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2023 Supreme(AP) 1366

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI
V.Gopala Krishna Rao, J.
Yelamanchili Atchiyamma - Appellant
Versus
Madasu Venkata Rao - Respondent
M.A.C.M.A. No. 322 of 2012
Decided On : 21-02-2023

IMPORTANT POINT
The main legal point established in the judgment is the application of the principles from the Sarla Verma v. Delhi Transport Corporation case to determine the compensation amount based on the deceased's income and dependents.

Headnote:

Motor Accident Claims Tribunal - Compensation - Sec. 166 of Motor Vehicles Act - [Sec. 166 of Motor Vehicles Act] - The court discussed the negligence of the driver, the entitlement to compensation, and the calculation of the compensation amount. The court referred to the Sarla Verma v. Delhi Transport Corporation case to determine the multiplier applicable to the deceased's age group and awarded compensation based on the deceased's income and dependents.

Fact of the Case:

The claimants filed a Claim Petition seeking compensation for the death of Yelamanchili Mahalakshmi in a motor vehicle accident. The deceased was hit by a bus and sustained grievous injuries, leading to his death. The Tribunal concluded that the accident was due to the rash and negligent driving of the bus driver and awarded compensation to the claimants.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the accident was caused by the negligent driving of the bus driver and awarded compensation to the claimants based on the deceased's income and dependents. The court also set aside the finding that the claimants failed to prove their relationship with the deceased.

Issues: The issues included determining the cause of the accident, the entitlement to compensation, and the calculation of the compensation amount.

Ratio Decidendi: The court applied the principles from the Sarla Verma v. Delhi Transport Corporation case to determine the multiplier applicable to the deceased's age group and calculate the compensation based on the deceased's income and dependents.

Final Decision: The court modified the award passed by the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal and held that the claimants were entitled to a total compensation amount with subsequent interest. The appeal was allowed in part, and the respondents were directed to deposit the balance amount within one month.

JUDGMENT

1. The appellants are claimants in M.V.O.P.No.1098 of 2010 on the file of the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal-cumIV Addl. District Judge Visakhapatnam, and the respondents are the respondents in the said case.

2. The parties in the appeal will be referred to as they are arrayed in claim application.

3. The claimants are filed a Claim Petition under Sec. 166 of Motor Vehicles Act for seeking compensation in an accident Rs.2,50,000.00 for the death of Yelamanchili Mahalakshmi, in a Motor Vehicle Accident, that occurred on 28/2/2009.

4. The claimant's case is that on 28/2/2009 at about 10:00 AM., the deceased was proceeding from his house towards hotel for having tea on foot and in the meanwhile the bus belonging to respondents 2 and 3 in a rash and negligent manner from Anakapalli towards Choadavaram and hit the deceased from his behind as a result, he sustained grievous injuries on his head and left leg and immediately he was removed to NTR Area Hospital and died while undergoing treatment on the same day. The Chodavaram Police also registered a case in Cr.No.21/09 under Sec. 304-A of IPC and charge sheeted the driver of the bus involved in the accident.

5. The 2nd and 3rd respondents filed their counter denying the material allegations in the petition and putting the petitioners to strict proof of the same and further according to them it is only on account of negligence on the part of the deceased who dashed the rear left side of the bus the accident occurred and there is no negligence on the part of the driver of the bus.

6. Based on the above pleadings, the Tribunal framed the following issues:

1) Whether the deceased Vis., Yelamanchili Mahalakshmi, Son of late Somulu, died in the motor accident occurred due to the rash and negligent driving of the vehicle bearing No. AP 10 Z 5168 (APSRTC BUS) driven by its driver?

2) Whether the petitioners are entitled to compensation? if so, to what amount and from which of the respondents?

3) To what relief?

On behalf of the petitioners, PW1 and PW2 are examined and Ex.A1 to A5 are marked.

7. Now, the point for consideration is:

1) Whether the order passed by the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal-cum-IV Addl. District Judge, Visakhapatnam. needs any interference?

POINT NO.1

8. On considering the material on record Ex.A1 Attested copy of FIR and Ex.A4 Attested copy of Charge sheet, the learned Tribunal came to conclusion that the accident is occurred due to rash and negligent driving of the driver of the APSRTC bus i.e., 1st respondent. The respondents did not challenge the said finding and no appeal is filed by the respondents against the said finding given by the Tribunal. The Tribunal came to conclusion that the 2nd petitioner is a major son aged about 38 years and he is not entitled compensation, but the 2nd petitioner is entitled to received Rs.12,500.00 towards loss of love and affection, loss of estate and funeral expenses. The Tribunal came to conclusion that the petitioners failed to prove the relationship with the deceased, but the Tribunal granted quantum of Rs.10,000.00 towards loss of love and affection and towards loss of estate for an amount of Rs.10,000.00 and Rs.5,000.00 has awarded towards funeral expenses in total the Tribunal granted Rs.25,000.00 to the both the petitioners towards compensation.

It is not a dispute that the 1st Petitioner is unmarried daughter of the deceased. 1st petitioner is examined is examined as PW1. In cross-examination nothing was elicited from PW1 discredit the testimony of PW1, it was simply suggested to PW1 in cross-examination that she is married and having children, the said suggestion is denied by PW1.

9. This Court perused pleadings taken by the respondent APSRTC there is no pleading in the written statement that the 1st petitioner is married and there is no pleading in the written statement of APSRTC that the relationship of 1st petitioner and 2nd petitioner with the deceased is disputed, the finding given by the Tribunal in its or

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