2017 Supreme(Chh) 89
IN THE HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH
RAJENDRA CHANDRA SINGH SAMANT, J.
K.F. Fazaluddin Farooqui, S/o Shri M.U. Faruqui - Appellant
Versus
Shri Jayant Mitra, S/o Shri P.K. Mitra - Respondent
Miscellaneous Appeal No. 708 of 2002
Decided on : 17-03-2017
Advocate Appeared:
For the Appellant :Shri Amiyakant Tiwari, Advocate.
For the Respondent:Shri Shree Kumar Agrawal, Senior Advocate with Shri Anand Kumar Gupta, Advocate.
Headnote:
Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 - Negligently and dashed - Denying liability for compensation - Respondent No.2 is registered owner of Jeep bearing registration and respondent was his employed driver - It was also admitted that respondent was the insurer of vehicle and insurance policy was effective - Appellant/applicant presented a claim petition under Section 166 of Motor Vehicles Act before Tribunal alleging that at about when he was riding a motorcycle bearing registration offending vehicle Jeep bearing registration MKT driven by respondent rashly and negligently dashed appellant causing him grievous injuries on his leg and body and his motorcycle was also damaged - It was stated that appellant suffered compound fracture of tibia and fibula bones of his left leg - He has undergone long treatment and several operations even then he has been disabled permanently - Held, As it is medically proved that appellant suffered permanent disability of on his left leg which implies that other limbs and body of appellant are normal and healthy and functional in full capacity which reduced disability of his left leg in his overall performance to only - Although as per proof on record appellant had been a businessman and may still be doing business it needs no mention that business requires an application of mind even then there is some involvement of physical capacities for travelling meeting supervising and controlling etc and for which loss of earning capacity can be safely taken into account for considering his loss of earning because of his permanent disability - On taken into account that appellant had annual income – Order Accordingly
Shri Rajendra Chandra Singh Samant, J.
This appeal is preferred against the award dated 07-08-1999 passed in Claim Case No.179 of 1997 by Second Additional Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, Durg (for short 'the Tribunal'), for enhancement of the compensation.
2. It is not disputed that respondent No.2 is the registered owner of Jeep bearing registration No. MKT 396 and respondent No.1 was his employed driver. It was also admitted that respondent No.3 was the insurer of the vehicle and the insurance policy was effective from 17-04-1995 to 16-04- 1996. The appellant/applicant presented a claim petition under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act (for short 'the Act') before the Tribunal, Bhilai alleging that at about 7-00 p.m. on 09-07-199 when he was riding a motorcycle bearing registration No. MP 24 B 6397, the offending vehicle Jeep bearing registration No. MKT-396, driven by respondent No.1 rashly and negligently dashed the appellant causing him grievous injuries on his leg and body and his motorcycle was also damaged. An offence was registered against respondent No.1 in the Police Station Supela and he was charge sheeted. It was stated that the appellant suffered compound fracture of tibia and fibula bones of his left leg. He has undergone long treatment and several operations, even then, he has been disabled permanently. The appellant had a business of rubber factory in Devada, District Rajnandgaon. Because of his disability, he is unable to do any work and has lost his business. He had to spend a huge amount for his treatment and also incurred expenditure on travelling, assistance, special diet etc. It was prayed that compensation be awarded under the heads of treatment, expenditure on assistance, travelling and special diet, loss of business, future treatment etc.
3. Respondents No. 1 & 2, apart from the above facts, denied the contents of the claim petition and stated that it was the appellant himself who was driving negligently and dashed against the stationery jeep from behind and hence, he himself is responsible for this accident. Denying liability for compensation, they prayed for dismissal of the claim. Respondent No.3 categorically denied each and every averment in the claim petition and denied the liability to pay compensation to the appellant.
4. The learned Tribunal after framing the issues, afforded opportunity to both the parties for leading evidence and submitting arguments and thereafter the impugned award was passed. It was held that the appellant got injured and suffered permanent disablement because of the accident caused by rash and negligent driving of jeep by respondent No.1. No specific finding has been given regarding liability of respondent No.1 & 2 and respondent No.3 but respondent No.3 was held liable to pay compensation. The Tribunal by the impugned award held that the appellant was entitled for an amount of Rs.4,00,000/- as compensation in lump-sum with a direction to adjust/deduct the interim compensation, if any, was paid.
5. The grounds urged in appeal are that the compensation awarded by the learned Tribunal is too low which requires to be enhanced. The learned Tribunal has not appreciated the documents produced and proved by the appellant and the statements of the witnesses supporting his case. The learned Tribunal ought to have awarded compensation for medical expenses on the basis of proved receipts and cash memos to the extent of Rs.5,54,000/-. The learned Tribunal ought to have allowed reasonable expenses for future treatment to the tune of Rs.1,00,000/-. It was proved by medical evidence that the appellant suffered disability due to the accident and his loss of earning capacity was 100%. His claim in this respect was denied by the learned Tribunal. The guidelines laid down by the Apex Court in the matter of U.P. State Road Transport Corporation & others v. Trilok Chandra & others; reported in (1996) 4 SCC 362 should have been followed, which were not followed by the learned Tribun