2013 Supreme(Kar) 681
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BANGALORE
N.K. Patil and Budihal R.B., JJ.
The New India Assurance Co. Ltd., Rep. by Divisional Manager
Vs.
Sri. Yousurf Basha and Smt. Alaveera Krishnappa
AND
Sri. Rohith @ Rohith Mankotia
Vs.
Yousuf Basha and The New India Insurance Company Limited (By its Divisional Manager)
AND
Alveera Krishnappa
Vs.
Yousurf Basha and The New India Insurance Co. Ltd., Rep. by its Branch Manager
M.F.A. Nos. 685, 1090 of 2009 (MV), 1271 of 2010 (MV) and Misc. Cvl. 2621 of 2009
Decided On: 28.10.2013
Advocate Appeared:
For Appellant/Petitioner/Plaintiff:Shri. R. Jai Prakash, Advocate in M.F.A. No. 685, 686 of 2009 (MV), Shri. A.M. Vijay for Shri. A. Mohan Ram, Advocate in M.F.A. No. 1090 of 2009 (MV) and Misc. Cvl. 2621 of 2009 and Smt. S. Susheela, Advocate in M.F.A. No. 1271 of 2010 (MV)
For Respondents/Defendant:Smt. S. Susheela, Advocate for R2 in M.F.A. No. 685 of 2009 (MV) and Shri. R. Jai Prakash, Advocate for R2 in M.F.A. Nos. 1090 of 2009 (MV), 1271 of 2010 (MV) and Misc. Cvl. 2621 of 2009
Headnote:MOTOR VEHICLES ACT, 1988 - Section 168: [N. K. Patil & Budihal, R.B. JJ] Contributory negligence - Accident between lorry and motor cycle - Lorry parked on extreme left side of mud road without indication such as parking lights or keeping stones around lorry or attaching sine green plants at right side of lorry - Motor cycle coming from extreme left side of road hit lorry - Rider of motor cycle could have avoided the accident if he had been in moderate speed and alert and impact would have been less - Contributory negligence re-fixed in ratio of 70:30 i.e. 70% on part of driver of lorry and 30% on part of rider of motor cycle.
Deceased, aged 29 years - sole editor , publisher and printer of bi-monthly magazine - Annual income shown in IT Returns as Rs. 85,000/- - Claimant, daughter of deceased, aged seven years, was only survivor - 1/3 deducted towards personal expenses - Income per annum taken as Rs. 56,667/- - Multiplier ’17’ was adopted - Total compensation was re-determined at Rs. 10,08,339/- as against Rs. 9,20,000/- awarded by Tribunal - 30% deducted towards contributory negligence.
Injured claimant (Pillion rider) aged 24 years - Income was assessed at Rs. 5000/- as he was prosecuting B.E. course - Compensation of Rs. 2,22,650/- awarded towards medical expenses held, Proper. However, whole body disability was re-assessed at 40% as against 30% assessed by Tribunal and total compensation was re-assessed at Rs. 4,97,650/- as against Rs. 4,50,000/- awarded by Tribunal - 30% deducted towards contributory negligence.
N.K. Patil, J.
1. M.F.A. Nos. 685/2009 and M.F.A. No. 686/2009 are by the New India Assurance Company Limited (hereinafter referred to as Insurer' for short); M.F.A. No. 1090/2009 is by the injured claimant; and M.F.A. No. 1271/2010 is by the minor claimant, aged about 7 years, represented by her grandmother. The Insurer has filed the two appeals against the common judgment and award dated 18th October 2008, passed in MVC Nos. 75/2004 & 84/2004, by the Civil Judge(Sr. Dn.) & JMFC, Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, Chinthamani, (for short, 'Tribunal'), seeking to modify the contributory negligence fixed on the Insurer and the rider of the Motor Cycle. The injured claimant in M.V.C. No. 84/2004 has filed the appeal, seeking enhancement of compensation, against the very same judgment and award, on the ground that the monthly income assessed by Tribunal is on the lower side and to modify the contributory negligence fixed in the ratio of 50:50; and the minor claimant in M.V.C. No. 75/2004, represented by her grandmother has filed the appeal, against the very same judgment and award, seeking enhancement of compensation and also to modify the contributory negligence fixed by the Tribunal.
2. The facts of the case as stated in the claim petition are that, at about 9:30 P.M., on the ill-fated day, i.e. on 01-09-2004, when the deceased Smt. Sireen Krishnappa, the mother of the minor claimant in M.F.A. No. 1271/2010 (in M.V.C. No. 75/2004) was travelling in a Motor Cycle bearing Registration No. KA-04/T-5064, as a pillion rider and the said Motor Cycle was ridden by the injured claimant in M.F.A. No. 1090/2009 (in M.V.C. No. 84/2004), in between T. Hosahalli-Talagavara Road, at that time, they both met with an accident on account of rash and negligent driving by the driver of the Lorry bearing Registration No. AP-04/T-5164, as he suddenly stopped the Lorry by applying brake Due to the impact, the deceased who was riding pillion and the injured claimant, who was riding the Motor Cycle, both sustained grievous injuries all over the body. But, unfortunately, the pillion rider died while she was being shifted to the Hospital.
3. It is the case of the injured claimant in M.F.A. No. 1090/2009 that he was aged about 24 years, working as Creative Head and Business Development Officer at 'Media Masti Magic' Magazine, drawing salary of Rs. 15,000/- per month. It is his further case that he has sustained lacerated wound over right side of neck, lacerated wound over upper 1/3rd of thigh, fracture mandible and other injuries as per Ex. P5, Wound Certificate issued by the Hosmat Hospital, Bangalore. It is also his case that he took treatment for a totally period of 15 days as in-patient and underwent two surgeries on his face and the Doctor has assessed the whole body disability at 54%. It is his further case that due to the said injuries, he has spent considerable amount towards conveyance nourishing food and attendant charges apart from medical expenses and therefore, he has to be compensated reasonably.
4. It is the case of the minor claimant, represented by her grandmother, in M.F.A. No. 1271/2010 that she is the daughter of deceased Sireen Krishnappa, in the road traffic accident. It is her case that, deceased was aged about 29 years and a dynamic lady, being the editor, printer, publisher of 'Media Masti Magic' Magazine, earning a sum of Rs. 50,000/- per month and also the only earning member in the family and on account of her death, she is rendered homeless and in deep financial crisis apart from losing the love and affection and social and moral support and therefore, she has to be compensated reasonably.
5. On account of the death of the deceased Sireen Krishnappa and the injuries sustained by the injured claimant in the road traffic accident, both the minor claimant, represented by her grandmother and also the injured claimant filed their respective claim petitions before the Tribunal, seeking compensation of a sum of Rs. 40,00,000/- and R