The High Court of Rajasthan allowed the civil miscellaneous appeal and enhanced the compensation awarded to the appellant from 31,700 to 567,700 Rupees, thereby dismissing the insurer's objection.
Compensation enhanced from Rs. 31,700 to Rs. 567,700 to be paid forthwith.
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.
[2023:RJ-JP:33452]
HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN BENCH AT JAIPUR
S.B. Civil Miscellaneous Appeal No. 754/2015
Usha Devi W/o Mahesh Chand Yadav, Aged 35 Years, R/o Dwarkapuri, Tehsil Kotputli, District Jaipur.
----Appellant
Versus
----Respondent
For Appellant(s) : Mr. Vinay Mathur For Respondent(s) : Mr. Amarnath Pareek
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ASHUTOSH KUMAR
Order
30/10/2023
1- vihykFkhZ;k }kjk ;g vihy /kkjk 173 eksVj okgu vf/kfu;e&1988 ds rgr U;k;ky; eksVj nq?kZVuk okn U;k;kf/kdj.k] dksViwryh] ftyk t;iqj ¼ftls vkxs ^vf/kdj.k* ds uke ls lacksf/kr fd;k tk,xk½ }kjk Dyse ;kfpdk la[;k&119@2007] Jherh m"kk nsoh cuke ekykjke o vU; esa ikfjr fu.kZ; fnukad 07-06-2014 ds fo#) izLrqr dh xbZ gSA
2- fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk iwoZ esa fnukad 18-07-2009 dks mDr Dyse ;kfpdk esa fu.kZ; ikfjr fd;k tkdj 1]55]000@& :i;s dh {kfriwfrZ jkf'k dk vokMZ ikfjr fd;k x;k FkkA ftl ij mDr vkns'k ds fo:) vihykFkhZ;k }kjk bl U;k;ky; esa vihy la[;k 4574@2009 lafLFkr dh
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xbZA bl U;k;ky; }kjk fnukad 06-11-2012 dks mDr vihy dk fuLrkj.k djrs gq, fook|d la[;k 2 dks vikLr djrs gq, i=koyh mDr fcUnq ij iqu% fu.kZ; ikfjr djus gsrq vf/kdj.k dks fjek.M dh xbZ FkhA rRi'pkr~ vf/kdj.k }kjk fnukad 07-06-2014 dks iqu% fu.kZ; ikfjr fd;k tkdj {kfriwfrZ jkf'k esa c<+ksrjh dj dqy 3]17]000@& :i;s dh jkf'k vihykFkhZ;k dks fnyokbZ xbZA ftl fu.kZ; ds fo:) ;g vihy izLrqr dh xbZ gSA
3- vihykFkhZ;k m"kk nsoh }kjk vf/kdj.k ds le{k] Lo;a ds eksVj okgu nq?kZVuk esa vkgr gks tkus ds QyLo:i dqy 15]06]000@& #i;s Dyse izkIr djus gsrq Dyse ;kfpdk izLrqr dh x;h FkhA vf/kdj.k }kjk mDr Dyse ;kfpdk esa ;kph dks dqy 3]17]000@& #i;s dh {kfriwfrZ jkf’k e; C;kt 7-5 izfr’kr lkykuk dh nj ls fnyokbZ x;h gSA mDr vkns'k ls O;fFkr gksdj gLrxr vihy] vihykFkhZ;k dh vksj ls {kfriwfrZ jkf'k esa c<+ksrjh fd;s tkus gsrq izLrqr dh x;h gSA 4- nkSjkus cgl fo}ku vf/koDrk vihykFkhZ;k dk rdZ jgk gS fd fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk vihykFkhZ;k dh vk; vR;f/kd de fu/kkZfjr dh gSA fo}ku vf/koDrk vihykFkhZ;k dk ;g Hkh rdZ jgk gS fd oDr ?kVuk vihykFkhZ;k 6]000@& :i;s izfrekg vk; vftZr djrh Fkh] fdarq fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk vihykFkhZ;k dh ekfld vk; 2]500@& :i;s fu/kkZfjr djrs gq, =qfV dkfjr dh gS] ftls la'kksf/kr fd;k tkosA fo}ku vf/koDrk vihykFkhZ;k dk ;g rdZ jgk gS fd fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk vihykFkhZ;k dks Hkfo"; esa gksus okyh vk; dh c<+ksrjh ds en esa dksbZ c<+ksrjh ugha dj =qfV dkfjr dh gSA fo}ku vf/koDrk vihykFkhZ;k dk ;g Hkh rdZ jgk gS fd fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk ekufld ihM+k ds en esa vR;f/kd de jkf'k fnyokbZ xbZ gS rFkk ikSf"Vd vkgkj o vU; enksa esa Hkh jkf'k u fnyokdj =qfV dkfjr dh gSA fo}ku vf/koDrk vihykFkhZ;k dk ;g Hkh rdZ jgk gS fd vf/kdj.k }kjk {kfriwfrZ jkf'k ij C;kt fu.kZ; dh fnukad ls fnyok;k x;k gS] tks ;kfpdk dh frfFk ls fnyok;k tkosA vr% vihykFkhZ;k 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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5- blds foijhr fo}ku vf/koDrk izR;FkhZ chek daiuh 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;k dh vksj ls lafLFkr dh x;h vihy dks [kkfjt fd;s tkus dh izkFkZuk dh x;hA
6- nksuksa i{kksa dh cgl lquh x;hA vihy i=koyh dk voyksdu fd;k x;kA
7- ;g vihy] vihykFkhZ;k 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 daiuh dh vksj ls vf/kdj.k ds fu.kZ; ds fo#) dksbZ vihy izLrqr ugha dh x;h gSA
8- 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 %&
“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."
"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:"
"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
(4 of 7)
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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.”
9- vihy i=koyh ds voyksdu ls izdV gksrk gS fd ekeys dh ?kVuk fnukad 14-12-2004 dh crkbZ x;h gS rFkk oDr ?kVuk vihykFkhZ;k dks 26 o"kZ dh vk;q dk gksuk crkrs gq, flykbZ o [ksrhckM+h dk dk;Z 6]000@& #i;s izfrekg dh vk; vftZr djuk vo'; crk;k x;k gSA fdarq bl laca/k esa vihykFkhZ;k }kjk vf/kdj.k ds le{k dksbZ Bksl lk{; is'k ugha dh xbZ gSA bu ifjfLFkfr;ksa esa fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk vihykFkhZ;k ds dk;Z dh izdfr dks nf"Vxr j[krs gq, vihykFkhZ;k dh ekfld vk; 2]500@& #i;s fu/kkZfjr dh x;h gSA ftlesa ge dksbZ gLr{ksi fd;k tkuk mfpr ugha le>rs gSaA vf/kdj.k }kjk vihykFkhZ;k dh mDr fu/kkZfjr ekfld vk; ij Hkfo"; esa gksus okyh vk; dh c<+ksrjh ds en esa dksbZ c<+ksrjh ugha dh x;h gSA bl fcUnq ij fo}ku vf/kdj.k dk fu.kZ; la'kksf/kr fd;s tkus ;ksX; gSA ,slh fLFkfr esa us'kuy ba';ksjsal dEiuh fyfeVsM cuke iz.k; lsBh o vU;% ¼2017½ 16 ,l-lh-lh- 680 esa izfrikfnr fl)kUr ds vuqlkj vihykFkhZ;k dh 26 o"kZ dh vk;q dks n`f"Vxr j[krs gq, o vihykFkhZ;k dks Lofu;ksftr O;olk;h ekurs gq, mldh fu/kkZfjr ekfld vk; 2]500@& #i;s esa 40 izfr'kr vFkkZr 1]000@& #i;s dh c<+ksrjh fd;k tkuk visf{kr gSA mDr 40 izfr'kr jkf'k dks fu/kkZfjr ekfld vk; esa tksM+s tkus ds mijkar vihykFkhZ;k dh dqy 'kq) ekfld vk; 3]500@& #i;s gksrh gS tks {kfriwfrZ fu/kkZj.k dk vk/kkj jgsxhA
10gLrxr nq?kZVuk esa vihykFkhZ;k ds 'kjhj ds fofHkUu Hkkxksa psgjs] iSj ij pksV dkfjr gksuk] mldk cka;k gkFk dykbZ ls dkVk x;k gS] ftuds lkewfgd izHkko ls vihykFkhZ;k ds 'kjhj esa dqy 55 izfr’kr LFkk;h fu;ksZX;rk vkuk
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ik;k x;k gSA tSlk fd izn'kZ&22 LFkkbZ v;ksX;rk izek.ki= ds voyksdu ls Li"V gSA vihykFkhZ;k etnwj Js.kh dh O;fDr gS] ftls viuk laiw.kZ 'kkjhfjd cy yxkdj viuk dk;Z djuk gksrk gSA ,slh fLFkfr esa fuf’pr :i ls vihykFkhZ;k dks Hkfo"; esa gksus okyh vk; esa deh gksuk LokHkkfod gSA vr% vihykFkhZ;k dh 55 izfr'kr LFkkbZ fu;ksZX;rk dks vk/kkj ekudj 55 izfr'kr vk; dh gkfu gksuk ge mfpr le>rs gSaA rnuqlkj vihykFkhZ;k dh ekfld vk; 3]500@& #i;s dk 55 izfr’kr 1]925@& #i;s gksrk gS tks vihykFkhZ;k dks Hkfo"; esa gksus okyh vk; dh ekfld {kfr gSA oDr ?kVuk vihykFkhZ;k dh vk;q 26 o"kZ dk gksuk crk;k x;k gSA izn'kZ&22 LFkkbZ fu;ksZX;rk izek.k i= esa Hkh vihykFkhZ;k dh vk;q 26 o"kZ vafdr gSA ftldk [k.Mu ugha gks ldk gSA ,slh fLFkfr esa ljyk oekZ o vU; cuke nsgyh VªkaliksVZ dkWiksZjs'ku o vU;% ¼2009½ 6 ,l-lh-lh- 121 rFkk iz.k; lsBh ¼mijksDr½ ds ekeyksa esa izfrikfnr fl)kUr ds vuqlkj vihykFkhZ;k dks Hkfo"; esa gksus okyh vk; dh {kfriwfrZ dh x.kuk gsrq vihykFkhZ;k dh 26 o"kZ dh vk;q dks n`f"Vxr vihykFkhZ;k dks 26 ls 30 o"kZ ds vk;q oxZ esa j[kk tkdj 17 dk xq.kd yxk;k tkuk visf{kr gSA rnuqlkj vihykFkhZ;k dks Hkfo"; esa gksus okyh vk; dh dqy {kfr 1]925 x 12 x 17 = 3]92]700@& #i;s gksrh gS tks vihykFkhZ;k izkIr djus dh vf/kdkjh gSA
11fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk vihykFkhZ;k dks ekufld ihM+k ds en esa 10]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;k dks 60]000@& #i;s dh jkf'k fnyok;k tkuk mfpr le>rs gSaA fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk vihykFkhZ;k 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;k dks 60]000@& #i;s dh jkf'k iFkd ls fnyok;k tkuk mfpr le>rs gSaA
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12vf/kdj.k }kjk vihykFkhZ;k dks mlds bZykt ds nkSjku nok vkfn ij [kpZ gqbZ jkf’k ds en esa dqy 10]000@& :i;s dh jkf'k fnyokbZ xbZ gSA blesa ge dksbZ gLr{ksi fd;k tkuk mfpr ugha le>rs gSaA
13fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk vihykFkhZ;k dks byktjr vof/k ds nkSjku gqbZ vk; dh gkfu ds en eas i`Fkd ls dksbZ jkf'k ugha fnyokbZ xbZ gSA ;g LoHkkfod gS fd vihykFkhZ;k 55 izfr'kr fu;ksZfxrk gksus ds dkj.k N% ekg ds fy, vk; vftZr djus esa vleFkZ jgh gksxhA vr% vihykFkhZ;k dks N%s ekg dh vk; dh gkfu ds isVs dqy 15]000@& :i;s dh jkf'k fnyok;k tkuk mfpr le>rs gSaA
14vf/kdj.k }kjk vihykFkhZ;k dks ikSf"Vd vkgkj ds en esa i`Fkd ls dksbZ jkf'k ugha fnyokbZ xbZ gSA ,slh fLFkfr esa vihykFkhZ;k dks bl en esa 20]000@& :i;s dh jkf'k fnyok;k tkuk mfpr le>rs gSaA
15vf/kdj.k }kjk vihykFkhZ;k dks vLirky vkus&tkus gsrq ifjogu ,oa ;krk;kr ij O;; gqbZ jkf'k ds en esa i`Fkd ls dksbZ jkf'k ugha fnyokbZ xbZ gSA ,slh fLFkfr esa vihykFkhZ;k dks bl en esa 10]000@& :i;s dh jkf'k fnyok;k tkuk mfpr le>rs gSaA
16mDrkuqlkj vihykFkhZ;k@DysesaV fuEu izdkj ls {kfriwfrZ jkf'k izkIr djus dk vf/kdkjh gS %&
| 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- | Hkfo"; esa gksus okyh vk; vtZu dh {kerk esa deh ds en esa |
2]97]000@& | 3]92]700@& |
| 2- | 'kkjhfjd o ekufld ihM+k dh en esa |
10]000@& | 60]000@& |
| 3- | Hkfo"; esa gksus okyh lqfo/kk dh deh ds en esa |
'kwU; | 60]000@& |
| 4- | bZykt ds nkSjku nok vkfn ij O;; gqbZ jkf'k ds en esa |
10]000@& | 10]000@& |
| 5- | byktjr vof/k ds nkSjku gqbZ vk; dh gkfu ds en esa |
'kwU; | 15]000@& |
| 6- | ikSf"Vd vkgkj dh en esa | 'kwU; | 20]000@& |
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7- ifjogu ,oa ;krk;kr ij O;; 'kwU; 10]000@& gqbZ jkf'k ds en esa dqy 3]17]000@&#i;s 5]67]700@&#i;s
17rnuqlkj ;g vihy vkaf’kd :i ls Lohdkj dh tkdj fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk ikfjr iapkV ftlds }kjk fd vihykFkhZ;k@DysesaV dks 3]17]000@& :i;s fnyok;s tkus dk vkns'k ikfjr fd;k x;k gS] ds LFkku ij 5]67]700@& :i;s dk iapkV ikfjr fd;k tkrk gSA mDr jkf'k ij fu;ekuqlkj vk;dj dVkSrh dh tkosxhA vihykFkhZ;k }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;k izkIr djus dh vf/kdkjh ikbZ tkrh gSA
18bl vkns'k }kjk c<+kbZ xbZ {kfriwfrZ jkf'k ij ;kfpdk nk;j djus dh frfFk ls vihykFkhZ;k] 8 izfr'kr okf"kZd C;kt izkIr djus dk vf/kdkjh gSaA 19rnuqlkj ;g vihy fuLrkfjr dh tkrh gSA
(ASHUTOSH KUMAR),J
ARIB/60
2 issues framed by the court
Whether the enhanced quantum of compensation is appropriate given the age, disability, and circumstances of the victim.
What is the just compensation for future earning loss, non-pecuniary loss, and other heads of claim in this accident case.
Colour shows how this judgement treated each authority
Anant Son of Sidheswar Dukre Vs. Pratap son of Zhampannappa Lamzane & Anr.Applied¶28
(2018) 9 Supreme Court Cases 450; Anant Son of Sidheswar Dukre Vs. Pratap son of Zhampannappa Lamzane & Anr.
Yadava Kumar v. National Insurance Co. Ltd.Applied¶30
Yadava Kumar v. National Insurance Co. Ltd.
State of MP & Anr. Vs. Sunil Kumar & Anr.Relied on¶36
(2017) 16 All India Reporter 680; State of MP & Anr. Vs. Sunil Kumar & Anr.
State of MP & Ors. Vs. Sonalika Transport Corpn & Ors.Relied on¶41
(2009) 6 All India Reporter 121; State of MP & Ors. Vs. Sonalika Transport Corpn & Ors.
4 provisions across 2 enactments
Usha Devi W/o Mahesh Chand Yadav
New India Assurance Company Limited
Ashutosh Kumar
As recorded by the court registry
Judgements on the same questions, provisions and authorities, from every court
