IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA
Alok Aradhe, Hemant Chandangoudar, JJ.
Vasudeva Kamath - Appellants
Vs.
S.A. Nadeem Ulla Khan and Ors. - Respondent
Miscellaneous First Appeal No. 2438 of 2019 (MV-I)
Decided On : 02-06-2021
Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 – Section 173(1), 166 – Evidence Act, 1872 – Section 165 – Compensation – Inter alia – Facts leading to filing of this appeal briefly stated are that when claimant was entering marriage hall, respondent No. 1 riding his motor cycle bearing registration dashed against claimant, due to which, claimant sustained grievous injuries and complicated injuries – Held, In present case, though Court Commissioner was appointed to examine and record evidence of doctor Commission warrant could not be executed due to non-cooperation of the doctor – Claimant cannot be made to suffer for no fault of his, Tribunal is under an obligation to secure presence of doctor by invoking power under Section 165 of Evidence Act or in alternate refer matter to medical board for assessment of disability of claimant – For discussions in preceding paras, court are of the considered view that, matter requires to be remanded to Tribunal directing Presiding Officer of Tribunal to summon treating doctor and in case that treating doctor is not available, Tribunal shall refer matter to Medical Board for assessment of disability – Appeal Allowed.
JUDGMENT :
Hemant Chandangoudar, J.
1. This appeal under Section 173(1) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (hereinafter referred to as 'the Act' for short) has been filed by the claimant seeking enhancement of the amount of compensation, against the judgment dated 20.12.2018 in MVC. 825/2014 passed by the I Additional Senior Civil Judge and CJM and Additional Motor Accident Claims Tribunal- VII at Shivamogga (hereinafter referred to as 'the MACT' for short).
2. Facts leading to filing of this appeal briefly stated are that on 8.06.2014 at about 9.30 p.m., when the claimant was entering the marriage hall, the respondent No. 1 riding his motor cycle bearing registration No. KA-14-EF-6785 dashed against the claimant, due to which, the claimant sustained grievous injuries and complicated injuries.
3. The claimant thereupon filed a petition under Section 166 of the Act inter alia on the ground that the claimant was admitted to Nanjappa Hospital at Shivamogga for treatment and on improvement in health condition he was discharged from the hospital and was advice to take bed rest and follow-up treatment. He further pleaded that he spent more than three lakhs for his treatment and he is practicing as an Orthopedic Surgeon since 1984 and earning more than 5 Lakhs Rupees per annum. The claimant claimed compensation to the tune of Rs. 2,36,50,000/- along with interest.
4. The respondents appeared through their Counsel and filed separate written statement. The respondent No. 1 inter alia pleaded that the accident occurred due to his fault and the compensation claimed by the claimant is highly excessive. The second respondent disputed the facts that the first respondent is owner and rider of the offending motor cycle and rights and liabilities of this respondent is as per the terms and conditions of the contract. Hence, sought for dismissal of the claim petition.
5. On the basis of the pleadings of the parties, the Claims Tribunal framed the issues and thereafter recorded the evidence. The claimant, in order to prove his case, examined himself as PW-1, and got exhibited documents namely Ex. P1 to Ex. P118. The respondents neither examined any witness nor got exhibited any document. The Claims Tribunal, by the impugned judgment, inter alia, held that the accident took place on account of rash and negligent driving of the motorcycle by its rider i.e. respondent No. 1, as a result of which, the claimant sustained injuries. The Tribunal further held that the claimant is entitled to a global compensation of Rs. 1,00,000/- along with interest at the rate of 6% p.a. Being aggrieved, this appeal has been filed by the claimant seeking enhancement of the amount of compensation.
6. Learned Counsel for the claimant submitted that the Tribunal has committed an error in awarding global compensation instead of awarding compensation towards loss of future income and other conventional heads when the material on record clearly discloses that the claimant has sustained grievous injuries and functional disability due to the accidental injuries. He further submits that when the treated doctor was not cooperating to record the evidence, the Tribunal was under an obligation to secure the presence of the treating doctor by invoking the power under Section 165 of the Evidence Act or alternatively the Tribunal should have referred the matter to the medical board for assessment of the disability. Hence, he seeks for setting aside the impugned award passed by the Tribunal and remit the matter to the Tribunal for assessing the disability of the claimant and thereafter award just and proper compensation.
7. Learned Counsel for the Insurance-Company submits that in the absence of evidence on record the Tribunal is justified in awarding global compensation to the claimant and seeks for dismissal of the appeal.
8. We have considered the submissions made by learned Counsel for the parties and have perused the record. The only question which arises for our consideration in this appeal
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