Partly allowed

Smt Shanti v. Geeta Ram Meena

Rajasthan HC2 Jul 2026CMA/2184/2007

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Fatal road accident claim appeal seeking enhanced compensation. The court recomputed income including all salary components, deducted income tax, added 30% future prospects, used a 14 multiplier with 1/5 personal deduction, and raised consortium, funeral and loss-of-consortium amounts, enhancing total compensation substantially.

What did the court decide?

Total compensation raised from Rs.10,34,688 to Rs.23,70,132 with 8% annual interest on the enhanced amount; already paid amounts to be adjusted.

Smt Shanti Vs Geeta Ram Meena — Motor Accident Claims | Rajasthan HC (2026)

¶1

[2026:RJ-JP:24619]

¶2

HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN BENCH AT JAIPUR

¶3

S.B. Civil Miscellaneous Appeal No. 2184/2007 URN: CMA / 3920U / 2007

¶4

Smt. Shanti W/o Late Shri Kesar Singh, Aged About 40 Years

¶5

Madho S/o Late Shri Kesar Singh, Aged About 19 Years

¶6

Ku. Sangita D/o Late Shri Kesar Singh, Aged About 17 Years

¶7

Ku. Sarita D/o Late Shri Kesar Singh, Aged About 15 Years.

¶8

Ku. Suman D/o Late Shri Kesar Singh, Aged About 13 Years.

¶9

Ku, Lalita D/o Late Shri Kesar Singh, Aged About 11 Years.

¶10

Master Lokpal Singh S/o Late Shri Kesar Singh, Aged About 9 Years.

¶11

Smt. Jhamku Devi W/o Late Shri Shobhag Singh, Aged About 70 Years. (Appellants No. 3 To 7 Are Minor Through Their Natural Guardian Mother Smt. Shanti, Appellant No. 1) All R/o Rajiyawas, P.S. Jawaja Tehsil Beawar Distt. Ajmer.

¶12

----Claimants-Appellants

¶13

Versus

¶14

Geeta Ram Meena S/o Shri Kajod Mal Meena, R/o Village Arniyawas, Tehsil And District Tonk (Raj.) (Driver of The Truck No. RJ-14-2G-3765)

¶15

Sanjay Kumar S/o Shri Tilakraj Kumar, R/o 752/A, Sindhi Colony, Jaipur (Raj.) (Regd. Owner of The Vehicle Truck No. RJ-14-2G-3765)

¶16

Branch Manager, Royal Sunderam Alliance Insurance Company Ltd., 46, Whites Road, Chennai 600014, (Insurance Company of The Vehicle Truck No. RJ-14-2G3765)

¶17

----Non-Claimants-Respondents

¶18

[2026:RJ-JP:24619]	(2 of 9) [CMA-2184/2007]
For Appellant(s)	: Mr. Yashowardhan Agarwal, Adv. with Mr. Achin Singhal, Adv.
For Respondent(s)	: Mr. Chanderdeep Singh Jodha, Adv. (for Insurance Company)

¶19

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ASHUTOSH KUMAR

¶20

Judgment

¶21

02/07/2026

¶22

1- vihykFkhZx.k }kjk ;g vihy /kkjk 173 eksVj okgu vf/kfu;e&1988 ds rgr U;k;ky; eksVj nq?kZVuk nkok vf/kdj.k ,oa vij ftyk ,oa ls'ku U;k;k/kh'k ¼QkLV Vªsd½ la[;k&2] C;koj ¼ftls vkxs ^fo}ku vf/kdj.k* ds uke ls lacksf/kr fd;k tk,xk½ }kjk Dyse ;kfpdk la[;k&43@2006 ¼iqjkuk uEcj&360@2005½ Jherh 'kkafr o vU; cuke Jh xhrkjke eh.kk o vU; esa ikfjr fu.kZ; fnukad 14-02-2007 ¼ftls vkxs vkyksP; fu.kZ; ds uke ls lacksf/kr fd;k tk,xk½ ds fo#) izLrqr dh xbZ gSA

¶23

2- vihykFkhZx.k }kjk fo}ku vf/kdj.k ds le{k] eksVj okgu nq?kZVuk es a dslj flag dh e`R;q gks tkus ds QyLo:i dqy 47]86]400@& #i;s dh {kfriwfrZ jkf'k izkIr djus gsrq Dyse ;kfpdk izLrqr dh x;hA fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk mDr Dyse ;kfpdk dk fuLrkj.k djrs gq, ;kphx.k dks dqy 10]34]688@& #i;s dh {kfriwfrZ jkf’k e; C;kt 06 izfr’kr lkykuk dh nj ls fnyokbZ x;h gSA fo}ku vf/kdj.k ds mDr vk{ksfir fu.kZ; ls O;fFkr gksdj vihykFkhZx.k }kjk ;g vihy {kfriwfrZ jkf’k esa c<+ksrjh fd;s tkus gsrq izLrqr dh x;h gSA

¶24

3- nkSjkus cgl fo}ku vf/koDrk vihykFkhZx.k dk rdZ jgk gS fd oDr ?kVuk erd f'k{kk foHkkx esa jktdh; v/;kid Fkk] ftls izfrekg 11]872@& #i;s osru feyrk Fkk] ftlds laca/k esa vihykFkhZx.k }kjk erd dk osru izek.k i= i=koyh ij is'k fd;k x;k] fdUrq fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk erd dh mijksDr ekfld vk; esa ls 3]370@& #i;s dh dVkSrh dh tkdj erd dh vk; 8]500@& #i;s izfrekg fu/kkZfjr dj =qfV

[2026:RJ-JP:24619]

[CMA-2184/2007]

(3 of 9)

dkfjr dh xbZ gSA fo}ku vf/koDRkk vihykFkhZx.k dk ;g Hkh rdZ jgk gS fd fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk erd dh fu/kkZfjr ekfld vk; ij Hkfo"; esa gksus okyh vk; dh c<+ksrjh ds en esa Hkh dksbZ Hkfo"; of) ugha dh x;h gS rFkk e`rd ds O;fDrxr [kpZ dh dVkSrh ds en esa 1@5 Hkkx ds LFkku ij 1@3 Hkkx dh dVkSrh dh tkdj =qfV dkfjr dh xbZ gSA fo}ku vf/koDrk vihykFkhZx.k dk ;g Hkh rdZ jgk gS fd fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk dalksfVZ;e dh en esa o vU; enksa esa Hkh vR;ar de jkf'k fnyokbZ x;h gS] ftuesa c<+ksrjh dh tkosA vr% vihykFkhZx.k dh vksj ls izLrqr vihy Lohdkj dh tkdj {kfriwfrZ jkf'k esa c<+ksrjh fd;s tkus dh izkFkZuk dh x;hA

¶29

4- fo}ku vf/koDrk izR;FkhZ chek dEiuh }kjk vihykFkhZx.k ds mijksDr rdksZa dk fojks/k fd;k x;k rFkk fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk ikfjr fd;s x;s fu.kZ; dh iqf"V fd;s tkus o vihykFkhZx.k dh vksj ls lafLFkr dh x;h vihy dks fujLr fd;s tkus dk fuosnu fd;k x;kA 5- nksuksa i{kksa dks lquk x;kA i=koyh o fo}ku vf/kdj.k ds vfHkys[k dk voyksdu fd;k x;kA 6- i=koyh ds voyksdu ls izdV gksrk gS fd ekeys dh ?kVuk fnukad 17-08-2005 dh crkbZ x;h gS rFkk oDr ?kVuk erd dks f'k{kk foHkkx esa jktdh; v/;kid gksuk crkrs gq, izfrekg 11]872@& #i;s osru izkIr djuk crk;k x;k gSA vihykFkhZx.k }kjk erd dh vk; dks lkfcr djus gsrq erd dk osru izek.k i= izn'kZ&27 fo}ku vf/kdj.k ds le{k i=koyh ij is'k fd;k x;kA fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk erd ds osru izek.k i= izn'kZ&27 ij fo'okl djrs gq, mlesa n'kkZ;s x;s ewy osru 6]550@& #i;s] Mh-ih- HkRrk 3]275@& #i;s] egaxkbZ HkRrk 720@& #i;s] Mh-,- 590@& #i;s rFkk edku fdjk;k HkRrk 737@& #i;s dks lfEefyr djrs gq, e`rd dh ekfld vk; 11]872@& #i;s fu/kkZfjr dj mDr fu/kkZfjr vk; esa ls th-ih-,Q 1]000@&#i;s] ,l-vkbZ- 4]00@& #i;s] ,y-vkbZ-lh- 386@& #i;s] ,p-Mh-,Q-lh- ewy 1]351@& #i;s] vkj-ih-,e-,Q- 84@& #i;s] ,elh-¼,½ 144@& #i;s o lsokdj jkf'k 5@& #i;s] dqy 3]370@& #i;s dh

[2026:RJ-JP:24619]

[CMA-2184/2007]

(4 of 9)

dVkSrh dh tkdj erd dh ekfld vk; 8]500@& #i;s fu/kkZfjr dh x;h gS] tcfd erd ds osru izek.k i= esa n'kkZbZ xbZ lEiw.kZ vk; 11]872@& #i;s dks gh vk/kkj ekuk tkdj {kfriwfrZ jkf'k dk fu/kkZj.k fd;k tkuk pkfg, FkkA bl laca/k esa ekuuh; mPpre U;k;ky; }kjk U;kf;d n`"Vkar National Insurance Co. Ltd. Vs. Indira Srivastava reported in (2008) 2 SCC 763 ds ekeys esa fuEufyf[kr er O;Dr fd;k gS fd %&

¶34

" 19 . The amounts, therefore, which were required to be paid to the deceased by his employer by way of perks, should be included for computation of his monthly income as that would have been added to his monthly income by way of contribution to the family as contradistinguished to the ones which were for his benefit. We may, however, hasten to add that from the said amount of income, the statutory amount of tax payable thereupon must be deducted."

¶35

7- blh izdkj ekuuh; mPpre U;k;ky; }kjk U;kf;d n`"Vkar Meenakshi Vs. The Oriental Insurance Co. Ltd. reported in 2024 ACJ 1647 ds ekeys esa fuEufyf[kr er O;Dr fd;k gS fd %&

¶36

" 9. Recently in a judgment dated 11th July, 2024 in National Insurance Company Ltd. v. Nalini and Ors. [Petition for Special Leave to Appeal (C) No. 4230/2019], this Court held that, allowances under the heads of transport allowance, house rent allowance, provident fund loan, provident fund and special allowance ought to be added while considering the basic salary of the victim/deceased to arrive at the dependency factor.

¶37

10. Therefore, components of house rent allowance, flexible benefit plan and company contribution to provident fund have to be included in the salary of the deceased while applying the component of rise in income by future prospects to determine the dependency factor. The Accident Claims Tribunal was justified in factoring these components into the salary

(5 of 9)

[2026:RJ-JP:24619]

[CMA-2184/2007]

of the deceased, before applying 50% rise by future prospects due to future prospects, while calculating the total compensation payable to the Appellant.

¶42

12 . We, therefore, hold that the High Court has erred while omitting to add the components of house rent allowance, flexible benefit plan and Company contribution to provident fund to the basic salary of the deceased while applying the principle of rise in income by future prospects."

¶43

8- erd ds osru izek.k i= izn'kZ&27 esa erd dk ewy osru 6]550@& #i;s] Mh-ih- HkRrk 3]275@& #i;s] egaxkbZ HkRrk 720@& #i;s] Mh-,590@& #i;s rFkk edku fdjk;k HkRrk 737@& #i;s n'kkZ;k x;k gS] bl izdkj lEiw.kZ HkRrksa dks feykdj erd dh dqy ekfld vk; 11]872@& #i;s gksuk vafdr dh x;h gSA ,slh fLFkfr ge] ekuuh; mPpre U;k;ky; ds U;kf;d n"Vkar Indira Srivastava (supra) o Meenakshi (supra) ds ekeyksa esa ikfjr er ls lger gksrs gq, oDr ?kVuk e`rd dh ekfld vk; 11]872@& #i;s] rn~uqlkj okf"kZd vk; 1]42]464@& #i;s fu/kkZfjr fd;k tkuk mfpr le>rs gSaA

¶44

9- tgka rd fu/kkZfjr okf"kZd vk; ij vk;dj dVkSrh dk iz'u gS rks bl laca/k esa vk;dj foHkkx }kjk tkjh vf/klwpuk ds vuqlkj foRrh; o"kZ 2005&2006@dj fu/kkZj.k o"kZ 2006&2007 esa 1]00]000@& #i;s rd dh vk; ij vk;dj 'kwU; o 1]00]001@& #i;s ls 1]50]000@& #i;s rd dh vk; ij 10 izfr'kr vk;dj] 1]50]001@& #i;s ls 2]50]000@& #i;s rd dh vk; ij 20 izfr'kr vk;dj rFkk 2]50]000@& #i;s o mlls vf/kd dh vk; ij 30 izfr'kr vk;dj ns; FkkA erd dh fu/kkZfjr okf"kZd vk; 1]42]464@& #i;s esa ls 1]00]000@& #i;s ?kVkus ds mijkar erd dh 'ks"k okf"kZd vk; 42]464@& #i;s jgrh gS] ftldk 10 izfr'kr vk;dj 4]246@& #i;s gksrk gS] ftls erd dh fu/kkZfjr okf"kZd vk; 1]42]464@& #i;s esa ls ?kVkus ds mijkar erd dh dqy okf"kZd vk; 1]38]218@& #i;s

[2026:RJ-JP:24619]

[CMA-2184/2007]

(6 of 9)

gksrh gSA fo}ku vf/kdj.k erd dh fu/kkZfjr okf"kZd vk; ij Hkfo"; esa gksus okyh vk; dh c<+ksrjh ds en esa dksbZ Hkfo"; of) ugha dh x;h gSA Dyse ;kfpdk esa oDr ?kVuk erd dks 42 o"kZ dh vk;q dk gksuk crk;k x;k gS rFkk fo}ku vf/kdj.k us ek/;fed f'k{kk cksMZ }kjk tkjh izek.k i= esa vafdr tUefrfFk 02-01-1961 ds vuqlkj erd dh vk;q oDr ?kVuk 44 o"kZ fu/kkZfjr dh xbZ gSA pwafd oDr ?kVuk erd 44 o"kZ vk;q dk osru Hkksxh O;fDr FkkA ,slh fLFkfr esa us'kuy ba';ksjsal dEiuh fyfeVsM cuke iz.k; lsBh o vU; fjiksVsZM bu ¼2017½ 16 ,l-lh-lh- 680 ds ekeys es a izfrikfnr fl)kUr ds vuqlkj erd dh vk;q dks nf"Vxr j[krs gq, erd dh fu/kkZfjr okf"kZd vk; ij Hkfo"; dh izR;k'kk dh en es a 30 izfr'kr dh Hkfo"; of) fd;k tkuk visf{kr gSA rn~uqlkj erd dh fu/kkZfjr okf"kZd vk; 1]38]218@& #i;s dk 30 izfr'kr 41]465@& #i;s gksrk gSA mDr 30 izfr'kr jkf'k dks erd dh fu/kkZfjr okf"kZd vk; es a tksM+s tkus ds mijk a r erd dh dqy okf"kZd vk; 1]79]683@& #i;s gksrh gS] tks {kfriwfrZ ds fu/kkZj.k dk vk/kkj jgsxhA

¶49

10oDr ?kVuk erd ds ij dqy 08 vkfJr crk, x, gSaA ,slh fLFkfr esa erd ds O;fDrxr [kpZ dh dVkSrh ds en esa 1@5 Hkkx dh dVkSrh fd;k tkuk visf{kr Fkk] fdUrq fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk erd ds O;fDrxr [kpZ dh dVkSrh ds en esa 1@3 Hkkx dh dVkSrh dj =qfV dkfjr dh xbZ gSA rn~uqlkj erd dh fu/kkZfjr okf"kZd vk; 1]79]683@& #i;s dk 1@5 Hkkx 35]937@& #i;s gksrk gS] ftls fu/kkZfjr okf"kZd vk; esa ls ?kVkus ds mijkar vkfJr vk; dh 'ks"k jkf'k 1]43]746@& #i;s gksrh gSA oDr ?kVuk erd dh vk;q 44 o"kZ fu/kkZfjr dh xbZ gSA ,slh fLFkfr esa ljyk oekZ o vU; cuke nsgyh VªklaiksVZ dkWiksZjs'ku o vU; fjiksVsZM bu ¼2009½ 6 ,l-lh-lh121 rFkk iz.k; lsBh ¼mijksDr½ ds ekeys esa izfrikfnr fl)kUr ds vk/kkj ij erd dh vk;q dks nf"Vxr j[krs gq, 14 dk xq.kd yxk;k tkuk visf{kr gSA fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk vkfJr vk; dh x.kuk gsrq 15 dk xq.kd iz;ksx fd;k tkdj =qfV dkfjr dh xbZ gSA rn~uqlkj erd dh fu/kkZfjr

[2026:RJ-JP:24619]

[CMA-2184/2007]

(7 of 9)

okf"kZd vk; 1]43]746@& #i;s ds vk/kkj ij vihykFkhZx.k dks gksus okyh vkfJr vk; dh dqy {kfr 1]43]746 x 14 = 20]12]444@& #i;s gksrh gS] tks vihykFkhZx.k izkIr djus ds vf/kdkjh gSaA

¶54

11fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk leLr vihykFkhZx.k dks ,deq'r 5]000@& #i;s dh jkf'k dalksfVZ;e dh en esa fnyokbZ xbZ gSA ekuuh; mPpre U;k;ky; ds U;kf;d n"Vkar iz.k; lsBh ¼mijksDr½ o ;wukbZVsM bf.M;k ba';ksjsal dEiuh fyfeVsM cuke lfrUnj dkSj mQZ lrfoUnj dkSj o vU; fjiksVsZM bu ¼2021½ 11 ,llhlh 780 o vU; U;kf;d n"Vkar esxek tujy ba';ksjsal dEiuh fyfeVsM cuke ukuw jke mQZ pqg: jke o vU; fjiksVsZM bu ¼2018½ 18 ,llhlh 130 ds ekeyksa esa izfrikfnr fl)kUr ds vuqlkj izR;sd vkfJr dks 40]000@& #i;s dalksfVZ;e dh en esa fnyok;s tkus dk fl)kUr izfrikfnr fd;k x;k gSA

¶55

12gLrxr ekeys dh ?kVuk o"kZ 2005 dh crkbZ x;h gSA ,slh fLFkfr ge] ekuuh; mPpre U;k;ky; ds U;kf;d n"Vkar iz.k; lsBh ¼mijksDr½] lfrUnj dkSj mQZ lrfoUnj dkSj ¼mijksDr½ o ukuw jke mQZ pqg: jke ¼mijksDr½ ds ekeyksa esa izfrikfnr fl)kUr ds vuqlkj erd dh iRuh vihykFkhZ la[;k&1 dks ^^Likml dalksfVZ;e** dh en esa 40]000@& #i;s rFkk erd ds cPpksa vihykFkhZ la[;k&2 yxk;r 7 dks ^^iSjs.Vy dalksfVZ;e** dh en esa izR;sd dks 40]000@& #i;s rFkk erd dh ekrk vihykFkhZ la[;k&8 dks ^^fQfy;y dalksfVZ;e** dh en esa 40]000@& #i;s ¼dqy 3]20]000@& #i;s½ dh jkf'k fnyok;k tkuk mfpr le>rs gSaA

¶56

13fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk vihykFkhZx.k dks vafre laLdkj dh en esa 2]000@& #i;s dh jkf'k fnyokbZ x;h gS] tks de gSA vr% vafre laLdkj dh en esa ge] iz.k; lsBh ¼mijksDr½ ds ekeys esa izfrikfnr fl)kUr ds vuqlkj 15]000@& #i;s dh jkf'k vihykFkhZx.k dks fnyok;k tkuk mfpr le>rs gSaA

¶57

14fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk vihykFkhZx.k dks lEink dh gkfu ds en esa dksbZ jkf'k vihykFkhZx.k dks ugha fnyokbZ xbZ gSA vr% lEink dh gkfu ds

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en esa ge] iz.k; lsBh ¼mijksDr½ ds ekeys esa izfrikfnr fl)kUr ds vuqlkj 15]000@& #i;s dh jkf'k vihykFkhZx.k dks fnyok;k tkuk mfpr le>rs gSaA

¶62

15fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk nq?kZVuk ds i'pkr~ erd ds bykt ij O;; dh xbZ jkf'k ds en esa 7]688@& #i;s dh jkf'k iFkd ls vihykFkhZx.k dks fnyokbZ xbZ gS] blesa ge dksbZ gLr{ksi fd;k tkuk mfpr ugha le>rs gSaA 16mDrkuqlkj vihykFkhZx.k fuEu izdkj ls {kfriwfrZ jkf'k izkIr djus ds vf/kdkjh gSa %&

¶63

Øe la-	'kh"kZ@en	bl fu.kZ; ds rgr fu/kkZfjr dh x;h jkf’k ¼jkf'k :i;s esa½
1-	vkfJr vk; dh {kfr ds en esa	20]12]444@&
2-	dalksfVZ;e ds en esa	dqy 3]20]000@&
3-	vafre laLdkj ds en esa	15]000@&
4-	lEink dh gkfu ds en esa	15]000@&
5-	bykt ds nkSjku O;; dh xbZ jkf'k ds en esa	7]688@&
bl	U;k;ky; }kjk fu/kkZfjr dh xbZ dqy {kfriwfrZ jkf'k	23]70]132@&
f	o}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk fnyokbZ xbZ {kfriwfrZ jkf'k¼&½	10]34]688@&
	c<+ksrjh i'pkr {kfriwfrZ jkf'k esa varj	13]35]444@&

¶64

17rnuqlkj vihykFkhZx.k dh vksj ls izLrqr ;g vihy vkaf’kd :i ls Lohdkj dh tkdj fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk ikfjr iapkV] ftlds }kjk vihykFkhZx.k@DysesaV~l dks 10]34]688@& :i;s fnyok;s tkus dk vkns'k ikfjr fd;k x;k gS] ds LFkku ij 23]70]132@& :i;s dk iapkV ikfjr fd;k tkrk gSA vihykFkhZx.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 vihykFkhZx.k izkIr djus ds vf/kdkjh ik;s tkrs gSaA

¶65

18bl fu.kZ; }kjk c<+kbZ xbZ {kfriwfrZ jkf'k ij ;kfpdk nk;j djus dh frfFk ls vihykFkhZx.k] 08 izfr'kr okf"kZd C;kt izkIr djus ds vf/kdkjh gSaA 19fu.kZ; dh izfr ds lkFk izdj.k dk vfHkys[k] lacaf/kr fo}ku vf/kdj.k dks vfoyEc ykSVk;k tkosA

¶66