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2022 Supreme(SC) 1231

KRISHNA MURARI, S. RAVINDRA BHAT
Rajwati @ Rajjo – Appellant
Versus
United India Insurance Company Ltd. – Respondent


Advocates appeared:
For the Appellant(s) : Mr. Anuj Bhandari, AOR Ms. Disha Bhandari, Adv. Ms. Anjali Doshi, Adv. Ms. Kanika Sanwal, Adv. Mr. Gaurav Jain, Adv.
For the Respondent(s): Mr. Varinder Kumar Sharma, AOR Ms. Nidhi, AOR Mr. Mohit Girdhar, Adv. Mr. Sarthak Arora, Adv.

Judgement Key Points

Certainly. Here are the key points derived from the provided legal document:

  • The rules of evidence applicable in criminal trials are not strictly applicable in motor accident compensation cases. The primary focus is on establishing the occurrence of the accident, and the tribunal’s role is to award just and fair compensation based on the facts presented (!) (!) .

  • In cases involving death in a motor accident, salary certificates and pay slips are considered conclusive proof of the deceased’s income. These documents, when corroborated by statements from the deceased’s family and co-workers, form a reliable basis for income assessment (!) (!) .

  • The assessment of the deceased’s income should not be based solely on minimum wages if documentary evidence such as salary certificates and pay slips are available and credible. The tribunal’s finding of actual income, supported by documentary proof and witness testimony, should be upheld (!) (!) .

  • The age of the deceased, as determined by relevant documents such as driving licenses, is a factual finding that should be affirmed unless there is compelling evidence to the contrary (!) (!) .

  • The calculation of future prospects should be based on the law governing dependency and income, with the percentage of future prospects adjusted according to the age and earning capacity of the deceased. The applicable multiplier is determined by the age at the time of death, and the deduction for personal expenses is generally 25% to 1/4th of the total income (!) (!) (!) .

  • Compensation for loss of dependency is calculated by multiplying the annual income (including future prospects) after deducting personal expenses by the appropriate multiplier, based on the age of the deceased (!) (!) (!) .

  • The amount awarded for non-pecuniary heads such as loss of consortium, funeral expenses, and loss of estate should be fair and proportionate, with courts having the discretion to increase or decrease these amounts based on the facts of the case (!) (!) (!) .

  • The rate of interest on awarded compensation should be determined based on the period from the filing of the claim till realization, with the applicable rate generally being around 7% to 9% per annum, depending on the case specifics (!) (!) .

  • The tribunal’s role is to conduct a summary inquiry, and strict adherence to criminal trial standards of proof is not necessary. The preponderance of probabilities is sufficient to establish facts for compensation purposes (!) (!) (!) .

  • Overall, the courts emphasize that the legislation is beneficial and aims to provide just and fair compensation, with the tribunal’s findings on facts such as income and age being given considerable deference unless shown to be incorrect (!) (!) (!) (!) .

Would you like a more detailed elaboration on any specific aspect?


JUDGMENT :

Krishna Murari, J.

These two appeals are directed against the final orders dated 29.04.2019 passed by the High Court of Judicature for Rajasthan, Jaipur Bench (hereinafter referred to as ‘High Court’) in two Miscellaneous Appeals (being S.B. Misc. Appeal No. 441/2019 and S.B. Misc. Appeal No. 561/2019) filed by Respondent No. 1 herein, seeking to set aside the judgment and award dated 26.10.2018 passed by the Motor Accident Claim Tribunal/Additional District and Sessions Judge, Kaman, District Bharatpur (hereinafter referred to as ‘Learned Tribunal’) in Misc. Civil (M.A.C.) No. 18/2016 (13/2014) and Misc. Civil (M.A.C.) No. 14/2014. Both these appeals arise out of the same accident. Hence, they have been clubbed together and are being decided by this common judgment.

2. In both the matters, the High Court allowed the appeal of Respondent No.1 herein and modified the award passed by the Learned Tribunal, and reduced the compensation awarded to the Claimants/Appellants.

CIVIL APPEAL No. 8179 OF 2022

3. The Appellants are the heirs and dependents of Ghasita Ram (hereinafter


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