {kfriwfrZ jkf'k dk fu/kkZj.k fd;kA mDr vk; fu/kkZj.k dks vihykFkhZ&nkosnkj us pqukSrh ugha nhA muds }kjk ;g vihy {kfriwfrZ jkf'k esa of) ds fy;s izLrqr dh xbZ gS vkSj fdlh izdkj izfr&vkifRr;kWa ;k vihy chek dEiuh dh vksj ls ugha gSaA ;g Hkh mYys[kuh; gS fd chek dEiuh us 2100@& :i;s izfrekg ds vk/kkj ij fu/kkZfjr dh xbZ {kfriwfrZ jkf'k fcuk fdlh vkifRr ds lanRr Hkh dj nh gSA vr% bl vihy esa chek dEiuh bl izdkj dh vkifRr ugha ys ldrh gS fd erd dh vk; 1500@& :i;s izfrekg ekudj {kfriwfrZ jkf'k fu/kkZfjr dh tk,A ;g vkifRr mi;qZDr foospu ds izdk'k esa Lohdkj fd;s tkus ;ksX; ugha gSA vr% bl U;k;ky; dh jk; esa vk; dh {kfr ds fu/kkZj.k ds dze esa erd dh ekfld vk; 2100@& :i;s ekuk tkuk ;qfDr;qDr ,oa U;k;laxr gSA mDrkuqlkj x.kuk djus ij okf"kZd vk; 25]200@& :i;s ekuh tkrh gSA
[CMA-4174/2008]
(5 of 7)
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 25 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
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 ;kfpdk] erd dh iRuh] iq=h ,oa ekrk&firk dqy 4 vkfJrksa dh vksj ls is'k dh xbZ gSA fo}ku vf/kdj.k us erd }kjk Lo;a ij fd;s tkus okys O;; ds :i esa vk; ds 1@3 Hkkx dh dVkSrh dh gS] tcfd erd ij pkj O;fDr;ksa dh vkfJrrk dks /;ku esa j[krs gq, e`rd ds O;fDrxr [kpZ ds :i esa vk; ds 1@4 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
fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk {kfriwfrZ jkf'k dh x.kuk ds dze esa erd dh vk;q 25 o"kZ ekuh xbZ gS vkSj 17 dk xq.kd iz;qDr fd;k x;k gSA 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 erd dh vk;q 25 o"kZ gksus ds dkj.k 17 ds LFkku ij 18 dk xq.kd iz;qDr fd;k tkuk mfpr gSA
vr% vk; dh {kfr dh {kfriwfrZ jkf'k dk fu/kkZj.k fuEukuqlkj fd;k tkuk mfpr gS %&
| Ø-la- | en | {kfriwfrZ jkf'k |
|---|---|---|
| 1- | e`rd dh okf"kZd vk; | 25,200/- |
| 2- | Hkfo"; esa gksusokyh vk; dh o`f) dh izR;k'kk |
10,080/- (40% of the income) |
| 3- | ;ksx | 35,280/- |
| 4- | e`rd }kjk Lo;a ij fd;s tkusokys [kpZ dh dVkSrh ¼1@4½ |
8,820/- (1/4 of 35280) |
| 5- | mDr dVkSrh ds i'pkr 'ks"k jkf'k ¼vihykFkhZx.k dh okf"kZd fuHkZjrk½ |
35280-8820=26,460/- |
(6 of 7)
[CMA-4174/2008]
7- vk; dh {kfr dh {kfriwfrZ jkf'k 26460x18= 4,76,280/-
vr% fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk vk; dh {kfr dh {kfriwfrZ Lo:i fnykbZ xbZ jkf'k 2]85]600@& :i;s esa 1]90]680@& :i;s dh o`f) djrs gq, bl U;k;ky; }kjk vk; dh {kfr dh {kfriwfrZ Lo:i 4]76]280@& :i;s jkf'k fnyk;k tkuk mfpr gSA
ikjEifjd en (Conventional heads)
ekuuh; loksZPp U;k;ky; }kjk U;kf;d fofuf'p;ksa Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. 25590/2014 National Insurance Co. Ltd. Vs. Pranay Sethi & Ors. and New India Assurance Co. Ltd. Vs. Somwati & Ors. esa ikjEifjd enksa dks ifjHkkf"kr djrs gq, mlesa {kfriwfrZ jkf'k fnykbZ xbZ gSA vr% mi;qZDr U;kf;d fofuf'p;ksa dh jks'kuh esa vihykFkhZx.k&nkosnkjksa dks nkg laLdkj (Funeral) dh en esa 15]000@& :i;s] lEifRr dh gkfu (Loss of Estate) ds fy;s 15]000@& :i;s] erd dh iRuh dks vius thoulkFkh dh laxfr] Lusg ,oa lkgp;Z (Spousal Consortium) ds :i e **s** a] erd ds ekrk&firk dks vius iq= dh laxfr] Lusg ,oa lkgp;Z (Filial Consortium) ds :i esa rFkk e`rd dh iq=h dks vius firk dh laxfr] Lusg ,oa lkgp;Z (Parental Consortium) ds :i esa izR;sd dks 40]000@& :i;s (40,000x4=1,60,000) :i;s dqy 1]90]000@& dh {kfriwfrZ jkf'k bl en esa fnyk;k tkuk mfpr gSA
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
| Ø-la- | en | {kfriwfrZ jkf'k |
|---|---|---|
| 1- | vk; dh {kfr dh {kfriwfrZ jkf'k | 4,76,280/- |
| 2- | ikjEifjd en dh jkf'k | 1,90,000/- |
| 3- | dqy {kfriwfrZ jkf'k | 476280+6,66,280= |
| 6,66,280/- |
ifj.kker% fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk vihykFkhZx.k&nkosnkj dks fnykbZ xbZ
{kfriwfrZ jkf'k 2]87]600@& :i;s esa mi;qZDrkuqlkj 3]78]680@& :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
[CMA-4174/2008]
(7 of 7)
6]66]280@& :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
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 vkuqifrd forj.k ds dze esa leLr 'krZsa fo}ku vf/kdj.k ds vkns'kkuqlkj izHkkoh ,oa ;Fkkor jgsaxhA
mi;qZDrkuqlkj vihy fuLrkfjr dh tkrh gSA rnuqlkj yafcr izkFkZuk i=] ;fn dksbZ gks] fuLrkfjr fd;s tkrs gSaA
(SHUBHA MEHTA),J
Pradeep Thawani /
3 issues framed by the court
Whether the compensation for loss of income should be revised upwards to Rs. 2100 based on Supreme Court precedents rather than the original estimate of Rs. 1500.
Whether the compensation for loss of consortium and conventional heads should be increased to Rs. 40,000 per heir and Rs. 15,000 for funeral/estate as per Supreme Court guidelines.
Whether the compensation awarded by the High Court was undervalued and required to be enhanced.
Colour shows how this judgement treated each authority
National Insurance Co. Ltd. Vs. Pranay Sethi & Ors.Applied¶23
(2017) 16 SCC 680 · Who else cites this
New India Assurance Co. Ltd. Vs. Somwati & Ors.Applied¶23
(2020) 9 SCC 644 · Who else cites this
Magma General Insurance Co. Ltd. Vs. Nanuram & Ors.Applied¶23
(2018) 18 SCC 130 · Who else cites this
Raj Bala & Ors. Vs. Rakeja Begam & OrsDistinguished¶37
2022(4) RCR (Civil) 759
Meena Bai & Ors. Vs. Manraj & Ors.Distinguished¶38
Civil Appeal No. 837/2020
3 provisions across 2 enactments
Ram Lal S/o of Narayan Lal, Mst. Urmila Devi W/o Ram Lal, Mst. Manju Devi W/o Late Rajendra, Pushpa D/o Late Rajendra
Dhayan Chand S/o Azad Singh
Jagdish S/o Med Singh
The New India Assurance Company Limited
Shubha Mehta
As recorded by the court registry
Judgements on the same questions, provisions and authorities, from every court
