2017 Supreme(Kar) 1630
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, DHARWAD BENCH
Vineet Kothari, H.B. Prabhakara Sastry, JJ.
Divisional Manager - Appellant
Vs.
Tousif Husenkhan Pathan - Respondent
M.F.A. No. 100559 c/w. 101249 of 2015
Decided On : 12-04-2017
For the Appellant :Sri. M.K. Soudagar, Advocate, Sri. Hanamant R. Latur, Advocate
For the Respondent:Sri Hanamant R. Latur, Advocate, Sri. M.K. Soudagar, Advocate
Headnote:
Motor vehicle act - Neurological disability - Enhancement of the compensation - Award - Whether appellant has made out grounds to allow MFA - Whether appellant has made out grounds to allow - Appellant in the present appeal has contended Tribunal below has grossly erred in assessing the neurological disability of the claimant to the extent of 80%, in the absence of any disability certificate issued by the Neurologist or any evidence tendered before the MACT by Neurologist with regard to the neurological disability - Tribunal ought to have discard the evidence of PW2, who was an Orthopaedician. It has further erred in adding 50% of the salary towards future prospects of the injured, which is against the principle of law – Held, Annual assessed income of the injured to be added to his income as loss of future prospects. would be his loss of annual income - When it is multiplied with the multiplier 18, 60% of the same would come - Since the Tribunal has awarded compensation of Rs. under the head compensation towards loss of future income - Grounds to allow it. On the other hand, the appellant in MFA No. 100559/2015 has made out some grounds - MFA No. 100559/2015 is allowed in part
H.B. Prabhakara Sastry, J.
The appellants have filed these appeals under Section 173(1) of the Motor Vehicles Act, challenging the judgment and award passed by the Court of Fast Track Court and Member, Addl. MACT, Dharwad (hereinafter referred to as 'the Tribunal', for short), in MVC No.231/2014 on 22-12-2014.
2. The appellant in MFA No. 100559/2015 has prayed for allowing the appeal by setting aside the judgment and award under appeal, whereas the appellant in MFA No. 101249/2015 has prayed for enhancement of the compensation by modifying the judgment and award under appeal.
3. In appellant in MFA No. 100559/2015, which is the Insurance Company, was the respondent No. 2 in the Tribunal below. The said appellant in the present appeal has contended that the Tribunal below has grossly erred in assessing the neurological disability of the claimant to the extent of 80%, in the absence of any disability certificate issued by the Neurologist or any evidence tendered before the MACT by the Neurologist with regard to the neurological disability. The Tribunal ought to have discard the evidence of PW2, who was an Orthopaedician. It has further erred in adding 50% of the salary towards future prospects of the injured, which is against the principle of law. Assessing the disability at 80% by Tribunal is also erroneous. Further, stating that the compensation awarded by the Tribunal below is exorbitant, the appellant has prayed for setting aside the judgment and award under appeal.
4. The appellant in MFA No. 101249/2015 was the claimant in the Tribunal below. The said appellant in his memorandum of appeal has stated that the injured was doing food grains business and earning Rs. 6,000/- per month. The award is liable to be enhanced by considering the loss of earning capacity at 100%. Further stating that the compensation awarded under various heads are also meager, the appellant has prayed for enhancement of the compensation by a sum of Rs. 33,82,870/-.
5. On notice being issued, respondent No. 1 in MFA No. 100559/2015 and respondent No. 2 in MFA No. 101249/2015 are served and appeared through their learned Counsel. Notice to the respondent No. 2 in MFA No. 100559/2015 and respondent No. 1 in MFA No. 101249/2015, who was placed ex parte before the Tribunal below, was dispensed with. The lower courts records were called for and the same are placed before us.
6. Heard the arguments from both sides and perused the memorandum of appeal, impugned judgment and the entire materials placed before this Court.
7. The points that arise for our consideration are :
i. Whether the appellant has made out grounds to allow MFA No. 100559/2015?
ii. Whether the appellant has made out grounds to allow MFA No. 101249/2015?
Since these points are interrelated to each other, in order to avoid repetition of analysis of facts, both the points are taken up together for analysis.
For the sale of convenience, the parties would be referred to with the rankings they were holding in the Tribunal below.
8. MFA No. 101249/2015 is a claimant's appeal, who has prayed for enhancement of compensation awarded by the Tribunal below. MFA No. 100559/2015 is an appeal by the respondent No. 2-insurer. However, the said insurer nowhere in his appeal has disputed the finding of the Tribunal below about the occurrence of the accident as alleged injuries in the accident and also the Tribunal affixing the liability to pay compensation upon the respondents jointly and severally and further directing the respondent No. 2-insurer to pay the awarded amount by depositing it in the Tribunal. As such, the point of occurrence of accident as alleged by the claimant and the responsibility of the respondents to pay the compensation, is not in dispute. The only point in contest is about the quantum of compensation awarded by the Tribunal. Therefore, the point of occurrence of accident and the lia