Allowed

Nawal Kishore Gupta v. Suresh Kumar and Ors.

Rajasthan HC21 Sept 2023CMA/667/2017

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

The High Court enhanced the compensation awarded to the appellant for motor vehicle accident injuries. Relying on SC guidance that compensation must fully restore the victim, the court increased the award from Rs. 89,525 to Rs. 1,21,525 by granting additional amounts for pain, non-pecuniary losses, loss of affection, and maintenance.

What did the court decide?

Compensation enhanced to Rs. 1,21,525 with interest at 18% per annum from the date of judgment.

Nawal Kishore Gupta Vs Suresh Kumar and Ors. — Motor Accident Claims | Rajasthan HC (2023)

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[2023:RJ-JP:30013]

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HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN BENCH AT JAIPUR

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S.B. Civil Miscellaneous Appeal No. 667/2017

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Nawal Kishore Gupta S/o Chitarlal, R/o Krishna Colony, Baran Raj.

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----Appellant/Claimant

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Versus

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Suresh Kumar S/o Ramprasad Meena, R/o Basti Khunja, Tehsil Khanpur, Distt. Jhalawad Raj. (Driver)

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Lokendra Meena S/o Madanlal, R/o Ghanskheda, Tehsil Sangod, Distt. Kota Raj. (Owner)

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Universal Sompo General Insurance Company Limited, Regional Office- 201-208, Cristal Plaza, Opposite In Finnility Mall, Link Road, Andheri West, Mumbai Through Its Regional Manager (Insurance Company)

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----Non-Claimants/Respondents

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For Appellant(s) : Mr. Sanjay Singhal For Respondent(s) : Mr. Ritesh Jain with Mr. Ram Dev Arya

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HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ASHUTOSH KUMAR

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Order

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21/09/2023

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1- vihykFkhZ }kjk ;g vihy /kkjk 173 eksVj okgu vf/kfu;e&1988 ds rgr U;k;ky; eksVj;ku nq?kZVuk nkok vf/kdj.k] ftyk ckjka ¼ftls vkxs ^vf/kdj.k* ds uke ls lacksf/kr fd;k tk,xk½ }kjk Dyse ;kfpdk la[;k&21@2014] uoyfd'kksj xqIrk cuke lqjs'k dqekj o vU; esa ikfjr fu.kZ; fnukad 15-09-2016 ds fo#) izLrqr dh xbZ gSA

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2- vihykFkhZ uoyfd'kksj xqIrk }kjk vf/kdj.k ds le{k] Lo;a ds eksVj okgu nq?kZVuk esa vkgr gks tkus ds QyLo:i dqy 9]08]150@& #i;s Dyse izkIr djus gsrq Dyse ;kfpdk izLrqr dh x;h FkhA vf/kdj.k }kjk mDr Dyse ;kfpdk esa ;kph dks dqy 89]525@& #i;s dh {kfriwfrZ jkf’k e; C;kt 7

[2023:RJ-JP:30013]

[CMA-667/2017]

(2 of 5)

izfr’kr lkykuk dh nj ls fnyokbZ x;h gSA mDr vkns'k ls O;fFkr gksdj gLrxr vihy] vihykFkhZ dh vksj ls {kfriwfrZ jkf'k esa c<+ksrjh fd;s tkus gsrq izLrqr dh x;h gSA

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3- nkSjkus cgl fo}ku vf/koDrk vihykFkhZ dk rdZ jgk gS fd fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk vihykFkhZ dh vk; vR;f/kd de fu/kkZfjr dh gSA fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk Hkfo"; esa bZykt ds en esa Hkh dksbZ jkf'k ugha fnyokbZ xbZ gS] tks fnyokbZ tkosA fo}ku vf/koDrk vihykFkhZ dk ;g rdZ jgk gS fd vihykFkhZ ds nka;s iSj dk nks ckj vkWijs'ku gqvk gS] ftlds dkj.k vihykFkhZ dks 18 izfr'kr fu;ksZfxrk dkfjr gqbZ gS rFkk vihykFkhZ dkQh le; rd vLirky esa Hkh HkrhZ jgk gS] fdarq bl laca/k esa fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk vR;f/kd de jkf'k fnykbZ xbZ gS] ftldks c<k;k tkos rFkk vU; enksa esa Hkh vR;f/kd de jkf'k fnyokbZ x;h gS] ftuesa c<+ksrjh dh tkosA vr% vihykFkhZ dh vksj ls izLrqr vihy Lohdkj dh tkdj {kfriwfrZ jkf'k esa c<+ksrjh fd;s tkus dh izkFkZuk dh x;hA

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4- blds foijhr fo}ku vf/koDrk izR;FkhZ chek dEiuh dh vksj ls mijksDr rdkZsa dk fojks/k djrs gq, fo}ku vf/kdj.k ds fu.kZ; dh iqf"V fd;s tkus rFkk vihykFkhZ dh vksj ls lafLFkr dh x;h vihy dks [kkfjt fd;s tkus dh izkFkZuk dh x;hA

¶23

5- nksuksa i{kksa dh cgl lquh x;hA vihy i=koyh dk voyksdu fd;k x;kA

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6- ;g vihy] vihykFkhZ dh vksj ls vf/kdj.k }kjk fnyokbZ x;h {kfriwfrZ jkf'k esa c<+ksrjh fd;s tkus gsrq izLrqr dh xbZ gSA izR;FkhZ chek dEiuh dh vksj ls vf/kdj.k ds fu.kZ; ds fo#) dksbZ vihy izLrqr ugha dh x;h gSA 7- eksVj nq?kZVuk esa vkgr O;fDr;ksa dks {kfriwfrZ fnyok;s tkus ds lanHkZ esa ekuuh; mPpre U;k;ky; }kjk vius U;kf;d n`"Vkar Anant Son of Sidheswar Dukre Vs. Pratap son of Zhampannappa Lamzane & Anr. Reported in (2018) 9 Supreme Court Cases 450, esa fl)kUr izfrikfnr fd;k gS tks fuEu izdkj ls gS %&

(3 of 5)

[2023:RJ-JP:30013]

[CMA-667/2017]

“12. In case of motor accidents leading to injuries and disablements, it is a well settled principle that a person must not only be compensated for his physical injury, but also for the non-pecuniary losses which he has suffered due to the injury. The claimant is entitled to be compensated for his inability to lead a full life, and enjoy those things and amenities which he would have enjoyed, but for the injuries."

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"13. The purpose of compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act is to fully and adequately restore the aggrieved to the position prior to the accident. This Court in Yadava Kumar v. National Insurance Co. Ltd. explained “just compensation” in the following words:"

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"15. It goes without saying that in matters of determination of compensation both the tribunal and the court are statutorily charged with a responsibility of fixing a “just compensation”. It is obviously true that determination of a just compensation cannot be equated to a bonanza. At the same time the concept of “just compensation” obviously suggests application of fair and equitable principles and a reasonable approach on the part of the tribunals and courts. This reasonableness on the part of the tribunal and court must be on a large peripheral field.”

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8- vihy i=koyh ds voyksdu ls izdV gksrk gS fd ekeys dh ?kVuk fnukad 13-03-2012 dh crkbZ x;h gS rFkk oDr ?kVuk vihykFkhZ dks 54 o"kZ dh vk;q dk gksuk crkrs gq, uoy fd'kksj ckjka ukxfjd lgdkjh cSad esa DydZ ds in ij dk;Z dj 27]622@&:i;s izfrekg dh vk; vftZr djuk crk;k x;k gSA fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk vk{ksfir fu.kZ; esa vihykFkhZ dh vk; dh {kfr ds laca/k esa ;g fu"d"kZ fudkyk gS fd gLrxr ekeys esa **mDr nq?kZVuk esa izkFkhZ ds 'kjhj ds nkfgus iSj dk vaxwBk dVdj vyx gks x;k rFkk bZykt ds nkSjku dkQh fnuksa rd fpfdRlky; esa HkrhZ jgkA izkFkhZ uoy fd'kksj dk LFkk;h fu%'kDrrk izek.k i= izn'kZ 20 izLrqr gqvk gS] ftlds

[2023:RJ-JP:30013]

[CMA-667/2017]

(4 of 5)

vuqlkj mlds 'kjhj ij 18 izfr'kr LFkk;h fu%'kDrrk vkuk crk;k x;k gS] fdarq bl lanHkZ esa laiw.kZ ckWMh ds fy, ;g ekuk tkuk U;k;ksfprugha gS fd mDr LFkk;h fu%'kDrrk ds dkj.k ls izkFkhZ dh laiw.kZ dk;Z {kerk esa 18 izfr'kr dh deh vkbZ gksA** bl izdkj izkFkhZ vk; dh {kfr ds en esa rFkk Hkfo"; eas gksus okyh vk; dh {kfr ds en esa Hkh dksbZ jkf’k izkIr djus dk vf/kdkjh ugh a gSA vr% fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk fudkys x;s mDr fu"d"kZ dks ge fdlh izdkj ls =qfViw.kZ gksuk ugh a ikrs gSaA

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9- fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk vihykFkhZ dks 'kkjhfjd o ekufld ihM+k] ikSf"Vd vkgkj o dk;Z ds uqdlku ds en esa 43]000@& #i;s dh jkf’k fnyokbZ x;h gS] ftls la'kksf/kr fd;k tkuk ge mfpr le>rs gSaA vr% ge 'kkjhfjd o ekufld ihM+k dh en esa vihykFkhZ dks 25]000@& #i;s dh jkf'k fnyok;k tkuk mfpr le>rs gSaA fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk vihykFkhZ dks Hkfo"; esa gksus okyh lq[k&lqfo/kk dh deh dh en esa iFkd ls dksbZ jkf'k ugha fnyokbZ x;h gSA vr% Hkfo"; esa gksus okyh lq[k&lqfo/kk dh deh ds en esa ge] vihykFkhZ dks 25]000@& #i;s dh jkf'k iFkd ls fnyok;k tkuk mfpr le>rs gSaA

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10vf/kdj.k }kjk vihykFkhZ dks mlds bZykt ds nkSjku nok vkfn ij [kpZ gqbZ jkf’k ds en esa dqy 14]960@& #i;s dh jkf’k fnyokbZ x;h gSA blesa ge dksbZ gLr{ksi fd;k tkuk mfpr ugha le>rs gSaA 11fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk vihykFkhZ dks 36 fnu vodk'k ij jgus ls vk; dh gkfu ds en esa 31]565@& :i;s dh jkf'k fnyokbZ xbZ gSA blesa ge dksbZ gLr{ksi fd;k tkuk mfpr ugha le>rs gSaA

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12vf/kdj.k }kjk vihykFkhZ dks ikSf"Vd vkgkj ds en esa i`Fkd ls dksbZ jkf'k ugha fnyokbZ xbZ gSA ,slh fLFkfr esa vihykFkhZ dks bl en esa 15]000@& :i;s dh jkf'k fnyok;k tkuk mfpr le>rs gSaA

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13vf/kdj.k }kjk vihykFkhZ dks vLirky vkus&tkus gsrq ifjogu ,oa ;krk;kr ij O;; gqbZ jkf'k ds en esa i`Fkd dksbZ jkf'k ugha fnyokbZ xbZ gSA

[2023:RJ-JP:30013]

[CMA-667/2017]

(5 of 5)

,slh fLFkfr esa vihykFkhZ dks bl en esa 10]000@& :i;s dh jkf'k fnyok;k tkuk mfpr le>rs gSaA

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14mDrkuqlkj vihykFkhZ@DysesaV fuEu izdkj ls {kfriwfrZ jkf'k izkIr djus dk vf/kdkjh gS %&

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Øe la[;k	'kh"kZ@en	vf/kdj.k }kjk fnyokbZ x;h jkf’k	bl fu.kZ; ds rgr fu/kkZfjr dh x;h jkf’k
1-	'kkjhfjd o ekufld ihM+k	43]000@&	25]000@&
2-	Hkfo"; esa gksus okyh lqfo/kk dh deh ds en esa	'kwU;	25]000@&
3-	bZykt ds nkSjku O;; gqbZ jkf'k ds en esa	14]960@&	14]960@&
4-	36 fnu dh vk; dh gkfu ds en esa	31]565@&	31]565@&
5-	ikSf"Vd vkgkj dh en esa	'kwU;	15]000@&
6-	ifjogu ,oa ;krk;kr ij O;; gqbZ jkf'k ds en esa	'kwU;	10]000@&
	dqy	89]525@&#i;s	1]21]525@&#i;s

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15rnuqlkj ;g vihy vkaf’kd :i ls Lohdkj dh tkdj fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk ikfjr iapkV ftlds }kjk fd vihykFkhZ@DysesaV dks 89]525@& :i;s fnyok;s tkus dk vkns'k ikfjr fd;k x;k gS] ds LFkku ij 1]21]525@& :i;s dk iapkV ikfjr fd;k tkrk gSA mDr jkf'k ij fu;ekuqlkj vk;dj dVkSrh dh tkosxhA vihykFkhZ }kjk iwoZ esa izkIr dh x;h jkf’k dks iapkV jkf’k esa ls lek;ksftr fd;k tkdj 'ks"k jkf’k vihykFkhZ izkIr djus dk vf/kdkjh ik;k tkrk gSaA

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