Gujarat High Court
Judgename :SHARAD D.DAVE, S.M.SONI
SHANTABEN AMBALAL SURARIA - Appellant
Versus
VALJIBHAI HARJIBHAI PATEL - Respondent
First Appeal 1445 of 1979
Decided On : 12/19/1990
Accident – Compensation – quantum of compensation – It was the case of the original applicants that the accident was the result of rash and negligent action on the part of the opponent No. 1, the driver who was driving the said S. T. vehicle at the relevant time – So far as the question of quantum of compensation is concerned, it is the case of the applicants that the deceased used to earn an amount of Rs. 15,000. 00 per year and was aged about 53 years – It is on this basis that the applicants had claimed the total compensation of Rs. 1,50,000. 00 from the opponents together with the interest and the costs – Held, Applicants would be entitled to the total compensation of Rs. 85,950/ - together with the interest at the rate of 12% per annum from the date of application till realisation. As the amount awarded by the Tribunal, is already paid to the appellants/claimants they would be entitled to additional interest at the rate of 6% per annum from the date of application till the date of payment – On the remaining amount of Rs. 77,200/ - the applicants will be entitled to the interest at the rate of 12% per annum from the date of application till realization – They would also be entitled to the proportionate costs in respect of the present appeal – Remaining amounts with cost and interest shall be invested in Fixed Deposit Accounts with any of the Nationalised Banks for a fixed period of 5 years, during which no loan or advance shall be raised thereon without the express permission of the Tribunal – Award under appeal shall stand modified accordingly – Order Accordingly
( 1 ) A man aged about 54 years, healthy in every respect, was returning to his house on his scooter. He was knocked down by a speeding s. T. vehicle causing multiple fractures on his person. He was admitted in the hospital and the traction was advised. He was removed out of the hospital with a view to continue the traction at his residence. He had certain complaints during the intervening period. He dies on the 6th or 7th day of the accident and the probable cause of death, certified by the medical expert is "fat Embolism", which is a common complication in case of multiple fractures when long bones are involved. In the award rendered by the M. A. C. Tribunal, Ahmedabad City, it is said that there was no nexus or connection between the death of the deceased and the accidental injuries. The question therefore in the present appeal is as to whether the claimants would be entitled to the compensation on the head of loss to the estate on the basis that there is a nexus or connection between the accidental injuries and the death.
( 2 ) THE present appeal which calls for the determination of the above said question arises under the following facts and circumstances.
( 3 ) ONE Ambalal Sutaria, a resident of the City of Ahmedabad was returning towards his house on his Secooter No. G. J. E. 264 on 22-9-1976 at about 12- 30 p. m. and when he was passing through over the road between Paldi and v. S. Hospital within the City of Ahmedabad which is popularly known as Sarkhej road, the bus belonging to the Gujarat State Transport Corporation, i. e. , the opponent No. 2 and being driven by the opponent No. 1 had came there from behind and a dash was given to the scooter. The deceased Ambalal Sutaria was thrown off from over the scooter and he had received multiple fractures. He was removed to the V. S. Hospital at Ahmedabad and some treatment was given for the multiple fractures. It appears that he was put on traction but he was not feeling comfortable and therefore he has taken discharge from the hospital on the next day, i. e. , on 23-9-1976. He had expired at his residence on 28- 9-1976. Between the date of discharge and the death it appears that the deceased was obliged to consult certain other Doctors. The cause of death appears to be the Fat Embolism which is a known complication in case of multiple fractures when the long bones are involved. The claimants who are the appellants before us had therefore filed the M. A. C. Case No. 15 of 1979 before the learned M. A. C. Tribunal No. 1 at Ahmedabad, praying for the total compensation of Rs. 1,50,000. 00.
( 4 ) IT was the case of the original applicants that the accident was the result of rash and negligent action on the part of the opponent No. 1, the driver who was driving the said S. T. vehicle at the relevant time. So far as the question of quantum of compensation is concerned, it is the case of the applicants that the deceased used to earn an amount of Rs. 15,000. 00 per year and was aged about 53 years. It is on this basis that the applicants had claimed the total compensation of Rs. 1,50,000. 00 from the opponents together with the interest and the costs.
( 5 ) THE abovesaid case of the applicants came to be challenged by the opponent no. 2-the Corporation by filing the W. S. at Ex. 18. The opponent No. 1-the driver had not filed a separate W. S. but by passing the necessary purshish he has adopted the W. S. filed on behalf of the Corporation which is at Ex. 18. In view of this position the contentions raised by the opponents can be said to be identical on every counts.
( 6 ) WIDE the above said W. S. at Ex. 18 the opponents have denied all the allegations of the applicants regarding rash and negligent driving on the part of opponent No. 1-the driver. It is denied that the opponent no. 1 was driving the S. T. bus belonging to the opponent No. 2-the Corporation in a rash and negligent manner. On the contrary it has been contended that the S. T. bus was being driven slow
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